Malta receives a large number of tourists and foreigners who come to enjoy the summer or take advantage of the study opportunities offered by the island, whether in English, undergraduate or postgraduate. Similarly, many people from all continents come to Malta attracted by job opportunities and a Mediterranean lifestyle. One of the main indicators of the quality of life in Malta and one of the aspects most appreciated by foreigners, especially those coming from Latin America and Spain, is the aspect of safety. In fact, in several worldwide and European rankings, Malta tops the lists as one of the safest countries, you can see the one by The Insiderand SIGMA's. So let's learn what makes Malta one of the safest destinations on the planet, let's talk about safety in Malta!
Safety in urban areas
In the cities you will find little police presence. You will be able to walk the streets and move around any part of the island at any time without any problem. The feeling of security is clear. However, we recommend that you try not to leave your things unattended on public roads. Something we love is that in many cities you have the sea very accessible, with areas equipped to take a dip, which is wonderful, particularly in the summer heat. Well, if you like, you can go to the beach by yourself, leave your things on the shore, enjoy the water for several hours and when you come back you will find all your things in their place. We have only heard of one situation where there was a theft of a cell phone/mobile under these circumstances, but the thief (in this case a woman) was caught immediately and the cell phone/mobile was immediately returned to its owner.
Well, if Malta does not have a significant number of police officers on the streets, then what is the key to being such a safe country? Well one of the main ones is that unemployment is virtually non-existent on the island. With a rate of 4.1% in August 2020, even in mid-pandemic, Malta is one of the European (and even worldwide) countries with the lowest unemployment rate. Likewise, surveillance camera circuits cover a large area of the island's urban areas, making it easy to monitor, and this is an important deterrent.
Despite the fact that the security situation in Malta, in general terms, is very good and crime is relatively low, it is always advisable to take basic precautions in entertainment areas or nightclubs, as well as in areas with the highest concentration of tourists. It is necessary to avoid leaving belongings unattended for a long time and to leave important objects at home, as far as possible, such as passports or international credit cards that we are not going to use, since they can be lost in some carelessness.
We recommend that you take extra care when you are in the Paceville area, as it is a very busy place with nightlife and lots of people passing through, so it can be very easy to misplace something, sometimes without realizing it. If you are partying, take care of your belongings.
Beach safety
During the summer, many beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and operate flag safety systems. Be sure to understand the system and follow the warnings; red flags indicate dangerous conditions. You should swim within designated swimming areas and be especially careful if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs. Here is the signage used by the lifeguards so you can familiarize yourself with it:
Before bathing, it is necessary to pay attention to the possible presence of jellyfish on the beaches.
The great majority of the beaches are of limestone rock. Most of the few sandy beaches are located in the northern part of the island of Malta. They are the widest beaches, but also the most crowded and the ones with the most services and animation. If you decide to carry out any type of activity or water sport, it is recommended to reconfirm if the coverage offered by your insurance covers accidents related to this type of activities.
It is advisable to take special care when hiring any water activities, verifying the possession of an official license that authorizes the owner to offer such water activities, in addition to the mandatory insurance in case of accident. If you have doubts about any service to rent, you can consult us directly to the Boom Malta team, we will be happy to help you. You should also take precautions on those beaches that may present rockslides, such as St. Peter's Pool, Kalanka or Ghar Lapsi.
Safety for women
Finally, a fact that we think you should also know about safety in Malta is that it was also recognized for being a very safe destination for women, considering that sometimes traveling alone can be a concern, you can see it in the Ranking Global Wealth Migration Review 2019 in which it ranks 2nd! The report commented, "Women's safety is one of the best ways to measure the potential for wealth growth across a country, with a correlation of over 90% between historical wealth growth and women's safety levels." Malta has everything under control in order to deliver the best experience.
Our students, particularly those from Latin America, always tell us that one of the things they like most about living in Malta is the possibility of feeling safe and not being afraid on the streets. We really believe that makes a big difference in everyone's daily life.
Key contact numbers
Keep these numbers handy in case you need them:
Police: (+356) 2122 4001-7
Firefighters/Ambulance: 112
Mater Dei Hospital: +356 2545 0000
No doubt the island is full of surprises and adventures to discover, and what better than doing it in a safe environment! For example, here we leave you some of our entries where we zoom in on the northern part of Malta and the southern part of Malta.
One of the most important aspects of a good quality of life is not to be afraid, to be able to go about our daily lives peacefully, men and women, young and old, all knowing that the security levels are really excellent. Of course, it is always advisable that all residents take the necessary care, but those of us who come from the big cities of the Spanish-speaking world, know very well how to take care of ourselves and will appreciate this atmosphere of tranquility in the Mediterranean.
Remember to follow us on our social networks for more information and interesting facts to help you make the most of your stay on the island. Let's go!
