Getting Around Malta: Buses, Ferries, Taxis and Cars

Most visitors do not need one transport method for the whole Malta trip. Buses can work well for direct routes, ferries can remove road travel, taxis are useful for awkward or time-sensitive journeys and a rental car helps most when the itinerary includes several remote stops.

Choose transport day by day instead of deciding that the entire holiday will be "bus only" or "car only".

Which transport option should you use?

Transport	Best for	Main trade-off
Bus	Direct routes, flexible sightseeing, visitors without a car	Traffic and transfers can make timing variable
Valletta ferry	Valletta–Sliema and Valletta–Three Cities	Limited to specific harbour corridors
Gozo Channel ferry	Gozo with or without a car	Requires travel to Ċirkewwa and onward transport
Taxi / ride-hailing	Airport, late returns, awkward routes, groups	More expensive per journey
Rental car	Rural areas, multiple remote stops, flexible Gozo days	Parking, driving stress and traffic
Walking	Compact areas such as Valletta or Mdina	Hills, heat and uneven surfaces matter

Can you visit Malta without a car?

Yes.

A car is not essential if:

accommodation is near strong bus or ferry links;
most days focus on Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's, Mdina or other connected areas;
you are comfortable using taxis for occasional awkward trips;
the itinerary does not depend on visiting several remote beaches in one day.

A no-car trip becomes easier when you choose the accommodation around transport.

Valletta and Sliema are especially useful because buses and harbour ferries give multiple ways to travel.

See Where to Stay in Malta before choosing the base.

When should you use buses?

Use buses when:

the route is direct;
arrival time is flexible;
parking would be inconvenient;
the destination is well served;
you are not carrying substantial equipment.

Malta Public Transport operates routes across Malta and Gozo, and the Tallinja app provides journey planning, schedules and live bus tracking.

Do not judge a bus journey only by distance.

A short trip can take longer because of:

traffic;
waiting;
transfers;
walking to the stop;
busy summer services.

Use the current journey planner rather than estimating from kilometres.

How do bus tickets work for visitors?

Visitors without a personalised Tallinja card can buy a ticket from the driver using cash or contactless payment.

Malta Public Transport currently lists standard day-route fares of €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer, with a ticket valid for two hours and allowing transfers during that period. Night and certain special/direct services use different fares.

Do not build the whole holiday around a fare quoted in an old travel article.

Check current Malta Public Transport fares before travelling.

For the full bus-network explanation, see Public Transport in Malta.

When should you use the Valletta ferry?

Use the harbour ferry when travelling between:

Sliema and Valletta
Cospicua / the Three Cities and Valletta

The current Valletta Ferry service connects both corridors directly and can avoid road traffic around the harbour.

It is particularly useful when:

staying in Sliema;
visiting Valletta from the Three Cities;
combining Valletta and a harbour area in the same day.

Do not treat every Malta ferry as part of the same network. Gozo services and Comino boats are separate journeys with different operators and planning requirements.

When should you use a taxi or ride-hailing?

Use a taxi or ride-hailing service when:

you have luggage;
you need to reach somewhere at a fixed time;
the bus route requires several changes;
the return is late;
several people can share the cost;
someone in the group is tired or has limited mobility.

This can be more efficient than forcing every journey onto public transport.

From Malta International Airport

Malta International Airport states that official taxis are available 24 hours a day, with pre-paid fixed-rate tickets available from the taxi booth in the Welcomers' Hall.

For airport bus options, see Malta Airport Buses.

When does a rental car make sense?

Rent a car when the itinerary includes several journeys where flexibility matters more than parking convenience.

Typical examples:

remote beaches;
several rural stops in one day;
a Gozo road trip;
accommodation away from strong public transport;
travelling with equipment.

A car becomes less useful when:

staying in Valletta or Sliema;
most attractions are in dense historic areas;
parking will be difficult at the destination;
nobody in the group wants to deal with unfamiliar roads.

Do not rent a car simply because Malta is small.

Small distances do not eliminate traffic, parking or narrow-road problems.

