Malta International Airport sits in Luqa, about 8 km south of Valletta, 10 km from Sliema and 12 km from St Julian’s. The whole island is small enough that no transfer takes more than 45 minutes, but the right transfer depends entirely on what time you land, how much luggage you’ve got, and whether you’ve already had three espressos or zero hours of sleep.
This is the honest comparison — including the option locals quietly don’t recommend.
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At-a-glance: which transfer to pick#
| Option | Cost (1 person) | Time to Sliema | Best for | Worst for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallinja X2 bus | €2.50 / €1.50 | 35–45 min | Solo travellers, light luggage, daytime | Late arrivals, families, big bags |
| Bolt / eCabs (app) | €15–22 | 20–25 min | Couples, anyone after 22:00 | Times when surge pricing kicks in |
| Pre-paid airport taxi | €25–35 | 20–25 min | First-timers wanting zero friction | Budget travellers |
| Private transfer (pre-booked) | €25–45 | 20–25 min | Families, groups, kids, late nights | Solo travellers on a budget |
| Rental car | from €25/day + parking | 20 min | Multi-day road trips | Day-1 sleep-deprived left-side driving |
If you’re solo with a backpack and landing in daylight, take the bus. If it’s after 22:00 or you’ve got more than one suitcase, just call a Bolt. Everything else is a variation on those two.
Option 1: The Tallinja X-bus (cheapest)#
Malta’s public bus network is run by Tallinja, and four express routes connect the airport directly to the main tourist areas — no transfer required:
- X1 → Mellieħa, Ċirkewwa (for the Gozo ferry)
- X2 → Msida, Sliema, St Julian’s, Pembroke (this is the one you want)
- X3 → Mosta, Buġibba, Qawra (north coast)
- X4 → Marsaskala, Birżebbuġa (south)
For Valletta, take the X2 to Msida then change to a city route, or — easier — take any X-bus and change at the central terminus. Most travellers heading to Valletta proper just take a Bolt instead, because the bus-plus-transfer routine with luggage is more pain than it saves.
Cost & where to catch it#
- Single ticket: €2.50 from 15 June to 15 October, €1.50 the rest of the year. Valid for 2 hours including transfers.
- Tallinja Card / Explore Card: €21 for 7 days unlimited. Worth it if you’ll use buses 9+ times during your trip — likely on any 3+ day stay. See our Malta public bus guide for the full card breakdown.
- Where: the bus terminus is directly outside Arrivals — turn right out of the doors and walk 60 seconds. There’s a small ticket booth and a row of clearly numbered stops.
- Frequency: every 30 minutes during the day, every 60 minutes after 22:00, last bus around midnight depending on the route.
Travel time (real-world)#
- Airport → Sliema (Sliema Ferries stop): 35–45 minutes off-peak, 50–60 in rush hour
- Airport → St Julian’s (Spinola Bay): 45–55 minutes
- Airport → Valletta (Valletta Terminus): 30–40 min via X4 + city bus, or X1/X3 + change
Should you actually take the bus?#
Yes, if you’re:
- Travelling solo or as a couple with carry-ons or one small case each.
- Landing between roughly 07:00 and 21:00 (after that, frequency drops and you’re competing with everyone else who didn’t want to pay €15).
- The kind of traveller who prefers €2.50 and a window seat to €20 and door-to-door.
No, if you’re:
- Two people with two big checked bags each. The bus aisles fill up fast in summer.
- Travelling with kids who are tired, hungry, or both.
- Landing after 22:00 (you’ll be standing 30 minutes for the next bus while a Bolt arrives in 4).
Option 2: Bolt or eCabs (best value app-cab)#
Both Bolt and eCabs work normally in Malta. They’re the local equivalent of Uber and they cover the airport without surcharge.
- Cost: €15–22 to Sliema/St Julian’s; €13–18 to Valletta. Surge can push this 30–50% higher between 22:00 and 02:00 on weekends and during festas.
- Time: 20–25 minutes to Sliema, 18–22 minutes to Valletta.
- Where to find them: Bolt has a designated pick-up zone; follow the “Ride-hailing” signs from arrivals. eCabs has its own kiosk and dedicated pick-up area.
