Getting Around Malta Without a Car

Getting around Malta without a car is surprisingly easy. We spent a full week exploring the island without hiring one – and I’m glad we didn’t.

Malta has an extensive public bus network, along with ferries, taxis and ride-hailing services. During our seven days, we mostly travelled by bus, with the occasional ferry thrown in.

We visited Valletta, Mdina and Rabat, Marsaxlokk, St Paul’s Bay and Gozo, all without needing our own wheels.

Public transport isn’t perfect. Buses don’t always arrive exactly when you expect them to and journeys can take longer than they would by car. Where you choose to stay also makes a difference.

Here’s how we got around Malta without a car, what worked for us and the other transport options worth considering.

Just starting to plan your trip? Take a look at my Malta travel guide.

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How I Navigated Malta Without a Car

Before our trip, I was really on the fence about hiring a car.

I like the freedom a car gives us, particularly when exploring outside the main tourist areas. But Malta also has narrow streets, busy traffic and places where parking can be difficult.

As an Australian used to much wider roads, that was definitely something I considered.

At least driving on the left wasn’t an issue – Malta drives on the same side as Australia.

Then I discovered just how extensive Malta’s bus network was. We could get almost everywhere we wanted to go by public transport, including to and from the airport, so we bought a seven-day bus pass instead.

We also chose our accommodation with public transport in mind. We stayed in Il-Gżira, next to Sliema, giving us easy access to buses and ferries while being a little cheaper than Sliema itself.

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One of the things we considered when choosing where to stay was access to public transport. See the best areas to stay in Malta and find the one that suits you.

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Getting our Bus Pass

For our week in Malta, we bought the Explore Adult 7-Day Card, giving us unlimited bus travel for seven consecutive days.

The card currently costs €25 per adult, while the Explore Child Card costs €7 for children aged 4–10. Children under four travel free.

We bought ours from a ticket machine at Malta International Airport, paid by credit card and immediately caught a regular public bus towards our accommodation.

We also used a regular bus to return to the airport at the end of our stay.

There are now more options available, including the Explore Flex range, so compare the current passes to see which works best for your plans.

Malta also has dedicated Airport Direct services. These are different from the regular public buses we used, and different fares and conditions can apply.

Tip: Check current prices and inclusions on the Malta Public Transport website before buying, as they can change.

Navigating Around Malta

I almost always use Google Maps for public transport when I travel, and Malta was no different. It made it easy to work out which bus we needed, where the stop was and whether we needed to change.

The arrival times weren’t always as reliable. Buses didn’t necessarily appear exactly when Google Maps suggested, although we rarely waited particularly long.

I also downloaded the official tallinja app. I didn’t love using it at the time and tended to stick with Google Maps, but the app has improved since our visit. It now includes journey planning, service alerts and real-time GPS tracking.

You can also scan the QR code at a bus stop for real-time information about approaching buses.

I’d still allow some flexibility. Traffic and Malta’s incredibly narrow streets can affect journey times, so don’t plan tight connections or leave your airport journey until the last possible minute.

After watching some of the streets the bus drivers manage to squeeze through, I was mostly impressed they stayed anywhere near the timetable!

>> Need data? I used Airalo in Malta

Where we Went By Bus

We used buses for almost all our sightseeing and were surprised by just how much we could reach.

From Il-Gżira, we caught buses to Valletta, Mdina and Rabat, Marsaxlokk and the Malta National Aquarium at St Paul’s Bay.

We also travelled north to Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, where we caught the ferry for our day trip to Gozo.

We took the ferry from Sliema to Valletta once, which was a lovely way to arrive and gave us great harbour views.

For our other visits, we generally used the bus, which drops you near the Triton Fountain and Valletta City Gate.

Bus journeys sometimes took longer than driving would have, but we weren’t in a rush. We also got to see residential neighbourhoods and parts of Malta we probably would have missed if we’d driven directly between attractions.

For our week-long trip, I’d happily choose the buses again.

More Ways to Get Around Malta

Buses were our main transport, but they certainly aren’t the only option.

Ferries can sometimes be quicker – and more scenic – while taxis and ride-hailing apps are useful when public transport doesn’t work for your plans.

Public Buses

Malta’s bus network covers most places visitors are likely to want to reach, making it one of the easiest and cheapest ways to explore without a car.

You don’t need a travel pass. Single-journey tickets can be purchased when you board, which may make more sense if you’ll only use buses occasionally.

The main downside is time. A journey that looks short on a map can take much longer by bus, particularly if you need to change services.

When planning your itinerary, check journey times rather than just distances.

Ferries

Ferries are another useful way to get around Malta – and sometimes they’re a much more enjoyable option than sitting in traffic.

The Sliema to Valletta ferry crosses Marsamxett Harbour and is particularly handy if you’re staying around Sliema or Il-Gżira.

We used it when visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral, and the harbour views make it worth doing at least once.

A regular ferry also connects Valletta with the Three Cities, arriving at Cospicua, from where you can explore Cospicua, Senglea and Birgu on foot.

For Gozo, regular ferries run between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr. We caught the bus to Ċirkewwa and continued across as foot passengers.

There’s also a fast ferry between Valletta and Gozo, which may be more convenient depending on where you’re staying.

Ferry services can be affected by weather, so check current timetables before setting out.

