How to Get Around Malta: Public Transport, Taxis and More

Public Transport

Malta Public Transport is the main provider of Malta’s bus network. With over 120+ routes and almost 2000 bus stops, several Maltese buses can get you to different destinations and smaller towns all over the island. This includes Malta International Airport, Valletta, and Gozo.

Major bus routes all pass through the main Valletta bus station. This means that if you don’t have access to a direct bus to the place you’d like to visit from your base, you can easily catch the next bus from Malta’s Capital City. The same applies to Gozo. In this case, the main bus terminus is located in Victoria.

The service operates from 5:30 am till around 10:30 pm, and midnight, depending on the route. However, a night service runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on public holidays.

Generally speaking, public transport in Malta is relatively efficient. You can get from place to place easily, and it’s the most economical option. That being said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when using public buses. Unfortunately, they are not always on time and can get very crowded in tourist hubs, particularly during peak season.

Ticket prices

• The daytime fare for a single ticket is €2.50 while the night-time service costs €3. A single journey is valid for up to 2 hours. Offer exact or small change to the bus driver on all buses. Otherwise, you can opt for a contactless payment with a VISA debit or credit card.
• If you are staying for a week or longer and are planning to use the bus often, it could be beneficial to get a “Tallinja” bus card.
• You can get the Explore 7 Days pass for €25, offering unlimited bus travel for seven consecutive days.
• The Explore Flex card offers credit that you can use on a pay-as-you-go basis across Malta and Gozo. You can opt for the 24-hour package at €6 or the 4-day package at €21.
• You can also buy a bus card with 12 single-day journeys for €21, making each trip €1.75.

To help you plan your days, some handy tools are Malta Public Transport’s online journey planner or the Malta Public Transport app for bus schedules and timings.

Gozo Highspeed

This ferry service is ideal for foot passengers staying in Valletta. The Gozo Highspeed fast ferry operates between Lascaris Wharf Terminal at the Valletta Waterfront and Mġarr Harbour. If you’re staying in nearby towns like Sliema or St. Julian’s, you can hop on Route 133 from the Valletta bus terminus, which will take you directly to your stop.

From Valletta to Mġarr Harbour, the ferry runs the service between 6.45 am and 22:15 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, the last ferry is at 00:30 pm. Meanwhile, the ferry service between Mġarr Harbour and Valletta operates between 5:45 am and 23:00 pm on weekdays, and the last ferry on Fridays and Saturdays is at 23:30 pm.

Tickets range between €12 for adults and €6 for children and other concessions. The first ferry departs as early as 6.45 am from Valletta, and the last ferry from Gozo leaves at 9.15 pm and 10.45 pm (Sat & Sun only).

Valletta Ferry Services

Valletta Ferry Services operates ferry services to Birgu – The Three Cities, and Sliema – The Strand. Service from both destinations starts from Valletta at 6.45 am and 7:00 am respectively. The last return to Valletta from Sliema is 11:45 pm and from The Three Cities is 11.30 pm in the summer months. Reduced services operate on Sundays and public holidays and during the winter.

Fares for both journeys are as follows:

Day Service

• Adult: €2.00 (Single), €3.80 (Return)
• Children: €1.00 (Single), €1.50 (Return)

Night Service (From 7:30 pm)

• €2.50 (Single), €4.20 (Return)

Day Trips: Boat Tours and more!

If you are willing to spend a little more money, travelling around Malta on a day tour is also an option you can consider. Below are some of the best ones!

Gozo Full-Day Quad Bike Tour

These quad-bike tours allow tourists to explore Gozo at their own pace. Led by knowledgeable guides, you’ll get to visit major attractions and off-the-beaten-track locations around the island, including Ta’ Sanap Cliffs, Xlendi Belvedere, Cliffs and Caves, Dwejra Bay, Inland Sea and the Fungus Rock, Wied il-Mielaħ Window, Wied il-Għasri, Xwejni Bay, Qbajjar and Marsalforn Bay.

On your way back to Malta, you’ll also pass by the famous Blue Lagoon and the caves (weather permitting).

