Malta is tiny — just 27 km long. You'd think everything is close. It's an illusion. Thanks to traffic and narrow roads, a 10 km journey can easily take an hour. Here's how to get around without losing your mind — and when renting a car actually makes sense.
1. Buses (Tallinja)
Cheap (€2 per ride, weekly pass €21) and air-conditioned. The network is dense — they reach almost everywhere. BUT: they run late. Often. And if the bus is full, the driver simply won't stop. Don't rely on the timetable down to the minute.
App: Download "Tallinja App" — it shows (near) real-time arrival estimates. A multi-journey card pays off from day 2 onward.
2. Bolt and eCabs (Not Uber)
Important: Uber does not operate in Malta. What does work: Bolt (the pan-European ride-hailing app) and eCabs (the local Maltese alternative — solid and often faster). For a group of 2–3 people, either app costs about the same as a bus and gets you there 3× faster. No waiting for a delayed bus.
3. Ferries (Sliema ↔ Valletta ↔ The Three Cities)
The genuine local lifehack. Instead of crawling around the harbour in a traffic jam, take the ferry:
- Sliema → Valletta: 5 minutes, €1.50 one way
- Valletta → Three Cities (Cospicua/Birgu): 5 minutes, €1.50
The fare is included with the weekly bus pass. Stunning views, sea breeze, zero stress. In season they run every 10–15 minutes.
4. Ferry to Gozo — from Ċirkewwa
To reach Gozo, take a bus or drive to Ċirkewwa (north-west tip of Malta) and board the ferry to Mġarr Harbour on Gozo. The crossing takes about 25 minutes.
- Price: approx. €4.65 return for foot passengers (charged on return only)
- 24-hour service — roughly every 45 minutes overnight, more frequently during the day
- In peak season, cars can queue 1–2 hours for the ferry. As a foot passenger you always walk straight on.
5. Renting a Car
For the brave and patient. Left-hand traffic, narrow lanes, assertive local drivers — manageable. The real challenge is parking. In Sliema and Valletta finding a space is nearly impossible; Valletta runs paid zones almost around the clock.
When a car actually makes sense: exploring southern Malta (Marsaxlokk, Dingli Cliffs, Blue Grotto), touring Gozo at your own pace, or if you're staying outside the main towns.