Water Taxis

For something different, you can cross the Grand Harbour in a traditional Maltese dgħajsa.

These small wooden boats have been used around Malta’s harbours for generations and today carry passengers between Valletta and the Three Cities.

They’re as much an experience as a form of transport. If you’re visiting the Three Cities from Valletta, you could take the regular ferry one way and a dgħajsa back.

Cycling and E-Scooters

You can hire bicycles in Malta, particularly for shorter trips around some coastal areas, but I wouldn’t choose a bike as my main transport.

Roads can be busy, streets narrow and cycling infrastructure isn’t available everywhere.

One important change since our visit is rental e-scooters. Malta banned rental e-kick scooters in March 2024, so visitors can no longer simply pick up a shared scooter through an app.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing Apps

Travelling without a car doesn’t mean relying entirely on buses and ferries.

Malta has traditional taxis and ride-hailing services including Bolt, Uber and eCabs.

They’re particularly useful for early or late flights, getting home after dinner or avoiding a slow or awkward bus journey.

A combination can work really well: use buses and ferries for most sightseeing, then pay for the occasional ride when it saves significant time or hassle.

Even a few taxi trips may still work out cheaper than hiring a car for your entire stay once you factor in fuel and parking.

(Prices in the photo above from March 2024)

Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Malta also has hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses.

They’re more expensive than regular public buses but can make sightseeing easier if you only have a day or two and want to visit several major attractions without working out routes and connections.

Routes cover popular places including Mdina, Mosta, the Three Cities and Marsaxlokk, and there are also hop-on hop-off buses on Gozo.

The downside is that you’re still working around a timetable, so check the frequency and last service before deciding how long to spend at each stop.

For us, regular buses made more sense because we had a full week. For a shorter visit, a sightseeing bus could be a convenient alternative.

Walking

You probably won’t use walking to travel between destinations, but many places are best explored on foot once you arrive.

Valletta, Mdina, Rabat and the Three Cities are all made for wandering. We regularly caught a bus or ferry somewhere and then spent the next few hours exploring on foot.

Don’t assume a short distance on the map means an easy walk, though. Malta can be hilly, with plenty of steps and uneven surfaces.

Comfortable walking shoes are definitely worth packing.

Organised Tours

Another option is an organised day tour with transport included.

You don’t need tours to see Malta’s main sights – we managed without them – but they can be useful when several places you want to visit are spread across the island.

They’re particularly worth considering if you’re short on time or want to visit somewhere that’s awkward to reach by public transport.

I didn’t use an organised tour to get around Malta, so I can’t recommend a particular one from personal experience.

Before booking, check what’s included, the group size and how much time you actually get at each stop.

What About Those Tiny Electric Cars?

You might spot tiny two-seater electric cars available for hire around Malta. We came across a row of them during our visit and I couldn’t resist wondering: do these count as cars?

Well, yes. They do.

Their small size certainly looks appealing when you see some of Malta’s narrow streets, but you’ll still be driving, navigating traffic and finding somewhere to park.

For us, the buses won.

Tips for Getting Around Malta Without a Car

Choose where you stay carefully. Being close to useful bus routes or a ferry can save a lot of time. We stayed in Il-Gżira, next to Sliema, which gave us good transport connections while being a little cheaper. You can read my review of our hotel here.

Check journey times, not just distances. Malta is small, but that doesn’t mean every journey is quick, particularly if you need to change buses.

Don’t overplan your days. Allow some flexibility for traffic, late buses and connections that don’t quite line up.

Use ferries when they make sense. They’re not just for sightseeing and can be a practical alternative to travelling around the harbour by road.

Mix your transport. Use buses and ferries when they’re convenient, then grab a taxi or ride-hailing service when it saves you a lot of time or hassle.

Allow plenty of time for the airport. We used regular buses to and from Malta International Airport without problems, but I wouldn’t leave yourself with a tight timeframe on the way home.

Download your apps. Google Maps was my preferred option, while the tallinja app provides current public transport information and real-time bus tracking.

You’ll need data while you’re out and about. I used Airalo during our trip to Malta.

So, Do You Need a Car in Malta?

No, you don’t need a car to visit Malta.

We spent seven days exploring without one and saw everything we had planned. Buses, ferries and walking worked well for us, and I’d happily do it the same way again.

A car does give you more freedom to explore less accessible parts of the island and can save time on some journeys. But it also means dealing with parking, traffic and Malta’s narrow streets.

If you’re staying somewhere well connected and mostly visiting places such as Valletta, Mdina, Rabat, Sliema, Marsaxlokk and Gozo, I’d be very comfortable planning a trip without a car.

If you’re staying somewhere more remote, want to explore lots of smaller villages and beaches, or want complete flexibility, hiring a car may make more sense.

The question isn’t really whether you can get around Malta without a car. You absolutely can.

It’s whether having a car would make your particular itinerary easier.

Getting Around Malta Without a Car

Before our trip, I wasn’t sure whether we’d regret not hiring a car. After a week of buses, ferries and walking, we didn’t.

Public transport wasn’t always the fastest option, but it got us everywhere we wanted to go without worrying about parking, narrow streets or driving in traffic.

Choose a well-connected place to stay, allow extra time for bus journeys and mix in ferries or the occasional taxi when it makes sense.

I’d make the same decision again.

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