💰 Quick Context: The Euro
Malta uses the Euro (EUR / €), having adopted it in 2008. A coffee costs €1.50–3, a restaurant meal €15–35, and a hotel night €80–200. Quick math: the euro and USD are close to parity, so prices in euros are roughly the same in US dollars. Check the current EUR/USD rate before your trip. Valletta and Sliema are very card-friendly, but you should carry some cash for Gozo, village festas, and smaller vendors.
🎧 Order Euros Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order EUR → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Malta
Malta is a mix of modern and traditional when it comes to payments. Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian's are well set up for cards, but smaller towns and Gozo can be more cash-dependent.
Cards work well at hotels, restaurants along Republic Street in Valletta, Sliema seafront restaurants, and St. Julian's Paceville nightlife area. Contactless is standard. Cash is needed at village festas (colourful street festivals), market stalls, Marsaxlokk Sunday fish market, water taxis, and some small family-run restaurants.
Gozo is more cash-reliant. Victoria (Rabat) has card-accepting shops, but rural spots and smaller eateries prefer cash. Keep €50–100 as backup. Extra for Gozo and village festas.
How to Get Euros for Your Malta Trip
Malta uses the euro and is reasonably card-friendly in its tourist core. Valletta's Republic Street, the Sliema seafront, St. Julian's Paceville nightlife strip, and the larger Mdina restaurants all take Visa and Mastercard contactless. Cash still helps at village festas (Malta's colorful patron-saint street festivals, where everything is sold from temporary stalls), the Sunday fish market in Marsaxlokk, water taxis between Sliema and Valletta, and many smaller family-run restaurants. Gozo (the second island) leans more cash-heavy: Victoria's main shopping street takes cards, but rural spots and smaller eateries near Ramla Bay or the Citadel often want euros. Two cheap routes for getting euros: pre-order before takeoff or pull from a Bank of Valletta or HSBC Malta ATM after landing.
Order euros before you fly
For pre-arrival euros, two paths. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euros to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery. Your home bank can also order euros (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi). Allow 3–7 business days. Malta does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner. The cleanest setup for any Malta trip: a Wise or Charles Schwab card for everyday card payments at restaurants and museums, plus a small CEI envelope of euros for festa weekends, Marsaxlokk fish market, and Gozo cafe stops.
Withdraw from a Maltese bank ATM
Once you're in Malta, the cheapest source of euros is one of the major Maltese bank ATMs. Bank of Valletta (BOV) (the largest network), HSBC Malta, APS Bank, and MeDirect all give the actual interbank rate with no markup, and they don't add an operator fee on foreign cards. Withdrawal limits run roughly €500–1,000 per transaction. Bank ATMs cluster around Valletta (Republic Street), Sliema (the Strand and Tower Road), St. Julian's (Spinola Bay), and at MLA airport arrivals. Coverage on Gozo concentrates in Victoria/Rabat. Avoid the standalone Euronet machines that have appeared at Mellieha tourist hubs and along the St. Julian's Paceville strip; they tack on operator fees and push DCC. Decline DCC every time the screen offers "charge in USD". See the Best ATMs section below for the bank-by-bank lineup. Want to know what a BOV withdrawal will actually cost on your card? Drop it into our ATM fee calculator.
Airport counters & "0% commission" booths
Three traps to walk past in Malta. The Travelex and ChangeGroup counters in arrivals at MLA (Malta International) advertise rates that look reasonable but routinely run 5–12% off the interbank rate. The downtown exchange windows along Republic Street in Valletta and around Bay Street in St. Julian's use the "no commission" framing while baking the markup straight into the rate. And the standalone Euronet machines and other independent ATMs that have appeared in Sliema and Mellieha layer DCC pitches on top of operator fees. Stick to bank-branded ATMs at BOV, HSBC Malta, APS Bank, or MeDirect, decline DCC, and walk past anything labeled "no commission". Malta does not yet have a city-specific guide on this site, but the Best ATMs section below covers the bank lineup.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-to-EUR timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Best ATMs to Use in Malta
Malta's major banks (BOV, HSBC Malta, APS Bank) operate ATMs across the islands. These machines typically do not charge an operator fee for foreign card withdrawals, though your home bank may charge its own foreign transaction fee. Always choose EUR when prompted.
Bank of Valletta (BOV)
Malta's largest bank with the most extensive ATM network. You will find BOV ATMs in Valletta, Sliema, airport arrivals, and virtually every town across Malta and Gozo.
Recommended
HSBC Malta
Second-largest bank in Malta with wide ATM coverage. HSBC ATMs are found in major towns, shopping centres, and tourist areas. Reliable machines with English-language interfaces.
Recommended
APS Bank
A growing Maltese bank with ATMs in most towns. APS Bank machines are straightforward and typically do not charge foreign card fees.
Recommended
BNF Bank
Smaller Maltese bank (formerly Banif Bank) with ATMs in key locations. A good alternative if BOV or HSBC machines are busy or unavailable.
