Why Should You Move to Malta?
If you're looking for a new country to move to, if you are looking to emigrate abroad and not sure where to go, this is the right place for you. Let's discuss Malta. It's very possible you've never heard of Malta, so today I will share with you six reasons why you should make this island your new home. Anyone looking to live in another country should consider the Mediterranean island of Malta. Life here is easy and I'm sure there will be a whole host of pros to starting your life again, abroad.
An Introduction to Malta
Malta is a teeny tiny little country located just south of Sicily. It's 316 km2 with a population, by now, of nearly 500,000 (compare that to London, which is 1,572 km2). The national languages are jointly Maltese and English and you do not need to know Maltese to live here. You'll enjoy a very typical Mediterranean life, with long hot summers and short mild winters and a heavy focus on food and socialising. Malta is part of the EU, which makes moving here, for other EU nationals, incredibly easy.
In Malta...
So, let's look at my top six reasons for moving to Malta.
1. In Malta... they speak English
English is the joint official language, along with their national language, Maltese, and English is enough to live here. For better or for worse, you don't need Maltese at all to live in Malta, in fact, many Maltese people either don't know Maltese or rarely speak it. The language itself is a mix of Italian, English and Arabic, making it incredibly hard to learn. 99% of the island speaks English so if, like me, languages are not your forte, there is no need to worry.
2. In Malta... the sun is always shining
Malta boasts 300 days of sunshine a year, on average. The summers are long and very, very hot, and the winters are mild and sunny. There is some rain in the winter, and it feels a lot colder than the temperature registers due to the humidity and lack of central heating, but the sun is almost always shining. Even on those days where it rains, it's generally a wet hour then back to glorious sunshine.
3. In Malta... the life is easy
Malta is a mediterranean island, so the lifestyle is very laid back. No one is ever in a rush on this island. This can be infuriating when you first move here, if you are used to fast paced efficiency, but once you settle into the Maltese way of life, it's incredibly gratifying. There is always time to breathe, to stop and smell the roses. You don't miss the important things in life because you're too busy stressing about the small things. No matter how bad your day was, you'll walk home, lifted by the sunshine, see people smiling and happy all around you and you will instantly relax and remember that life is good.
4. In Malta... it's easy to get away
Malta is a small island, and has the potential to become suffocating. Make sure you never get to that point by utilising the many public holidays and as many weekends and vacations as possible to grab cheap flights to all over Europe. Yes, some destinations are still a bit of a bitch to get to, we are a small island with a limited amount of routes, but there are some insanely cheap flights to many beautiful destinations in Europe, perfect for a long weekend. Go and get that big city feeling again, enjoy the hustle and bustle then come home to the chilled pace and remember why you left the city in the first place.
5. In Malta... the sea will change your life
Whether you swim or not, whether you have sea legs or are a complete landlubber, there is no downside to having the sea so close every single day. You don't have to get into it, just seeing the incredible blues and greens is enough to enrich anyones life, but of course there are a hoard of added benefits such as chances to swim, snorkeling, diving, sailing, exploring. The sea is an entirely new world and having it on your doorstep will change your life in ways you never dreamt of. I was never one for the sea; I don't like sand or salt, but since living here in Malta, I could never live more than a 10 minute walk from it again!
6. In Malta... we celebrate wins
Life in Malta is all about feeling good and, in the last 7 years, I have found that people celebrate wins, no matter how big or small. Everything is an excuse to grab a picnic and watch the sunset by the beach, go for a glass of wine in the sun, get all your friends together for a long, lazy lunch. We have the good life and we know it.
Malta may not be the cheapest country in Europe any more, yes rent is increasing, the bureaucracy can be maddening, public transport is a bit of a joke, but, on the whole, it's wonderful and you wont find a more charming country to begin a new life.