MeetNow Malta expats guide: meeting people as a newcomer

Short answer: this MeetNow Malta expats guide explains how newcomers can use MeetNow to meet people in person on the island. You join plans that other people post at public places, such as a coffee in Sliema, a padel game or a dinner in Valletta, by asking with a short note; or you post your own plan and choose who comes. Every plan says up front who pays. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta, with the iPhone and Android apps coming soon.

Moving to Malta is exciting, and it can also be lonely at first. Work keeps you busy during the week, everyone else seems to have their weekend plans sorted, and it is not always obvious how to get from “I’d like to meet people” to an actual table with actual people. MeetNow is designed for exactly that gap: it is built around plans, not profiles. This guide covers how it works for expats, plan ideas for your first months, and how to make the most of it.

How MeetNow works for expats in Malta

MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person. In short:

1. 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.
2. People ask to join with a short note.
3. The host accepts or declines each request, and can limit who can join, for example by gender or age range.
4. Accepted guests get a group chat to sort out the details.
5. Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.

For newcomers, three things make this format useful. First, you do not need to know anyone: you choose a plan that sounds good and ask. Second, there is a concrete place and time, so you skip the endless “we should meet up sometime” chats. Third, the money question is settled before you go, which matters when you are still working out what things cost on the island. For the full picture, see our pillar guide to MeetNow as an app to meet people in Malta.

Plan ideas for expats in their first months

The easiest plans for newcomers are short, central and low-cost. Some ideas, with the who-pays option that usually fits:

If coffee is your preferred first step, our guide to meeting new people for coffee in Malta has more detail. For a wider list of activities, see how to find people to hang out with in Malta.

How to join your first plan as an expat

1. Pick a plan that matches your week. Choose something close to where you live or work, at a time you can actually make.
2. Write a short, specific note. Say who you are and why the plan appeals: “Hi, I moved to Gżira from Lyon last month, I work in finance and I’m keen to explore more of the island. Coffee sounds perfect.”
3. Read the who-pays option. Make sure the money rule suits you before you ask.
4. Use the group chat. Once accepted, say hello, confirm the place and time, and ask anything you need to know.
5. Turn up, and follow up. If you enjoyed it, suggest another plan before you leave, or host one yourself.

Hosting as a newcomer

You do not have to wait to be invited. Hosting a simple plan is one of the fastest ways to build a circle, because the people who join have chosen your plan specifically. A newcomer-friendly example:

Coffee for people new to Malta. Saturday, 11:00 to 12:30, at a café on the Sliema seafront. 4 seats, pay your own. I moved here in the summer and I’d love to swap tips about life on the island: favourite beaches, where to shop, how the buses work. Say a line about yourself and how long you’ve been here.

Keep the first plan short, central and public. You choose who joins from the notes, and you can limit who can join, for example by gender or age range, if a plan is meant for a particular group.

Combining MeetNow with other options

MeetNow is not trying to replace expat networks, clubs or interest groups; it is for the moments when you have a specific plan and want company for it, or want to join someone else’s. Many newcomers combine:

• A large network for the first weeks. Expat networks such as InterNations’ Malta community run community events. Our guide to InterNations alternatives compares the options.
• An interest group for continuity. Meetup’s Malta listings include groups for expats and locals, sports, games and languages. Our roundup of social activities in Malta for adults adds quizzes, clubs and volunteering.
• Small plans for everything else. Coffee, a walk, a dinner, a match: the kind of plan where three or four people actually get to know each other.

The key, whatever you use, is repetition: friendships grow from seeing the same people more than once.

Tips for expats meeting people in Malta

• Say yes to small plans. A coffee with three people often leads to more than a party with fifty.
• Mix with locals as well as expats. Plans around an activity, a sport or a festa bring different people together.
• Be specific about timing. Weekday evenings and weekend mornings are easier for most people than late nights.
• Keep your own way home in mind. Check bus routes on Malta Public Transport or plan a taxi before you go.

What MeetNow is not

To set expectations for newcomers, it helps to be clear about what MeetNow does not do:

• It is not a dating app. It is plans, not profiles: you join a plan at a public place, not a match with a person.
• It is not an events or ticketing platform. If a plan involves a concert or a match, each guest buys their own ticket from the official seller.
• It does not handle payments. The plan states who pays, and people pay the venue directly.
• It does not run ID or background checks. Safety comes from public places, host choice, small groups, the group chat, blocking and each person’s track record of confirmed “we met” plans.

Knowing this up front makes it easier to choose the right plans and to feel comfortable from the first one.

Safety box

MeetNow Malta expats FAQ

Is MeetNow only for expats?

No. MeetNow is for anyone who wants to meet people in person, locals and newcomers alike. Plans are open to whoever the host accepts, within any who-can-join limits the host sets.

Do I need to speak Maltese to use MeetNow?

No. English is an official language in Malta and widely spoken. Hosts can say in the plan description which language the plan will be in.

Is MeetNow free for expats?

Yes, MeetNow is free. You only pay for what the plan involves, according to its who-pays option: host pays, split, pay your own or free.

Can I use MeetNow before I arrive in Malta?

Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta, so you can browse plans and create your account before you arrive. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.

What kinds of plans suit newcomers best?

Short, central, low-cost plans: a coffee, a walk along the seafront, after-work drinks or a small group dinner. They are easy to say yes to and easy to repeat.