Should you take a car to Gozo?

It depends on the Gozo itinerary.

Take the car if you want to combine several dispersed locations.

Leave it in Malta if you are comfortable using Victoria as a bus hub and limiting the day to one or two major areas.

Gozo Channel operates the main ferry between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr. The current published crossing time is approximately 25 minutes, and the service carries both vehicles and foot passengers.

See Gozo Day Trip: Ferry, Itinerary and Practical Tips before deciding.

How does the Gozo ferry work for foot passengers?

Gozo Channel currently operates between Ċirkewwa in Malta and Mġarr in Gozo.

The standard ticket covers one round trip, and passengers beginning their journey from Malta are guided through embarkation at Ċirkewwa, with ticket validation handled on the Gozo side for the return journey.

Do not assume ticketing works like a normal city ferry.

Check current Gozo Channel procedures and schedules before travelling.

What about Comino?

Comino is different again.

You need to choose between:

a passenger transfer;
an organised boat tour;
a departure from Malta or Gozo.

Blue Lagoon access arrangements can also be separate from the boat itself.

See Comino and Blue Lagoon Guide and Malta to Comino Ferry Guide.

Which transport works best for common visitor days?

Valletta day

Walk once you arrive.

Use a bus, taxi or harbour ferry to reach Valletta depending on the accommodation.

Valletta + Three Cities

Use the harbour ferry where the timing suits the day.

This avoids turning a Grand Harbour itinerary into a longer road journey.

Mdina and Rabat

Bus or taxi both work.

A rental car adds little if the rest of the day stays within the same area and parking becomes another task.

Northern beach day

Use a direct bus if one exists from the accommodation.

Use a taxi or car if the route requires several inconvenient transfers or the family is carrying beach equipment.

Gozo day

Choose the Malta-to-Gozo ferry first, then decide whether a car, buses or taxis make sense on Gozo.

Comino day

Boat transport determines the day.

Do not plan it as if Comino were reachable by ordinary public transport.

How should families choose transport?

Families should value predictability more heavily.

A direct taxi can make sense when the alternative is:

two buses;
a long wait in heat;
carrying a tired child;
travelling with a pushchair and beach equipment.

For ordinary direct routes, buses can still work very well.

Avoid making every transport choice solely on the cheapest fare.

See Malta with Children.

How should visitors with limited mobility plan transport?

Check the full journey, not only whether the vehicle itself is accessible.

Consider:

the walk to the stop;
kerbs;
steep streets;
ferry boarding;
steps at the destination;
the final distance from drop-off to entrance.

A technically accessible bus route can still lead to a difficult destination.

See Accessible Transport in Malta and Accessible Tourism in Malta.

Plan the return before leaving

The outward journey is usually the easy part.

Before committing to a remote beach, Gozo stop or late dinner, check:

final practical bus;
ferry schedule;
taxi availability;
travel time after returning to Malta;
whether anyone in the group will still be comfortable making the journey.

Do not build a plan that only works if every connection is perfect.

Three questions this guide should answer

Can I visit Malta without renting a car?

Yes. Use buses and harbour ferries for well-connected journeys, then taxis for occasional awkward, late or time-sensitive trips.

Rent a car only if several days genuinely benefit from the flexibility.

When should I use a taxi instead of the bus?

Use a taxi when timing matters, the bus requires several transfers, the group is sharing the fare, luggage or children make waiting inconvenient, or the return is late.

When is renting a car actually worth it?

A car is most useful for rural areas, remote beaches, multiple dispersed stops and flexible Gozo days.

It is less useful when the trip is centred on Valletta, Sliema, ferries and compact historic areas.

Build the rest of the trip

Browse all Tourism guides.

Use the simplest mode that works that day

Do not optimise every journey for the lowest possible price or the shortest theoretical travel time.

The best transport choice is the one that gets the group where it needs to go without creating more inconvenience than it solves.

Last reviewed: 3 October 2026. Recheck the official sources in the article metadata when fares, routes, ferry services, schedules or transport procedures affect your decision.