Watersports are extremely popular in Malta, where the climate and sea conditions are perfect for year-round activity. There are excellent conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling, particularly as the sea temperature never drops below 13 degrees C (55 degrees F), even in winter. The best sites are on the northern coast of Malta.

There are also a number of highly popular spectator sports, including national water polo competitions, horse-racing, clay pigeon shooting and football.

Malta has one golf course, located at the Royal Malta Golf Club, which is adjacent to the Marsa Sports and Country Club, on the road to the airport from Valetta.

There are a wide range of festivals celebrated in Malta, the biggest one being the annual Carnival held in early Spring. This boisterous and lively festival centres on Valetta, but many other towns and villages have their own versions of Carnival. Festivals in Malta often include fireworks, bare-back horse riding through the streets, singing and dancing.

Malta's main towns offer lively nightlife, with a range of nightclubs, discos and bars, including a recent proliferation of Irish pubs. Maltese beer and wine are widely available, and of a good standard, as well as foreign wines, beers and spirits.

There are two casinos, in St. Julian's and Vittoriosa. Malta also has a theatre, the Manoel, which stages West End plays, ballet, concerts and pantomimes. There are also a number of cinemas across the islands.

Malta has a wide range of eating establishments offering a variety of cuisine, from up-market restaurants to fish and chip shops and other fast-food bars.

Shopping hours in Malta are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., from Mondays to Saturdays. Shops are closed on Sundays.