Getting Around Malta: Buses, Ferries, Taxis and Driving
Bus fares, Explore cards, Airport Direct routes, harbour and Gozo ferries, Bolt, Uber and eCabs, car hire and Valletta's CVA charge, with prices checked in November 2026.
By Malta 365 Editorial Reviewed by Alex Borshch, Founder & Editor
Published November 15, 2026 · 10 min read
Traffic, narrow village streets and the sea between the three islands shape every journey. There is no railway. Getting around comes down to the public bus network, a handful of ferries, taxis and ride-hailing apps, and hire cars. This guide explains each option, with fares and timetables read from the operators' own pages as of November 2026.
If you are still choosing a base, our where to stay in Malta guide matters here: staying in Valletta, Sliema or St Paul's Bay puts you on the main bus corridors, and a car-free trip becomes easy.
Public buses: fares and how to pay
Malta Public Transport runs the buses on both Malta and Gozo. You pay on board by cash, contactless bank card or phone, and a single ticket lets you change buses for free within two hours. As of November 2026 the published fares are:
| Ticket | Fare (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Single journey, day routes (winter fare, 18 October 2026 to 12 June 2027) | EUR 2.00 |
| Single journey, day routes (summer fare) | EUR 2.50 |
| Night routes (numbered N) | EUR 3.00 |
| tallinja Direct routes (TD) | EUR 3.00 |
| tallinja Direct route TD1 | EUR 3.50 |
Children under 4 ride free and need no card. Inspectors do check tickets: the operator states a EUR 50 fine for passengers who cannot show a valid one, so keep your ticket or card until you step off.
tallinja cards and Explore passes
Visitors have a choice of prepaid cards, sold at Malta Public Transport sales offices and through the tallinja app. As of November 2026:
- 12 Single Day Journeys card, EUR 19. Twelve trips on day routes with the same two-hour free transfer. It can be shared between people travelling together and stays valid for six months from first use. A night route or Airport Direct trip uses two of the twelve journeys.
- Explore Adult, 7 days, EUR 25. Unlimited travel on day and night routes for one person, but it does not cover the tallinja Direct (TD) routes. An Explore Child card for ages 4 to 10 costs EUR 7 on the same terms.
- Explore Flex, 4 days EUR 21 or 7 days EUR 27. Unlimited bus travel including night routes, Airport Direct and special services. The Flex card can also be topped up and used to pay for the Valletta harbour ferries, and add-on bundles include a Gozo HighSpeed return or a harbour cruise.
Which is cheapest depends on how often you ride. Two or three bus trips a day for a week makes an Explore card worthwhile; a shared 12-journey card suits a couple who mostly walk and take the odd bus. Our Malta on a budget guide sets transport against the rest of a daily budget.
From the airport: Airport Direct buses, taxis and apps
Malta International Airport at Luqa is the only airport in the country. Malta Public Transport runs limited-stop Airport Direct buses (the TD routes) from the terminal. As listed by the airport in November 2026:
- TD1: Rabat, Bugibba, Mellieha and Cirkewwa, for Mdina and Rabat, Mellieha and the Gozo ferry.
- TD2: St Julian's and Pembroke.
- TD3: St Julian's, Sliema, Gzira and Msida.
- TD4: Valletta and the Gozo fast ferry terminal.
- TD5: Rabat and Bugibba.
The TD fare is EUR 3 (TD1 EUR 3.50) as of November 2026, paid on board. Explore Flex cards include Airport Direct, and the fares page also offers two Airport Direct trips to or from your accommodation for EUR 6. These routes replaced the old X1 to X4 airport buses in April 2025, so ignore older guides that still mention them.
The airport names Malta Taxi as the official taxi service for the islands, with a fare calculator on its site, and VisitMalta notes that taxis from the airport and the cruise terminal run on a fixed tariff to every locality. Our airport guide covers arrivals in more detail.
