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Malta Transport Tallinja Card

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Get Around The Island Cheap And Easy

The Malta Public Transport Tallinja card is a very efficient well organised system of transportation visit any location on the island. We provide you with basic information to help you get started and understand the system.

As from Saturday 1st October 2022, the Malta Public Transport will be free for all people residing in Malta, with the exception of having a Tallinja card. The Tallinja card will be used to scan on the bus once boarding. No card top up will be needed.

Disclaimer: On our website, you will find affiliate links from which we receive a small commission.

All the buses on the island are low floor types. They have easy access for people with mobility impairments. Seats designed for persons with impairments, pregnant women and easy for the elderly, also for your children.

See all the routes and times to all villages and to every interchange.

table of contents - tallinja cards malta

• Tallinja Top Up
• Tallinja Card Balance Check
• Tallinja App Download
• Cards For Tourists
• Bus Ticket Information
• Personalised Tallinja Card

Adult Tallinja Card

Child tallinja card, student tallinja card, gozo resident tallinja card.

• Concession Tallinja Card

how to top up your tallinja card

There are several ways how to top up your Tallinja card.

• Using the  Malta Public Transport official website . After entering their website, first you must enter you card number (found on the back of your card) and select what your method to top up. The last thing is to enter your card details.
• Using the Tallinja App.
• Going to a representative office anywhere on the island.

how to check your tallinja card balance

There are several ways how to check your Tallinja card balance.

• Using the  Malta Public Transport official website.  All you have to do is enter you card number (found on the back of your card) and your balance will appear on screen.

how to download the tallinja app

Using you mobile phone click one of the following links.

• Use this link if you are using an Android phone .
• Use this link if you are using an Apple (IOS) phone .

You can download the public transport in Malta tallinja app (Android / Apple) which gives you the following features:

• You can see which of the buses are on each bus stop so you can determine at what time a particular bus will arrive on a bus stop from where you which to catch it. This will help you plan your journey and do not stay too much on the bus stop.
• Places of interest are marked on the map.
• You can save your favourite bus stops for quick reference.
• You can top up your balance of the card directly from this application.
• Check your remaining balance.
• Service updates with latest changes to routes etc.
• Log into your tallinja account to see your transaction history.
• You can go into the journey planner and check how long it will take you to arrive from one location to another.

how to get the tallinja cards

• From Malta Public Transport website. One can order them and can be delivered to their country in order to use them immediately when you arrive in Malta. Shipping fees apply.
• Malta International Airport from arrivals lounge.
• Valletta Cruise Port - Valletta Waterfront
• From sales and information offices of the Public Transport or from a number of partner resellers across the islands. For locations click here
• All cards can be used immediately when purchased

The Best Tourist Cards For Malta

While bus tickets can be purchased from our drivers on all buses, we also offer two cards specifically designed for visitors:

how to use the cards

• At all of Malta Public Transport Sales and Information offices and other outlets.
• Once the cards are purchased, they can be used immediately.
• Once you get on the bus, you must swipe the card on the machine.
• When you go on the boat or a free entrance in any building, you must show them the card.

Valletta Card

• Price: €19.00
• Validity: 24 Hours

the valletta card includes

• Public Transport to and from Valletta, two trips by ferry to the capital city from Sliema and Cospicua.
• The 133 route that circles Valletta.
• Free access to Upper Barrakka lift when using the ferry from Cospicua.
• Free entrance to any of the three points of interest : The Palace State Rooms, The Palace Armoury, The National Museum of Archaeology and Malta 5D.

Explore Plus Meep Tallinja Card

• Price: €39.00
• Validity: 7 consecutive days of unlimited travel

the ExplorePlusMeep Card includes

• Unlimited 7 day travel on the Malta Public Transport. This includes Tallinja Direct and Night Routes.
• 2 free trips on the Valletta ferry .
• 2 free trips on the Tallinja bike in Valletta and surrounding areas.
• A discount on the Ioscoot. This is an electric motorbike that shares service between St. Julian's and Valletta.
• Several options of Sightseeing around Malta: 1 full-day travel on CitySightseeing buses (Excluding Gozo) or 1 round trip to Comino during summer or 1 Best of Gozo & Comino trip during winter on Captain Morgan Cruises.
• Receive a discount on Malta 5D   of €2 for adults.

Explore Card

A 7-Day Explore card provides unlimited travel for seven consecutive days only from the time you first swipe the card on the bus. The Explore Card is both for adults and children.

• Prices: Adult €21 and Children €15

The Explore Card Includes

• Unlimited 7 day travel  on the Malta Public Transport. This includes also Night Routes.
• Free 30 minutes on the  Tallinja bike  in Valletta and surrounding areas.
• A discount on the Ioscoot.  This is an electric motorbike that shares service between St. Julian's and Valletta.
• Free Tallinja Direct Plus on-demand trips.

Explore Flex

With Explore Flex, you can pay for transport at a reduced price even more flexible than with other travel cards. This is the only non-personalised card with top-up and pay-as-you-go transport, it offers discounted rates on public bus transport, Valletta Ferry Services and many other transport options. 

This card will reduce the hassle of carrying cash and making sure you have the exact change to purchase your transport ticket. Once bought, it can be used immediately. This can be re-topped by using the Tallinja App. 

This card can be used on the available transport options: Tallinja Buses, Valletta Ferry Services and Tallinja Bike.

You can buy this card at Malta Public Transport sales offices at the Valletta bus terminal, Malta International Airport arrivals hall, or from card-dispensing machines everywhere on the island.

12 Single Day Journey Card

• Validity: 1 year - You have 12 single day journeys to be used in one year.

how to use the 12 Single Day Journey card

• You have either 12 single day journeys or 6 single night journeys. You can also combine them both.
• This journey card can also be shared and is valid for a year from first time of swiping on a bus.

Offers flexibility with reduced fares for 12 journeys.

a simple example of how to use the card

One Person  will swipe the card and will be valid for 2 hours. After 2 hours he will swipe it again for another 2 hours. Up till here he would have used 2 journeys from 12.

Two Person  will swipe the card twice and will be valid for 2 hours. After 2 hours they will swipe it again twice for another 2 hours. Up till here they would have used 4 journeys from 12.

If you change the bus during a journey of 2 hours you will still have to swipe on the bus but no journey or money will be deducted from the card.

One card can only be used by a group of 12 persons at one time going on a bus for one trip of 2 hours. For the next trip a new card will have to be purchased.

This card is not adequate for tourists but only for those persons who use the bus occasionally

Bus Tickets Information

Two cash tickets can be purchased from all buses.

The Winter/Summer ticket & the Night Service ticket

Summer Ticket:

• €2.00 - Duration 2 hours
• Between Mid-June and Mid-October
• Operates between 05:30 till 23:00

Winter Ticket:

• €1.50 - Duration 2 hours
• Between Mid-October to Mid-June

Night Ticket:

• 4 main routes
• Operates every Friday, Saturday nights and public holidays and feast days.

Personalised Tallinja Cards

There are five different personalized cards which will have your personal photo and your name written on them.

Basic Conditions:

One has to register for these cards through the Malta Public Transport website .

Minimum amounts and card fees apply. The credit will not expire.

To register for the Tallinja cards you will need one of the following documents:

• Maltese Identity card
• Residence Card
• Other ID Document

-  Tallinja  App -  Android  |  Apple

When boarding the bus make sure the barcode at the bottom of the card is touching the reader and the amount will automatically be deducted.

No credit can be transferred to another customer

Card is updated every 24 hours after use

When you spend the maximum limit on your card for the day, week or month, you will not pay for any fare until the next period starts.

The fees of the following cards do no include night and special service. In regards to these there are other fees which will be deducted from your card.

• 75c every 2 hours - 1 Journey
• Maximum Card Limit of €26 every month.
• Age 17 to 59 years (both included)

• Yellow Card
• 75c every 2 hours
• 50c every 24 hours
• €2.00 every 7 days
• Age 4 to 10 years (both included)
• Children up to the age of 4 travel for free and there is no need for a card.

• 75c every 2 hours.
• Maximum €21 for 1 month.
• €55 for 3 months.
• Age 11 to 16 years (both included)
• This card can also be used for students attending a full time course with a recognised educational institute for at least three months.

• Violet Card
• Maximum €10 for 1 month (Gozo Only)
• Maximum €26 for 1 month (Malta & Gozo)
• Night service is not included.
• This card applies for residents who have a Gozitan address on their ID Cards.

Concession Tallinja card

• 25c every 2 hours
• Maximum 50c every 24 hours
• Maximum €2.00 every 7 days
• This card is for people kartanzjan holders, Maltese 60+ Identity card holders, EU disability card marked with "MT" holders or special ID cards issued by the national Commission for Persons with Disability (CRPD).

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Public transport is a fantastic way to get round Malta. You'll find getting around the island easy on the brightly-coloured buses – especially if you know all the tips and tricks to make the most of them.

Get going straight away

Malta Public Transport

You can start your public transport journey as soon as you get to Malta, once you’re in the Arrivals Lounge. Here, the Malta Public Transport sales office acts as your one-stop-shop for any travel card you could need or advice on how to get around. And, if you still haven’t downloaded the Tallinja app, this could be the perfect opportunity, as the office provides free Wi-Fi to customers.

