Getting Around

Buses

Getting to the many different attractions and sights on Malta, and Gozo too, is extremely easy thanks largely to very efficient and extremely cheap public bus service. Since 2011, the antique buses for which the island was famous (many of which dated back to the Second World War and were a genuine quirky tourist feature) have been replaced by modern buses operated by German transport giant Arriva. The main bus terminus remains in Malta’s capital city of Valletta, though there have been many changes of route and route numbers that caused great consternation among the local users.

Thankfully, the main teething problems with Arriva have now been sorted out and everyone seems to be getting the hang of the new system. Ticket prices are extremely reasonable with a standard two-hour ticket, which will get you anywhere, costing €2.20 or a one-day ticket available at €2.60. If you're there for longer and planning to use the buses then invest in a seven-day ticket for €12. The day and week tickets can also be used on the buses on Gozo. Full details of routes, timetables and fares can be found on the Arriva Malta Website - see link below.

If you want to see the islands at a more leisurely pace, there are several open-topped sightseeing buses you can catch to experience the islands’ tourist spots.

Taxis

Malta is slightly unusual when it comes to taxis because there’s not one but two different types – white and black. The white ones are the most common. They’re the local cabs and as well as being all white they have a ‘Taxi’ sign on the roof and their registration numbers on the doors.

You’ll spot them on ranks in popular spots like the bigger hotels. These cabs can pick up people from anywhere - except bus stops – so it’s possible to flag them down. They should all charge the same published rates for the same distance.

Black cabs can’t cruise around for fares and must be pre-booked and have fixed prices depending on distances. It’s best to shop around and agree a fee in advance as these private rates can vary.

The general rule to follow is agree a fee before you get in and set off to abvoid any nasty surprises.

Taxi drivers in Malta also offer themselves as private chauffeurs so fee free to negotiate with them to agree a fee for an hour or two, a half day or full day. They’ll then be happy to take you wherever you want to go with the added bonus being that you won’t get lost!

Private Vehicle Hire

If you’d rather drive yourself around and go at your own pace in your own time then you can hire cars, motorbikes or quad bike. There are separate articles on each of these and you can read them by clicking on the appropriate vehicle. Of for a list of Car Rental companies in the Findit directory click on the link below.

Gozo and Comino

Getting to either of Malta's sister islands is slightly more complicated as you;re going to need some sort of boat!

Gozo is easy! You just hop on the regular ferry service carries passengers and cars between Malta at Cirkewwa on the northern edge and Ghajansielem on Gozo. It's a 25-minute trip operated by the Gozo Channel Company. Two ferries run constantly at peak times so as you are leaving Malta there's another one departing Gozo and they cross in the middle. You can wave at the other one if the mood takes you!

The waiting area at the ferry port is laned and, rather cleverly, it matches the layout of the boats, so if you're in the main four lanes on the dock then you will get on the next boat.

Don't worry about paying to get to Gozo as it's free but you will need tickets to get back. The standard adult fare back to Malta is €4.65 so that price is effectively for your return journey. The same rule applies on taking a car over to the island. It costs you nothing to get to Gozo but is €15.70 to get back. That price includes all passengers too! There's a shop and a decent cafe on board and the journey is just about long enough to allow you to queue for, buy and eat a sandwich and a drink before you need to head back below decks to your car.  

Arriva also operates the buses on Gozo so the link below will also provide you with all the details you need.

For Comino, the Comino Hotel runs a ferry service to the island. There is also a daily scheduled seaplane service between the islands of Malta and Gozo. Alternatively, there are many pleasure cruise operators that run trips to the Blue Lagoon on Comino from various locations in Malta.