Our Eighth Digital Nomad Friendly Stop: Malta

Nestled between Sicily and the African Coast, Malta attracts tourists from all over the world for its stunning waters, sunny weather and beautiful beaches. But for digital nomads, this small island country offers everything possible to easily slide into the digital nomad lifestyle and also experience something unique every day.

So, let us ferry to Malta and see what makes this Mediterranean holiday destination your next perfect digital nomad stop!

The turquoise waters of the famous Blue Lagoon in Malta

But, wait. Before we dive into the tons of exciting things you can do in Malta, let us tell you the top 5 reasons that make this small island country super digital nomad friendly!

1. Where can you work remotely in Malta? This is a question every remote worker needs answered when they are looking for cities for digital nomads. The island has several coworking spaces, out of which Glashaus and SOHO top the list of most digital nomads in Malta. There is also a decent cafe culture if you are the kind who likes to mingle with the local population and enjoy a greater variety of workspaces.
   
2. English speakers can rejoice too because English is one of the official languages of Malta, so you won’t be lost in translation!
   
3. Safety-wise the country has been well-rated and it is especially LGBTQ friendly. Case in point: There are tons of gorgeous beaches to unwind on, and Malta’s Qarraba Bay Beach as well as Pembroke’s Beach are the go-to beaches for LGBTQ vacationers!
   
4. The island is also one of the first European countries to initiate a 5G network program. So even though this water-locked haven is away from the mainland, the island enjoys fast internet speeds that many digital nomad friendly countries still lack! 
   
5. Malta has also introduced the digital nomad visa for non-EU citizens. The considerable EU ex-pat community in Malta certainly makes it easier to settle into the global digital nomad community on the island. But, with the nomad residency permit, even non-EU citizens are now seeing Malta as their prospective nomadic home. 
   

Now that you know why Malta is a super welcoming digital nomad friendly stop, let us introduce you to your nomadic life in this Mediterranean archipelago!

The international digital nomad community in Malta is a combination of EU and non-EU citizens

The three islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino make up the Maltese archipelago, wherein each islet can be easily hopped over to using efficient ferry connections. There are so many things to experience on all three of them but we have curated the best ones for digital nomads in Malta. So read on and get a sneak peek of the digital nomad lifestyle in Malta!

Soak up the Maltese history that dates back to 5900 BC!

Maltese history is an interesting mix of rule by Romans, St. John’s Knights, Arabs, Greeks, French and even the English. Therefore, each of the monuments that you will wander in Malta will lead you to a different time and history of the island, which is equal parts beautiful and intriguing.

There are prehistoric temples on the island that are very well-preserved, so much so that at the neolithic Mnajdra Temple you can still observe the astronomical phenomena working with the same precision as they did ages ago. The Ggantija Temples (in Gozo) are also a particularly interesting archaeological site and seem to have appeared on the scene even before the mysterious Stonehenge. These temples form an enchanting complex that still stands tall and belongs to the 3600-3200 BC era!

The extensive catacombs of Malta are a quirky mix of spook and sublime. One such catacomb is the Rabat Complex, which is home to almost 1000 bodies buried deep under the eponymous suburban city. If you are a more daring digital nomad, then do not miss out on the 3 floors of subterranean grave caves at Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum. It is also the only known example of an underground maze-like graveyard in entire Europe!

Outdoor Activities for digital nomads in Malta

Trekking: The rich history of Malta will always accompany you, even on hikes. For the outdoorsy digital nomad, Malta has unique and easy-to-do hikes like the famous Victoria Lines and the 2000-year-old Xemxija Heritage Trail. 

In Gozo, the Xlendi hike is a medium-level, cliff-top trail with an unearthly rose-gold view of the rugged coastline of Malta that is best admired at sunset. 

Tip: The treks are perfect for those who plan to work remotely in Malta through the mild winter months of January till March! 

The clean waters of the natural St. Peter’s Pool

Swimming: Cliff jump into one of the many natural pools of Malta! The popular turquoise waters of St. Peter’s pool will give digital nomads a refreshing reminder of the joys of their life on the road and make them forget about their tight work deadlines. 

Diving: Another way to forget about work is to discover the mysterious marine life of the Mediterranean Sea through nighttime diving in Malta. Moreover, a bonus to diving in Malta is that it has several licensed diving centres if digital nomads are first-time divers! 

Snorkelling: For snorkellers, some of the best and clearest spots are Qawra Point Beach, Crystal Lagoon, Cirkewwa and the unusually luminescent blue waters of the Santa Maria Caves. Of course, all the snorkelling and diving points are excellent for just lying back and soaking up the delicious Mediterranean weather.

Tip: Digital nomads can effortlessly ferry themselves from Malta to the largest island of Italy, Sicily, or even make Italy their next digital nomad stop!

Fun and party for Digital Nomads in Malta

Do not let the small size of this Mediterranean Island fool you. Malta has so much to offer year-round that you would be surprised with the way your untraditional life balances out.

With each pyrotechnic display more beautiful than the other, the Maltese Festa is the perfect time to visit the little villages of Malta as they are decorated to their best and have an exquisite showcase of fireworks to outdo their rival villages!

Malta’s capital city Valetta’s harbour illumined by fireworks

In the atmospheric capital city of Valletta, you can enjoy the popular Notte Bianca – a visual and sensory feast of art, music and delicious Maltese cuisine. On that note, do not miss a chance to gorge on the sumptuous Ravjul, a rustic-style Maltese ravioli, and Pastizzi, a puff pastry with ricotta or pea filling that will become your go-to snack in Malta.

International artists like Jason Derulo and Martin Garrix also pump up the party scene in Malta at the Isle of MTV Festival (usually happens in July). But for a more bohemian and into-the-wild experience, the yet-hidden Hippie Earth Garden Fest is the place to be for remote workers in Malta.

Tip: For pub crawlers, Malta’s St.Julian area is the perfect location to satisfy their inner party animal.

Unique things to do in Malta

Malta has its fair share of unique things to do for digital nomads. 

The original set of the Robin Williams movie, Popeye, is right here in Malta. The seaside set of Popeye’s Village is beautifully perched on a precipice and is a walk down the memory lane for all digital nomads who have grown up with the spinach-eating sailor man. 

The dreamy set of Robin Williams' Popeye in Malta

For an off-the-beaten-track experience and something truly local, the Ta’ Dbiegi Craft Village (Gozo) is the hub of traditional Maltese art including pottery, glass and hand-made lace. So, don’t forget to buy some for yourself or your loved ones as a keepsake from your travels in Malta!

Something totally unmissable and perhaps most-frequented by the digital nomads working remotely in Malta is the sleek city of Sliema. Just a quick ferry ride away from La Valletta, Sliema’s 3 km-long seaside promenade is, surprisingly enough, a calm location to walk down and explore crystal-clear natural pools carved out by the Victorians! 

Solace and peace pervade yet another tranquil city of Malta called Mdina. The fortress city is home to just 300 people and allows you to get lost in the narrow alleys and soulful silence, especially during evenings.

The tranquil harbour with the baroque church of Jesus of Nazareth, Sliema

These are indeed just some of the highlights of the digital nomad life in Malta, there is so much more beauty, history and tranquillity to be explored! 

So are you ready to take things forward and make Malta your next digital nomad home? Start by looking at our wonderful holiday homes in Malta!