Download the app

For starters, did you know that there’s a brilliant (and free!) Tallinja app to help you get to know what public transport options are available to you? Downloadable to your smartphone and available through both the App Store and the Google Play Store, this app provides all sorts of helpful information, will show you the closest bus stop, and will even let you know real-time bus arrival times. Plus, if you’re still not sure how to get from A to B, this handy tool will also help you figure out the best route.

Choose a travel card

Speaking of travel cards, you’re likely to find these great value if you’re staying for more than a few days. In fact, the Explore Card will give you seven days of travel for just €21. Although cash tickets on board the bus are only €1.50 in winter and €2 in summer, prepaid travel cards ensure a quicker boarding time, and give you more for your money. If you’re planning a shorter visit, the 12 Single Day Journey tickets at €15 also offer great value.  

If you’re hopping on and off buses but still wondering what the TD routes stand for, here’s some more insight for you – they go direct. So, instead of taking you to Valletta to change route at the terminal there, you can go direct between locations like St Julian’s and Sliema, or the Airport and Bugibba.

For all your travel needs

Finally, if the Explore Card doesn’t seem like a good enough deal, you can even do one better by upgrading to ExplorePlus – which will give you seven days of unlimited travel on all Malta Public Transport buses (including TD routes), plus two trips on the Valletta ferry and sightseeing options including a day on the hop-on, hop-off City sightseeing buses or a trip to Comino by boat (including lunch) on Captain Morgan Cruises. That’s sea-and-land travel at its best!

For more information about getting around Malta on Public Transport, or to plan your next journey, visit www.publictransport.com.mt

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Fares and Tickets

To travel on buses in Malta and Gozo you can either:

• Use cash or contactless cards to buy fixed price single tickets from the driver (this is the most expensive option, and the only ticket available from the driver).
• Save money by buying a 12 Single Journeys Card from an MPT kiosk, dispensing machine or other outlet.
• Buy a 7-day Explore Card for unlimited bus travel, except on the limited stop TD routes.
• Buy a 7-day ExplorePlus Meep Card which includes the TD routes and some tourist extras.
• Use a stored-value non-personalised Explore Flex card giving discounts on bus fares and the local Valletta ferries.
• Apply online for a personalised tallinja card, which gives free travel on most buses (aimed at local residents but may also benefit regular or long-term visitors).

These options are all explained below:

Two-hour single tickets from driver

The only ticket available from the bus driver is the two-hour single ticket which costs €2.00. However, Tallinja Direct routes (prefixed TD , also route X300) are faster limited-stop services which have a single fare of €3.00. On Night buses (routes prefixed by N ) the single fare is also €3.00.

Contactless Visa, Mastercard and Maestro credit or debit cards (also smartphones and smartwatches) can be used to pay for tickets, whilst those using cash must pay with the exact fare as no change is given. There are no discounts for children except that children travel free up to their fourth birthday.

Passengers may change buses within the two hour period to get to their destination as part of a one-way journey. Scan the ticket on the reader when boarding the second bus. The ticket does not allow you to make a return trip, even if wholly within the two hour period. Of course, penalty fares are payable if you travel without a valid ticket.

Card for 12 single two-hour tickets

This card gives 12 single tickets for €15, making €1.25 per journey. It has to be purchased in advance (see below for outlets) in the form of a non-personalised tallinja card and the passenger swipes the card on the card reader on entering the bus. It can only be used by one person (note that the rules have changed - you can no longer swipe it twice if there are two of you).

On TD (Tallinja Direct) services (including X300) and on Night buses (routes prefixed by N ) you have to pay double (€2.50), so two journeys will be taken off the card. The card is valid for six months from first use.

Explore Card (7 days)

The Explore Card gives seven days of unlimited bus travel on all routes in Malta and Gozo except the limited stop TD (Tallinja Direct) routes and the Tallinja On Demand (formerly TD Plus) prebookable minibuses. It costs €21 (children aged 4-10 pay €15). You buy it in advance (see below for outlets) and swipe the card on each bus journey. It is valid for seven days (actually 168 hours) from the time the card is first validated on the bus. It is not transferable to other people.

ExplorePlus Meep Card (7 days with extras)

The ExplorePlus Meep Card also gives unlimited bus travel for seven days (168 hours from first validation), but unlike the regular Explore Card it is also valid on the limited stop TD (Tallinja Direct) routes, also the Tallinja On Demand prebookable minibuses, plus there are additional sightseeing options as listed below. It costs €39; there is no child reduction.

The sightseeing extras are as follows:

• Two one-way trips on the ferries operated by Valletta Ferry Services (Sliema - Valletta and/or the Three Cities route between Valletta and Cospicua).
• A full-day's travel on the hop-on, hop-off open top buses operated by CitySightseeing Malta visiting Malta's landmarks (excludes Gozo), OR one round trip to Comino by boat, operated by Captain Morgan Cruises (in Winter this is the Best of Gozo and Comino trip) OR a harbour cruise on Captain Morgan Cruises.
• Two free trips on Tallinja Bike, the electric bike-sharing service in Valletta and surrounding areas.
• A discount of €2 on Malta 5D shows (shows are every 30 minutes 1000-1630 on Mon-Sat at 7 Old Bakery Street, 5 mins walk from Valletta Bus Station).

If you are not interested in the sightseeing extras but just want bus travel you could of course buy the regular Explore Card and pay individual fares when you use TD services (€3 per journey), but if you intend to make more than five trips on TD services during the seven days then the ExplorePlus Meep Card is better value.

Explore Flex Card

The Explore Flex card is a stored value non-personalised card giving discounts on bus fares and the local ferries operated by Valletta Ferry Services. It can be linked to the Tallinja app, allowing you to check your credit and top up your card. Initial cost is €6, which is your credit to use immediately. The link above lists the fares you pay compared to normal fares.

Where to buy

You can buy the 12 Single Journeys Card and Explore cards from Malta Public Transport kiosks and card dispensing machines . Kiosks are located at Valletta bus station, Malta International Airport, and the Gozo bus terminus at Victoria bus station. They are also available from various other outlets which includes shops, lotto offices, and some hotels.

Tallinja Cards

From 1st October 2022, holders of a personalised tallinja card travel free on all daytime and night buses, apart from TD routes. The card can only be applied for online. For new cards there is a €15 registration fee plus €2.87 postage within Malta. Allow two weeks for delivery. Non-residents can apply for a card giving a foreign address; there is a €8 postage charge to addresses outside Malta. Have a scan of your passport and a passport-sized photo ready before applying online.

Tallinja cards are stored-value cards and credit will be required on the card to use it for TD routes, Tallinja On Demand services, and the local ferry services. You can also use your credit to pay for trips operated by Vintage Bus City Tours.

Passengers must tap in with their card when entering the bus, using the card reader. Personalised Tallinja cards have a photo and can only be used by the registered user. Whilst primarily aimed at residents, frequent or long-term visitors would obviously benefit from obtaining a card.

Tallinja is a personalised stored-value card which basically allows the named cardholder to make each single journey (within two hours) for €0.75, or €2.50 for a night journey and €1.50 for a journey on Tallinja Direct services. A child version (ages 4 to 10) is available giving a single fare of €0.25. For new cards there is a €15 registration fee, and a minimum top-up amount of €20 (€10 for child cards).

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Which Malta Bus Ticket is Right For You

Travelling between locations can sometimes be a hassle depending on which country you visit. Luckily, the small islands of Malta are easy to get to with their public transport. Malta’s bus service is the most convenient and cheapest way to get around the country – here are some of the options to suit the way you like to travel.

There are five ticket options to use the Malta bus: purchasing a single ticket or taking advantage of any of the four bus cards available to visitors. Each has its own advantages so I’ll break them down. I recommend watching my video explaining all the options below and then reading below for additional details.

Single Bus Ticket

The most common, universal way of using the bus is simply buying a ticket from A to B. No matter how far you go, the price per ticket stays the same, great if you’re going to the other side of the island. Buses are relatively cheap compared to other European countries so you’re transport budget doesn’t need to be big. Currently, non-summer prices for a ticket are €1.50, €2 in peak summer time. There are frequent night services that run from most from places such as Tas-Sliema, Valletta, Bugibba and Mellieña. These are ‘NXX’ buses and cost €3 throughout the whole year.

There are no other type of bus tickets, just the single trip ticket priced for adults, concessions, students and children. So why get the single bus ticket? Well, the good part is you get unlimited bus use within 2 hours. Each ticket has a QR code and validity time so you know exactly when it’s valid until. Whether you’re making an interchange or city hopping, you can cover distance with this one price. This includes buses to and from the airport . You can buy these at the airport desk, but it’s easy enough to purchase straight from the driver. If you plan to make infrequent trips to different places in Malta, then this works well.

