How safe is Malta for travelers?

The sea

• Malta's coast is mostly rock, not sand, and shelves steeply.
• Currents around Comino and the Blue Lagoon are strong and boats are numerous - a bad combination for swimmers.
• Beaches fly warning flags and they mean it; the north-westerly gregale makes the sea genuinely dangerous some days.
• Cliff paths at Dingli and elsewhere are unfenced.

Roads

• Driving on the left, narrow roads and assertive driving combine badly - see the transport section.
• Pedestrian crossings are treated as advisory by some drivers.
• Hired scooters and quad bikes account for a large share of visitor injuries.

Crime

• Malta is among the safest countries in Europe and violent crime against visitors is very rare.
• Pickpocketing in Valletta and the Sliema promenade is at the usual low level.
• Paceville at night is the one place where drink-related trouble and inflated bar bills occur.