What the Maltese say....

What is the Maltese culture?

I asked a Maltese born and raised Vallettani. The capital of Malta is Valletta, it is beautiful (on the UNESCO list) very small and very steep, tiring (for a typical Dutch person) all the height differences. When you can't walk that well, better stay in Sliema. Actually everything in Malta is near, Malta is small. This is what he said...

The Maltese culture is... the language? In Malta they speak English and Maltese. The Maltese language is special, it sounds Arabic, and you can distinguish Italian words, as if you can understand what is said, but you can't... or at least I couldn't.
Potatoes, I didn't see many potatoes honestly, only as a side dish (fries or baked) it is more likely to get bread with your dinner.
Tomatoes are mainly in dishes in the sauce (and with peas), in the Maltese rabit dish in the rabit sauce, in the Maltese octopus wine dish in the octopus sauce, the spaghetti sauce, all tomatoes. The food was Mediterranean Italian like: a lot of pizzas and pastas.

Maltese love their cars, most of them have a car, or a car or three. According to the Vallettani not until very long ago the Maltese could afford a car, so they bought their car(s). Some families own 3 cars! When going to the store, which was closer than the parking lot, the habit is to go get your car, drive around to the store, so that everyone can see your car. In 2026 the Maltese government offers 5.000 euro per year (with a maximum of 5 years) to give back your driver's license to the government and stop driving. The Maltese guy I met, he would never consider or do that! Do not touch his car. The roads are small and steep and often the buses had to wait until they could drive. The bus routes go through the nicest alleys, amazing. The bus system in Malta is very well arranged and pretty cheap. In my case I bought a 7 day (consecutive) unli bus ticket for 25 euro. Unlimited bus travel and ferry travel to Gozo (only the main ferry) and bus in Gozo too. There is the Tallinja app where bus times are stated and delays. So perhaps some people will sell their driver's license?

You can check and read more online about the history of Malta, too much to explain. Since I had just been to a museum where they let you experience art (and left out all explanation of the art and creators) I decided to let myself be immersed by Malta, the roads, the buildings, the green, by just feeling and looking. In every town you have a church (there are more churches than villages in Malta that is what they say) or a dome (Mosta or Mgarr). It feels like you are walking in a museum but then for real. Mdina and Rabat both immensely beautiful.

My own take, I have just spent more than one week in Malta. Personally, I am not very fond of going to a summer destination in winter, when it still can be wintery. Actually all the advices regarding what to do and where to go changes when it is not sunny and warm. It was better weather than in the Netherlands, and without wind (which hardly ever happens) really pleasant. Just always pack clothes you can wear in layers. There are enough musea, art galleries/musea (MICAS), palazzo's, catacombes, domes, churches, monasteries that are inside in unpleasant weather.

Al lot of hotel staff and bus drivers that I have met were Filipino, Indian, Nepalese or Bangladeshi. The minimum wage is 990 euro per month. The cost of living is high, so tips are important. You can get Filipino food and Indian food in the food courts or small places and supermarkets all over the island. It gives an international feel.

Education is important. In Malta as a Maltese you get paid to study! That is what the Vallettani said, but I guess it is worth investigating. Who doesn't want to study and get paid? There is a lot of brain drain after the education is done. Popular schools are the business schools... A lot of Maltese go abroad to get experience abroad, often to never return.

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