Routes & Timetables

The explorer bus card will likely be the most popular option for those wanting to visit far and wide, travelling plenty during the day and into the night. The explorer bus card gives you unlimited bus rides in Malta, including Gozo island. It’s valid for 7 days and can be purchased for €21 or €15 for a child . Jump on any bus including Night services with a tap of the Explorer card. You can purchase one from any customer information desk at any bus terminal, payable either by card or cash. You can also purchase them from certain retailers, the full list of each town listed here for you. It’s valid from the first time you use it on the bus, though I’d recommend buying it on the day you plan to travel since it’s readily available. Availability is from when you activate it on your first trip.

Read: What’s in my Luggage? Malta Edition

Explorer plus.

The explorer plus card holds all the benefits of the Explorer card (unlimited bus travel including Gozo and night services), but includes a few admissions that may be appealing to you. It’s a flat €39 per person but includes 2 ferry rides in Valletta and either one admission for the hop-on, hop-off bus tour (usually €20 if I can recollect) or a boat trip to Comino. If you’re interested in doing any of these, then the Explorer Plus card is better value for money as tickets for any of these are more expensive.

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You can only choose either the boat trip to Comino or the bus tour, along with the ferry trips in Valletta and not all three, so bear that in mind. For children, you may want to see if buying an Explorer card with separate admission tickets are cheaper. This can be bought in any bus terminal sales and information office.

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12 single day journey.

All of those are great, but if you’re planning to go as a group, it can still get pricey. An alternative you can consider are the 12 Single Day Journey cards. Essentially, you’ll get 12 single tickets on this card, consuming one ticket for each trip you take. It works the same as a normal single ticket, but you tap the card on the machine like the other options. You’ll see how many you have left on the machine after you tap, but it’s simple enough.

Most likely the 2 hour time limit also applies, but I’m not sure as I never used it again within the 2 hours in my group of 3. It may recognise it if you tap again, but double check with the driver. So why get the 12 single day card if it follows the same principles as a normal ticket? The good thing is that you can share this card with your group, using up the tickets on this one card instead of needing to manage separate tickets. You’ll save the time getting on and off as one person can just tap for everyone.  You’ll also save €3 (the pass costs €15) compared to buying 12 single tickets separately. This is great if there are a few of you and you don’t plan on travelling often.

Example : if you’re a group of 2, this covers round-trips to 6 destinations (12÷2=6). If you’re a group of 3, this covers 4 destinations (12÷3=4) and so forth. It’s convenient and saves a little money. If you use up all the tickets, you can simply buy another one. The card is valid for 12 months from the first time of use, though bear in mind night services use up 2 tickets, as they cost €3 each way.

You can buy a personalised tallinja card here if you’re planning to stay longer, both for visitors and Maltese residents. This cuts admission prices significantly so check if this works better for you. There are a few admin hurdles to get through but offers good benefits for the long-term, including free travel aged 14-20 years old in 2019. See the travel scheme information and conditions .

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Public Transport in Malta and Gozo

Are you planning a trip to Malta, and looking for the best way to get around the island? You’ll be happy to hear that Malta has an excellent bus system! Sight-seeing will be easy as 1-2-3 with this handy guide on Malta’s public transport service.

Bus Fares & Cards

Single tickets.

Single tickets are extremely cheap compared to most European countries. A bus ticket will cost you €1.50 in winter, and €2 in summer. The price for a ticket on a night route is €3. Simply give money to the bus driver, who will print out your ticket for you. Don’t forget to keep your ticket after purchase, as they are valid for 2 hours. You will need to present your ticket if you need to transfer to another bus. Furthermore, checks are performed regularly during which every passenger must present their valid ticket.

Tallinja Cards

Not a fan of carrying cash around? Then you might want to buy a Tallinja Card! Malta Public Transport has created three Tallinja Cards specifically for tourists. These are the Explore Card, the ExplorePlus Card and the 12 Single Day Ticket card. You can buy any of these cards at numerous official sales points and third party outlets on the island. You can find a full list on the official Malta Public Transport website. Sales points at Malta Airport: Arrival Hall: Sales & Information office (open from 08:00 to 19:30), WHS Express. Departure Hall: Agenda Book Shop

Explore Card

€21 for Adults, €15 for children

• Valid for 7 days
• €21 for Adults
• €15 for Children up to 10 years old
• Unlimited Traveling for 7 days
• Night routes included

ExplorePlus Card

€39 for everyone

• €21 for everyone
• 2 Trips on the Valletta Ferry
• Full day tour with a hop-on / hop-off bus
• Boat Trip to Comino

12 Single Day Journey Card

• €15 for everyone

• Valid for 1 year
• 12 Single Day Journeys OR
• 6 Single Night Journeys OR
• Combination of both

Plan your journey with the Tallinja App

You can easily plan your trip ahead by using the Malta Public Transport website, the Tallinja App or even Google Maps! You do need an internet connection for these options. Thankfully, Malta is filled with Wifi hotspots where you can connect for free! If you know in advance that you will not be able to connect to 4G or a wifi spot, we recommend you to map out your trip in advance and simply make notes on your phone or screenshot the route. Each bus stop is also provided with a timetable for passing routes.

If you do have internet acces we highly recommend you to download the Tallinja App. It’s available for iOS and Android devices and gives you easy access to numerous features. You can find some examples below:

Journey Planner

Use the Journey Planner to find out everything you need to know. Enter a locality, place of interest, street or road, bus stop name or use your current location to map out your route.

My Next Bus

Already at a bus stop? Check when your next bus is coming. This system uses GPS tracking and will provide you with a real-time view on which route will pass by your bus stop in the next 30 minutes.

Places of Interest

Not sure what you want to do? Check out the Places of Interest listed in the app, and plan your journey to archaeological sites, beaches, diving centres, gardens and more! 

Tip: going around Malta by bus is easy. However, we don’t recommend you to use the public transport system if you’re time restricted. Malta is a small island, with even smaller roads, but counts more cars than people! Delays are inevitable, which can be frustrating and crucial to prevent in certain situations. Need to go to an important meeting or catch a flight? In that case we recommend you to take a taxi .

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Getting around in Malta and Gozo: Public transport, taxis and more

One of the major advantages of Malta’s small size is that getting around is easy, and you won’t need much travel time to explore the country. You can access a modern, relatively cheap and reliable public transportation system of route buses, high-quality taxi services and other types of transport in Malta.

In other words, There are good (and inexpensive) ways of getting around Malta and Gozo on your holiday.

In this guide, I’ll show you all the different types of transport and a little info on hiring a car and driving in Malta .

Save big on sightseeing with iSeeMalta , with hop-on/hop-off buses and boats, combo tickets for museums and the ferry to the Blue Lagoon!

Getting Around in Malta using public transport

The only types of public transport in Malta nowadays are 1) a system of route buses and 2) ferries in key parts of Malta. There’s no underground or metro, and although a railway service once existed (late 19th/early 20th century), all that remains are old train station buildings.

The bus routes, operated by Malta Public Transport, can get you anywhere you want to go in Malta and Gozo between 5:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. A night service runs on Friday and Saturday nights and public holidays.

Getting around Malta by bus might not be the fastest way if you’ve planned your trip around an itinerary , but other than walking or cycling it is surely the most economical. So, if you have a little patience and are not in a hurry, consider using this service.

The Maltese bus network is made of 120+ routes and over 1900 bus stops connecting the most important destinations on the island, including the Malta International Airport , the Valletta cruise liner terminal and the Gozo ferry terminals at Ċirkewwa and Valletta (from where you can catch a ferry to Malta’s sister island of Gozo ).

Buses are fairly efficient, with some occasional hiccups, serving the major tourist areas and places of interest . The main bus terminus is located just outside of Malta’s capital city, Valletta . Other major bus nodes are located at the airport, Buġibba , at Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry) and Gozo’s largest town of Victoria, with several low-floor buses serving each of them.

You can find ferries in a few key places, most notably:

• Between Valletta and Sliema
• Between Valletta and The Three Cities
• Between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr Harbour in Gozo
• Between Valletta and Mġarr Harbour in Gozo.

More on those public transport routes further below: Ferries in Malta and Gozo .

Using public transport: Tips and handy resources

You can plan your bus trips using the website of Malta Public Transport . Just specify your point of departure and the destination you have in mind, and you get all route options available to you.

TIP: The journey planner of Malta Public Transport works most of the time, but you get better results by looking up the bus stop names through Google Maps and entering departure/arrival points instead of place names or tourist sites.

Other handy resources:

• Download a bus route map here (Malta Public Transport website)
• For Android phones from the Google Play Store
• For iPhone from iTunes

The app makes it easy to plan trips and get real-time info on routes when you’re on the go.

Looking for tours and excursions in Malta and Gozo?

Get my recommendations on the best day trips, boat trips, excursions and activities and book in advance!

Bus tickets and prices

How much do bus tickets cost.

During the day, a bus ticket costs €2.50, and the night rate is €3.00 , all year round.

