Tips and suggestions on travelling around Malta by public bus

Public Transport in Malta: Positives Vs. Negatives, Recommendations

Should you use the Public Bus Transport in Malta on your holiday, or it’s better to choose alternative forms of transport? In this short article, we will give you some of the positives and negatives to help you decide.

Positives of public transport in Malta:

Cheap Ticket

The ticket for Public Bus Transport in Malta costs €2 euro during the day and €3 euro during the night. You can just buy it from the driver (prepare exact change if possible). It is valid for 2 hours, and you can change the bus at no extra cost.

Cheap Travel Cards

For the price of Adult €21 / Child €15 you can get the 7-Day Explore Card, which gives you unlimited travel for a week. It is not valid for the fast routes (marked as TD – Tallinja Direct).

For €15 you can get the 12 Single Day Journeys Card. You can use it for 12 Single Journey Tickets on Day Services or 6 Single Journey Tickets on Night Services, or a combination of both.

Cards you can buy from the Bus Station in Valletta, at the Airport, and in most stationeries in Malta. Full list here .

Tallinja App

Malta Public Transport has a mobile app to help you plan your trip. More important – you can view the location of the nearby buses in real time and an estimated time of arrival at the nearest bus stop. You can download it here.

Where To Stay In Malta

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Unfortunately, the list of positives stops here. Now, let’s go to the

Negatives of public transport in Malta:

Slow

Being in a large vehicle does not help beat the heavy traffic of Malta. Bus stops are situated quite close to each other and the bus stops too frequently. Also, quite often motorists don’t give way to the bus to exit the bay.

Crowded

As the Malta Public Transport is free for everyone with an address in Malta (local population and foreigners living here) it is crowded, especially in summer. Finding a place to sit is usually possible only on the first 3 stops of the journey.

Unreliable

Timetables on the bus stops are just a reference. Public buses in Malta are usually late.

Our Recommendations:

  1. Don’t buy the weekly pass or 12 journeys pass before you have tried the service. Just get a ticket from the driver on the first journey or two, and then decide if you will be using this form of transport for the rest of your stay.
  2. Download the Tallinja App if you will be using the bus frequently.
  3. Don’t go long distances with the bus as it will take too much time of your holiday. For instance, a trip from Bugibba to Marsaxlokk will easily take 2-2.5 hours as you will need to change the bus at Valletta Bus Terminal.
  4. If you don’t feel comfortable standing, avoid the public bus.
  5. In Central Malta (Valletta, Gzira, Sliema, St. Julian’s) the buses are frequent, and you have a higher chance of getting one.
  6. If you are 4 people and travelling a short distance, just get a cab – could be even cheaper than getting a bus at 2 euro each.
  7. Gozo – all the public buses in Gozo go to Victoria. If you want to go from the ferry to Ramla Bay, you need to go to Victoria first. If your next destination is Xlendi – you have to go back to Victoria again. It is a total waste of time to go around Gozo on the public transport. The best way to see Gozo in a day is with the Green / Gozo Hop On Hop Off Bus.

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