Tallinja Direct Guide: Routes, Fares and How It Works

Tallinja Direct services make fewer stops than regular buses on selected corridors. They can be useful for a faster connection, but they have separate fares and are not included in the free bus scheme for personalised Tallinja card holders.

Current Tallinja Direct routes

Malta Public Transport's route list currently identifies:

• TD10: Valletta and Marsaxlokk
• TD13: Valletta and Buġibba

Operating days and times vary by route. For example, a service may operate only on selected days or seasons. Always check the current timetable rather than assuming that a TD route runs every day.

Airport routes TD1 to TD5 are marketed separately as Airport Direct. They are covered in our Malta Airport buses guide.

Tallinja Direct fares

Check the current amount and accepted payment methods on Malta Public Transport's fares page before travelling.

The operator currently publishes these payment rules:

Payment method	Published charge
Cash or contactless on board	From €3.00
Personalised Tallinja card	€1.50 per journey
12 Single Day Journeys card	Two journeys deducted
Eligible Explore Flex offer	Included

Check the exact route fare before boarding. TD1 has a separately published €3.50 onboard fare because it is part of Airport Direct.

Personalised Tallinja cards are not free on TD routes

The government's free public-transport scheme covers regular day routes, night routes and specified special services. It does not cover Tallinja Direct.

If paying with a personalised card, add enough credit before travelling and tap the card on boarding. See our Tallinja card guide for free and paid service rules.

How Tallinja Direct differs from a regular bus

Tallinja Direct	Regular bus
Limited stops on a selected corridor	More stops and wider network coverage
Separate fare	Standard seasonal day fare
Not included in personalised-card free travel	Included when the card is valid and tapped
May operate on selected days or times	Many core routes operate daily

A direct service is not automatically the best option. A regular route may leave sooner, stop closer to your destination or be free with a personalised card.

How to plan the journey

Use the official route page to confirm:

• The direction of travel
• The stops served
• The date and departure time. Check All Routes and Timetables shortly before the visit or journey.
• The accepted fare or card
• Any active diversion

Live tracking may be available through the Tallinja app. Our bus routes and timetables guide explains how to check live arrivals.

Is Tallinja Direct worth using?

It is most useful when its limited-stop route closely matches your journey. Compare the next TD departure with regular services and include the extra fare in your decision. Use Tallinja Direct to reach the appropriate official service.

Visitors buying a multi-day product should verify whether their exact Explore Flex offer includes Tallinja Direct. The standard Explore Adult seven-day card excludes it. See our Malta bus fares and tickets guide for a product comparison.

Routes, fares and operating days are particularly changeable. Recheck the official Tallinja Direct and timetable pages on the day you travel.

Browse all our Transport guides.