Malta is tiny. 27km long, 14km wide. That’s the whole island. Getting around is easy once you know the options, and even when you don’t, because nowhere is truly far away. There’s no metro system to decode, no confusing zone maps, nothing like the Tube where you need a degree in topology to work out which line goes where.
That said, knowing how transport works before you land saves you time, money, and that specific mild panic of standing at a bus stop in 35-degree heat wondering if you’re about to end up in the wrong village. So here’s what you actually need to know.
Buses: the backbone (for better or worse)
Malta Public Transport runs the bus network and it covers basically the whole island. Most routes either pass through or terminate at the Valletta bus terminal, which is the main hub for everything.
The essentials:
Single journey: €1.50 in winter, €2.00 in summer (May to October)
Get a Tallinja Card (rechargeable travel card) and that drops to €0.75 per trip. Get this on day one.
You can buy it online, at the airport, or at various spots around the island
Buses run roughly 5:30am to 11:00pm, with limited night services on some routes
From St. Julian’s (where Maltalingua is) you can catch direct buses to Valletta (around 25 minutes), Sliema (10 minutes), and Mdina (about 45 minutes). Pretty straightforward.
Now the honest bit. Buses can be unreliable, especially during peak hours and in summer. They run late. Popular routes get packed. Sometimes two buses show up back to back and then nothing for twenty minutes. If you’ve got a morning class, build in a buffer and leave ten minutes earlier than you think you need to. Most students figure out the rhythm within a few days and stop worrying about it, but that first couple of days can feel a bit chaotic.
Walking: more practical than you'd think
Because the island is so small, walking genuinely works for a lot of trips. From Maltalingua in St. Julian’s:
Sliema: 20 minutes along the seafront, one of the nicest walks on the island
Paceville: 5 minutes. Restaurants, nightlife, supermarkets, everything you need
Spinola Bay: 10 minutes. Probably the most photographed spot in the area
That seafront walk between St. Julian’s and Sliema is something loads of students end up doing daily. Stop for a coffee on the way, watch the sea, take the long route back. It’s one of those things that makes studying here feel like more than just going to school.
A summer warning, though: midday walks in July and August are brutal. Carry water. Wear sunscreen. Save the longer walks for mornings or late afternoon. And wear proper shoes, because Maltese pavements are, let’s say, characterful. Comfort over style here.
Ferries: getting to Gozo and Valletta
Two ferry services are worth knowing about.
The Gozo ferry goes from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr and takes about 25 minutes. A return ticket is €4.65 and you only pay on the way back, which is a strange system but nobody’s complaining. Gozo is quieter and greener, a completely different feel from the main island. Loads of students go for a weekend to see the Citadel in Victoria, swim at Ramla Bay, and walk the coast. I’d recommend it. It’s one of the highlights of any Malta trip.
Then there’s the Valletta ferry. Sliema to Valletta, €1.50 each way, ten minutes across. It’s faster and far more scenic than the bus, and it drops you right at the Valletta waterfront. From St. Julian’s, walk to Sliema (or hop on a quick bus), grab the ferry, and you’re there. It’s the best way to spend an afternoon in the capital, and a lot nicer than fighting for a seat on the bus.
Taxis, Bolt, and ride-sharing
Traditional white taxis exist. They’re expensive and they don’t always use meters, so skip them.
Everyone, students and locals alike, uses Bolt. It’s Malta’s main ride-hailing app and it works really well.
A quick Bolt guide:
Download it before you arrive
St. Julian’s to Valletta: around €8 to €12
Airport transfer: about €15 to €20
Surge pricing kicks in on busy weekend nights, so for Paceville on a Saturday, expect to pay a bit more
Split a Bolt with a classmate and for short trips with two or more people it’s actually cheaper than the bus. You’ll end up using it more than you expect. There’s also eCabs, a local service with fixed prices. It’s good for airport pick-ups if you want to pre-book rather than stand around waiting for a Bolt at midnight.
Renting scooters, bikes, and cars
Staying more than two weeks? Renting something might make sense.
Electric scooters (GoTo is the main one) are scattered around St. Julian’s and Sliema. Unlock one via an app, ride where you need to go, and leave it. They’re good for short trips. But I cannot stress this enough: Malta’s drivers are chaotic. Not aggressive exactly, just unpredictable. Be careful on a scooter. Bicycles are an option too, but between the hills, the narrow roads, and the drivers who aren’t always aware that cyclists exist, most people don’t bother.
Car rental is surprisingly affordable (€15 to €25 a day) but comes with its own adventures. Driving is on the left, a British hangover that still catches visitors off guard, the roads are narrow, and finding parking is basically a competitive sport. Most students don’t need a car unless they want to reach the more remote beaches or explore at their own pace. Even then, Bolt usually does the job.
Getting from the airport
Malta International Airport is the only one, down in the south near Luqa. Getting to St. Julian’s takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Options:
Bus (X2 or TD2): direct to St. Julian’s, about €2.00. Fine during the day.
Bolt/eCabs: €15 to €20. Pre-book if you’re landing late.
Maltalingua transfer: arrange it through their accommodation options if you want everything handled before you arrive. One less thing to think about.
If your flight gets in after 11pm, pre-book something. You really don’t want to be working out bus routes with your luggage at midnight.
Student tips that actually help
After watching students figure out Malta’s transport over many courses, here’s what works:
Tallinja Card on day one. The savings add up fast.
Google Maps for buses. It integrates with Malta Public Transport schedules and gives you fairly current updates, which beats guessing.
Walk the seafront from St. Julian’s to Sliema. It’s beautiful and completely practical, a useful route rather than a detour.
Download Bolt before you land.
Don’t worry about getting lost. The island is 27km long, so even the wrong bus ends up somewhere interesting. Some of the best days here start with accidentally getting on the wrong route.
Malta rewards curiosity. Take a bus to a random village, find the local bakery, order a pastizz for fifty cents (they’re everywhere, they’re delicious, and they cost next to nothing), and practise your English with the person behind the counter. That’s the real immersion, and it’s worth more than any textbook exercise.
Start planning your trip
Getting around is the easy part, honestly. The bigger decision is picking the right English course and finding somewhere good to stay. Maltalingua can sort both, and the quote is free.
[CTA: Get your free quote → https://www.maltalingua.com/quotation/]