Malta drives on the left because it was British for more than 150 years. Britain took over in 1800 and the last British forces left in 1979. Several things that look familiar to British visitors come from that period, and the roads are the most obvious one.
How long British rule lasted
France held Malta briefly at the end of the 1790s. The Maltese rebelled, asked Britain for help, and Britain stayed on.
Malta became independent in 1964 and a republic in 1974. The last British forces left on 31 March 1979, and that date is now a public holiday called Freedom Day.
What driving on the left means here
Traffic keeps left and hire cars are right-hand drive. Roundabouts run clockwise, so you give way to the right. Speed limits and distances are in kilometres.
Roads in the villages are narrow and often have cars parked on both sides. Junctions are tight.
If you have not driven on the left before, the first hour is the hard part, and it is easier to start outside a town. There is more on driving in Malta and on hiring a car.
Residents swapping a licence should read how the exchange works before the deadline rather than after it.
Plugs and voltage are British too
Sockets take the same three-pin plug as the United Kingdom and run at 230 volts. If you are coming from anywhere else in Europe you need an adapter.
Hotels sometimes have a two-pin socket in the bathroom, but you cannot count on it. There is a fuller list in the visitor essentials.
English is an official language
English and Maltese are both official. English is used in government, business, the courts and much of the school system. Signs, menus and forms are usually in both, or in English alone.
The smaller leftovers
Post boxes are red. A few old red telephone boxes are still standing, mostly kept for the look of them.
Some street names are still the English ones alongside the Maltese. A lot of everyday Maltese vocabulary for office and machine words came straight from English.
