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The Best Places to Move to in Malta
The low cost of living, the warm climate and the fact that English is widely spoken mean that Malta is one of the most popular countries to move to in Europe – particularly for British people looking for somewhere to retire to. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer commercial and domestic moving packages right across Europe, look at some of the most popular places if you are considering removals to Malta.
Valletta
The country’s capital is also its only city, with a population of around 6,000 people. This means the expat community, although increasing, is still quite small. It is the cultural capital of the island and was designated the European Capital of Culture as recently as 2018. Valletta is home to the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Fine Arts Museum, and the Royal Opera House.
In practical terms, it is the administrative centre of the island too, which is convenient if you are moving house to Valletta and have a problem or a query to sort out. There are also plenty of shops here too – a good mix of brand-name stores, smaller independent shops and a daily morning market.
Valletta is also a seaport with a Grand Harbour (pictured above); however, it is commercially much less important than it used to be as much of the island’s trade now goes through a free port near Marsaxlokk. However, the harbour area is the focus of several regeneration projects. This will include new piers built for handling cargo, a new promenade for pedestrians – and several new recreational areas will be created as well.
Marsaxlokk
This pretty little fishing village is on the Malta’s south-eastern coast. It’s ideal to move to if you like seafood; there’s a big fish market every Sunday and bream, bass, swordfish and tuna are all likely to feature on restaurant menus (however, there are restrictions on how much tuna and swordfish can be caught).
It’s also a great place to move to if you like swimming and sunbathing. There’s a small sandy beach on the east side.
St Paul’s Bay
This is a town on the main island’s northern coast. Its population is around the 20,000 mark, but this increases considerably over the summer months when tourists and Maltese residents come here on holiday. You should still be able to find a quiet spot to relax and it’s also ideal for water sports such as swimming and snorkelling.
Like other towns in the north of the island, St Paul’s Bay is a particularly popular spot to retire to; apart from the coastal location, housing is cheaper compared to Valletta and it’s much quieter as well, with far less in the way of night-time entertainment.
Victoria, Gozo
This is the largest town on Malta’s smaller island, Gozo. Small really is beautiful as everything is accessible on foot and the whole town covers just over 1 square mile. It still possesses two opera theatres, a landscaped park and two streets with a variety of shops.
If you want some spectacular views over the Mediterranean, make sure you visit the Citadella (citadel); this was built in the early 17th century as a defensive fortress and is the dominant feature of the island’s skyline. It has a visitor centre which is open during the day, although to get the best views you should visit the Citadella at night.
Another advantage of moving to Victoria – or anywhere on Gozo – is the cost of living. Accommodation (whether rented or purchased outright) is generally cheaper than on Malta’s main island, as is eating out and socialising. However, you will need to factor in the cost of any commute as there are many services, including the airport, which are only available ‘over the water’.
Removals to Malta with Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons Removals, we can help you if you are considering moving house to all the major Maltese destinations, including Valetta, Marsaxlokk and Gozo. We can ship your belongings in a dedicated container or, if you opt for our groupage service, they will be put into a shared container with other customers’ possessions. Smaller, valuable items can be sent by air freight.
If you would like to know more about our European moving service, follow this link or call us directly on 01379 855203 or 0800 246 5622.
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