Currency in Malta: Euros, Cards, Cash and ATM Fees

What currency does Malta use?

The euro is Malta's official currency and the only one you can spend there. If you are arriving from another eurozone country, your wallet already works and there is nothing to exchange. The Maltese lira is history: it stopped circulating when Malta joined the euro in 2008, so any lira you see is a collector's item rather than spending money.

Prices are quoted in euros across the islands, including on Gozo and Comino, and you will see the familiar euro notes and coins rather than anything local. Sterling, dollars and other currencies are not taken at the till, so change money or withdraw euros before you need to pay for anything. Budgeting is easier once you know which costs are fixed, and our guide to whether Malta is expensive sets out what food, transport and sights actually cost.

Can you use cards and contactless payments in Malta?

Yes, and comfortably so. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, contactless terminals are standard, and hotels, supermarkets and most restaurants take cards without fuss. Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever you see the card logos, so you can travel with a phone and a backup card.

The exceptions are worth knowing. Small family-run shops, market stalls and kiosks may only take cash, and that includes some of the little outfits selling boat trips. American Express is accepted less often than Visa and Mastercard, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan. Revolut and other fintech cards generally work fine, which makes a multi-currency travel card practical for a trip that also takes in another eurozone country.

Where do you still need cash in Malta?

Carry a modest float of notes for the small transactions that cards handle badly: market stalls, independent cafés and snack bars, kiosks and corner shops. Keep a few mixed notes and coins rather than a thick wallet, and top it up when it runs down. That covers a coffee, a bus fare or a small souvenir without leaving you exposed.

Cash also matters for tips and for guides or drivers, where a note is easier than adding to a card payment. Treat carrying cash as an ordinary travel precaution rather than a response to any particular risk, and keep the bulk of your money on a card or in a safe place. Our Malta tips cover the rest of the practical kit, including the Malta plug type you need for charging.

Should you withdraw euros from an ATM or bring cash?

Withdrawing euros from a bank ATM in Malta is the simplest route for most travellers, and cash machines are easy to find in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's and Mdina. If you are arriving from outside the eurozone, it helps to hold a little euro cash for a taxi or a drink on arrival, then draw the rest as you need it.

The trade-off is between convenience and cost. Airport and hotel exchange desks are convenient on arrival and save you a detour, but they typically offer weaker rates than banks or licensed exchange offices in town. Airport desks are a reasonable stop for a starter amount and a poor place to change a fortnight's spending money. Withdraw a medium amount rather than many small amounts, so a fixed fee is spread over more cash.

Before you confirm any withdrawal, check what your own bank charges for using a card abroad. Fees depend on your account rather than on Malta, and some cards add a foreign transaction fee on top of any ATM charge.

Which ATMs and banks can you use in Malta?

Bank ATMs are the ones to look for, and the names you will see around the islands include HSBC, Bank of Valletta, Lombard and APS Bank. They take the usual international cards, including Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, while some other networks are handled less consistently. Bank branches can also exchange money, though counter service runs to weekday hours rather than evenings and weekends.

Read the screen before you press confirm. Many Maltese ATMs offer to charge you in your home currency, which shifts the exchange rate in the machine's favour; choose euros instead and let your bank do the conversion. Check the fee shown on screen, and if it looks high, cancel and try another machine.

Where can you exchange money in Malta, and where are the rates worst?

Licensed exchange bureaus and banks are the places to change cash, and bureaus are common in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's and at Malta International Airport. Well-known providers include NOUV Exchange, Fexserv and Lombard Bank exchange counters, alongside the main banks. Compare the rate on the board against a live converter before you hand over notes, because the spread is where the cost hides.

The weakest rates tend to sit where convenience is highest: airport desks, hotel counters and small kiosks near tourist routes. Use them for small amounts when you have no alternative, and do the bulk of your changing in town. If you are heading further afield by car, our guide to driving in Malta covers the paperwork and road habits worth knowing before you collect a hire car.

Should you pay in euros or your home currency at the card machine?

Always choose euros. When a terminal or ATM offers to convert the amount into sterling or dollars for you, it is applying its own rate, and that rate is rarely in your favour. Paying in euros lets your bank or card provider handle the conversion, which is usually the better deal.

The same logic applies online when you book a ferry, a tour or a ticket before you travel. If a site offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in EUR. Keeping every transaction in euros also makes your statement easier to read when you get home.

Tipping in Malta: what is expected

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is normal, and a small note is welcome for a guide, a taxi driver or hotel staff who have helped. Nothing collapses if you do not tip, so treat it as a courtesy rather than an obligation.

If you want a clearer picture of what to leave and when, our guide to tipping in Malta covers restaurants, taxis and guides. Carry small notes so you can tip without breaking a twenty.

Quick answers on euros, other currencies and card acceptance

Euros are the only currency you can spend in Malta, and cards cover the great majority of payments. Cash still matters for market stalls, small kiosks and tips, so keep a modest float. Withdraw from bank ATMs in town rather than changing large sums at the airport, and always decline an offer to pay in your home currency.

A few practical points sit alongside the money question. If you plan to use your phone for maps and payments, sort out a Malta eSIM before you fly, and keep a physical card as backup.

Travellers heading into churches and museums should also check the Malta dress code, since shoulders and knees are often covered up on entry. None of this changes what is in your wallet, but it does change what you carry.

How to handle money on your Malta trip

Pay in euros, carry a small float of notes for kiosks and tips, and let your card do the heavy lifting everywhere else. Withdraw from bank ATMs in town, decline conversion into your home currency at the machine, and keep airport and hotel exchange desks for emergencies. That combination keeps your costs predictable without turning a holiday into an exercise in fee-spotting.