How do you get to Valletta?
Getting There1.4/10Among the 5% hardest cities to reach
- Main airport
- Malta International Airport (MLA)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: welcomepickups.com, maltauncovered.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Malta's only airport is served exclusively by bus (TD4), taxi, transfer, or car rental—no rail connection yet; bus is by far the most economical option
- Downtown Valletta is not accessible by car; buses drop at City Gate/periphery, requiring a 5-minute walk; ferries and foot are preferred for getting around the historic core
- Buses and ferries accept contactless card payments (VISA/Mastercard); cash tickets require exact change in euros
- The Tallinja Card offers significantly better fares than single-journey tickets; consider purchasing before arrival if staying multiple days
- Ferry services between Valletta and Three Cities and Valletta–Sliema operate year-round with more extended hours in summer; journeys are scenic and often faster than buses due to no road traffic
- Public transport generally runs reliably on fixed schedules, though minor delays occur during peak hours (07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:00)
- Night bus routes (N prefix) operate weekends and public holidays; night ferry service is limited in winter months
- Taxi rides from airport are best pre-booked at the stand or via app (Bolt/Uber); hailing taxis outside arrivals risks overpaying
- Malta does not have an operational railway; a light rail project is in planning stages with construction expected to begin in 2031
Ground Transport
Bus (TD4 Route, Formerly X4)
- Cost
- €2.50
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Operating Hours
- 05:15 to 00:45 (midnight)
- Alternative Cost
- €2.00
- Duration Minutes
- 20
- Notes
- Cheapest option; luggage space available; contactless card payment accepted; drops at Valletta B1, 5-minute walk from City Gate
- Description
- Direct bus from airport to Valletta Bus Terminal (City Gate)
Taxi (Airport Stand)
- Fixed Price
- €17
- Duration Minutes
- 15
- Notes
- Available 24/7; pre-pay at taxi counter in Arrivals Hall; standard metered base fare €3.50 + €2.50 first km
- Description
- Fixed-price or metered taxi from airport to Valletta
Private Airport Transfer
- Duration Minutes
- 20
- Notes
- Most convenient; driver meets you in Arrivals; luggage assistance included
- Description
- Pre-booked door-to-door transfer service
Shared Shuttle Bus
- Duration Minutes
- 50
- Notes
- Mid-range pricing; longer journey due to multiple stops; book in advance
- Description
- Shared airport shuttle with multiple hotel drop-offs
Car Rental
- Notes
- Driving on left side of road (UK-style); traffic can be congested; parking difficult in Valletta; only recommended if exploring wider Malta
- Description
- Self-drive option; pickup at airport
Ferry Connections
Valletta Ferry Services / Malta Public Transport
- Route
- Valletta to Sliema
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Duration Minutes
- 10
- Operating Hours Summer
- 06:45 to 00:45 (midnight)
- Operating Hours Winter
- 06:45 to 19:30
- Notes
- Scenic, scenic crossing of Marsamxett Harbour; ferry terminal at Boat Street below Fortress Builders
Cost Day
- Return
- €4.50
- Single
- €2.50
Cost Night
- Return
- €4.80
- Single
- €2.80
Children Discount
- Return
- €1.50
- Single
- €1.00
Valletta Ferry Services
- Route
- Valletta to Three Cities (Birgu/Cospicua/Isla)
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Weekly Pass
- €10
- Duration Minutes
- 15
- Operating Hours Summer
- 06:45 to 19:15 (20:45-23:20 extended)
- Operating Hours Winter
- 06:45 to 18:15
- Notes
- Terminal at Lascaris Wharf, adjacent to Barrakka Lift; crosses Grand Harbour; calls at Cospicua, then Isla on return; ferry to Sicily (Pozzallo) also available via Virtu Ferries (€43-50, ~90 minutes)
Cost Day
- Return
- €2.80
- Single
- €1.50
Cost Night
- Return
- €3.30
- Single
- €1.75
Children Discount
- Return
- €0.90
- Single
- €0.50
Gozo Channel / Malta Public Transport
- Route
- Valletta to Gozo
- Notes
- Departs from Ċirkewwa terminal (45-minute bus ride north from Valletta) or via Valletta ferry ports; approximately 30 minutes crossing
- Description
- Ferry from Valletta area to Gozo (sister island)
Airport
- Name
- Malta International Airport (MLA)
- Location
- Luqa, approximately 9-10 km south of Valletta
- Travel Time
- 15-20 minutes by car in light traffic
- Is Only Airport
- Yes
- Distance To Valletta
- 9-10 km (approximately 5.6 miles)
Rail Transit
- Status
- No operational railway
- Future Plans
- Light rail (La Valette Line) proposed; construction planned to begin 2031 with airport–Valletta corridor operational by 2036
- Historical Note
- Malta Railway operated 1883-1931, connecting Valletta to Mdina
Day Trip Access
- Popular Day Trips
- Mdina (ancient capital), Mosta, Rabat, Sliema, Comino (Blue Lagoon via ferry ~25 min from Valletta area), Gozo (via ferry), Three Cities (Birgu/Vittoriosa, Isla/Senglea, Cospicua/Bormla)
Internal Bus System
- Primary Hub
- Valletta Bus Terminal (City Gate)
- Total Routes
- 80+ routes (Malta and Gozo)
- Operating Hours
- 05:30 to 23:00 daily
- Notes
- Buses are modern, air-conditioned, low-floor accessible; two-hour travel window with transfers allowed; contactless payment available
- Description
- Comprehensive bus network covering entire Malta and Gozo
Travel Cards
- 7 Day Explore
- €25
Unlimited travel for 7 days
- 12 Single Journeys
- €19
Bus Ticket Cost
- Night Routes
- €3.00
- Single Summer
- €2.50
- Single Winter
- €2.00
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.
- 1.welcomepickups.com
- 2.maltauncovered.com
- 3.maltauncovered.com
- 4.myroadnotes.com
- 5.maltaculture.com
- 6.introducingmalta.com
- 7.publictransport.com.mt
- 8.maltauncovered.com
- 9.publictransport.com.mt
- 10.transport.gov.mt
- 11.vallettaferryservices.com
- 12.tripadvisor.com
- 13.en.wikipedia.org
- 14.en.wikipedia.org
- 15.maltatoday.com.mt
- 16.gov.mt
- 17.publictransport.com.mt
- 18.en.wikipedia.org
- 19.tourismattractions.net
- 20.maltaculture.com
- 21.introducingmalta.com
More About Valletta
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.