- Payment: card on file, no cash needed.
This is the option we use 80% of the time. It’s the right balance between price and friction, especially after a long flight.
Option 3: Pre-paid airport taxis (the white-cab booth)#
Inside arrivals you’ll see a clearly signed pre-paid taxi booth. The white-cab service uses fixed zone-based prices — you pay at the booth, get a slip, and the next available driver takes you. No meter, no surprise.
- Cost: roughly €30 to Sliema, €25 to Valletta, €35 to St Julian’s, €40 to Buġibba (these were last verified April 2026 — confirm at the booth).
- Time: same as Bolt, 20–25 minutes.
- Pros: fixed price, no app required, drivers know exactly where they’re going.
- Cons: noticeably more expensive than Bolt for the same ride.
This is what your parents would book. There’s nothing wrong with it — it’s the lowest-friction option that doesn’t require you to install anything. But if you’re already running Bolt back home, you’ll save €10–15 by using the app.
Option 4: Pre-booked private transfers#
These are arranged before you fly: you book online, give your flight number, and a driver waits in arrivals with a sign showing your name. Welcome Pickups is the most common operator for Malta; you’ll also find airport transfer products through GetYourGuide and Viator.
- Cost: €25–45 for a sedan (1–3 passengers); €40–65 for a van (4–8); luxury or executive from €60+.
- Time: same as a regular cab.
- Pros: flight tracking (driver waits if you’re delayed), meet-and-greet at arrivals, baby seats available on request, English-speaking drivers as standard, fixed price including tolls and tips.
- Cons: the most expensive option for a single passenger; you have to book ahead.
We recommend this in three specific cases:
- You’re landing after midnight. Bus is gone, Bolt surge can be ugly, and a guaranteed ride is worth the €30.
- You’re travelling with small kids. A booked car-seat beats wrestling one through arrivals with two over-tired toddlers.
- You’re a group of 4+. A pre-booked van is usually cheaper per person than two Bolts.
Pre-Book a Private Airport Transfer
Sedan or van, fixed price, flight tracking, English-speaking driver waiting in arrivals. Worth the upgrade if you’re landing late or travelling with kids — the difference between a smooth start and a 1am taxi-rank scrum.
Option 5: Renting a car at the airport#
You can pick up a rental car directly at MLA — the major operators (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Avis, plus local Mayjo and Goldcar) have desks across from arrivals. But for getting to your hotel on Day 1, this is rarely the right move.
- Cost: rentals start around €25/day in shoulder season; full insurance can double that. Plus parking — Sliema, Valletta and St Julian’s all have paid car parks at €1.50–3/hour.
- Time: 20–25 min to drive, plus 30–45 min at the rental desk picking up.
- Why we don’t recommend it for arrival day: you’ve just flown, you’ve never driven on the left, you’re going to a town with narrow streets and aggressive scooter traffic, and the parking situation in tourist hubs is notoriously brutal. Pick the car up on Day 2 or 3 when you actually need it for a road trip.
If you do plan to drive, our renting a car in Malta guide covers what to know about left-side driving, ZTLs, and the parking app you’ll actually need.
Special cases#
Arriving at 1am from a delayed flight#
Bolt + eCabs both run 24/7 but surge after midnight. The safest move is a pre-booked private transfer — the driver tracks your flight, waits if you’re late, and the price is fixed. Failing that, the white-cab booth always has cars.
Travelling with a stroller / wheelchair#
Skip the bus. The X-buses are accessible in theory but boarding with a stroller and luggage is rough. Pre-book a private transfer with accessibility options noted, or use eCabs Comfort for vehicles with more boot space.
Going straight to Gozo#
Take the X1 bus from the airport directly to Ċirkewwa (~75 min, €2.50/€1.50). The Gozo Channel ferry runs 24/7 in summer and you walk on with your bag. See Malta to Gozo ferry for the full timetable. If you’re going to Gozo for one night and back, a private transfer to Ċirkewwa with a wait at the ferry doesn’t really make sense — bus it.
