Driving on Malta: Where Every Road Feels Like an Adventure

01/26/2026

Welcome to Malta: Your First Reality Check 🚦

Every Dutch person who moves to Malta remembers that moment.

You rent a car. You feel confident. You turn the key. You drive off.

And after three minutes you think:

"Wait… is this still a road, or am I already off-road?"

Welcome to Malta — where every drive feels like a mix of Formula 1, Mario Kart, and an obstacle course.

Officially… Not Great 😬

According to the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024, Malta ranks 89th out of 119 countries when it comes to road quality.

Score: 3.57 out of 7.

Let that sink in.

For comparison:

Netherlands: #2 😎
Belgium: #61
Malta: #89 🕳️

Yes, that means Malta scores lower than countries where you'd expect dirt roads and safari jeeps.

Driving in Malta = Personality Test

Driving here is not transportation. It's character development.

After a few months, you automatically know:

✅ Which potholes to avoid
✅ Which roads change every week
✅ Where cones suddenly appear without explanation
✅ Which "temporary repairs" are permanent

On Malta, you learn the art of micro-steering.

Why Are the Roads Like This?

After living here for a while, you start to understand.

🏗️ 1. Construction Everywhere

Apartments. Hotels. More apartments. Even more apartments.

Every construction site means heavy trucks and broken asphalt.

🌧️ 2. Rain = Instant Damage

When it rains on Malta, roads immediately give up.

Small cracks become craters. Puddles become swimming pools.

🚗 3. Too Many Cars, Too Little Space

Small island. Huge number of cars.

That combination kills roads fast.

🛠️ 4. Creative Repairs

Hole in the road?

➡️ Throw some asphalt on it.
➡️ Done.
➡️ See you next month.

Skills You Develop Automatically 🦸‍♂️

Living and driving in Malta gives you superpowers:

🦸 Reflex braking for shadows (might be a hole)
🦸 Parking where no parking spot exists
🦸 Driving with one eye on the road and one on survival

After a year, Dutch "bad roads" feel like luxury highways.

But Honestly… We Still Love It ❤️

Despite everything, we stay.

We complain. We laugh. We fix our suspension.

But we stay.

Why?

🌞 Sun almost every day
🌊 Sea nearby
🍝 Amazing food
🍷 Long summer nights
🏝️ Island vibes

And yes… sometimes a flat tire.

Worth it.

Malta, we still love you!

Survival Tips for Driving in Malta

If you want to keep your sanity, follow these rules:

✔️ Don't rent a brand-new car
✔️ Get full insurance
✔️ Drive defensively
✔️ Expect chaos
✔️ Laugh about it

Pro tip: Swear in Dutch. Nobody understands you anyway. 😉

Conclusion: #89 on Paper, #1 in Experience

Yes, Malta ranks 89. Yes, the roads are bad. Yes, your car will suffer.

But life here is still amazing.

Living on Malta means:

➡️ Sunshine every day
➡️ Adventure every drive
➡️ A new pothole every week

And honestly?

That's part of the charm.

📢 Do you have a "favorite" bad road in Malta? Share it with us and tag NedMalta!

Together, we survive the potholes. 😄🚗

The best and worst roads in the world!