Public Holidays and Opening Hours in Malta

Malta has national and public holidays, while government offices, attractions, shops and services can also use seasonal or feast-day hours. There is no single rule for every business.

Check the official page for the exact service and date. On an important day, confirm again shortly before travelling.

A public holiday changes different services in different ways

Public offices

Appointments and counters may close on public holidays and use shorter summer schedules.

Local feasts

Road closures, parking changes, fireworks and temporary service diversions can affect a locality.

Private businesses

Supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant and retail hours are set by the operator and can change seasonally.

What to verify the day before

• Is the place open for normal hours or a reduced schedule? Check Opening Hours shortly before the visit or journey.
• Does the last bus or ferry change?
• Are roads or parking restricted for an event?
• Is an emergency or on-call service available? Check Government Services for the current service and contact route.
• Will a booking still be honoured at the stated time?

Plan around a holiday or feast day

1. Confirm whether the date is a national or public holiday.
2. Check the exact business, attraction or office rather than assuming one rule.
3. Recheck public transport and ferry timetables.
4. Book restaurants or popular activities where demand will rise.
5. Expect locality-specific road closures during feasts and events.
6. Handle banking, pharmacy and government errands before the closure where possible.

Published hours can be overridden by a special notice

Check the operator's current notice close to the date, particularly for small businesses, museums, health services and inter-island travel.

Useful next guides

Start with Living in Malta: Complete Everyday Life Guide for the wider picture.

• Local Councils in Malta: Services Residents Can Use
• Maltese and English in Malta: Language in Daily Life

Browse all Everyday Life guides.

For travel planning, use our routes and service-update guide.

Confirm the return journey

Do not plan only how to arrive; holiday and event timetables most often catch people on the way home.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Recheck the official sources in the article metadata when a deadline, price, eligibility rule or service arrangement affects your decision.