Multi-day tickets

If you’re planning to stay for 7 or more days, know that the Malta public transport chip card, locally referred to as the ‘ Tallinja card’, offers cheaper fares than single tickets. Three Tallinja card offerings are most suited for visiting travellers:

• Explore card at €21 (adult) or €15 (child) – offering unlimited bus travel for 7 days
• Explore Flex card starting at €6 (for a 24-hour long illimited use of the bus services, or €15 for 4 days) and offering four different packages including illimited bus travel on all bus route options plus sightseeing options. For example, the Explore Plus package (at €69) includes 7 days of unlimited bus travel + a return trip from Valletta to Gozo on the Gozo Highspeed ferry + 1-day hop-on/hop-off bus tour (open top buses) + a harbour cruise.
• 12-Day Journey Card card at €15 – offers reduced fares for 12 journeys (or 6 trips using Night routes or Tallinja Direct routes, whose names respectively start with N and TD).

Tip: A personalised Tallinja card is the best option if you are staying longer in Malta (more than one month), as this travel card gives you access to public bus services for free.

Where can I buy tickets?

You can pay for single-ticket rides very easily with contactless payment on board the bus using a VISA credit or debit card. (Other credit card brands are currently not accepted for this method). Multi-day tickets and passes still need to be purchased from ticket booths or machines.

You can buy bus tickets and passes the traditional way:

• In the arrivals hall at Malta International Airport (8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. daily)
• At the Valletta bus terminal (6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily)
• At the Victoria (Gozo) bus terminal (Mon-Sat 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Sun: closed)
• Directly from the bus driver on all buses. Do make sure to offer exact/small changes – it’s not unusual for bus drivers to get upset when offering a 10-Euro note or higher amount for a single ticket.
• From card dispensing machines (available 24/7) listed here .
• From local retail shops and stationers (bus cards only, not single tickets).

Unfortunately, they’re not for sale online yet. The easiest is planning what type of ticket/card suits you best and buying one at the airport from the sales office (if your flight arrives within opening hours), at the card dispensing machine located in the Arrivals hall or when you get on the bus (for single tickets only).

Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2024 !

Malta & Gozo guide book Valletta : An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital

Take the hassle out of planning your trip to Malta and be an informed traveller!

The old Malta bus – Did you know?

Up until mid-2011, local bus routes were serviced by renovated, brightly coloured Maltese buses originally built as far back as the 1950s. Malta’s bus services underwent a major overhaul in recent years, which means the older buses, which tourists and some locals much loved, vanished from the street sight.

Although no doubt the new bus fleet provides a more comfortable ride and causes significantly less pollution on Maltese roads, the old Maltese bus was an icon of the country. You’ll find a few of these buses providing tourist tours in places like Sliema, and a few of them were exported to the UK as well.

Ferries in Malta and Gozo

Being surrounded by the sea, you don’t need to depend on just land-based transportation options. In fact, as traffic congestion has significantly increased over the years in Malta, sometimes ferries are a far better alternative.

These are the ferry services that can really make your life easier when you go sightseeing around the Maltese islands:

• Gozo Channel ferries are the most popular ferry service and form the main link between Malta and Gozo. A trip takes around 20-25 minutes, and you can take a car on board.
• You can also get a fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo using the Gozo Highspeed ferry service. Trips take under 45 minutes, but only foot passengers can be transported, so you’ll need a way to get around once you land in Gozo.
• Hop-on / Hop-off ferries operated by iSeeMalta provide a lot of flexibility for sightseeing, with stops at Sliema ferries, Buġibba, Comino (Blue Lagoon) and Gozo at a low price. ( You can buy tickets online here )
• Valletta Ferry Services offers two Valletta ferry services. The Sliema ferry takes you across Marsamxett Harbour to/from Valletta (making for a great connection with boat trip providers and the iSeeMalta ferry mentioned above, located at Sliema ferries), while the other takes you to the Three Cities (across Grand Harbour). Cheap, fast and convenient.

Water taxis

Speaking of the Three Cities, at Birgu waterfront, you can also hop on a water taxi. They’re often gondola-styled little boats.

Getting around in Malta with a water taxi is a faster way to travel between the cities around the Grand Harbour. It is also a nice and peaceful way to experience the historic harbour than by bus. Water taxis are also a fun way of getting around, especially when travelling with children.

A trip that takes around 10 minutes – apart from being quick, it is also cheap at €2.00 one way. Boats leave any time between around 8 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. in winter and 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 p.m. in summer. They depart from Lascaris (Valletta), next to the regular Three Cities ferry departure point and Birgu Waterfront gate (Porte de la Victoire).

How to get to and get around in Gozo

Malta Public Transport operates 16 bus routes in Gozo. But first, you need to get to the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, from where you can catch a 20-minute ride across the water on the Gozo Channel ferry that operates daily between Ċirkewwa in Malta and Mġarr in Gozo. Alternatively, you can catch the high-speed ferry to Gozo from Valletta.

The following bus route options can take you to Ċirkewwa from various towns and villages across the island: 41, 42, 101, 221, 222, X1, X1A and X300.

The Gozo Channel runs a ferry boat service to Gozo daily, usually with trips every 45 minutes. Foot passengers (adults) are charged €4.65 for a round-trip ticket, while the charge to carry over a car and driver is €15.70 at the time of writing. Payment for tickets is made in Gozo (on your way back to Malta) before boarding the ferry.

Once you make the crossing, you can go to the Vapur bus stop and hop back on a bus from Mġarr harbour in Gozo and ride to other villages in Gozo ( route map here ). When using the bus service in Gozo, you can travel using the same bus cards and tickets used in Malta.

Although it’s definitely the cheapest mode of transport to go around in Gozo, the bus service itself gets mixed reviews for efficiency and punctuality. If you have the budget and want to stay in Gozo, I’d recommend hiring a car instead . It’s pretty easy and safe to drive anywhere in Gozo with a car rental.

Get more info on this topic here: How to catch the Malta to Gozo Ferry .

Getting to Gozo from the airport

If you’re looking to travel to Gozo directly from the airport, these are your options:

• The X1 bus route (operated by Malta Public Transport) can take you to the Gozo ferry next to the Ċirkewwa bus stop for €2.50 per person.
• Taxis and transfers can take you right up to Ċirkewwa
• You can rent a car from the airport and take it up to Gozo. The ferry boats carry cars and trucks between Malta and Gozo.

Get more info on this topic here: How to get from Malta Airport to Gozo .

Taxis in Malta

Several private companies run efficient (but not very cheap) taxi services in Malta. You can book different types of vehicles depending on the number of people travelling – for example; most companies offer both standard cars for up to 4 persons and mini-vans for larger groups.

Where do you grab a cab?

You’ll find taxi stands just outside the Malta Airport, at City Gate in Valletta and outside the cruise liner terminal, in Sliema and St. Julian’s area, at major bus stations and in the vicinity of popular hotels and tourist resorts.

Most private operators can be reached for a quick pickup as well, apart from the regular taxi stands.

What does a taxi ride typically cost?

• White taxis – which operate the official Malta taxi service – charge fares calculated according to the destination using a fare meter.
• Other private companies that use black or blue cars have different rates. For example, a trip from Malta Airport to Sliema or St. Julian’s in a standard car would cost around €30.

Some of the private taxi operators in Malta:

• cab – Book through their website. Usually lowest-priced.
• John’s Garage – Contact number: +356 2298 2298

Taxis in Valletta (minicabs)

A service of electric minicabs run in Malta’s capital city of Valletta, charging a flat fare of €5 for three people. Like taxis, these minicabs can be hired out either by hailing them as they go by or at Electric Mini Cab Stands in Valletta. One can also book a minicab by calling +356 7741 4177.

Airport transfers

Malta International Airport , located near the villages of Luqa and Gudja, lies less than 10 km away from the capital, Valletta. Getting to your hotel from the airport is easy as you can choose from a number of options:

• Arrange for a Malta airport transfer via private taxi or shared shuttle bus. By far the easiest option. (Recommendations: Any.cab and Welcome Pickups )
• Hail a cab yourself from the stand full of taxis waiting outside the arrivals lounge. Reliable but a more expensive option.
• Hop onto a route bus (run by Malta Public Transport), which gets you pretty much anywhere at a low cost. Routes X1, X1A, X2, X3, X4, and 119 have limited bus stops and operate to and from the Airport from different localities to different destinations.
• Rent a car from the numerous operators represented there.

Renting a car

Renting a car in Malta is a good option when you want to uncover all the secrets the island has to offer. You might, for example, want to visit hidden, more secluded beaches like the ones I mention in my Top 10 Best Beaches in Malta article.

You can find representatives of car rental companies at the Malta International Airport, but shopping around for the best rates isn’t a bad idea.

A few key points to consider when hiring a car in Malta:

• Driving is on the left
• Road signs are in English and Maltese
• International driving licences are legal in Malta
• Heavy traffic on the roads around Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s, especially during rush hour (early morning, late afternoon/early evening).

Renting a Motorbike

Motorcycle enthusiasts can share their two-wheeled love on the Maltese roads quite easily as several companies offer motorbike rentals. All you need is to be 18+ or 21+ years old (depending on the vehicle type)  and in possession of a valid driving licence, and you can be on a bike in no time. Motorcycles offer two benefits over cars – traffic is no concern, and neither is a lack of parking spots.

