Short answer: If you want an app to meet people in Malta, MeetNow is built for exactly that, and Malta is where it went live first. Instead of chatting with strangers and hoping something comes of it, you join a plan: a host posts a dinner, a drink, a padel game, a run or a concert at a real public place, says who pays, and picks who comes. It is free and live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, with the iPhone and Android apps coming soon.
This page explains why plan-based meeting suits Malta so well, what kinds of plans work on the island, how MeetNow works in practice and how to stay safe when you meet someone new. If you are completely new to the app, start with what MeetNow is and how it works.
Why a plan-based app suits Malta
Malta is small, sociable and full of people who are new to it: students on a semester abroad, people who have moved for work, others who have come back after years away, and plenty of locals whose friends have scattered. Many of them want the same thing: someone to do something with.
A few things about the island make plans easy:
- Short distances. Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta are close together, so a plan across town is rarely a long trip.
- Lots of public places to meet. Seafront promenades, squares, cafés, restaurants, sports courts and beaches are everywhere, which suits a plan that has to happen somewhere public.
- A long outdoor season. Walks, runs, swims and terrace dinners are part of everyday life for much of the year.
- A mixed crowd. English is an official language of Malta alongside Maltese, so plans can bring together locals, students and people from abroad without a language barrier.
What tends to be missing is not places to go, but a simple way to find people who want to go at the same time. That is the gap a MeetNow plan fills.
Plan ideas that work in Malta
Popular plans in Malta are usually simple: food, a drink, a game, something outdoors or something to watch. The examples below show the kind of plans a host might post. They are illustrations of how a plan is set up, not real listings, and the places are general areas rather than specific venues.
| Plan type | Where (kind of place) | Seats | Who pays (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning coffee | A café on the Sliema seafront | 2 | Host pays |
| After-work drinks | A bar in Valletta | 4 | Pay your own |
| Group dinner | A restaurant in St Julian’s | 5 | Split |
| Padel doubles | A padel club court | 3 | Split (court booking) |
| Easy run | The Sliema–St Julian’s promenade | 4 | Free |
| Beach afternoon | A public beach in the north | 4 | Free |
| Concert | A concert venue in Valletta | 3 | Pay your own ticket |
A good plan is specific. “Dinner in St Julian’s, Friday at 20:00, 5 seats, split” tells people exactly what they are agreeing to. “Let’s hang out sometime” does not.
Coffee and drinks
Coffee or a single drink is the lowest-commitment first plan there is. It is short, it happens somewhere busy, and nobody has to clear a whole evening. A host can make it easy to say yes by choosing a well-known spot, keeping the seats small and saying clearly whether everyone pays their own.
Dinners
A shared table is one of the best ways to get to know people, and it is also where money questions come up most. On MeetNow the host decides up front whether it is host pays, split or pay your own, so guests know what to expect before they ask to join.
Sport and outdoor plans
Padel needs four players, five-a-side needs ten, and a run is more fun with someone to keep pace with. A plan with a fixed number of seats solves the “we are one short” problem neatly. Outdoor plans such as a walk, a run or a swim are often free, which makes them an easy first plan for newcomers.
Concerts and culture
Going to a concert, a show or a festival alone is fine, but it is often better with company. A host can post the plan with “pay your own ticket” so everyone buys their own and meets at the venue.
How MeetNow works in Malta
MeetNow works the same way wherever a plan is posted. In short:
- A host posts a plan at a real public place, with the date, time, number of seats and who pays: host pays, split, pay your own, or free.
- People ask to join with a short note.
- The host sees each person’s profile and note, and accepts or declines.
- Accepted guests get a group chat to sort out the details.
- After the plan, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.
The host can also limit who can join a plan, for example by gender or age range. MeetNow is plans, not profiles, so it is not a dating app: you are joining a plan, not swiping on people. The full walkthrough is in the MeetNow app explainer.
Who MeetNow in Malta is for
MeetNow is for anyone in Malta who would rather meet people by doing something together than by messaging back and forth. That includes:
- Students who want company beyond their course or their flat.
- Expats and people who have just moved and are building a social life from scratch.
- Locals whose usual group is busy, has moved away or does not share a particular interest, such as padel or live music.
- People on a longer stay who want to see the island with others.
You do not have to host. Many people will start by asking to join other people’s plans, and host once they have an idea of their own.
Plans in Gozo
Gozo is part of Malta, and the same rules apply to a plan there as anywhere else: a real public place, a date, a time, seats and who pays. If your plan involves crossing over, remember to allow for the ferry. The Gozo Channel ferry runs between Ċirkewwa on Malta and Mġarr on Gozo, and its timetable is on the official site. Putting the meeting point and the crossing in the plan description saves the group chat a lot of questions.
Staying safe when you meet new people in Malta
Safety box. MeetNow plans happen at public places, the host chooses who joins and can limit who can join, and anyone can block a user. Whenever you meet someone new, also:
- Meet at a public place and stay in public for the plan.
- Tell a friend where you are going, who with and when you expect to be back.
- Arrange your own way home. Check the last bus on Malta Public Transport or plan a taxi in advance, so you never rely on someone you have just met.
- Leave if you feel uncomfortable, at any point, without needing to explain.
Is MeetNow available in Malta?
Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta, so there is nothing to install: open it in your browser and see the plans near you. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. You can also read about the team behind MeetNow or get in touch with MeetNow if you have a question.
Frequently asked questions
Is MeetNow available in Malta yet?
Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com now, starting in Malta. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
Is MeetNow for expats or for locals?
Both. MeetNow is for anyone in Malta who wants to meet people in person through a plan: locals, expats, students and people on a longer stay.
Can I post or join plans in Gozo?
Gozo is part of Malta, and a plan there works like any other: a real public place, a date and time, seats and who pays. If the plan involves the ferry, mention the crossing in the plan.
Is MeetNow free?
Yes. MeetNow is free for hosts and guests. Any cost belongs to the plan itself, and every plan shows who pays: host pays, split, pay your own, or free.
Is MeetNow a dating app?
No. MeetNow is plans, not profiles. You ask to join a dinner, a drink, a game or a concert, rather than swiping on people.
Do I have to host a plan to meet people?
No. You can simply ask to join plans that other people host. Hosting is optional, and you can start whenever you have an idea for a plan.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web now, starting in Malta, with the phone apps on the way: open MeetNow and see the plans near you.
