How do you get to St. Julian's?
Getting There5.4/10Harder to reach than about 50% of cities
- Main airport
- Malta International Airport (MLA)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: welcomepickups.com, maltauncovered.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Bus TD2 and TD3 are the fastest and most reliable airport connections. X2 is no longer in operation as of 2025.
- All bus ticket prices shown are 2-hour valid; you can transfer between buses free within that window.
- Pre-booking airport taxis or private transfers online (e.g., Welcome Pickups, MrShuttle) avoids airport taxi queues and offers fixed pricing.
- Parking in St. Julian's is notoriously difficult; prioritize accommodation with private parking or use public transport.
- Sliema–Valletta ferry is the most scenic way to reach the capital and cheaper than bus for single journeys (€1.50 one way).
- Download the Tallinja app for live bus tracking—timetables at stops are indicative only and often inaccurate.
- Most cafés, restaurants, and services are accessible by bus within 5–20 minutes of central St. Julian's.
- Summer season (June–September) buses can be overcrowded; book airport transfers in advance and travel off-peak where possible.
- No train service in Malta; buses are the only public transit mode for ground transport.
Day Trip Access
Valletta (Capital)
- Distance
- ~7 km by road
Options
Bus 13, 14, 16, 21
- Time
- ~25 minutes
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
Walk + Sliema Ferry (Scenic)
- Time
- ~20 min walk to Sliema + ~5-10 min ferry crossing
- Notes
- Most picturesque route; ferry departs every 30 min. Avoid uphill walk from ferry pier by catching return ferry from Valletta to Sliema.
Mdina (Medieval Walled City)
- Distance
- Central island
Options
Bus 15+53, 21+52, or TD14
- Time
- ~1 hour 15 minutes (with transfer)
Marsaxlokk (Fishing Village & Market)
- Distance
- South coast
Options
Bus 15+TD10 or 14+85
- Time
- ~1 hour 15 minutes (with transfer)
Bus TD10
- Time
- ~1 hour
St. Paul's Bay & Bugibba (North Coast)
- Distance
- North
Options
Bus 70, 13/14 Continuation Northward
- Time
- ~30-45 minutes
Gozo Island
- Distance
- ~1 hour by ferry from Cirkewwa
- Notes
- Comino (Blue Lagoon) accessible from northern ferry dock.
Options
Bus 222 to Cirkewwa, Then Ferry
- Time
- ~2 hours total
Ferry Connections
Sliema to Valletta
- Cost
- €1.50
One-way; return €2.80
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Journey Time
- 5-10 minutes
- Departure Point
- Sliema Ferry Terminal (The Strand)
- Operating Hours
- From 07:00 daily (09:00 Sundays & public holidays)
- Walk From St Julians
- 10-20 minutes from Spinola Bay via coastal promenade
- Notes
- Scenic crossing with harbour views. Very popular; arrive early to queue. No direct ferry from St. Julian's—must walk or bus to Sliema first.
Cospicua to Valletta & Vice Versa
- Journey Time
- 15 minutes
- Notes
- Alternative ferry service from Three Cities; less convenient from St. Julian's.
Cirkewwa to Gozo (Comino Ferries)
- Access
- Reach via bus 222 (~1 hour 15 minutes from St. Julian's)
- Notes
- Day-trip option; scenic Mediterranean crossing.
Key Routes
Valletta
- Route
- 13, 13A, 14, 16, 21, TD13
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes (TD13 faster, ~20 min)
- Travel Time
- 25-40 minutes
Sliema
- Route
- 13, 14, 202, 222, 225, 16, 110, X2, 22, 24, 35, 203, 25, 120
- Travel Time
- 5-15 minutes
Cirkewwa (Gozo Ferry)
- Route
- 222
- Travel Time
- ~1 hour 15 minutes
Ticket Options
Single Ticket (Cash or Card)
- Cost
- €2.00
- Validity
- Valid 2 hours; transfers free within validity period
12-journey Card
- Cost Note
- Available; see official Malta Public Transport site for current price
Explore Card (Unlimited Daily)
- Cost
- €25
Adult rate; children €7
Airport Transport Options
Bus (TD2 - Tallinja Direct)
- Cost
- €2.50
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes, 05:00-00:30 daily
- Travel Time
- 30 minutes
- Notes
- Express service with one intermediate stop (Millers). Alight at San Giljan, 3-min walk to central area. Most convenient public option.
Bus (TD3 - Tallinja Direct)
- Cost
- €2.50
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes, 05:15-00:45 daily
- Travel Time
- 35 minutes
- Notes
- More stops than TD2; coastal route via Spinola, Balluta, Sliema areas. Good for beachfront accommodation.
Taxi (White Airport Taxi)
- Cost
- €20
- Travel Time
- 12-25 minutes
- Notes
- Fixed price from airport taxi booth in Arrivals (Welcomers Hall). Metered taxis outside rank may be more expensive. 24/7 availability but expect queues during peak season.
Private Transfer (Pre-booked)
- Travel Time
- 20 minutes
- Notes
- Meet & greet service. More reliable than taxi queues; eliminates airport taxi booth wait. Includes flight monitoring.
- Cost Note
- Typically €25-36 (varies by operator)
Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, eCabs)
- Travel Time
- 20-30 minutes
- Notes
- About 20% cheaper than official taxis but less reliable during high demand; requires mobile data & app.
- Cost Note
- €20-30 (variable, not fixed)
Car Rental
- Travel Time
- 20-30 minutes
- Notes
- Pick up at airport. Driving is on the left. Parking in St. Julian's is difficult; book accommodation with private parking.
- Cost Note
- €15-30 per day (medium car)
Shared Shuttle Service
- Cost
- €12
Approx €12-15 per person for 2 adults + luggage
- Travel Time
- 45-60 minutes (multiple stops)
- Notes
- Cost-effective but slower due to multiple drop-offs. Pre-booking recommended (e.g. Suntransfers).
Airport
- Name
- Malta International Airport (MLA)
- Distance Km
- 10.5
- Distance Note
- Approximately 10-11 km by road
Travel Time By Mode
- Bus
- 30-50 minutes
- Taxi
- 12-25 minutes
- Car Rental
- 20-30 minutes
Payment
Cash or contactless card on board; Tallinja Card available from machines and ticket offices
Coverage
Extensive network reaching all areas and day-trip destinations
Payment App
Tallinja app recommended for live bus tracking and real-time schedules
Primary Mode
Public buses (Malta Public Transport)
Peak Hour Traffic Warning
07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00 expect significant delays on main routes (Valletta–Sliema–St. Julian's corridor)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About St. Julian's
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.