These are 3 popular sites from where you can hire a motorbike in Malta, although there are many more options:

• AHS Malta – Contact number: +356 2134 0149
• ST Rentals Malta – Contact numbers: +356 2720 4687 / +356 9991 1176
• AM Rentals Malta – Contact numbers: +356 2099 4723 / +356 7733 3322

Driving Your Own Vehicle in Malta

If you’re exploring Europe with your own car, you can easily travel from Sicily to Malta by ferry. The same considerations mentioned apply when hiring a car when you’re using your vehicle in Malta. However, you might want to take note of the following companies that offer roadside assistance and breakdown services:

• RMF – Contact numbers: +356 2124 2222 (Malta) and +356 2155 8844 (Gozo)
• MET – Contact numbers: +356 2122 7676 or +356 2122 7979
• MTC – Contact numbers: +356 2143 3333 or +356 7943 3333

Here are a few tips for driving your own car in Malta:

• Vehicles with foreign registration can remain in Malta for six months in any given year without applying for a permit.
• The Malta national speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas and between 70 and 80 km/h in extra-urban areas. Speed cameras are placed in several main arteries, although none measure average speed on a trajectory.
• Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory.
• Accidents must be reported to the nearest police station. For insurance purposes, you shouldn’t move your vehicle before the police arrive.
• The acceptable limit of blood alcohol content for drivers in Malta is 0.08%.

Check out another article with more tips, facts and FAQs on driving in Malta .

Other modes of transport in Malta and Gozo

Cycling and e-bikes.

Despite being environmentally friendly, cycling isn’t the safest mode of transport, particularly on the busier main island of Malta, because there are no proper bicycle lanes on the roads. Also, traffic can be heavy in the centre of Malta (much less so in Gozo), Maltese drivers drive fast, and the uneven land formations and intense summer heat add tough challenges for cyclists.

If you’re staying in Gozo, where roads are still a lot quieter, and you’re up for a good cardio workout, it’s a good option to explore this particular island on two wheels.

You can rent bicycles from:

• Be Green Malta in Qawra – contact number: +356 7703 0304
• Gozo Adventures – contact number: +356 9999 4592
• Eco Sports in Buġibba – contact number: +356 9947 1627.

Alternatively, you can also find e-bike stations from Malta Public Transport, where you can rent bikes on the go (in both Malta and Gozo). This service is called Tallinja Bike , and they’ve got a good number of docking stations in the more central parts of Malta and Gozo. Fees are reasonable, starting at €3.00 for the first 30 minutes.

Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.

As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.

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Hello Edward, Many thanks for your invaluable advice on visiting Malta this November. It has made it easier to plan trips- visits and eating out.

Happy to hear that Veronica. Thank you for the feedback and have a great trip!

Thanks for all the very important information.

Hi! I have a question regarding public transportation. What is difference between routes marked ‘X’, like X1, X2 and all other?

Hi Ruta, Happy New Year! The X routes are the ones that provide service to and from the airport. Those routes will get you to/from the airport and the most popular locations around Malta at a modest fee.

Dear Edward Thank you so much for all this valuable information, it is going to make my trip this october much easier! I’m going to malta for 5 days (mit october) and I wanted to know if I’d need two days to explore gozo? we are staying in sliema and we’d love to visit comino and gozo itself, should we go early to gozo ferries and first go to comino and later on that day visit gozo or is this way to much to see in one day? We have been struggeling with the thought of or going by bus everywhere or hiring a car, which do you recommend?

Best regards, Lore

Hi Lore. Tough question! If you’re only in Malta for 5 days I’d spend one day in Gozo. If the weather’s decent (which it isn’t right now) you could take a boat trip from Sliema that combines both Gozo and the Blue Lagoon at Comino.

As for transport: Buses aren’t very efficient and with just 5 days it’d be a shame to spend a lot of time travelling. However, Sliema is probably the worst place for car rental. Apart from traffic congestion, unless your accommodation includes private parking you won’t be happy trying to find a spot. I’d highly recommend travelling over water as much as you can, so taking a ferry to Valletta (super easy from the Ferries side of Sliema) or taking a few boat trips , as mentioned.

Hi, i am planning a visit to Malta in October, is this a good time to visit. Will the tourist attractions still be operating or do they start closing at that time (boat trips, beach bars etc)

Hi Richard, some operators will start closing up shop for summer later in the month, so I’d recommend going in early October if you can.

Hi, would you recommend the bus tour or Jeep tour in Malta? Is the jeep ride very uncomfortable?

Hi Jo, I’m not huge fans of either, although the Jeep safari tour can be enjoyable if you’re not necessarily after seeing all the tourist sites. You will be going offroad though, so it’s not going to be super comfortable. I have more info here: Best Malta tours and excursions .

Hello, We are staying at Comino Island mid May – which cab company is the best/most economical to book from Malta airport to the ferry and back a week later? Would prefer not to share a shuttle. Many thanks Coleen

Hi Coleen, I’ve never been disappointed by eCabs but if you’re looking for the most economical option, Taxify (the local Uber flavour) gets good reviews and will cost a little less.

I will travel to Malta and Gozo with my family in mid of September.We will spend 3 days in Gozo and then 4 days in Malta. We would like to visit Comino too, what is the easiest and cheap possibility to do it? The ferry between Gozo and Malta has a stop there? Best regards, Andi

Hi Andi, unfortunately no, the Gozo ferry doesn’t stop at Comino. You’ll have to take a separate (smaller) ferry to get there. The two options are: 1) From Mġarr harbour in Gozo or 2) from Marfa (small bay in the far North of Malta). You can also get day trips by boat from popular tourist places like Sliema, St. Julian’s and Buġibba/St. Paul’s Bay but they’ll be a little more expensive. I’d probably go for option 1 and spend a morning in Comino at the Blue Lagoon. Go early to avoid the crowds though (as it’ll still be a highly popular destination).

I am planning to take the Hop on hop off tour for Malta. Do you prefer the same for Gozo or a jeep safari? p.s. I have a 1.5 year old toddler.

Hi Maryam, with a 1.5y toddler I don’t think a jeep safari will be a comfortable option, so between those two options it’d be the hop on/hop off I’d recommend.

This Is such a valuable guide. My second time visiting Malta and I wish I had looked this site up before. Thank you!

Thanks for the feedback Gary, glad you like it! 🙂

Hi Edward, Is there a Bus timetable available online? We are staying in Bugibba for only 3 days in May on a reconnaissance mission to Malta for the family and want to get round as much as possible. Best regards, Jim

Are there bike hire shops and is Malta good for cycling? Thanks, Jess

Hi Jess, yes, you can rent bicycles in Malta but I would only recommend cycling in Gozo. Most roads in Malta are a little too crazy to cycle safely, although it’s not uncommon for people to do so anyway. Have a look at EcoBikes Malta – Buġibba . There’s also a bike sharing option: Nextbike .

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Getting around Malta, the small island that delivers big experiences

May 14, 2022 • 7 min read

Crossing the Grand Harbour by dghajsa water taxi is one of Malta's most memorable journeys © CaronB / Getty Images

A compact archipelago of three islands at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is easy to explore.

Take advantage of a convenient network of buses and ferries, set out on journeys of discovery in a well-priced rental car, or ride an e-bike or electric scooters along the spectacular waterfront esplanades of St Julian’s and Sliema. Here's our guide to the best ways to get around Malta.

Ride the bus to (most) parts of Malta and Gozo

Both Malta and its sister island of Gozo are compact, and bus services operated by Malta Public Transport are a convenient way to explore. On Malta, routes begin from the Valletta Bus Station, just south of the City Gate, while on Gozo, the town of Victoria is the central focus. Tiny Comino is usually visited on organized day trips from Gozo or Malta and it's small enough to explore on foot. 

The frequency of buses ranges from every ten minutes to hourly on less busy routes. However, the lack of punctuality can be a challenge, and afternoon and evening buses often run late. Buses are best used for focused day trips to places such as Mdina and Marsaxlokk. Because most routes originate in the central hubs of Valletta and Victoria, using buses to visit several destinations in a single day can be problematic.

Check Malta Public Transport's online journey planner or the Tallinja App for bus schedules and timings.

Tickets for public transport in Malta

Single tickets including a two-hour transfer window cost €2 (US$2.10) and can be bought on board buses. There’s also the option of a 12-journey card for €15 (US$16), which can be used concurrently by couples or families. Explore Cards cost €21 (US$22.30) and offer unlimited bus travel for seven days, while ExploreFlex is a rechargeable stored-value card offering discounted travel on buses and also harbor journeys with Valletta Ferry Services.

Another variation is an ExplorePlus Meep card for €39 (US$41.40) incorporating e-bike rental, on-demand van services, and sightseeing by bus and harbor cruise. For longer-term stays in Malta, it’s worth signing up for a stored-value Tallinja Card . There is a registration fee, but it offers the best discounts on buses and Valletta Ferry Services, and also integrates with the Tallinja App.

Spectacular passenger ferries connect Valletta to nearby cities

Several useful passenger ferries are run by Valletta Ferry Services . From the southern edge of Valletta's fortified peninsula, ferry services cross Grand Harbour to the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua). A second service runs from Marsamxett Harbour on the northern edge of Valletta to the commercial district of Sliema. Ferries depart regularly from 7am to 7pm daily from October to May, extending to around midnight from June to September. Bikes are transported for free.

