MT Malta: how to get around

The easiest way to enjoy the public transport on Malta is buying a "Tallinja" week pass (€27 as of summer 2026) with which you can take any bus across the islands. There is also a 4-day pass for €21, which additionally covers the fast ferry between the islands. Those passes can be bought from vending machines found at the airport and bus terminals. A single bus ride fare is €2.50 in the summer (June through October), €2.00 in winter, and €3.00 at night. You can buy the ticket directly from the driver, paying contactless with MasterCard, Visa card, or cash (pay exact amount, as drivers are not allowed to give you change). It allows you to travel within a two-hour period including changing lines (but doesn't allow returns) until you reach your destination. You can use to pay for the fares.

More information about fares and and multi-day and week-passes is found on the Malta Public Transport website.

Malta's white taxis are the ones that can pick you up off the street. Figure on €15 for short hops and not much more than €35 for a trip across the island. There are now government-approved fares for taxis from the airport ranging from €10 to 30.

The ride-share companies Bolt and Uber also operate in Malta. Airport to Sliema cost approx €19.

If you would like a taxi tour, it is a good idea to book it in advance with an agreed price and arrange to be picked up from your hotel or apartment. The tours are best kept short, around 3 to 4 hours should do it. In a car you will be able to cover Mdina, Rabat, Mosta, Valletta and the Blue Grotto. However, some people say that when visiting historical sights it is best to also hire a licensed tourist guide (who will wear their licence while on tour) and accuse taxi drivers of often giving inaccurate information.

Renting a car in Malta is a fine way to see the country, since it's cheap and driving conditions are good. Having your own car allows you to make a lot more of your trip and discover the many hidden charms these small islands have to offer. UK driving rules apply: drive on the left side of the road.

Booking your car rental online is cheaper than booking on arrival. Compared to the rest of the Mediterranean, Malta has very low rates for car rental. Any driver and additional drivers must take their driving licences with them to be covered by the insurance policies provided by the local car rental supplier.

Car hire is available also at Malta International Airport: several international and some local brands have desks inside the airport. There are local rental companies that operate on a meet-and-greet basis at the airport. Most of the time these companies provide a more personalised service to the clients.

There is GPS coverage of the island; however, check with your rental company as to whether they make this available to you or not. The GPS mapping of Malta isn't altogether that accurate, where certain routes planned on the GPS will send you up one-way streets without warning. It is best to use common sense in conjunction with this technology. Also, the Maltese can be a very friendly bunch of people when giving directions are concerned.

There are several ferry lines within the Valletta region, in particular linking Valletta to Sliema, and Valletta to Birgu (Vittoriosa — part of the Three cities). Malta Public Transport has bus links to Valletta Ferry Services which run the Valletta region services.

There is the regular ferry service between Ċirkewwa on Malta and Mġarr on Gozo, it goes every 45 minutes in the summer and almost as often in the winter (with lower frequencies in the evening, and very low frequency at night). You buy a return ticket at the Gozo end for €4.65 (no ticket required in Malta, though you can buy your return ticket from there, and save time in Gozo). The ferry is not strictly on time, and it can even depart before schedule.

There is also the passenger fast ferry from Valletta (Lascaris berths) to Gozo (Mgarr). These leave every hour, and take 45 minutes to complete the journey. There are special ferry bus services in Valletta to get passengers to the ferry, and similar bus services exist in Gozo. Note that whilst there are multiple websites for the fast ferry, this is due to the fact that the service is run jointly between multiple companies (as described the Maltese Government on this webpage). The definitive timetable exists at the Gozo High Speed website. For most tourists in Valletta this is likely the most convenient service to use.

There are tourist services to Comino. Some of the boats depart next to the terminal of the larger ferry, offering a return ticket for €15 (April 2023). One boat brings passengers to the Blue lagoon, then there is a choice: either return to the same ferry terminal or take another boat to Gozo. Both options are included in the ticket. There is no return trip from Gozo to Malta; use the regular ferry. Each trip takes around 10-15 minutes. The departures are hourly, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Renting a bike in Malta is not a very common practice but it doesn't cost much, and offers flexibility to explore. Bicycle rental shops are present all over the island but it is always better to book them from beforehand via their websites so as not to be disappointed. Cycling is a fun way of discovering Malta and Gozo. It is a good idea to cycle on the west of Malta, in the areas of Dingli Cliffs and Fomm ir-Rih as they are far from congested cities and offer a pleasant view.

However, most roads in Malta are dangerous for cyclists; most Maltese motorists are not friendly towards cyclists and there are no bicycle lanes. It is best to stick to country roads. Rent a mountain bike for this. In summer, do not go cycling between 11:00 and 16:00 as the heat is unbearable.

The boat charter industry has grown considerably in Malta over the last few years. Malta's favourable tax regime for commercial yachting and its central location in the middle of the Mediterranean sea has meant that large, famous charter yachts — such as the Maltese Falcon and a whole range of small and midsized yachts — are now available for day and week charters. The Grand Harbour Marina has become the principal centre for bareboating (self-hire yacht chartering). It is the headquarter of such companies as Yachthelp and Navimerian Malta Yacht Charters.