Different Transportation Options You Can Choose From If You Want To Explore Malta
Honestly, the biggest decision you’ll make for your whole trip around Malta isn’t where you’ll stay or what you’ll see first. It’s how you’re going to move around or the transport in Malta.
Trust us on this. It’s the one thing that will dictate whether you have a genuinely great time or a deeply frustrating one.
It’s the choice between spending your holiday stuck in traffic fumes behind a tour bus, or actually finding the good stuff: the quiet coves, the village bars, the places that aren’t swarming with people. It completely defines the kind of trip you’re going to have.
Transport In Malta: What Are The Best Options For You?
From a modern public bus system to e-bikes for eco-conscious travelers, the modes of transport in Malta are efficient and accessible.
There are a lot of companies established for renting cars, bikes, and scooters, so you can choose whatever you need.
Here are the details.
1. The Buses: The Good, The Bad, And The Sweaty
First up, the public buses. For the money, they’re hard to beat. The network is huge and will get you from the airport to pretty much any town or beach you’ve heard of, and plenty you haven’t.
The main bus station just outside Valletta’s grand entrance is the chaotic but effective heart of the whole system. The buses are modern enough and, crucially, have air-con that you’ll be very, very grateful for in August. If you’re on a budget, this is your go-to.
Now for the reality check. The timetables are, at best, a rough guide. Buses run on what is affectionately known as ‘Maltese time’. They get stuck in traffic, they fill up, and punctuality isn’t always their strong suit.
If you’re a clock-watcher, you will have a meltdown. But if you can take a breath and go with the flow, it’s a perfectly fine way to see the island. A quick tip: buy a seven-day ‘Explore’ card. It’s cheap and saves you from fumbling for euro coins every time you want to hop on.
2. Hiring A Car: Freedom Vs. Fury
The idea of hiring a car is tempting. The freedom to just go, to chase a sunset, to find a deserted beach on a whim. It’s what holidays are made of. And for Brits, the massive plus is that they drive on the left, so it feels familiar from the get-go.
With a car, you’re not tied to anyone’s schedule. It’s a strange but true fact that there are only 24 five-letter countries in the world, and you can drive across this one in about an hour. You can be at the Dingli Cliffs for sunrise and have lunch in Marsaxlokk fish market without having to figure out three bus routes.
But, and this is a big but, you need to be ready for the driving. It’s… assertive. Lanes are a suggestion, indicating is a novelty, and roundabouts are a battle of wills.
It can be a white-knuckle ride. Then there’s the parking. Trying to find a parking space in Sliema, St Julian’s, or Valletta is a soul-destroying experience that can eat up huge chunks of your day.
It’s a straight trade: total freedom for a hefty dose of potential stress. If you’re a cool-headed, confident driver, it’s a great shout. If you’re not, it could easily become the bane of your holiday.
3. On The Water: The Only Way To See The Coast
You can’t come to an island nation and not get out on the water. It’s a crime. The sea offers a perspective of Malta you just can’t get from the land. The Gozo ferry is the obvious one, a functional and pleasant 25-minute trip to the sister island. But the real joy is in the leisure trips. Seeing the colossal cliffs and sea caves from a boat is a must.
Your options are basically a big, shared tour boat or something more exclusive. The big boats are fine, they’ll get you to the Blue Lagoon, but you’ll be there with hundreds of other people.
If you want to make a proper memory, the kind you’ll talk about for years, you need to look into a private boat tour Malta.
It sounds fancy, and it’s not the cheapest option, but it’s a total game-changer. You get your own skipper who knows where to go to escape the crowds.
You can drop anchor in a quiet bay for a swim, explore caves the big boats can’t get near, and just have a day of pure bliss. It’s a splurge, but it’s a hundred times better than being packed like sardines on a party boat.
4. Under The Water: Malta’s Other World
While you’re on the water, you should seriously think about what’s underneath it. Malta is, without exaggeration, one of the best places in the world for diving.
The visibility is often ridiculously good, and the underwater world is a mix of dramatic reefs, caves, and an incredible number of shipwrecks. It’s like a silent, blue museum down there.
And don’t think for a second this is just for seasoned pros. It’s arguably the best place in Europe to learn. Tons of excellent, safe dive schools can take you on a ‘try dive’ to see if you like it.
The opportunities for scuba diving in Malta are immense, whether it’s your first time breathing underwater in a sheltered bay or you’re an experienced diver wanting to explore a sunken WWII bomber. It’s a unique adventure that shows you a side of the island most visitors completely miss.
5. Your Own Two Feet: The Old-Fashioned Way
Finally, the most basic transport of all: walking. In the ancient walled cities of Valletta and Mdina (the ‘Silent City’), it’s the only way to do it.
Put the phone away and just wander down the narrow limestone alleys.
You’ll find hidden courtyards, tiny chapels, and beautiful old doorways. It’s by walking that you absorb the atmosphere and the sheer weight of history. It costs nothing but time, and it’s an essential part of the experience.
If you don’t want to walk and still have a sustainable mode of transport in Malta, you can choose an e-bike or scooter. There are also bike-sharing services in Malta.
So, what’s the final word? The trick to getting around Malta is mixing it up. Buses are great for the busy spots. Hire a car for a day if you want to roam. Get on a boat; seriously, don’t skip that. And walk. Walk a lot. That’s how you really see the place.
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