Another option for crossing from Valletta to the Three Cities is by dgħajsa – Malta's traditional hand-rowed water taxi service. These boats were first launched in the 17th century, and boatmen charge €2 for a one-way crossing. Passing under the golden, honey-colored walls of Fort St. Angelo , it's a brilliant way to cross Grand Harbour.

Explore off the beaten path with a rental car

Many remote beaches and smaller towns and villages on both Malta and Gozo are not serviced by bus, so having your own vehicle is recommended. Note, however, that road traffic in Malta is very busy, especially in the built-up area around Valletta, Sliema and St Julians, and parking can be difficult to find. Driving and looking for somewhere to park in the narrow heritage streets of Valletta is not recommended. Park up before exploring Valletta on foot; there's a Park & Ride facility just south of Floriana, from where free shuttle buses run to Valletta's City Gate.

Car rental rates in Malta are amongst the lowest in Europe, especially if you use locally owned companies such as Billy's Car Hire on Malta and Mayjo Car Rentals on Gozo. Book ahead on both islands during the busy months of July and August, and select a compact car to negotiate roads that will definitely be more narrow than you're used to.

Cross from Malta to Gozo on the car ferry

Shuttling between the northern Maltese port of Ċirkewwa and Mġarr Harbour on Gozo, Gozo Channel's vehicle and passenger ferry takes around 30 minutes to cross between the two islands. Services run every 45 minutes from 6am to 6pm, and approximately every hour through the night, but the service is sometimes suspended during winter due to storms and rough seas. Leaving Ċirkewwa with a vehicle, you only pay before your return journey coming back from Gozo.

While car rental rates are often cheaper on Gozo, any savings may be offset by the costs of the ferry, so it's worth keeping the same car if you're visiting both islands. Avoid summer weekends when locals travel to holiday in Gozo and queues to board can be long and slow-moving.

Launched in 2021, Gozo Fast Ferry provides a convenient passenger-only ferry linking Mġarr Harbour on Gozo to Valletta. Journeys take 45 minutes and you can take bicycles on board; just book ahead for one of the limited number of bicycle spaces, either on Gozo Fast Ferry's website or via their app. This service is a good option if you're planning on picking up a rental car at Mġarr Harbour or exploring Gozo by bike, e-bike or scooter. A competing service is offered by Virtu Ferries .

Bike shares and electric scooters are good for low-carbon travel

A good option for harborfront exploration around St Julians and Sliema is the Tallinja Bike  bike-sharing scheme, with 11 docking stations on Malta and three on Gozo (locations include ferry terminals and the Valletta Bus Station). Single rides cost €3 (US$3.20), and there's a discount for Tallinja Card holders. A similar service is offered by nextbike , which offers both pedal cycles and e-bikes. For short hops on an electric scooter, download Whizascoot’s app and get riding.

Longer-term bike or scooter rental is handy for more ambitious exploring, especially on Gozo's quieter roads. Along with jeeps, quad bikes and 4WD buggies, scooters, pedal cycles and e-bikes can be rented from Mġarr Tourist Services , conveniently based at Gozo's Mġarr Harbour. Based at the northern Maltese beach resort of Bugibba, Eco Bikes Malta rents out bikes and e-bikes and runs guided bike tours. For a fee, they’ll drop off bikes to wherever you are staying in Malta.

Get walking to explore Malta's historic cities

Malta is a wonderful destination to explore under your own steam, especially the heritage streets of Valletta, Mdina's hilltop walled city, and the astounding Il-Kastell citadel in the Gozitan capital of Victoria. For longer walks, many trails follow the dramatic coastlines of both Malta and Gozo.

Taxis and rideshare services are handy for city exploring

Cabs are useful for city exploring. Conventional taxis can be booked with eCabs , either online, by phone or on their app, while Malta’s leading rideshare operator – also accessible by an app – is Bolt, with good service in built-up areas.

Accessible travel in Malta

All Maltese buses have a low floor to accommodate wheelchairs and are equipped with a wheelchair ramp and step-free entry. Ferries operating on Valletta Ferry Services’ two harbor routes and Gozo Fast Ferry also offer access for wheelchair users.

Note that steep and often stepped streets of Valletta can be difficult to negotiate for travelers with restricted mobility, but key galleries and attractions such as the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo , and the National Museum of Archaeology offer ramps and wheelchair access.

Why I love Valletta’s harbor ferries

Crossing Grand Harbour by ferry is one of world’s greatest urban commutes, leaving behind Valletta’s improbably compact fortified peninsula to approach the towering ramparts of Fort St Angelo and the Three Cities. Tiny dgħajsa water taxis berth next to leviathan super yachts, and narrow laneways arc away from the shelter of Dockyard Creek to reveal the quiet residential backstreets of Birgu.

You may also like: Working from home? Malta has opened applications for year-long digital nomad visas Malta offers deals to lure visitors as it opens to tourists from 38 US states Malta and Gozo's best beaches

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The Complete Malta Travel Guide 2023 (+ FREE Cheatsheet)

The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is becoming one of Europe’s hottest holiday destinations that’s perfect for every type of traveller.

Malta is a small island country situated just below Italy. In fact it’s one of the most beautiful destinations you’ll find in the Mediterranean.

Because of it’s size – you can cover EVERYTHING Malta has to offer in a week. Few countries in the world can offer visitors as much in terms of culture and history in such a small space.

Crystal-clear aqua waters, ancient architecture, UNESCO World Heritage sites, a stunning panoramic landscape, and open caves, tourism is booming here – there’s a plethora of activities and so much to see and do.

Visiting a whole new country is very exciting, and can also be quite daunting for some. Depending on where you go – there will be new challenges, customs, policies and important information that tourists need to be aware of.

This Malta travel guide will have you covered on everything you need to know before you arrive on the island for the first time.

Table of Contents

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Malta Travel Guide: Malta Map

Here’s a map of Malta and Gozo with 10 of the best places to visit and top things to do in Malta:

The Complete Malta Travel Guide 2023

Below is my Ultimate Guide for Traveling in Malta – a compilation of all the most useful advice and information you need to know before you go.

​Top 5 Things to See & Do in Malta

Valletta, Malta Explore the UNESCO World Heritage City of Valletta Blue Grotto Malta Blue Grotto – easily accessible by car. Mdina Hidden Spot Wander the Silent City of Mdina The Blue Lagoon Swim in the aqua-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon Coral Lagoon malta Take a canoe ride through the Coral Lagoon

Other Things to See & Do in Malta

On the Maltese islands there is something for everyone – from family trips, adventure treks and watersports, to temple ruins, history, diving spots, and shopping malls. Here are 10 places and attractions well worth visiting:

The Crystal Lagoon – Comino island is famous for Malta’s most popular tourist attraction – The Blue Lagoon . But did you know that the Crystal Lagoon , just 20 minutes away, is far less crowded and much prettier?

Dive down the Blue Hole on Gozo – on Malta’s sister island Gozo, you can go scuba diving down the enormous, breathtaking Blue Hole and witness the stunning marine life there.

See sunken WW2 submarines and planes  – one of Malta’s greatest assets is its coastline famous for being littered with sunken submarines, ships and planes from WW2 , and you can dive down the crystal clear waters and check out these cool shipwrecks.

Popeye Village – the perfect day trip for families and children, Popeye Village is an exciting water park based on the popular Popeye TV series that was filmed at this spot.

Boat tour around the island – as well as boat rides at various spots on Malta, book a boat ride around Malta’s beautiful coastline to see the island from a different perspective.

Panoramic views at Golden Bay – trek along the cliffs on the main island and witness the spectacular views over the coastline from Golden Bay to Ghejn Tuffieha. This is also arguably the best white sand beach on the island.

Megalithic temples – on the island of Gozo, check out the incredible  Megalithic Ggantija temple ruins , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ruins have been around since before the Pyramids at Giza, and even Stonehenge in England!

The Red Tower – between Popeye Village and Mellieha, walk up the hill to the brightly-painted St. Agatha’s Tower, also known as the Red Tower.

Marsaxlokk – wander around Malta’s fishing village of Marsaxlokk , on the south-east coast. Take a dip in St Peter’s pool – a popular attraction there.

Nightlife in St. Julian’s – for the best and busiest nightlife on the island, the village of St. Julian’s is lined with plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs.

Other recommended places to visit include: The three cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua, the Silent City of Mdina , the Meridiana Wine Estate that celebrate Malta’s unique wine-making, and many Game of Thrones shooting locations (the famous Azure Window sadly no longer exists).

Below: More Malta & Gozo Day trips and Excursions:

Essential Malta Travel Resources:

For more useful Malta travel guide information, check out these articles:

✪ 10 Best Things to Do in Malta ✪ Malta 5 Day Itinerary ✪ Top 10 Instagram Spots in Malta ✪ The Perfect Malta 1 Week Itinerary ✪ How to Travel Malta on a Budget (2023 Edition) ✪ Car Rental in Malta: The Complete Guide ✪ Ultimate Packing List for Malta

Malta Travel Advice

Malta: Budget Tips & Advice

Is malta expensive to travel.