The price includes a traditional Gozitan lunch, fuel, equipment, pick-up/drop-off to your accommodation and anything you need for a memorable day out!

If you prefer a later start to the day, the same tour provider offers a Sunset Quad Bike Tour as well.

Blue Lagoon and Comino Boat Cruise

This exciting Blue Lagoon Malta boat trip takes you around the best beaches and hidden gems in Comino and Gozo. Highlights in Comino include the famous Blue Lagoon and the Crystal Lagoon, the stunning Santa Marija Caves and the Elephant Rock (Santa Marija Tunnel). Once you arrive in Gozo, you will enjoy another swimming stop at Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa on the island’s southeastern coast.

The Yippee boat has a fully stocked bar, a toilet, a swimming platform, and a sound system playing great tunes throughout the tour. All adults receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, unlimited cold water is available, and snacks can be bought on board.

Available mid-April to mid-October only!

Would you rather take a boat trip in the afternoon? Check out this Sunset Blue Lagoon cruise! It’s pretty much the same tour as the morning one, with the only difference being that you get to enjoy a magical sunset on board the Yippee vessel.

Private Boat Trips to Comino

A private boat trip to Comino is the best way to enjoy all the spectacular coastal views, incredible rock formations, rugged cliffs and your surroundings.

With the help of a knowledgeable skipper, you can also customise the itinerary to your liking. While a set route is always suggested, you can request more time at the Blue Lagoon or add more secluded beach spots only the locals would be familiar with. This goes hand-in-hand with choosing a preferred departure time and pick-up location.

Finally, you can beat the heavy crowds flocking to popular destinations like the Blue Lagoon. You won’t have to worry about arriving early to find a spot on the beach; you can enjoy the boat’s facilities in a more tranquil setting.

And on that note, here are the top recommended private boat tour options:

1. Private 2-hour Boat Tour
2. Private 3-hour Boat Tour (Half-Day)
3. Private 3-hour Sunset Boat Tour
4. Private 6-hour Boat Tour
5. Private 8-hour Boat Tour
6. Private Malta Highlights Tour

Beaches & Bays Tour

If you want to explore stunning beaches and hidden gems, this Beaches and Bays Tour ticks all the boxes. In short, this is the perfect tour for sea lovers!

The Sea Breeze catamaran will take you to several swimming spots around the Maltese Islands. You can swim and admire the beauty of seascapes such as the Blue Lagoon, the Crystal Lagoon, Anchor Bay, Mellieħa Bay, Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Ramla Bay, Imgiebah Bay, and Half Rock.

Three Cities of Malta Half-Day Trip

This Three Cities Half-Day Trip is one of my top recommendations — with good reason! Since it lasts around 4 hours, you have plenty of time to discover all the sights, picturesque streets, Maltese balconies and hidden gems scattered around this beautiful area.

You’ll be accompanied by a professional guide who will be delighted to share insider local knowledge about these harbourside towns.

This is mostly a walking tour around Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, however, a harbour cruise on a traditional fregatina is included in the price. You’ll get to sail around the creeks of the Grand Harbour and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding fortifications.

Valletta Half-Day Tour

This half-day tour of Valletta is a fantastic walking tour that takes you around the city’s major attractions, including St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster’s Palace, as well as the stunning Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Led by an expert tour guide, this multilingual tour is designed in such a way that you can visit landmarks and places of interest of great historical significance that you may have missed on bus excursions.

Taxis

Although this is not the cheapest option, several high-quality taxi services operate across Malta and Gozo.

You have the option to book different vehicles depending on:

• The number of people travelling
• Your purpose (e.g. night out, airport transfer, quick pick-up, pet-friendly, etc.)

Where can you get a cab?

Traditional taxis (the white taxis) operate out of Malta International Airport, where you can buy prepaid tickets to any destination on the island.

Furthermore, you can find more taxi stands at City Gate in Valletta and outside the Valletta cruise liner terminal, as well as in other touristy spots such as Sliema, St Julian’s and major bus stations.

