Here are the Apps to download when on holiday in Malta
30 August 2023
We find various uses for apps in our life. We use them to navigate, to board the right bus, to share selfies, to tweet... the list goes on. I thought I'd have a look around for apps which could be useful when visiting Malta and found the following.
VisitMalta
tourism guide app
★★★☆☆
I expected the official Government tourist board's app to be less basic. Its map pinpoints beaches, natural attractions, restaurants, nightlife, diving spots, museums, theatres etc. I'd have expected more restaurants and its activities to have more information on where they're situated. The events section could be handy although I found some of the events to be confusing (wrong dates).
It Happened Here: Stella
history app
★★★★★
Walking through the streets of history-rich towns, have you ever wished to own a time machine that allows you to go back and live through their history? Sometimes talking to old residents who've lived through those times, you feel as though you have. In Senglea, one of the Three Cities, this app facilitates that. Guided by the fictional character of Stella, a young woman living in post-war Senglea, you can walk the streets, unlocking chapters at different landmarks through GPS. You'll hear different interviews, stories about the local characters who inhabited the city all those years back.
eCabs
taxi app
★★★★☆
There's a choice of taxi apps you would not expect on these tiny islands. Bolt and eCabs seem to be the most established and therefore the ones with most cars and Uber seems to have entered the market rather recently. Both Bolt and eCabs, unlike Uber, offer the option to pay in cash. To find the cheapest, you'll need to enter your destination in all of the apps because their prices are dynamic (they change according to demand).
MCC Augmented Reality
Sacra Infermeria app
★★★★★
The Knights Hospitallers' Sacra Infermeria in Valletta was one of the most technologically advanced of its time, a 16th century hospital meant for pilgrims traveling towards the holy land. The museum experience within the building, now known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre is enhanced through the augmented reality of this app. It will transport you back in time, to interact with the main characters and be part of its history. Most reviews found the experience engaging.
Tallinja
public transport app
★★★☆☆
Using public transport has many advantages. You get to sit with the locals, no better opportunity to get talking and obtain valuable insights in Malta's way of life.
The app helps you plan your trips around the islands. I've not had the opportunity to use this app myself as I usually find Google maps suits me fine. The three stars above are based on other users reviews on the app itself.
Bluebird - Learn Maltese
Maltese language app
★★★★☆
Learning a few phrases in Maltese puts you at an advantage when visiting Malta. People will be grateful even if you only speak a few words of the language because most visitors don't make the effort. I've not much to go on as regards Bluebird's course in Maltese but the reviews for their other courses speak highly of them.
ch!tzo
what's on guide app
★★★★☆
NO LONGER AVAILABLE
An events app promises to allow you to find what you want, when you want, where you want, potentially for the price you want, across the widest range of things to do. You won't ever say there wasn't anything to do on your holiday to Malta.
Malta Flora & Fauna
discover nature app
★★★★☆
If walking and nature are your cup of tea, this handy app not only helps you put a name to the plants you come across on your walks in Malta, but also gives you the opportunity to submit geo-tagged photos to help the environment authority to discover and record new endemic and alien species you come across (you super botanist).
Clean and Upkeep
good citizen app
★★★★☆
One of the things which irritate me when travelling to places I love is the disrespect that's sometimes shown by others towards a place as well as authorities' lack of maintenance. Here's an app where you can report fly-tipping, issues of cleaning, maintenance or general upkeep straight to the relevant authority. You'll feel better for it and Malta will be better next time you're around. I haven't tested the app. The efficacy of such an app depends of course on the action or lack of by the authorities following the report.