It all depends on how you travel and what you plan to do on your trip. You can easily spend a week in Malta on around $40 a day, like I did. So you can do a shoestring budget, splash out on a luxury vacation, or go in between. Below is a guide to help you plan your ideal budget. Just bear in mind that prices will be slightly higher during the busier summer months the in the winter months.

Backpacker’s budget: the average spend is €33-43 (40-52USD) per day. This budget includes staying in a hostel/dorm or a budget Airbnb, cooking your own meals and eating from cheap eats (with the occasional treat), using Tallinja bus card, keeping drinking to a limit, and choosing to do free and cheaper activities where possible.

Mid-range budget: the average daily is €82-114 (98-135UD). On this budget you can opt for budget hotels and nicer Airbnbs, using the bus card, spend more in restaurants and cafes, and do a couple of day trips/tour activities.

Luxury budget: the average cost is €185+ ($220+). You can push the boat out on this budget – stay in nice hotels, rent a car, eat and drink wherever you wish, and go on guided tours.

Check out the chart below to get an idea of how much you’ll need to bring with you for your daily budget. As these are daily averages, you may be spending more on some days and less on others, that said, this is a fairly accurate guide as of late 2020 (Prices are in USD).

Malta has over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.

The cheapest time to visit is in the winter months (October – March) when the temperature averages 15C. The most expensive and busiest time to visit is high season (July-August) when it is 30C.

What is the best month to visit Malta? Spring and early Summer (April, May and June) are the best months to visit, when the weather is perfect as its not too hot and nights are cool, and the island is not crowded with tourists. What is the coldest month in Malta? January is the coldest month of the year with typical max temperatures between 12-20C (54-68F) and minimum temperatures of 6-12C (43-54F) at night.

Malta has also been described as the country with the best climate in the world by International Living. Did you know: In 1942 Malta made history when it became the most bombed place on earth during WW2. For more interesting facts about Malta, click here:

What to Pack for Malta

Since the Malta has a Mediterranean climate with a lot of dry, rocky terrain, beaches, dusty offbeat tracks and streets, you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared with the right travel gear.

Here is a list of essential items that I can recommend for the perfect trip. I use most of these myself, and there’s a few that I can recommend based on friends’ experiences with them.

Essential Clothing / Attire & Items

Campteck travel wallet & passport holder – Stores passports, ID cards, credit cards, travel money, print outs, your smartphone, keys, and more. Has lots of storage pockets and zip compartments, it’s waterproof, and has RFID interlining to safeguard your passport. Buy on Amazon

Gadgets & Electronics

Budget Travel Alternatives

If you’re looking for more economic alternatives – these are all excellent recommendations for beginners and those travelling on tighter budgets.

Flying into Malta

Luqa Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport that serves all of the Maltese islands. The airport is located on the main island of Malta, just 10km south of the capital city Valletta. You can use the widget below to search for and book cheap flights to Malta from your destination:

Airport Transfer:

Airport taxis charge a flat rate of €20 for a single fare, however they may charge extra for waiting. It’s highly recommended to book in advance .

There are buses connecting the airport to Valletta city main terminal, but due to the notorious delays you might be better off opting for the taxi for peace of mind.

Top Tip: Not renting a car? As soon as you land in the airport, get yourself a 7-Day Tallinja Explore Card . It costs €21 and gives you unlimited travel on the buses all over Malta (including night services).

Getting Around in Malta

Public transport is really easy to use across the Maltese islands.

Buses are the only mode of public transport in Malta. The network is not fully developed, and there is often a lot of delays (this is partly due to the laid back culture here). However, the network is improving slowly over time, the buses are comfortable and fairly reliable, and they are the cheapest way to get around the island. You can download a free Malta Bus Map here:

Word of advice: buses in Malta fill up fast, and will sometimes pass by without warning. Just make sure you plan ahead and leave plenty of time in your schedule for travel!

You can rent a car from any of the major tourist spots like Sliema, Qawra, Bugibba and St. Paul’s Bay, as well as from the airport. People drive on the left hand side in Malta (just like in the UK). I use Discover Car Hire for their superb deals on car rentals in Malta.

Do you need a car in Malta? If you’re a confident driver, its quite easy to drive around Malta, and it may work out to be more economical if going as a couple or a family/group. That being said, many visitors prefer not to hire a car because the island’s bus system has a reputation for being quite reliable.

Word of Advice: Maltese drivers tend to be temperamental and not particularly interested in abiding by the law of the road. Indeed, while Malta is officially left-hand drive, if you ask the locals where they drive, they’ll tell you “in the shade” which is funny, but often true.

A return ferry ticket will cost you 10 EUR to either Gozo or Comino islands – however it’s more economical to buy tickets that take you to Gozo and then to Comino before returning to Malta. A one-way ticket from Malta to Sicily will cost you 82 EUR.

Is it easy to travel around Malta?

Travelling around the Maltese islands is fairly easy and there affordable options too. Whether it’s a short stay or a long trip, you can hire a reasonably priced car or take advantage of the 1-week unlimited bus card. The bus network is fairly straightforward, and roads are generally easy to navigate by car.

Manners & Customs

The Maltese are generally very hospitable people.

Because of the surge in tourism to the island, Malta has become one of the few countries in the world where their citizens are more than TWICE as outnumbered by tourists!

So a gentle reminder – be as polite and courteous to the locals as possible. Want to see the best photo spots in Malta? Head over to: Top 10 Instagram Spots In Malta

Internet in Malta: Wifi/SIM Card

Internet availability is widespread in Malta. Free internet access is available through many WiFi spots all around the country.

It’s very easy to stay connected to the internet across the Maltese islands.

There is WiFi in many hotels and bars, but in some of these places its only accessible from the lobbies. The smoothest 4G coverage is offered by Vodafone and GO.

There are similar rates for telephone, SMS and data, and Melita is the cheapest option for international calls. Vodafone is the popular choice for those who use data excessively.

Tip #1: Get a universal DrimSim card that isn’t attached to an operator, and you can get data coverage anywhere.

Tip #2: When using open WiFi networks in India, make sure your phone/tablet etc. is securely protected from hackers by using a VPN network . 

Free WiFi Hotspots in Malta:

There are currently 192 free public WiFi spots across Malta. Check out the map below to see all the options in the various locations.

There is also free WiFi in most restaurants, cafes and hotel foyers in Malta. In places such as cafes, it’s polite to order a drink before requesting the password for the WiFi.

The Euro is the local currency in Malta.

Conversion Rate: 1 USD = 1 EUR = 0.90 GBP (as of January 2023)

Credit and Debit cards like VISA, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted.

Cards are accepted in some (higher-end) hotels and restaurants, but most restaurants outside of tourist areas don’t accept them.

Be sure to have at least 2 prepaid travel credit/debit cards when you visit Malta, to avoid bank charges. The best travel cards are:

• Wise (formerly Transferwise)
• Revolut (Get £10 on sign-up)

As always when travelling, beware of pickpockets and keep your cash stashed away safely and securely on your person.

Where is Malta on the map? 

If you look at a map or a globe, the Maltese islands seem invisible (unless you have a really large map). That’s because of it’s tiny size. You can see how big Malta is compared to other islands, cities and countries, here:

Food in Malta

In Malta there is plentiful choice and variety when it comes to food – you won’t be disappointed!

Because of it’s diverse population and tourist boom, Malta – especially Valletta – caters to an international taste, with everything from Pan-Asian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Lebanese and American eateries, and there’s quite a few pubs and traditional English restaurants further out on the coastal tourist spots.

Why not try the unique Maltese food too?

The best way to experience authentic, traditional Maltese food is to either take a guided food tour, or choose a restaurant that serves Maltese dishes.

Top Advice On Eating Out In Malta:

• Restaurants open for dinner usually at 6 or 7pm . They rarely take calls for reservations during the day, so your best bet is to walk in and try your luck, or call the evening before to book in advance.
• Most credit/debit cards are accepted at restaurants in Malta.
• Saturday evenings are typically the busiest times , followed closely by Sunday lunch. It’s recommended to make your reservation several days in advance for the more popular restaurants.
• It’s not standard procedure to be billed for cover charges . If you do encounter such restaurants, don’t feel that you must tip.
• Tipping is common – usually a tip of 10% will do.
• For special dietary requirements – unless otherwise stated on the menu, it’s recommended to ask the staff if they can cater to your needs.

Is food and drink expensive in Malta?

The food and drink in Malta are generally not expensive by Western Europe standards. You can eat from a wide range of international cuisines in the capital city, Valletta, serving anything from a snack to a five-course meal, for between €5-20. In cafes, expect to pay around €2-3 for a coffee, and for a pint of local beer it’ll cost around €2.50.

If you’re on a shoestring budget, you can find cheap eats from local pastizzis all around Malta, with pastries selling for as little as €1 each.

