Getting Around Malta: Buses, the Tallinja Card & Airport Transfers

How to get around Malta by bus, ferry, and ride-hailing, plus which Tallinja card to choose and the fastest airport transfer routes.

Ekin Yalgın

May 30, 2026·8 min read

Getting Around Malta: Buses, the Tallinja Card & Airport Transfers

Malta packs stunning coastlines, thousands of years of history, and a buzzing food scene onto islands you can cross in under an hour. The catch is the traffic. Narrow streets and heavy peak-hour congestion can make a short hop feel slow, so it pays to understand your options before you arrive. The good news is that Malta has an extensive public transport network reaching almost every corner of both Malta and Gozo, and a few smart choices at the airport will save you both money and time.

This guide walks you through the bus system, the Tallinja travel cards, ferry crossings, and ride-hailing, so you can get from the arrivals hall to your hotel and around the islands without stress.

How to Get from Malta Airport to Your Hotel

Malta International Airport (MLA) in Luqa is the only airport serving the islands. Once you collect your bags and step into the Welcomers' Hall, you have three realistic ways to reach your accommodation: an express airport bus, a standard route bus, or a ride-hailing app.

The Fastest Option: Tallinja Direct (TD) Buses

Malta Public Transport runs Tallinja Direct (TD) express coaches built with travellers in mind. They offer air conditioning, comfortable seating, and dedicated luggage space, and they skip minor stops to reach the main tourist hubs faster. Note that the old X1 to X4 airport routes were withdrawn in April 2025 and folded into the TD network and regular numbered routes, so any older guide mentioning X-buses is out of date.

The four express lines cover the key areas:

TD1: airport to Rabat, Buġibba, Mellieħa, and Ċirkewwa (for the Gozo car ferry).
TD2: airport to St. Julian's and Pembroke.
TD3: airport to Gżira, Sliema, and St. Julian's.
TD4: airport to Valletta and the Gozo Fast Ferry terminal.

Each TD journey costs a flat €3.00 per passenger. Critically, TD routes are not covered by the Explore unlimited card, so you pay this fare separately even if you hold a 7-day pass.

The Budget Route: Standard Public Buses

If you want to save every euro, regular numbered routes also serve the airport for the standard single fare rather than the €3.00 express price. The trade-off is time. Standard buses stop frequently and wind through villages, which can easily double your travel time during the morning (07:00 to 09:00) and evening (16:00 to 18:00) rush hours.

For most visitors heading to Sliema, St. Julian's, or Valletta, the small premium for a TD coach is worth it on arrival day when you are tired and carrying luggage.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing Apps in Malta

If you are travelling with family, carrying heavy bags, or landing after the buses stop, ride-hailing is the practical choice. Malta does not rely on street-hailed taxis the way some cities do. Instead, download an app before you fly: the local favourite eCabs, plus Bolt and Uber, all operate here.

A ride from the airport to Sliema or Valletta typically runs €12 to €20 and takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Uber does work in Malta, but its fleet is small, so during busy periods waits can be longer than you might expect, and eCabs or Bolt often pull up faster. For a guaranteed meet-and-greet with a fixed price and a driver waiting at arrivals, a pre-booked private transfer removes the guesswork entirely.

Travellers with luggage boarding a modern express airport coach at a sunny Mediterranean terminal — Express airport coaches offer comfortable seating and luggage space, making the ride from arrivals to your hotel quick and easy.

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Understanding the Tallinja Card: Which One Do You Need?

Buying a single cash ticket every time you board gets tedious, and Malta Public Transport sells several cards aimed at visitors. You can pick one up at the official Sales Outlet in the airport's Welcomers' Hall, at the Valletta terminus, or from automated dispensing machines in popular tourist zones.

The right choice comes down to how long you are staying and how often you plan to ride.

Explore Card (7-Day Unlimited)

Priced at €25 for adults and €7 for children (ages 4 to 10), the Explore Card gives you unlimited travel for 7 consecutive days (168 hours) on all standard day and night routes across Malta and Gozo. In summer it pays for itself after about 10 journeys, and in winter after roughly 13. The one limitation worth remembering is that it does not cover the TD express airport buses, which still cost €3.00 each.