Going straight to your tour at Sliema marina#
If you’ve booked a Comino boat tour for the same day (we wouldn’t, but if you have): Bolt straight to Sliema Ferries, walk to your operator’s check-in. Don’t try to bus this — the X2 doesn’t drop you at the marina, it drops you at the bay’s main road, and you’ll waste the 20 minutes you saved on the fare.
What you’ll actually spend on a 3-day trip#
For a couple landing on a daytime flight, basing in Sliema, and not renting a car:
| Trip leg | Option | Cost (couple) |
|---|---|---|
| Airport → Sliema | Bolt | €18 |
| Sliema → Valletta (3x) | Sliema ferry | €9 |
| Sliema → Mdina | Bus + Tallinja card | €21 (full week) |
| Sliema → Comino tour pier | Walk | €0 |
| Sliema → Airport (departure) | Bolt | €18 |
| Total transport | ~€66 |
A Tallinja Explore Card pays off the moment you do more than ~9 single rides, which a 3-day Mdina + south coast itinerary will easily hit. See Malta travel costs for full daily-budget breakdowns.
Common mistakes#
- Booking a private transfer for a noon arrival in May. You’re paying €30 to skip a problem you don’t have. Just take the bus or a Bolt.
- Taking the X4 thinking it goes to Sliema. It doesn’t. X2 is your Sliema/St Julian’s express. X4 is for Valletta and the south.
- Trying to drive into Valletta on Day 1. The historic centre has timed-entry restrictions (ZTL), parking is a national sport, and most hotels don’t offer parking — expect €15–25/day at a public car park. Take the ferry or a cab in.
- Assuming the last bus is at midnight. It’s earlier on most routes — closer to 22:30 from the airport in low season. Confirm on the Tallinja app before counting on it.
- Not knowing the summer-fare bump. €2.50 from 15 June to 15 October catches a lot of travellers who priced their transport in winter.
FAQ#
How much is a taxi from Malta Airport to Sliema?#
A pre-paid white taxi from the airport booth is around €30 to Sliema. Bolt or eCabs typically runs €15–22 for the same trip, sometimes higher with late-night surge. Pre-booked private transfers fall in the €25–45 range depending on vehicle.
Is there a direct bus from Malta Airport to Sliema?#
Yes — the X2 Tallinja express runs directly from MLA to Sliema, St Julian’s and Pembroke, every 30 minutes during the day. €2.50 in summer (15 June – 15 October), €1.50 the rest of the year. Travel time: 35–45 minutes.
What’s the easiest way to get from Malta Airport to Valletta?#
Either the X4 bus to Valletta Terminus (€2.50/€1.50, 30–40 min) or a Bolt (€13–18, 18–22 min). The bus stop is 60 seconds outside arrivals; the Bolt pickup zone is signposted from arrivals as “Ride-hailing.”
Does Malta Airport have Uber?#
No, Uber doesn’t operate in Malta. The equivalent apps that do are Bolt and eCabs — both work the same way and are the de facto local standard.
Are airport taxis 24/7?#
Yes. The pre-paid white-cab booth runs 24/7, and Bolt + eCabs both operate around the clock (surge prices are higher between 22:00 and 02:00 on weekends).
Should I exchange money at the airport?#
No. Malta uses the euro, ATMs are everywhere, and card payments are accepted essentially everywhere a tourist will spend money — including buses (contactless on the Tallinja Tap & Go), restaurants, museums and supermarkets. The airport exchange rates are predictably bad.
Can I rent a car at Malta Airport on arrival?#
You can — the major rental agencies have desks at MLA. We don’t recommend it for your arrival day because of left-side driving fatigue and parking pain in Sliema/Valletta. Pick up the car on Day 2 if you need one, and see our Malta car rental guide for what to know.
Where do I catch the Tallinja bus at the airport?#
Turn right out of arrivals and walk about 60 seconds — the bus terminus is directly outside the terminal building, with numbered stops and a small ticket booth. Buy your ticket at the booth or tap a contactless card on board (Tallinja Tap & Go).
Last verified: April 2026. Bus fares, taxi tariffs and route numbers occasionally change — confirm on the Tallinja app or the airport’s official transport page before relying on a specific time.