Night buses
Night routes carry an N prefix and cost EUR 3.00 a trip as of November 2026. The current list includes the N13 to St Julian's and the N11 and N212 to Bugibba, among others, so a late night in St Julian's does not have to end with a taxi. Night services thin out sharply outside the main resort corridor; check the route list or the tallinja app before you count on one. Special night buses are also laid on for big events such as Notte Bianca and the Malta International Fireworks Festival.
Harbour ferries: Sliema and the Three Cities
Valletta Ferry Services runs two short crossings that are quicker and calmer than the bus at rush hour. One links The Strand in Sliema with the Marsamxett side of Valletta. The other crosses the Grand Harbour between Valletta and Cospicua (Bormla), the gateway to the Three Cities, landing on the Valletta side at Lascaris Wharf next to the Barrakka Lift.
As of November 2026, on the winter timetable (1 November to 31 May), the Sliema boat leaves every 30 minutes from 06:45 until the early evening, then roughly hourly to 22:15, with extra late sailings from Friday to Sunday. The page separately lists 08:45 to 18:30 for Sundays and public holidays, despite also listing Friday-to-Sunday late trips: confirm Sunday evening departures with the operator. The Three Cities boat leaves Cospicua every 30 minutes from 06:30, and on Sundays and holidays runs 09:00 to 18:15. Summer timetables (1 June to 31 October) run later into the night.
| Harbour ferry fare (as of November 2026) | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, day | EUR 3.00 | EUR 5.00 |
| Child, day | EUR 1.00 | EUR 1.50 |
| Adult, night service (from 19:30) | EUR 3.50 | EUR 5.20 |
The ferry from Sliema is also the easy way to reach Fort St Elmo and the north side of the capital, and the Three Cities boat drops you a short walk from Fort St Angelo and the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu. For a longer look at the harbour, see Grand Harbour cruises.
Ferries to Gozo and Comino
Two services link Malta and Gozo. Gozo Channel runs the car and passenger ferry from Cirkewwa, on Malta's northern tip, to Mgarr; the crossing takes about 25 minutes and the timetable runs around the clock as of November 2026. Gozo HighSpeed runs passenger-only catamarans from Valletta (about 45 minutes) and from Sliema via Bugibba. As of November 2026 a Gozo Channel foot passenger pays EUR 4.65 for the round trip, collected only on the Gozo side, and a standard one-way fast ferry ticket from Valletta is EUR 7.50. All the details, including car fares and how to reach Cirkewwa by bus, are in our Gozo ferry guide.
Comino is served by small licensed ferries from Cirkewwa and from Mgarr in Gozo, plus many boat trips; landing at the Blue Lagoon needs a free timed pass. Our Comino and Blue Lagoon guide explains how it works, and Comino boat trips lists the cruise options.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps
White taxis can pick you up anywhere except at bus stops, according to VisitMalta. Alongside them, three ride-hailing apps operate in Malta as of November 2026: Bolt, Uber and the Maltese company eCabs. Check the price shown in the app before you book. At busy times, compare two apps before you accept.
Car hire and driving on the left
Malta drives on the left, and VisitMalta notes that road signs are in English. More than 30 car rental companies operate from the airport, according to the airport itself. GOV.UK advises that a UK photocard licence can be used to drive in Malta; drivers from elsewhere should check with the rental company whether they also need an International Driving Permit.
GOV.UK also warns that some roads are in poor condition and that local driving standards are poor, so expect tight roundabouts, cars parked on both sides of village streets and sudden lane changes. A car pays off for exploring the west coast (Dingli Cliffs, Gnejna Bay, Golden Bay) or for a few days on Gozo, where buses are less frequent. It is a burden in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian's, where parking is scarce.
Driving into Valletta: the CVA charge
Valletta runs a Controlled Vehicular Access (CVA) system that has operated since May 2007. Cameras read number plates as vehicles enter and leave the city, and the system bills the vehicle's registered owner for the time spent inside. With a hire car that is the rental company, so check how it passes the charge on to you. As of November 2026 the tariffs published on the CVA site are:
- Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00: the first 30 minutes are free, access over 30 minutes up to 60 minutes costs EUR 0.82, and access over 60 minutes costs EUR 0.82 per hour or part thereof, capped at EUR 6.52.
