Malta has an extensive network of bus routes that take you to all corners of the island.
However, if you want to explore the outlying areas, which are only served by buses once an hour, consider renting a car. Bus transport is not entirely reliable.
Choose a hotel in Malta at a discount in advance
Public buses
Probably the best option in Malta is to use public transport. In 2011 there was a major investment and complete renewal of all buses. The old and iconic yellow buses used to run in Malta, now there are new and air-conditioned buses everywhere.
All transport in the country is provided by Malta Public Transport.
The bus network in Malta and Gozo is quite dense and you can reach almost all places of tourist interest by bus.
Only the front door is ever used for boarding.
Timetables and map of buses in Malta
Most main lines run at intervals of 20-30 minutes, while secondary lines serving smaller beaches and towns usually run once an hour.
Timetables and maps for all bus routes in Malta and Gozo: publictransport.com.mt/en/routes-timetables
The overall route network map has not been updated since 2016.
Timetables are not reliable. Traffic in Malta is very dense, which logically makes the punctuality of the buses suffer. Delays of between 5 and 40 minutes are not uncommon in the summer season. Unfortunately, the reverse is also quite common, with buses leaving the terminus as much as 5 to 10 minutes early.
It is also not uncommon for a bus not to arrive at all.
Timetable reliability is particularly poor on the main island of Malta, where most bus routes run through densely populated areas with very high traffic volumes.
Timetables on Gozo are considerably more reliable, but even there delays of 5 to 15 minutes are quite common.
Normal bus routes usually run from 5:00 to 22:30.
There are also three night services operating in the area from Valletta via Sliema, San Giljan, Pembroke, Bugibba to the Gozo boat harbour.
Tickets - prices and where to buy
In Malta you can buy either paper single tickets for 2 hours (any number of changes), a weekly card or a carnet of 12 tickets at a discounted price. Electronic ticketing via mobile apps is not yet available here.
The personalised Tallinja card, which you can top up with credit depending on how you ride, is particularly worthwhile for long stays (the purchase price is 10 eur and you have to send all your personal details in addition).
There are no discounts for children or senior citizens.
Single tickets
The ticket is valid for 2 hours and you can change between buses. You can only buy the ticket from the driver, where you can pay with cash or card.
- 2 eur
Weekly ticket
If you will be in Malta for more than 3 days and are not renting a car, it is very likely worth buying a weekly pass which is valid for 7 calendar days.
You can buy the ticket from vending machines (for example, at Valletta airport or bus station) or from points of sale. This ticket cannot be bought from the driver.
- 21 eur
- List of points of sale
It is issued in the form of a card which you "tap" when you board the bus with the driver.
Carnet of 12 tickets
This card may be worthwhile for those who plan to take the bus really often and are not staying in Malta for a long time. It can also be shared with other people.
It can be purchased at the same places as the weekly pass (see above) and the 12 journeys are available at 15 eur. Again, you always 'beep' at the validator at the driver when you board the bus.
Stops
The bus stops are well signposted and even have accurate timetables hanging on them.
All stops are on demand. If you want to get off, you must press the "Stop" button before getting off. If you are standing at a bus stop, you must wave to the bus. Especially in the summer, buses are sometimes so crowded that they no longer pick up people at stops.
The central bus station is located at the entrance to the capital Valletta.
Frequented routes
Due to the unreliability of timetables, bus services are particularly worth using on routes where several lines run together, resulting in a frequency of between 5 and 15 minutes.
For example, the busiest connections in Malta are between the following cities.
- Valletta - Gzira - Sliema - San Giljan - Pembroke (frequency 3-10 minutes)
- Valletta - Mellieha - Gozo Boat Harbour (frequency 10-20 minutes)
- Valletta - Birkikara - Mosta (frequency 5-10 minutes)
- Valletta - Birkikara - Mdina (frequency 5-10 minutes)
- Valletta - Bugibba (frequency 10-15 minutes)
- Mosta - Bugibba (frequency 5-15 minutes)
- Valletta - Marsaxlokk (frequency 10-15 minutes)
- Valletta - Paola - Tarxien (frequency 2-8 minutes)
Buses to the airport
For detailed information on public transport to Malta Luqa MLA, please refer to our guide.
