Getting Here
When it comes to traveling to Malta, the most popular option is by plane. Malta is exceptionally well-connected to Europe, with frequent daily flights to the mainland. The island is also well-connected to major hubs in the Middle East, offering an easy stop on the way to further travels. But did you know there are also ferry connections? Whether you prefer the convenience of air travel or the charm of arriving by sea, Malta offers a variety of options to suit every traveler’s needs.
By Plane
The most common and efficient way to get to Malta is by air. Malta International Airport is the country’s only international airport, and is well-connected to major cities across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Direct Malta flights are available from major European hubs including London, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. Apart from making Malta directly accessible from the mainland, said transport hubs provide a single-stop connection to North and South America. The island is also directly connected to eastern hubs including Istanbul and Dubai, in turn connecting the island to Asia and Africa. Direct flights to North Africa, including locations such as Morocco and Tunisia are also available.
Here’s a list of airlines providing direct Malta flights.
Central & Northern Europe
- Ryanair (low-cost)
- KM Malta Airlines (national airline)
- Lufthansa
- EasyJet (low-cost)
- ITA Airways
- British Airways
- Vueling (low-cost)
- Universal Air (low-cost)
- Jet2.com (low-cost)
- Transavia (low-cost)
- Scandinavian Airlines (Direct from March 2025)
Eastern Europe
- Turkish Airlines
- WizzAir (low-cost)
- Aegean Airlines
- Ryanair (low-cost)
- KM Malta Airlines (national airline)
- Universal Air (low-cost)
Middle East & North Africa
- Emirates
- Tunisair
- Universal Air (low-cost)
Various other airlines have partnered with one of the above to offer Malta flights under their umbrella, including Air France, KLM, and Qatar Airways. As for directly connected cities, the following is a (non-exhaustive) list of cities directly connected to Malta by plane. Flights can take as little as one and a half hours to Rome, to around 4 hours to Edinburgh.
Local Tip #1: Malta is a top travel destination in its own right, with its unique culture, rich history, and stunning coastlines. Many travelers also choose to include Malta as a stop as part of a broader European itinerary or Mediterranean escape. Let the following list of connected cities inspire you and get planning your perfect gateway.
Italy
- Rome
- Milan
- Venice
- Florence
- Bologna
- Naples
- Catania
- Palermo
- Pisa
- Turin
- Parma
- Perugia
United Kingdom
- London
- Manchester
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Belfast
- Norwich
France
- Paris
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Toulouse
- Bordeaux
- Nantes
- Nice
- Lourdes
- Rennes
Germany
- Berlin
- Munich
- Frankfurt
- Dusseldorf
- Hamburg
- Cologne
Spain
- Barcelona
- Madrid
- Seville
- Valencia
Western & Central Europe
- Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- Vienna (Austria)
- Zurich (Switzerland)
- Geneva (Switzerland)
- Brussels (Belgium)
- Lisbon (Portugal)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Prague (Czech Republic)
- Warsaw (Poland)
- Luxembourg
- Krakow (Poland)
- Bratislava (Slovakia)
Northern Europe
- Copenhagen (Denmark)
- Stockholm (Sweden)
- Oslo (Norway)
- Helsinki (Finland)
- Dublin (Ireland)
Eastern Europe
- Athens (Greece)
- Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Corfu (Greece)
- Chania (Crete – Greece)
- Budapest (Hungary)
- Zagreb (Croatia)
- Larnaca (Cyprus)
- Paphos (Cyprus)
- Bucharest (Romania)
- Sofia (Bulgaria)
- Vilnius (Lithuania)
- Riga (Latvia)
- Nis (Serbia)
- Tirana (Albania)
Middle East
- Istanbul (Turkey)
- Dubai (UAE)
- Tel Aviv (Israel)
North Africa
- Tunis (Tunisia)
- Casablanca (Morocco)
Flight aggregators such as Google Flights are a sensible starting point when considering your options on how best to travel to Malta.
Local Tip #2: Looking for some inspiration for a Malta itinerary. We have you covered! Have a look at our itineraries section for complete itineraries of various durations.
Price
Plane ticket prices to Malta can vary significantly depending on the season, airline, luggage, and booking lead times.
High Season (June – September)
Given the increase in demand, prices tend to be higher during peak tourism season. Round-trip flights from major European cities can range from €100 to €300 or more, depending on the departure location and how early you book. Low-cost airlines are deceptively cheap even during peak season, but can add up in costs once you include luggage and other add-ons.
Low Season (November to March)
Ticket prices drop during low season, with round-trip flights costing as little as €50 to €200, especially with budget airlines. As above, booking in advance, limiting luggage volumes and date flexibility can help you secure the best fares.
