Malta or Cyprus for your internship in Europe: the story of a true Mediterranean dilemma
It’s always the same when you’re planning an internship abroad: you dream of sunshine, turquoise sea, a laid-back vibe—but you don’t want to sacrifice the professional side of things either. So, you look at a map of Europe, spot the sunniest corners, and two names jump out at you. Malta. Cyprus. Two islands. Two countries. Two slices of the Mediterranean that seem to have it all. And that’s when you freeze. Because honestly, choosing between the two isn’t that easy. I’ve been there. And trust me, I hesitated for a long time. I even almost flipped a coin.
What I’m offering you here isn’t a ranking or a comparison chart with little stars and scores out of ten. Nope. What I’m going to do is share what I discovered while digging into both destinations. What I felt while talking to people who’ve been there. And most of all, what I wish I had read before making my choice. Not a tourist brochure, not a sanitized article—just an honest personal account, with its doubts, surprises, struggles, and moments of real joy.
Malta, to begin with, is a tiny island overflowing with history. The moment you step into Valletta, you instantly feel like you’re somewhere special. The sloping streets, the colorful balconies, the old stone buildings, the little yellow buses… it’s like a movie set. You sense the British influence in the power outlets and the left-hand driving, but also the Italian touch in the pizzas, and even the Arabic roots in the Maltese language—this wild mix of Arabic, Latin, and who knows what else. It’s lively, it’s vibrant, a bit chaotic at times, but you get used to it quickly. And then there’s the sea. Everywhere. No matter where you are, you’re never more than thirty minutes from the water. It’s not the kind of place with endless stretches of white sand, but rather rocky coves, hidden little bays, perfect spots to take a dip after a day at your internship.
In Cyprus, the first impression is different. For starters, the island is much larger, so you don’t really get that “everyone knows everyone” feeling. It’s more spread out, and also more diverse. In just an hour’s drive, you can go from the beach to a mountain peak, from ancient ruins to a ski resort (yes, there’s snow in Cyprus—even if that’s not what comes to mind first). Limassol really surprised me. It’s modern, clean, peaceful, with trendy restaurants and super chill people. Nicosia, the capital, is rougher around the edges. What struck me there was the wall—the Green Line that splits the city in two. Greek south, Turkish north. You see it, you feel it, but you can cross it. And that’s pretty unique, both culturally and from a human point of view.
When it comes to doing an internship abroad, there’s one factor we often overlook—but it’s actually crucial: how easy it will be for you to fit in. In Malta, I found it pretty easy. There are lots of foreigners—interns, Erasmus students, people learning English, digital nomads… you’re never alone for long. People speak English everywhere, even the older folks, even in small villages. And since everything’s close, you quickly start seeing the same faces again. If you’re even a little bit sociable, you’ll make friends fast. The vibe is young, dynamic, sometimes a bit loud, but full of life.
In Cyprus, things move at a slower pace. Fewer people, less mixing, more traditions. It might take a bit more time to build connections. But once you’re in, it’s real. People are warm, generous, and big on hospitality. They offer you coffee, ask where you’re from, invite you to stay for a meal. And now, let’s talk about food. In Malta, I tried the pastizzi—these little pastries filled with cheese or peas: delicious. But you can tell the food culture is geared toward speed. Lots of international spots, quick bites. In Cyprus, it’s the opposite. Mealtime is slow. It’s shared. You order mezze. You sit for hours around the table. And you drink local wine—often very good. If you truly enjoy eating, Cyprus will be a feast.
Let’s talk work now. Both islands have their key sectors. In Malta, it’s very focused on tourism, language schools, digital marketing, and gaming. There are lots of companies looking for interns—and lots of people applying too. You might end up in an international open space with colleagues from five different countries. It’s stimulating, but sometimes feels a bit impersonal. In Cyprus, there are fewer opportunities, but I found that they were often higher in quality. NGOs, institutions, local businesses ready to really involve you. Less turnover, more mentorship. If you’re looking for an internship with real responsibilities, Cyprus could be a great choice.
