Although it is easy enough to hire a car to get around Malta, it is worth considering using public transport as a budget option. In addition, the traffic in towns can be very heavy and parking challenging, unless you are staying somewhere with on-site parking (many businesses in Malta seem to have underground parking). That said, the main roads outside of towns are excellent and of course they drive on the left in Malta and all of the signs are in English, so it is reasonably familiar if you want to drive.
I recently spent a week in Malta visiting many of the major sites, travelling entirely on buses. Here are some observations that may be helpful…
Malta has an extensive bus network and, at least within the towns, there will generally be several ways to reach your destination without having to wait too long.
Bus travel is very good value. At the time of writing it cost 2.5 euros for a ticket which allows 2 hours of travel. For 25 euros, you can purchase a 7 day Tallinja adult explorer ticket (these are available in the airport and from the many Transport Malta booths). This is great as it means that you don’t have to be concerned about how many buses you have to use to reach your destination, or getting on the wrong one (you inevitably will at some stage) and having to change. Just tap the card as you get on and you are good to go.
The card does not appear to cover ferries, but these are relatively cheap. A return to Gozo was 4.5 euros. Sliema to Valetta 2.5 euros.
Every resident in Malta is entitled to free public transport, so the buses are VERY well used and exceptionally busy at peak times or on popular routes. This means that there will often be standing room only, with the buses being so packed that it is difficult to get on or off.
If the buses are completely packed, they will not stop for more passengers, so be prepared to implement a Plan B!
Buses generally only stop if (a) someone on the bus requests it or (b) they are flagged down at the bus stop.
Flagging the bus down takes some getting used to. You have to be very clear and you also have to be careful for blocked views. Sometimes the bus you want is not the first one to the bus stop and if you don’t spot it and flag it down it will just sail past. Make sure that you have good visibility!
The buses can sometimes vary from their scheduled times quite dramatically, especially when traffic is really bad. It is worth downloading the Tallinja app which will show real time data on where the buses are. A combination of this and Google Maps is great for plotting routes and understanding where you are in relation to the stop you need whilst on the bus.
Don’t be too reserved. The Maltese don’t really queue when getting on to buses. If you are too polite, you will be left behind.
Grab a seat when you can. If you are standing, grab on to something. The traffic conditions and often fairly complex manoeuvres, especially in narrow streets with parked cars, can lead to some fairly erratic stop/starts.
Although not big on queueing, the Maltese are very polite when on the bus. I did see many people giving up seats to older or less mobile passengers. You should do the same. Also, the challenges of squeezing your way through a crowd to the exit requires a relaxed and friendly demeanour.
Carry a power pack to recharge your phone. If you are travelling all day, the location based apps can take their toll on your phone battery.
Allow lots of time and be prepared to flex your plans. It very much helps to have a relaxed attitude towards getting where you want to go.
The buses have free Wifi, so you can save on that data plan.
Malta is not very big, so be aware that if push comes to shove, you can always get a taxi and it is unlikely to break the bank. A local told me that:
Although there seem to be very many more Bolt than Uber taxis, all of the drivers are on both apps and will just flip between them. Apparently the costs are comparable
The rate charged varies according to how busy the traffic is so if it is rush hour, go grab a drink and travel later!