By Sea
Another underrated travel option to Malta is by sea, with regular ferry services from Sicily. Virtu Ferries offers routes from Pozzallo, with journey times of around 2 hours. This is a great option for those exploring Southern Italy who want to add Malta to their itinerary.
This ferry service is also the default travel mode for those looking to travel with their private vehicle to Malta. Services are typically all year round but are more susceptible to disruption during the winter months due to rough seas.
Malta is also a popular stop for cruises, allowing visitors to experience the island as part of a larger Mediterranean journey. Cruise ships typically stop directly at Valletta Waterfront, landing you directly in an ideal spot to enjoy Malta for a few hours. Have a look at MSC Cruises for a popular operator in this space.
Local Tip: Have a look at our experiences and travel concierge sections for services tailored to tourists arriving via cruise liners.
Price
Similarly to plane tickets, ferry prices to Sicily vary by season, although to a lesser degree. A round trip to Pozzallo costs €90 to €110 per person with more expansive luggage capacity included, depending on the season. Cheaper offers are also frequently available, especially for day trips.
Ferries to and from Sicily also provide a convenient transport solution for personal vehicles to Sicily, and by extension, mainland Europe. Adding a further €100 to €200 transports your car, camper van, or motorbike to and from Sicily, opening up further travel options.
Visa Requirements
Malta is part of the Schengen Area, with standard rules applying. The Schengen Area allows over 425 million EU citizens, as well as non-EU nationals living in or visiting the EU, to move freely without border checks. This means that EU citizens within the block are free to come to Malta without the need for any paperwork, Non-EU countries like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also part of the Schengen Area.
Other non-EU countries are required to request a short-stay visa to access the block, providing 90-day access within any 180-day period. However, a healthy exception list is also present, excluding various countries from this requirement. The good news is that a single Schengen visa (if required) provides access to the entire area, allowing you to include Malta as part of a broader European tour. Have a look at this FAQ, as well as this link for the latest on visa requirements to Malta.
Once You’re Here
Once you arrive in Malta, there are several convenient travel options to explore the island.
Ride Sharing Apps / Taxis
Ride-sharing apps are popular solutions and are easily available at the airport. Rides typically cover the entire country, are easily accessible, and are generally a medium-range cost solution, depending on demand. White taxis are also available at the airport, major towns, and popular tourist spots. This option is typically on the pricier side. Here’s a list of solutions at your disposal
- Ecabs (App Store / Google Play). Malta’s local operator in this space, offering competitive prices, is popular with the locals, and offers a generally positive service.
- Uber (App Store / Google Play). The global giant launched in Malta in 2022, and has quickly risen as one of the top competitors in the industry.
- Bolt (App Store / Google Play). Another big international operator, one of the first to launch and also popular with tourists and locals alike.
Price
Prices can truly range wildly in this space, depending on demand and supply at the time. During normal conditions, a ride from Gzira to the airport can cost €8 to €12, with a trip between Valletta and Mdina costing around €15. However, prices can increase greatly during high demand (such as a festival), with costs increasing one and a half of normal prices. All three operators are priced competitively, however, it is worth comparing prices due to variations in demand and supply across all three.
Public Buses
Malta’s extensive and affordable bus network covers all major attractions, cities, and towns. Operated by Malta Public Transport, buses run frequently from early morning to late evening, with some night routes available. Modern online services are available for planning purposes, with travel cards also available for purchase. Here’s a list of helpful links.
- The official Tallinja app (App Store / Google Play) features a travel planner while also allowing for real-time bus tracking.
- A Journey Planner
- The range of bus cards and tickets available.
- Tallinja Direct, comprising a set of routes from the airport directly to some of Malta’s tourist hotspots including Gzira, Sliema and St-Julians, as well as direct links across tourist hotspots (Valletta – Marsaxlokk, Valletta- Bugibba).
- Tallinja On Demand, a public transport-ride sharing hybrid where travelers can pre-book transport across certain localities, with the transport system bus pooling across applicants for a more direct and premium experience.
- Airport services, slower than Tallinja direct, nonetheless a viable option to get you to your destination on the island.
- Night routes
Price
Malta’s public transport service offers the cheapest solution for travel within the country. A single €2.50 ticket – bought directly from the bus driver – provides unlimited transport for a 2 hour period during the day, with a rate of €3 during the night. 12 single journeys cost €21, whereas €25 per adult / €7 per child gets you 7 days of unlimited travel. The latter solution also comes with further discounts to locations around the island, including the national aquarium. Finally, a flexible card can also be purchased which can be topped up online and avoids the need to purchase tickets for each ride.
