Malta Time Zone – What Time Is It in Malta?

by
Malta time zone

Malta—like many Central European countries—is in the Central European Time Zone. During the winter, it follows CET (UTC+1), and in the summer, it switches to CEST (UTC+2). In everyday terms, this means the time in Malta is the same as in Italy, Germany, or other nearby European countries: if it’s 12:00 in Berlin or Rome, it’s also 12:00 in Malta—year-round.

Daylight Saving Time in Malta

Malta observes daylight saving time according to EU rules. So there’s no difference compared to most other European countries.

The switch to summer time happens in the spring (on the last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM), and it ends in the fall (on the last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM). That’s when you set the clock forward in spring, and back in fall. If you’re traveling with a smartphone or laptop, the time will adjust automatically—just make sure automatic time zone updates are enabled.

Time Differences – What Should You Expect?

  • Italy, France, Germany, Central Europe: No time difference. Malta shares the same time zone all year.
  • United Kingdom: Malta is always one hour ahead (when it’s 11:00 in London, it’s 12:00 in Malta).
  • Istanbul: In winter, Istanbul is two hours ahead of Malta; in summer, it’s one hour ahead.
  • New York: Malta is six hours ahead year-round (when it’s 6:00 AM in New York, it’s 12:00 PM in Malta). The only exception is a one-week window in spring, when the U.S. switches to daylight saving time earlier.

Practical Tips

  • Flight tickets and schedules are always listed in local time. If you’re connecting through different time zones, always double-check which city’s local time is being shown.
  • For calendar invites, it helps to use the Europe/Malta time zone setting so everything syncs properly across devices and platforms.
  • Malta commonly uses the 24-hour clock, but you’ll often see the 12-hour format too—especially for restaurant bookings and event times. In this case, AM means morning, PM means afternoon. 12 AM is midnight, and 12 PM is noon.
  • There’s no time difference between Sicily and Malta, so if you’re taking a ferry or flight between the two, there’s no need to worry about adjusting the time.

Malta Time Zone FAQs

What time zone is Malta in?

Malta is in the Central European Time (CET) zone during the winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in the summer.

Does Malta observe daylight saving time?

Yes, Malta follows daylight saving time in line with European Union regulations. Clocks move forward one hour in spring and back one hour in fall.

Is Malta in the same time zone as Italy, France, and Germany?

Yes, Malta shares the same time zone with countries like Italy, Germany, and other Central European nations—CET/CEST.

How many hours ahead is Malta from the UK?

Malta is always one hour ahead of the United Kingdom.

What’s the time difference between Malta and New York?

Malta is typically six hours ahead of New York throughout the year, with a short exception in spring due to the U.S. switching to daylight saving time earlier.

What time format is used in Malta—12-hour or 24-hour?

Both are used. The 24-hour format is common for official schedules, while restaurants and activities may use the 12-hour AM/PM format.

Will my phone automatically adjust to Malta’s local time?

Yes, as long as your device is set to automatic time zone updates, it will switch to the local time upon arrival in Malta.

Is there a time difference between Malta and Sicily?

No, there is no time difference between Malta and Sicily—they are in the same time zone all year round.

Leave a Comment