Etiquette in Malta: greetings, meals and everyday manners

Malta feels familiar to many Americans because English is an official language and public services answer in English. The rhythm of the year is different, though. The calendar is shaped by national days and Catholic feasts, shops keep their own Sunday hours, and village life in summer revolves around parish festivals. This guide sticks to what official sources state and the patterns you can check for yourself, so you know what to expect in your first year.

A calendar with 14 public holidays

Malta's National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act sets the official days off, and the government publishes the list each year. For 2026 the government lists 14 holidays:

• 1 January, New Year's Day
• 10 February, the Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck
• 19 March, the Feast of St Joseph
• 31 March, Freedom Day
• Good Friday (3 April in 2026)
• 1 May, Workers' Day
• 7 June, Sette Giugno
• 29 June, the Feast of St Peter and St Paul (L-Imnarja)
• 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption
• 8 September, Victory Day
• 21 September, Independence Day
• 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 13 December, Republic Day
• 25 December, Christmas Day

Five of these are national holidays under the Act: Freedom Day, Sette Giugno, Victory Day, Independence Day and Republic Day. The others are public holidays. Government offices, including Identità and Transport Malta, close on these days, so plan biometrics appointments and document collections around them. Note that 4 July and Thanksgiving are working days in Malta. The US Embassy publishes its own closure calendar, which mixes US and Maltese holidays.

What the national days mark

Knowing what each national day commemorates helps in conversation, because these dates come up in speeches, news and school events:

• Independence Day, 21 September, marks independence from Britain in 1964.
• Republic Day, 13 December, marks Malta becoming a republic in 1974, with a President replacing the British monarch as head of state.
• Freedom Day, 31 March, marks the departure of the last British forces in 1979.
• Sette Giugno, 7 June, remembers the 1919 riots in Valletta in which Maltese protesters were killed, a step on the road to self-government.
• Victory Day, 8 September, recalls the end of the Great Siege of 1565 and the end of the siege of Malta in the Second World War.

Several of these days include official ceremonies in Valletta, and some roads around the city centre close for them. Treat them like the Fourth of July at home: a public day off, a public celebration and a good day to avoid planning errands in Valletta.

Religion in public life

The Constitution of Malta declares the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion the religion of Malta, while protecting freedom of conscience and worship. You see this in daily life: church bells, wayside shrines, holiday names and the parish as a unit of local identity. Nobody expects a foreign resident to take part, but respectful behaviour around services and processions is noticed.

Dress in churches. Churches generally expect covered shoulders and knees, and some post notices at the door. Carry a light layer in summer if you plan to visit churches between beach and dinner.

The summer festa season

From late spring to September, Maltese and Gozitan parishes hold their village feasts. The Archdiocese of Malta publishes a full calendar of feasts each year. A festa typically brings street decorations, band marches, fireworks and a procession with the statue of the patron saint. For a resident this has practical effects:

• Streets in the parish can be closed or reserved for the procession, and bus routes are diverted on festa days.
• Fireworks are loud and can go on late. Pet owners should plan ahead.
• Parking becomes scarce in the village centre for the main days.

If a festa is in your town, your neighbours will usually know the dates weeks in advance. Ask, and check bus service updates.

Sunday and shop hours

Malta's trading rules let shops open on Sundays within set hours, with a requirement to choose another weekly closing day unless the shop pays for a seven-day licence. In practice, opening times vary a lot between a supermarket, a village grocer and a pharmacy. Expect smaller shops to close in the early afternoon, and look up pharmacy rotas for Sundays and public holidays.

Smoking rules

Malta's Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act and the Smoking in Public Places Regulations prohibit smoking in enclosed places open to the public, such as shops, restaurants and bars, with limited exceptions such as designated smoking rooms in licensed premises. The person responsible for the premises must stop smoking there. Outdoor terraces are where you will see smokers.

Tipping

No law sets a tipping amount in Malta, and restaurant prices include VAT. Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill. Read the bill before you add anything; if service is already included, an extra tip is your choice. Card terminals sometimes prompt for a tip, which you can skip.

Greetings and forms of address

Malta's official English follows British usage, and conversations follow a similar register: a handshake in a business setting, first names once someone offers theirs, and titles such as Dr for doctors and lawyers in formal settings. You will hear the Maltese greeting "Bonġu" in the morning and "Il-lejl it-tajjeb" at night, and "grazzi" for thank you. Using a few Maltese words is appreciated, but English is always acceptable.

Meal times and social habits

Lunch is often the main family meal on Sundays, and many restaurants take bookings for Sunday lunch. Dinner starts later than in much of the US, especially in summer. If you are invited to a Maltese home, ask whether to bring anything; a dessert from a local bakery is a common choice.

Beach and sea safety as a social rule

The State Department's travel advisory for Malta is Level 1, exercise normal precautions, and it specifically warns that riptides have caused drownings of tourists. Locals take flag warnings seriously, and you should too. Follow lifeguard instructions and red flags.

Emergencies and the police

The emergency number is 112 for police, ambulance and fire. The Malta Police Force also lists a non-emergency number on its website for matters that are not urgent. Knowing both is part of fitting in: Maltese people do not call 112 for a parking dispute.

Quick list for your first month

1. Put Malta's 14 public holidays in your calendar.
2. Learn which parish you live in and when its festa takes place.
3. Carry a layer to cover shoulders in churches.
4. Read restaurant bills for a service charge.
5. Save 112 and the police non-emergency number.
6. Check pharmacy rotas for Sundays.

Common questions

How many public holidays does Malta have? The government lists 14 public holidays for 2026, five of which are national holidays under the National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act.

Is tipping expected in Malta? There is no legal tipping rule. Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, so check it before deciding whether to leave more.

Can I smoke in bars and restaurants in Malta? No. Malta's smoking regulations prohibit smoking in enclosed places open to the public, with narrow exceptions such as designated smoking rooms.

What is the emergency number in Malta? Dial 112 for police, ambulance and fire. The Malta Police Force publishes a separate non-emergency number on its website.