Explore Flex Card

The Explore Flex is a non-expiring, pay-as-you-go card that lowers your per-journey fare to about €1.50 off-peak (€2.00 peak). You link the physical card to the Tallinja App via a QR code, top it up by credit card, and can buy 4-day or 7-day bundles that combine bus travel with a Gozo Highspeed return or a harbour cruise. It suits travellers who ride occasionally rather than constantly.

12 Single Day Journeys Card

For €19 you get 12 discounted journeys, and the real advantage is that this card is shareable. A couple or family can tap the same card multiple times on the reader, and it stays valid for 6 months. It is the most flexible option for small groups who will not ride enough to justify a full unlimited pass.

A quick note on the Personalised Tallinja Card: free travel on this card is a welfare scheme reserved for Maltese residents with a local address and ID. It is not a tourist product, so do not plan your trip around it.

Hand tapping a contactless travel card against an electronic reader on board a public bus — Choosing the right travel card before you ride saves money and lets you tap on quickly without fumbling for cash.

Navigating Malta by Public Bus

Once you have a ticket or card, boarding is simple. Always board through the front door and tap your card or contactless payment against the electronic reader. A green light and a beep mean you are good to go. A red light signals insufficient credit or an invalid card, and you will need to pay the driver directly.

Current Ticket Prices and Contactless Payments

If you would rather not buy a dedicated card, you can pay on board with a contactless credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch. Cash is still accepted, but drivers strongly prefer exact change. Hand over a €20 note and you may be refused if the driver has no change.

The standard single fares for 2026 are:

Single journey (winter, 19 Oct to 13 Jun): €2.00
Single journey (summer, 14 Jun to 18 Oct): €2.50
Night and TD Direct journeys: €3.00

Every single-journey ticket is valid for exactly 2 hours, letting you transfer across as many connecting buses as you need within that window without paying twice.

Why You Should Download the Tallinja App

Printed timetables at Maltese stops are not worth relying on. With so many cars on the road, buses can run late, especially in summer. The Tallinja App (on the App Store and Google Play) is essential: a live map tracks buses in real time, shows the minutes until the next arrival at your exact stop, and plans routes for you.

Insider tip: on busy coastal routes in peak season, if the app shows two buses approaching close together, let a packed one pass. The bus trailing right behind it is usually far emptier.

Public bus travelling along a narrow coastal Mediterranean road at golden hour beside the sea — On busy coastal routes buses run late in summer, so checking live arrivals helps you board a less crowded service.

Alternative Ways to Get Around Malta

Buses are great, but they are still stuck in the same traffic as everyone else. When you are moving between coastal cities, taking to the water can be faster and far more scenic.

Valletta Ferry Services (Sliema and Three Cities)

If you are based in Sliema or the Three Cities and want to reach Valletta, skip the slow bus through traffic and take the ferry. The crossing takes only 7 to 10 minutes and boats run roughly every 15 to 30 minutes through the day.

Adult fares are €3.00 single and €5.00 return, rising slightly to €3.50 single and €5.20 return on the night service after 19:30. These ferries are run by Valletta Ferry Services, independently of the bus network, so the standard Explore card is not accepted on board.

Exploring Gozo: The Fast Ferry Connection

No trip to Malta is complete without its sister island, Gozo. You can ride the route 222 bus north to Ċirkewwa for the traditional car ferry, but pedestrians have a quicker option. Take the TD4 bus from the airport (or reach the terminal in Valletta) and hop on the Gozo Fast Ferry, a high-speed passenger boat that reaches Mġarr Harbour in under 45 minutes, skipping the long road journey north entirely.

Renting a Car for Flexibility

If your plans involve quiet villages, the cliffs of Dingli, or exploring Gozo at your own pace, a rental car gives you freedom the bus map cannot. Just remember that Malta drives on the left and town centres are tight, so comparing rates early helps you lock in a small, easy-to-park model.