Recommended⚠ Watch Out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
When an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in USD instead of EUR, always decline. Choosing USD means accepting a 3–8% markup hidden in their exchange rate. This is especially common at tourist-area ATMs and some restaurants. Always select "EUR" or "local currency" at every prompt.
ATMs to Avoid in Malta
Independent ATMs have become more common in Malta's tourist zones. They often charge extra fees and push DCC with poor exchange rates. Stick to the bank ATMs listed above.
Euronet
Found near tourist hotspots in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian's. Euronet ATMs aggressively push DCC and charge operator fees. Walk a few minutes to find a BOV or HSBC ATM instead.
AvoidStandalone Tourist-Area ATMs
Unbranded machines in souvenir shops, near ferry terminals, and along the Sliema waterfront. These typically charge €3–5 per withdrawal and offer unfavorable exchange rates through DCC.
AvoidPaying by Card in Malta
Card Networks
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually all hotels, restaurants, shops, and Lidl/Pavi supermarkets. American Express has limited acceptance. Discover has very limited acceptance.
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Tap-to-pay is common in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian's. Transactions under €50 need no PIN. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at modern terminals. Gozo Channel ferry accepts cards. The Valletta-Sliema harbour ferry may require cash.
Where Cards May Not Work
Village festas (June through September) are cash-only for food stalls, drinks, and fireworks viewing. Rural Gozo restaurants outside Victoria prefer cash. Marsaxlokk Sunday fish market and open-air markets are mostly cash-only. Some parking meters accept coins only.
Tipping in Malta
Tipping Guide
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. At restaurants, 5–10% is a nice gesture. Rounding up is common. Cafes: leave small change. Taxis: round up or add €1–2. Tour guides for Mdina walking tours or Blue Grotto boat trips: €5–10 per person. Hotel porters: €1–2.
Malta & Gozo: Practical Money Tips
Things to Know
Eurozone member since 2008. Malta replaced the Lira with the Euro. Valletta and Sliema are very card-friendly. You can go cashless for most activities. Gozo needs more cash, especially outside Victoria (Rabat). Malta Airport (MLA) has BOV and HSBC ATMs in arrivals.
Summer festas (June through September): bring €20–30 for street food, ħobs biż-żejt (bread with tomato), and drinks. Boat trips: advance bookings accept cards, but on-the-day and smaller operators may need cash.
Money Safety in Malta
Staying Safe
Use ATMs at BOV or HSBC branches rather than Euronet machines near Upper Barrakka Gardens or Paceville. Watch for pickpockets on Republic Street, at festas, and in Paceville's nightlife district. Malta is a eurozone member, so most card issuers do not flag transactions.
Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees
The Wise card converts your money at the real mid-market exchange rate. No markups, no surprises. Spend euros like a local.
Get the Wise Card →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash in Malta?
Some. Valletta and Sliema are card-friendly, but village festas, Marsaxlokk market, water taxis, and Gozo need cash. €50–100 is a good backup.
Do I need extra cash for Gozo?
Yes. Gozo is more cash-dependent than Malta. The Gozo Channel ferry accepts cards, but restaurants and shops outside Victoria often prefer cash.
Is tipping expected in Malta?
Appreciated but not mandatory. 5–10% at restaurants is generous. Rounding up is common. Service charge is not typically included.
What are village festas?
Colourful summer street festivals (June through September) celebrating patron saints. Food stalls, fireworks, and music. Almost entirely cash-only. Bring €20–30.
Are Euronet ATMs in Malta bad?
Yes. Found near Valletta's tourist sites and Sliema. Push DCC and charge operator fees. Use BOV or HSBC ATMs instead.
Is Malta expensive?
Moderate for Europe. A restaurant meal costs €12–25, a beer €3–5, and a hotel night €80–200. Cheaper than Italy or France, comparable to southern Spain.
Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-FX-fee card (contactless) | Best (no fees, mid-market rate) | ★★★★★ | Daily spending in Valletta, Sliema, restaurants |
| Maltese bank ATMs (BOV, HSBC, etc.) | Low (no operator fee, fair rate) | ★★★★★ | Cash for Gozo, festas, and markets |
| Euronet / independent ATMs | High (fees + poor rates + DCC) | ★★★☆☆ | Never recommended |
| Airport exchange counters | High (5–12% markup) | ★★☆☆☆ | Absolute emergency only |
Malta Quick Facts
| Currency | Euro (EUR / €). Close to USD parity |
| Cash vs. Card | Card-friendly in Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's. €50–100 cash backup |
| Best ATMs | Bank of Valletta (BOV), HSBC Malta, APS Bank, BNF Bank |
| Contactless Limit | €50 without PIN |
| Card Acceptance | Good in Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's. Less reliable on Gozo and at festas |
| Tipping | 5–10% at restaurants, not mandatory |
| DCC Risk | Moderate at Euronet machines near Upper Barrakka and Sliema. Always choose EUR |
| Best Strategy | No-FX-fee card for most spending. Bank ATM cash for Gozo and festas |