Malta’s public bus system can get pretty overwhelming for anyone not used to it. With over 125 routes, frequently changing schedules, and non-stop traffic, finding your way round the island isn’t always simple.
In light of that, here’s everything you need to know about wading your way through the chaos, from someone who uses public transport every day.
Tallinja Buses:
First of all, there’s only one bus company operating public transport here in Malta – ‘Malta Public Transport’. Every other bus you may see is privately owned.
Malta’s public transport system can get you pretty much anywhere you want to go in Malta and Gozo, except for the extremely secluded beaches or landmarks.
There’s no public transport system in place in Comino, meaning that you can only get around the island on foot.
Collectively, Malta and Gozo are home to a total of 125 bus routes, so figuring out which route/s you have to take to get to you desired destination can get pretty tricky.
In light of that, I’d suggest heading to Google Maps, selecting your location and your desired destination. This will let you know exactly which bus routes you should take to get from point A to point B – having said that, do not rely on the bus times that Google Maps gives out.
The times that this platform gives out are based on the timetables in place, having said that, Malta’s buses often run late, making these times pretty unreliable.
Instead, head to the App Store or Play Store on your phone and download the ‘tallinja’ app, which gives you real-time information about how far your bus is from getting to your stop.
All you need to do is select the bus stop you’re going to be waiting at – just make sure you choose the right one!
If you follow this complicated yet effective technique, you’ll rid yourself of a lot of waiting at what usually are unsheltered bus stops.
If you ever get confused, just head straight to the Valletta bus terminus – Malta’s main bus terminus. Every locality around the islands has a bus which starts or ends at this terminus.
At this terminus, tens of buses leave every hour, so you’re bound to come across a couple heading towards your desired destination. The same rules apply to the Victoria bus terminus in Gozo.
Something else you should keep in mind is that most buses don’t operate all day and usually stop at around 10 or 11pm before restarting the following morning.
There are four night routes: N11, N13, N212, N301, but even these stop operating pretty early on into the night. If you’re out too late, your best bet to get back home is to order a cab.
How to get to and from the airport:
You’ve just landed at the Malta International Airport and now what?
There are a total of six bus routes that take you from the airport to the rest of Malta: the X1, X1A, X1B X2, X3, X4. Basically, whenever you see an X followed by a number on a bus just know it’s either going to or from the airport.
How to get to and from the Cirkewwa Harbour:
When it comes to getting to and from the Cirkewwa Harbour to cross over to sister island of Gozo, you have to catch any of the following buses: X1, 222, 221, 41, 42 or 101.
These all stop exactly under the stairs leading up to the ferry terminal so it should be pretty easy to get there.
How to get to and from Mgarr, Gozo Harbour:
To get to the Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, your best bet would be to catch any of the following buses: 301, 303, 323 or 322.
These are the same buses you need to catch to get to central areas of Gozo as well. The bus stop is right in front of the entrance of the ferry terminal.
Prices and payment:
Payment is pretty easy, you can either buy a ticket from the driver that costs €1.50 during the winter season and €2 during the summer season. You can get on as many buses as you want with this ticket within the span of two hours.
If you want to save money, which I’m guessing you do, you can buy an unlimited ‘Seven Day Explore’ card. This card gets you unlimited travel for seven days for the price of €21. For children up to 10 years this only costs €15 instead.
For the full list of locations you can buy the card from, click here. (https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/where-to-buy-travel-card).
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