Short answer: The easiest way to find people to hang out with in Malta is to start with the thing you want to do, not with the people. Decide on the plan (a dinner, a hike, a padel game, a film), then look for company for that specific plan: an existing group that already does it, or a plan you post or join on MeetNow at a public place, with the time, the seats and who pays agreed up front.
This guide covers the options people in Malta actually use, how to turn “I’d like someone to do things with” into a concrete plan, what to write when you ask, and how to stay safe when you meet someone new. If you want the bigger picture first, read our page on how MeetNow works in Malta.
Why “people to hang out with” is easier to find one plan at a time
Looking for “friends” in general is vague, and vague plans rarely happen. Looking for “two people to share a table for Sunday lunch in Marsaxlokk” or “a fourth for padel on Thursday evening” is specific, and specific requests get answers. The people who say yes already like the same thing you do, so there is something to talk about from the first minute.
It also takes the pressure off. You are not auditioning for a friendship; you are going for a walk, a meal or a game. If you get on, you do it again. If not, it was still a good evening out.
The options people in Malta actually use
There is no single right way. Most people combine two or three of these.
Meetup groups
Meetup’s Malta listings show active groups based around Sliema, Valletta, St Julian’s and San Ġwann. When we checked in October 2026 they included social and language groups such as International Meetups by English Cafe Malta and Malta Mates, a film-outing group called The Cinemates MLT, and several tech user groups, with upcoming events ranging from social evenings and games nights to trips to Comino and Gozo. Groups suit you if you want a regular crowd. Check each event page for the time, the meeting point and any cost.
Expat networks
InterNations has a Malta community for people who have moved to the island, with events and interest groups. It is a good fit if you are new and want to meet other internationals; it is less useful if you mainly want to meet locals.
Clubs, courts and classes
A sports club, a dance class, a choir or a language course gives you the same faces every week, which is how many friendships start. The trade-off is commitment: fixed days, sometimes a membership fee, and a group that already knows each other. For racket sports, booking apps and clubs are a common route; our guide to finding people to play padel with in Malta covers that in detail, and our overview of social activities in Malta for adults lists more regular options.
Facebook groups and community noticeboards
Local Facebook groups for expats, students and neighbourhoods are where many people post “anyone fancy a hike on Saturday?”. They are free and busy, but posts move fast, and it is up to you to agree the details and check who you are meeting.
Colleagues, classmates and flatmates
The low-tech option still works. Saying “I’m going to the cinema on Friday, anyone want to come?” at work or in class costs nothing. The more specific the invitation, the easier it is for someone to say yes.
A plan on MeetNow
MeetNow is built for exactly this gap: you have a plan and want company for it. A host posts the 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 picks who comes, and accepted guests get a group chat. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta, with the iPhone and Android apps coming soon.
Pick the activity first: plans that work in Malta
These are examples of how a plan can be set up. They are illustrations, not listings, and the places are kinds of places rather than specific venues.
| Activity | Where (kind of public place) | Seats | Who pays (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend lunch | A restaurant in a fishing village such as Marsaxlokk | 3 | Split |
| Coastal walk | A marked walking route, meeting at a bus stop or car park | 4 | Free |
| Padel doubles | A padel club court | 3 | Split (court booking) |
| Film night | A cinema | 2 | Pay your own ticket |
| Board games | A café that allows games | 4 | Pay your own |
| Day trip to Gozo | Meeting at the ferry terminal | 3 | Pay your own |
A plan with a clear activity, place, time and money rule is far easier to say yes to than “let’s hang out sometime”.
How to post or join a plan for it
There are two ways to find company on MeetNow, and you can do both.
- Post a plan. Choose the activity and a public place, set the date and time, choose how many seats, and say who pays. If you want, limit who can join, for example by gender or age range. The step-by-step version is in how to host a plan on MeetNow.
- Review requests. People ask to join with a short note. You see each request and accept or decline it.
- Use the group chat. Accepted guests get a group chat, which is the place to confirm the meeting point and who is bringing what.
- Join someone else’s plan instead. Find a plan you like and ask to join with a short note; the host decides. Our guide on how to ask to join a plan on MeetNow has example notes.
- Confirm you met. Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.
Example plan description
Sunday lunch in Marsaxlokk, 3 seats, split. Heading down for a long fish lunch by the harbour on Sunday at 13:00 and would love some company. I’ll book a table at a seafront restaurant and share the name in the group chat. We split the bill equally. Happy to meet at the bus stop first if you’re coming by bus.
What to say when you ask
Whether you are messaging a group, replying to a post or sending a request on MeetNow, short and specific works best. Say who you are in one line, why this plan appeals to you, and confirm the practical details.
- “Hi, I’m Sara, I moved to Gżira in the spring and I’ve been meaning to try padel properly. Thursday at 19:00 works, happy to split the court.”
- “Hi! I’m a student at the university and I’d love to join the coastal walk. I’m used to walking a few hours and I’ll bring water.”
- “I’ve never been to Marsaxlokk, and a long fish lunch sounds perfect. Splitting is fine with me.”
Avoid long life stories and avoid asking for personal contact details before you have met. The plan is the reason to talk.
Staying safe when you meet someone new
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 keep the plan there.
- Tell a friend where you are going, who with and when you expect to be back.
- Arrange your own way home, whether that is the bus, a taxi or your own car.
- Leave if you feel uncomfortable, at any point, without needing to explain.
There is more in our page on whether MeetNow is safe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to find people to hang out with in Malta?
Pick a specific activity and look for company for that activity: a Meetup group that already does it, a post in a local group, or a plan you post or join on MeetNow with the place, time, seats and who pays agreed up front.
Is it normal to go out with people you have just met in Malta?
Yes. Malta has many students, expats and people who have recently moved, and plenty of locals are open to new company for a specific activity. Meeting at a public place for a clear plan keeps it relaxed.
Do I have to host a plan on MeetNow?
No. You can ask to join other people’s plans with a short note. Hosting is optional and is useful when you have an idea nobody else has posted.
Is MeetNow a dating app?
No. MeetNow is plans, not profiles. You join a lunch, a walk, a game or a film because of the plan itself, not by swiping on people.
Is MeetNow available in Malta yet?
Yes. MeetNow is free and 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.
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.