Alongside the regular taxi stands, several private companies run efficient taxi services all over the island. These are the ones I recommend:

• eCabs
• Bolt
• Uber

They’re easy to use as you simply have to download their app and pay for your taxi. The aforementioned taxi firms are also available in Gozo.

How much does a taxi cost?

A white taxi’s fares depend on the destination by using a fare meter. It is worth noting that additional charges operate on bank holidays.

Meanwhile, private companies have different fares depending on the destination, the vehicle chosen, etc. For example, Malta airport transfers to Sliema cost around €25 to €30.

More on this topic in this guide: Malta airport taxi transfers.

Hop-on/Hop-off buses

Like other European cities, the hop-on hop-off bus service is one of the best ways to discover Malta’s major attractions.

Malta

iSeeMalta’s day tickets and passes allow you to hop on the distinct red buses that take you to different parts of the island and hop off when you arrive at a destination you want to explore.

Both the North (Blue) and South (Red) routes pass through Valletta. Depending on the route you opt for, you will visit places of interest such as the San Anton Presidential Gardens, Mdina, Rabat Ta’ Qali Crafts Village, Mosta, the Three Cities, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto at Wied iz-Zurrieq (April – October) and many others.

All bus routes feature an audio commentary in multiple languages and free Wi-Fi. There are over 30 stops and 40 points of interest, and you can jump on the bus at any point.

The Hop-on/hop-off bus ticket for the Malta routes costs €28 for adults and €20 for children per day.

Gozo

You can explore Gozo using the same hop-on hop-off service by this tour company provider.

The Gozo passes are good value for money since you can see many highlights throughout the day. What’s more, these are actually combo tickets that include a return journey and a bus tour.

The boat departs from Sliema Ferries or the Sirens Jetty in Buġibba. Meanwhile, the Gozo Hop-on Hop-off bus tour offers 14 stops and 2 routes to some of the most popular attractions on the sister island. To name a few, you can visit Victoria and the magnificent Citadel, Nadur, Ta’ Pinu Basilica, the Ġgantija Temples – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Xlendi, Ramla Bay, Dwejra Bay (former site of the Azure Window) and many others.

There are two Gozo passes on offer:

• Standard Gozo Day Pass: €50 (Adults) & €32 (Children)
• Gozo Heritage Day Pass: €60 (Adults) & €45 (Children) *Entry to Heritage sites is included

Water Taxi

Alongside the ferry service, Malta offers a water taxi service on a gondola-style boat from Valletta’s historic Grand Harbour.

Especially if you’re interested in sightseeing, this is a faster option that will get you around the Grand Harbour in approximately 10 – 15 minutes for just €2 one way.

Kids will love an alternative option (other than just buses and standard ferry services), and it’s also a great way to celebrate a special occasion as you sit back and enjoy the panoramic views of the Valletta skyline.

The service operates between 7.30 am and 8.15 pm in the summer with slightly reduced services in the winter. The taxis are weather-dependent, and pick up and stop at designated places. These are as follows:

• Lascaris Valletta – Waterfront
• Senglea (Isla) – Alice Spring Kiosk
• Vittoriosa (Birgu) – Waterfront Gate
• Sliema Ferries

Rented Electrical Bicycles

If you truly want to see what the Mediterranean Island has to offer, renting an electric bike is the way to do it! Currently, two vendors provide the service:

Tallinja Bikes

This Tallinja bike-sharing scheme allows you to pick up your bike from one docking station and drop it off at another.

Prices start from just €3 per half hour. The following 30 minutes will cost you an additional €2, and every additional 30 minutes, you pay €2. The cost is even cheaper if you have an Explore Card or a Personalised Talinja Card! Additionally, you can also opt for Price Option Packages instead.

Payments for a Tallinja Bike are made at the bike stations via a digital screen. Simply follow the instructions to log into your account or sign up for a new one.

Currently, there are four charging stations in Valletta: Valletta Bus Station, St Elmo, Barrakka Lift and Valletta Waterfront. Additionally, there are stations in other parts of Malta, including the University of Malta, Centreparc, St Julian’s and the Pembroke Park and Ride.

As for Gozo, you can find charging stations in Mġarr, Victoria, and Marsalforn.