- Entering after 14:00 on a weekday: free.
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: free all day.
The simplest approach is to leave the car outside the city or come in by bus or ferry. Valletta's bus terminus sits just outside City Gate, and many routes from across the island end there.
Walking and the Barrakka Lift
Valletta is a compact grid built on a ridge, and its side streets drop steeply towards the harbour on both sides. The Barrakka Lift saves the steepest part: it rises 58 metres from Lascaris Wharf, where the Three Cities ferry lands, to the Upper Barrakka Gardens next to Castille Place in about 23 seconds.
As of November 2026 Transport Malta lists the standard fare as EUR 1 for a return on the same day, free for holders of a personalised tallinja card. Opening hours from 1 November to 30 April are 06:30 to 22:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 06:30 to 23:30 on Friday and Saturday. In summer (1 June to 30 September) the lift runs 06:30 to 00:30 daily. Gozo HighSpeed says customers buying their fast ferry ticket at the Gozo terminal receive a lift ticket.
From the top you are a few minutes' walk from St John's Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster's Palace. Walking also works well in the lanes of Mdina and along the Sliema promenade towards St Julian's. For longer routes on foot, see coastal walking and hiking.
Putting it together
A typical car-free week looks like this: Airport Direct to your hotel, an Explore card for buses, the harbour ferry between Sliema and Valletta, a Gozo day trip by fast ferry or by bus and Gozo Channel, and an app ride for the odd late night. Hire a car only for the days you head to the west coast or around Gozo. Our 7-day Malta itinerary and the first-timer's guide show how to pace it, and the transportation planning page collects the essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a bus ticket in Malta?
As of November 2026 a single journey on a day route costs EUR 2.00 on the winter fare (18 October 2026 to 12 June 2027) and EUR 2.50 in summer. Night routes and most tallinja Direct routes cost EUR 3.00, and TD1 costs EUR 3.50. A ticket includes free transfers for two hours, and you can pay on board by cash, contactless card or phone.
Which bus goes from Malta airport to Valletta?
The Airport Direct route TD4 serves Valletta and the Gozo fast ferry terminal. It costs EUR 3 as of November 2026, or is included in an Explore Flex card. TD1, TD2, TD3 and TD5 cover Rabat, Bugibba, Mellieha, Cirkewwa, St Julian's and Sliema.
Is Uber available in Malta?
Yes. Uber, Bolt and the local company eCabs all operate in Malta as of November 2026, alongside the white taxis. Compare upfront prices in two apps at busy times.
Is it worth hiring a car in Malta?
For a stay based in Valletta, Sliema or St Julian's, usually not: buses and ferries cover the main sights and parking is hard. A car is worth it for a few days on the west coast or Gozo. Remember that Malta drives on the left and Valletta charges vehicles under its CVA system on weekday mornings.
How does parking in Valletta work?
Valletta uses Controlled Vehicular Access. As of November 2026, on weekdays between 08:00 and 18:00 the first 30 minutes are free, access over 30 minutes up to 60 minutes costs EUR 0.82, and access over 60 minutes costs EUR 0.82 per hour or part thereof, capped at EUR 6.52. Entry after 14:00 on weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays, is free. Cameras record the plate and the bill goes to the vehicle owner.
How much is the ferry from Sliema to Valletta?
As of November 2026 Valletta Ferry Services charges adults EUR 3.00 single or EUR 5.00 return by day, and EUR 3.50 single or EUR 5.20 return on the night service from 19:30. Children pay EUR 1.00 single. The same fares apply on the Valletta to Three Cities crossing.
How much does the Barrakka Lift cost?
Transport Malta lists the standard fee as EUR 1 for a same-day return as of November 2026, free with a personalised tallinja card. In winter it runs from 06:30 until 22:00 (23:30 on Fridays and Saturdays).
Valletta
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