Taxi, Bolt, Uber
Mobile apps such as Bolt and Uber are very common in Malta and are used all over the island and are usually up to a third cheaper than conventional taxis.
- Bolt (available on: Google Play / App Store)
- Uber (available at: Google Play / App Store)
The availability of Uber or Bolt cars is also significantly greater than regular taxis.
Both Bolt and Uber can be used for out-of-town journeys. Here are examples of prices for the most common routes.
- Valletta - San Giljan: 12 eur
- Valletta - Popeye's Village: 28 eur
- Valletta - Blue Grotto: 17 eur
- Valletta - Airport: 12 eur
- San Giljan - Blue Grotto: 19 eur
- San Giljan - Gozo boat dock: 27 eur
- San Giljan - Popeye's Village: 26 eur
Valletta Ferries
The capital city of Valletta lies on a long narrow peninsula and to make the bus journey to the opposite mainland to the Tri-Cities in the south and Sliema in the north not the only very long option, there are two ferry companies Valletta Ferry Services.
The ferries run every 30 minutes on both routes from about 6:30am to 7pm, or until 11:30pm in summer, see the exact timetable and the location of the ferry stops on the website: vallettaferryservices.com. The cruise takes about 10 minutes.
Prices
- Adults: 1,50 eur, or 2,80 eur return,
- Children: 0,50 eur, or 0,90 eur return
- Night price after 19:30: 1,75 eur, respectively 3,30 eur (children have the same price)
Both ferries offer breathtaking views of the capital Valletta.
As both ferries depart from opposite ends of Valletta's coastline, they are connected by a free minibus service following each boat arrival.
Car rental
If you don't mind driving on the left, very heavy traffic and narrow roads, renting a car is good for exploring rural areas and beaches.
Most multinational companies such as Avis, Sixt, Budget, Europcar and others operate in Malta. Ideally, compare the prices of all rental companies in a price comparison tool.
For detailed information on driving in Malta, car rental prices as well as traffic and roads, please see the Car rental chapter.
Ferry to Gozo and Comino
If you don't just want to spend time on Malta's largest island, head to the nearby islands of Gozo and Comino. Ferries and boats leave from Cirkewwa harbour, which can be reached by bus routes from all over Malta, click on the line number to see the route and timetables:
- Airport - lines X1 and X1A
- Valletta - lines 41 and 42
- Popeye's Village, Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden Bay beaches, Mgarr - line 101
- Bugibba - line 221
- San Giljan, Sliema, Pembroke - line 222
Cirkewwa - Gozo ferry
Boats of a single company Gozo Channel runs 24 hours a day, approximately every 45 minutes during the day, carrying both pedestrians and cars. Online booking of tickets is not possible, only the journey from Gozo to Malta is always valid, and this is done at the Mgarr dock on Gozo.
The journey from Malta to Gozo is free of charge.
The prices are as follows:
- Adult - 4,65 eur
- Car with driver - 15,70 eur (each additional passenger pays 4,65 eur)
- Child 3-12 years - 1,15 eur
- Adult (night fare between 8pm and 5:30am) -. 4,05 eur
Ferry Valletta - Gozo
There are also fast catamarans directly from Valletta carrying only passengers without a car.
A one-way ride costs 7,50 eur and details can be found on the website: gozohighspeed.com/pages/fares-and-schedule.
Ferry Malta - Comino
The island of Comino is more expensive to get to, although it is closer. This is mainly due to its popularity as a tourist destination and the fact that virtually no one lives on Comino itself.
In addition to the tourist cruises, which we write about in the Activities section, there is a regular ferry from Cirkewwa harbour directly to Blue Lagoon. The boats leave once every half hour during the day, and on the way back from Comino there is a stop at Gozo every other day.
A return ticket costs 14 eur when purchased online, or 15 eur when purchased on site. More information on the website cominoferries.com.