Compare Malta car rental rates

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Buses

If you would rather not piece together routes on a first visit, the open-top hop-on hop-off buses give you a guided overview of the island. Two loops, a northern and a southern route, depart from the Sliema ferry area and Valletta and string together the headline sights like Mdina, Mosta, and the Three Cities, with recorded commentary along the way. A ticket is valid all day, so you can step off at any stop and catch a later bus, which makes it a low-effort way to get your bearings before exploring on your own.

Passengers riding the open top deck of a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus through a historic stone street in Malta — Open-top hop-on hop-off buses loop past the main sights, a low-effort way to get your bearings on a first day in Malta.

By planning routes through the Tallinja app, choosing the right travel card at arrivals, and using ferries to dodge urban traffic, you can keep your Maltese holiday relaxed, affordable, and efficient. Enjoy the islands.

High-speed passenger ferry crossing turquoise Mediterranean water toward a historic harbour town — Taking to the water on a fast ferry is often quicker and far more scenic than sitting in coastal traffic.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on how much you ride. The 7-day Explore Card costs 25 euro for adults and gives unlimited travel on standard day and night routes across Malta and Gozo. In summer it pays for itself after about 10 journeys, and in winter after roughly 13. If you plan two or three bus trips a day, it is excellent value. Just remember it does not cover the TD express airport buses, which still cost 3 euro each.

The fastest public option is the TD4 Tallinja Direct express coach, which runs straight from the airport to the Valletta bus station for 3 euro. Standard numbered routes also serve Valletta for the cheaper single fare but take longer with more stops. If you prefer door-to-door comfort, a Bolt, eCabs, or pre-booked transfer typically costs 12 to 20 euro and takes around 25 minutes.

Take the TD2 or TD3 Tallinja Direct coach, which connect the airport to Sliema, Gżira, St. Julian's, and Pembroke for 3 euro per passenger. These express buses skip minor stops and include luggage space. A ride-hailing trip with eCabs or Bolt runs roughly 12 to 18 euro and is the better choice late at night or with heavy bags.

No. The X1 to X4 routes were withdrawn in April 2025. They were replaced by the Tallinja Direct (TD) express coaches and regular numbered routes. If a guide tells you to catch an X2 or X4 from the airport, it is out of date, so look for the TD lines or check the live Tallinja App instead.

You can tap a contactless credit card, debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch on the reader by the driver, or use a Tallinja travel card bought at the airport sales outlet or a dispensing machine. Cash is accepted, but drivers prefer exact change and may refuse a large note like a 20 euro bill if they cannot break it.

Limited night routes operate on certain corridors at a 3 euro fare, but most standard daytime services and the TD airport coaches stop around midnight. If your flight lands in the late-night hours, plan to use a ride-hailing app such as eCabs, Bolt, or Uber, or arrange a private transfer in advance to reach your accommodation.

App-based rides almost always beat traditional taxis on price and convenience. eCabs is the trusted local app, while Bolt is the most widely used and often the cheapest for city hops. Uber works in Malta too, but its fleet is small so waits can be longer in busy periods. For airport arrivals, a fixed-price pre-booked transfer removes any uncertainty.

Every single-journey ticket is valid for exactly two hours from the moment you pay. Within that window you can transfer freely between connecting buses without paying again. You must still tap your card or ticket on the electronic reader each time you board a new bus to keep the transfer valid.

Take the Valletta Ferry from the Sliema waterfront. The crossing takes about 7 to 10 minutes, bypasses the congested coastal road, and boats run frequently through the day. Adult fares are 3 euro single and 5 euro return, with a small night surcharge after 19:30. Note that the ferry is run independently, so the Tallinja Explore card is not accepted on board.

Only the 12 Single Day Journeys card can be shared. It costs 19 euro, lets a couple or family tap the reader once per person, and stays valid for six months. The 7-day Explore Card and the Personalised Tallinja Card are tied to one individual and cannot be shared, so do not try to pass an unlimited card around.

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Malta