Public Transport in Malta
Public transport in Malta both on the main island and on Gozo is fully run by Arriva Malta. This was not always the case though and until 2011 traditional Malta buses could be seen on the roads! The newish Arriva Malta service is generally very efficient and affordable and covers a wide variety of routes. The buses are all modern and air conditioned and can be an excellent way of travelling around the islands. Most of the buses are reliable and run on time but do make sure you allow a little extra time for journeys just in case of any unavoidable traffic. The routes to the main attractions can also get quite busy so be prepared to stand if you are not getting on at the first few stops.
There are several different types of bus service which are described briefly below;
Main Line Routes
These bus routes all run from and to Valletta.
Airport Express
These services link the airport to the following towns; Valletta, Marsaskala, the Three Cities, Rabat, Sliema, St Julians, Buggibba, Qawra, St.Paul’s Bay, Mellieha and Cirkewwa (for the Gozo Ferry). These buses have additional room for luggage.
Direct
These buses serve the main towns and tourist areas without needing to travel via Valletta.
Night Buses
Night buses in Malta run on Friday and Saturday nights and mainly run from and to St Julians from other locations on the island.
Gozo Services
There is a good network of bus services on Gozo island which serves all the main locations.
Bus tickets are available as a day ticket (€2.60) or as a seven day ticket (€12). The tickets can be bought either on the bus or at machines at major bus stops. Both the day ticket and the seven day ticket allow unlimited travel on all buses apart from the night buses. Furthermore, the tickets bought on Malta buses cannot be used on the Gozo buses and tickets bought on the Gozo buses cannot be used on the Malta buses.
If you are looking to do some exploring around Malta and Gozo and don’t fancy renting a car or taking a tour, then taking public transport in Malta is a great option!