Water Ferries
Ferries are an essential mode of travel between Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The most popular ferry is the Gozo Channel, regularly transporting travelers and private vehicles across Cirkewwa (Malta) and Mgarr (Gozo). This service operates all year round and is only disrupted by bad weather. See here for the full schedule.
Other underrated, but very convenient water ferries include the ferry from the Gzira-Sliema promenade to Valletta and the ferry from Valletta to Cospicua. These ferries are the most pleasant mode of transportation across the island, providing scenic views of the grand harbour while avoiding traffic hotspots of the surrounding cities. All three destinations are very popular with tourists, making it a perfect solution to explore the area. Have a look here for more information on both schedules.
Another very convenient travel is the fast ferry between Valletta and Mgarr, Gozo. Another scenic 45-minute trip across Malta’s east side lands you in Gozo, allowing you to effortlessly start your tour of the sister island. As a tourist, you can stay near the Gzira-Sliema promenade, hop on to the ferry to Valletta, walk a few minutes, grab the fast ferry, and land in Gozo without breaking a sweat.
Finally, one cannot forget the many private operators transporting travelers to Comino and the Blue Lagoon. Many such operators can be found across the islands, including Gzira & Sliema, Mellieha, and Mgarr (Gozo).
Price
The water ferry between Sliema/Gzira and Valletta, and the ferry From Valletta to the Three Cities costs €2 for a single trip, and €3.80 for a return trip. The night service, commencing at 19:30, costs €2.50 for a single trip, and €4.20 for a return trip. A return trip on the Gozo fast ferry costs €12, with infants traveling for free and discounts for children up to the age of 10. Both passengers and cars do not pay on the Gozo Channel while traveling from Malta to Gozo. A fee of €4.65 is to be paid when traveling back per passenger, with a fee of €15.70 to be paid if traveling back by car.
Local Tip: It is also possible to travel to Gozo via the standard Gozo channel, and grab a trip back via the fast ferry.
Car, Scooter & Bicycle Rentals
Most established car rental companies are found in Malta, with rental agencies available at the airport and in major cities. Similarly, various options can be found for scooter rentals, or even bicycle rentals if you are looking for a more eco-friendly option. However, keep in mind that driving is on the left-hand side of the road, which can be tricky for travelers coming from most other countries. Given the old city centres designed during a different age, roads are also rarely bicycle friendly, making it a less-than-ideal travel option.
Price
Car rental agencies charge typical Southern European prices, with costs ranging from €25 to €50 per day for an economy car. We typically recommend sticking to the more reputable international car rental agencies, or agencies with a large number of ratings on Google.
Private Transfers & Tours
Various private transfer services and tours are available for those looking for a more premium experience. Convenient solutions are available for those looking for pre-booked direct airport transfers. Travelers looking for a personalized experience can also book guided tours to explore the island’s key attractions.
Price
Have a look at the experience and travel options on offer in our concierge section for clarity on prices and direct booking options.
Tips From A Local
Here are a few tips from a local to keep in mind while planning logistics in Malta.
- As a small island with a relatively high density, Malta’s roads can get very busy with traffic. Although many efforts are being made to alleviate the problem, it is easy to get stuck in traffic if you’re not careful. On this note, it is best to avoid traveling during rush hour from 8 till around 9:30, and from 3 till around 6 on weekdays. You’ll be fine during the rest of the day.
- Parking is free on public roads. However, parking availability can vary by locality, and is generally a challenge in the popular tourist areas. Many localities are therefore well served by private parking solutions, including Valletta and Sliema. The cost usually adds up to a couple of Euros, which is inexpensive when compared to other cities on the continent.
- Many tourists have anecdotally praised the public transport system. I personally also use ride-sharing apps and find the service convenient, especially for spots where parking will be tough.
- Do not risk parking on yellow lines and always set your time metre if in a time-bound area. Traffic wardens regularly check up and issue fines.
- Coloured parking boxes imply reservation for a subset of cars (such as electric). As above, do not risk parking in a box that is not applicable to you.
- Driving in Malta is safe. Nonetheless, it can also be eventful. In true Mediterranean spirit, Maltese drives are mostly fine, but you can encounter the odd peculiar move on the road. Just use common sense and you’ll be fine.
- Stick to reputable car rental brands or outlets with a large number of ratings on Google. This space has seen scams in the past, especially when offering dirt-cheap prices.
Concluding Thoughts
To wrap things up, this guide has given you all the key information for getting to Malta, whether by flight or ferry. Once you’re here, we’ve covered everything you need to get around like a local. From using public transport and ride-sharing apps, to hopping on a water ferry, you’ll be traveling around the island in no time. We even threw in some local tips for those thinking about renting a car. With these insights, you’ll be ready to explore Malta stress-free and enjoy all the island has to offer with ease and confidence, no matter your style.
Related Content
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