And then there’s life outside of work. Because an internship isn’t just 35 hours a week behind a screen. It’s also what you do in the evenings, on weekends, when you get lost down a little alley, when you stumble upon a market, when you watch the sunset with other young people from all over. In Malta, there’s no shortage of parties—sometimes a bit too many. The nightlife scene is huge: clubs, bars, events. It’s easy to get swept up in a fast-paced rhythm. Cyprus is calmer. Sure, you can go out, but you can also just take a walk by the sea, go hiking in the mountains, or spend an afternoon reading in a café. There’s more quiet, more space, more nature.
The last point I want to cover is the cost of living. In Malta, it’s gotten expensive. Very expensive, in some cases. Housing especially is a real struggle—limited options, high demand, and prices that climb fast. You can easily end up paying a fortune for a room in a shared flat that’s not even well located. Cyprus is more affordable. For the same budget, you get more space, more comfort. And food is generally cheaper too. It’s not everything, of course, but when you’re an intern counting every euro, it can make a big difference.
So, there you have it. I don’t have a ready-made answer. I’m not going to tell you “pick Malta” or “pick Cyprus.” That would be too easy—and not honest. What I can say is this: if you’re looking for an internship where you can improve your English, have fun, and meet people easily, then Malta is a great option. But if you’re after something a bit more laid-back, more authentic, with a slower pace, wider spaces, and a deeper immersion in Mediterranean culture, then Cyprus might be a beautiful choice.
In both cases, you’re going to learn. You’re going to discover. You’ll step out of your comfort zone. And you’ll come back changed. And honestly, that’s what matters most. The island doesn’t matter as much—as long as you set off with the desire to experience something real.
What you’ll truly remember
You know, when you spend so much time comparing countries, cultures, and destinations, you start to believe there’s a right choice and a wrong one. As if picking Malta guarantees the perfect internship, or choosing Cyprus saves you from all the hassles. But the truth is much more nuanced than that. Because an internship abroad isn’t just about the destination. It’s a collection of small moments, encounters, adjustments, surprises—some lucky breaks, some tough days. It’s about your ability to adapt, to observe, to listen, to grow a little every day.
What you’ll remember from this experience won’t just be the beach you went to every Saturday, or the color of the buildings around your office. It might be that old man in Cyprus who offered you a coffee without asking for anything in return—just because he thought you seemed kind. It might be that evening you got lost in the alleys of Mdina in Malta, and felt strangely at peace—alone, but not really. It’ll probably also be those mornings when you didn’t feel like going to your internship, when you wondered what you were doing there—and then, two hours later, something shifted: a smile, a conversation, a task that made you proud.
These kinds of experiences—you won’t find them in a travel guide. You can’t plan for them in an Erasmus info sheet. They happen because you’re there, in another country, speaking another language, far from everything you’re used to. They push you to reinvent yourself a little. To look at the world more closely. To ask questions instead of giving ready-made answers.
And then, you’re going to meet people. Other interns like you, coming from Italy, Germany, Croatia, Portugal. You’ll talk with them, drink beers in bars you’ll never be able to find again on Google Maps, laugh at your language slip-ups, share your struggles with paperwork. Some of them you’ll never see again, and others you’ll stay connected with—even ten years down the line. Because doing an internship abroad also means building a small community around you. A constellation of names, faces, and shared memories.
You’re going to learn—not just about your internship field, but about yourself. You’ll discover that you’re more adaptable than you thought, that you can survive without your favorite cheese, that you can throw together dinner for six with just three tomatoes and a pack of pasta, that you can ask questions in English to a hotel manager without shaking. You’ll gain confidence. You’ll grow.
And you’ll come back. Maybe a little nostalgic, often more self-assured. With a notebook full of stories, a phone packed with blurry but meaningful photos, a playlist that’ll bring you back to that time every time you hit play—and above all, a craving to go again. Because it never really ends. Once you’ve tasted “elsewhere,” that feeling of being a stranger but fully alive, you know you’ll go back.
So it doesn’t really matter what you choose—Malta, Cyprus, or somewhere else entirely. What matters isn’t the place. It’s what you’re going to experience there, how you’re going to make it your own, what you decide to do with it. And that’s in your hands. The real journey is the one you build, not the one you just go through.
And if one day you find yourself hesitating again, just remember this: it’s not the place that makes the adventure—it’s what you’re willing to live through once you’re there.
So, Malta or Cyprus? You’ll tell me.