Malta Day Trips & Tours

Get Your Guide: Book your day trips and tour packages When I want to book a day trip or a tour package, Get Your Guide is my favourite place to find really good deals.  There are excellent tours covering Malta, Comino and Gozo at great prices, featuring hotspots like the Blue Lagoon, St. Peter’s Pool, St. Julian’s and more. Have a look at some of the offers below and click on any that interest you:

Visa Requirements

No visas are required for British, US, EU and lots of other passport holders travelling to Malta.

If you’re unsure if you need a visa, use the widget below to find out.

Where to Stay in Malta

For a complete guide on the best accommodation options to suit your needs and budget, head over to my post: Where to Stay in Malta .

For Couples:

Affordable Locations:

• St. Paul’s Bay – offers a good selection of hotels & private accommodation, decent restaurants, bars and pubs, and is near to public transport and sandy beaches.
• Sliema – one of the oldest tourist spots in Malta – ideal for budget travellers and close to the capital Valletta – by bus or even a short ferry ride away.
• St. Julians’ and Paceville – the ideal choice for dining and nightlife downtown, and resort holidays
• Mellieha – affordable, a more peaceful and quieter alternative, and close to the finest sandy beaches in Malta. My partner and I stayed in Mellieha during the second part of our Malta trip.

Looking for more authentic stays? Check out Vrbo for their superb and affordable deals on vacation homes – I can recommend this having stayed in a Vrbo accommodation just outside of Valletta (it’s cheaper to stay outside of the city, and it’s only 5-10mins bus ride into the city).

For Families With Kids:

• St. Paul’s Bay the most suitable spots. Plenty of hotels with pool facilities, family-friendly restaurants, and a relatively safe area for kids.
• Mellieha – a quieter alternative, there are some all-inclusive resorts close to the beaches here. However, it’s recommended to rent a car in this area.

For families I recommend Vrbo for authentic and affordable vacation rentals. Alternatively,  click here for a list of budget accommodation options on Booking.

For Party-goers, Backpackers & Solo Travellers

If you’re heading to the nightlife centre of Malta for clubbing and pub-crawls, then downtown Paceville ( St. Julian’s ) is the place to be. In the summer months, open air clubs are an absolute must for the adventurous – these are located in the countryside (surrounding Mdina and Rabat ) and will require your own transport to get to.

Click here for a list of budget accommodation options ideal for backpackers visiting Malta.

Health in Malta

The standard of healthcare is considered high quality and in line with the rest of Western Europe.

EU citizens visiting Malta are eligible for free treatment in local public hospitals, health centres and clinics with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) . You’ll need to apply for this in your home country and it’s advised to carry this on your person at all times.

Tap water is safe to drink in Malta. However, due to the rich mineral content, it doesn’t taste very nice. It’s recommended to bring water bottles with you around Malta.

Essential Item: Since the water on Malta has a bitter taste, you may find yourself buying small bottles of water at €2 each. Carry a Water-to-Go Filter Bottle with you instead. Not only will it filter any water you put into it, it will also save you money and help save the planet from plastic waste (bonus!) Get 15% off your order at checkout with the code: GIVEME15

Safety in Malta

Is it safe to travel to Malta? The short answer is YES – it’s a lot safer than other European tourist spots.

Crime rates in Malta are very low and nature’s worst threats are thunderstorms and the odd flooding which rarely causes any harm to people. The main concern for travellers to Malta are:

• Petty crime – such as pickpocketing and other types of theft – this is common in all the major tourist destinations in Europe. This issue is more common in touristy areas such as St. Julian’s, Sliema, and the capital: Valletta.  Travellers are advised to take caution and be aware of their belongings at all times. Always keep your bag and possessions in sight, in front of you, and don’t display your cash or jewellery in the open.
• Occasional incidents of violence – this is mainly a concern in nightlife areas (such as Paceville and Bugibba) – this is an issue that arises from tourists in Malta. Be aware of your surroundings.
• Road accidents – not a major issue, but a cause for concern due to Malta’s terrain.
• Swimming around Malta – only swim in the waters when there are other swimmers around. The two things you need to be careful of are jellyfish and riptides. Avoid swimming when the sea is rough.

The most essential piece of advice I can offer is to buy good travel insurance . This will protect you from theft, injury, illness, and flight cancellations. It’s a safety net in case anything goes wrong, and I never leave without it. World Nomads is my favourite company for total peace of mind.

FAQs about Malta:

Is Malta a good place to travel?

Malta has it all – whether its thrilling adventure or picturesque hiking trails, historical landmarks and buzzing nightlife – perfect for families, backpackers, solo & couple travellers – young and old alike.

Is it safe to travel to Malta right now?

There are currently Malta travel restrictions for all visitors. The official FCDO and other government agencies advise against all but essential travel to the whole of Malta, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.

What is Malta like to visit?

Malta’s islands are very much like any other Mediterranean island in terms of stunning scenery, adventure, and hot weather, but with more history here, plus an infusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures.

How many days in Malta is enough?

The ideal time to spend in Malta is 10-14 days, to fully enjoy what the country has to offer without rushing, and giving you time to explore the less touristy Gozo, and Comino’s popular Blue Lagoon too. However, due to its small size, you can easily explore the highlights of Malta in as little as five days.

What is the best month to visit Malta?

Spring and early Summer (April, May and June) are the best months to visit, when the weather is perfect as its not too hot and nights are cool, and the island is not crowded with tourists.

What is the coldest month in Malta?

January is the coldest month of the year with typical max temperatures between 12-20C (54-68F) and minimum temperatures of 6-12C (43-54F) at night.

Malta is perfect for all types of people of all different ages and travelers of all budget ranges. Since Malta is a compact and safe country packed with everything from rich history and culture, impressive beaches, nightlife, a food scene, and an abundance of activities to suit every type of person, there is something for everyone here.

Do’s and don’ts in Malta?

Here’s the do’s and don’t for Malta travel:

DO some research on your destination before you go.

DON’T overpack. Only bring travel essentials like the ones listed in this post.

DON’T bring your own food. Malta is known for its delicious pan-European and Asian cuisines and cheap eats.

DON’T drink water from the tap. Use a water filter bottle to fill up.

DO use reef-safe sunscreen.

DON’T bring dollars. Convert them into Euros (EUR) before you go.

DON’T bring jewelry and designer label clothing – you will stand out in a crowd and become a potential target for thieves

Is it OK to drink the water in Malta?

While tap water is considered safe to drink in Malta, it’s strongly recommended NOT to drink tap water because of the bitter taste caused by the minerals in the water. As such, most people drink bottled water, but you’d be better off bringing a reusable and refillable Lifestraw water filter bottle to save plastic.

Book Your Trip to Malta: Budget Tips & Tricks

Flights: As always, I source the cheapest flights on the web from Skyscanner and Kiwi.com .  They are considered the top flight search engines for the best deals.

Accommodation: I use  Booking for the best hotel deals and HostelWorld for the cheapest stays. If you’re considering Airbnb, be sure to check Vrbo to find cheaper vacation stays. 

SIM cards: DrimSim is a universal SIM card that isn’t tied to an operator and works in any country/region.

Travel Insurance: Stay protected from theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. A safety net in case anything goes wrong, I never leave without it. World Nomads is my favourite agent for total peace of mind.

Tours & Excursions: I book all my fave activities and guided tours on Get Your Guide & Viator – they do superb deals whilst offering excellent customer support.

Renting a car? I always use DiscoverCars , make sure you book your car hire in advance. For airport transfers,  I use KiwiTaxi for the best deals.

Need to store your luggage in a locker? Use Radical Storage to store your stuff in a locker in any city for just $5 per day.

Head over to my Travel Tools page for all my best travel tips & advice and everything you need for your trip.

Malta Travel Guide Books

For more in-depth reading on Malta and Gozo, you can get your hands on a copy of these bestsellers below:

• Lonely Planet Malta (Travel Guide, Kindle edition) Buy on Amazon
• Top 10 Malta (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide) Buy on Amazon

Malta Travel Guide: Related Posts

If you enjoyed reading this Malta Travel Guide, share it on Pinterest so your followers can enjoy it too!

I hope this post: The Complete Malta Travel Guide, inspires you to visit Malta, one of the top Europe travel destinations. Thanks for reading!

Billy Read is the owner and author of BRB Gone Somewhere Epic, a travel blog that helps travelers discover unique destinations and travel experiences on a budget. With more than 10 years of global travel filled with accidents, Billy aims to help readers avoid making the same mistakes as he did, and make the most of their epic trips.

• Holiday in Asia

Travel Guide

How to Travel in Malta – By Bus, Car, Ridesharing, Ferry

Malta is a small island country, and traveling between various tourist attractions here is not complicated. You just need to be informed in advance and know all the possibilities available to move from one point to another. That's why I invite you to read this article, to find out all the transport options available to you.

Explore Flex Card

Explore card, disadvantages, ferry to gozo, ferry valletta – sliema, valleta – cospicua (the 3 cities), how to get around in malta, 1. by bus through malta.

The bus is the only public means of road transport in Malta. You have the possibility to reach any point in Malta by bus, excluding going to the islands of Gozo and Comino, where a ferry is needed. The buses are clean, cheap and in general they respect the posted schedule.

The price of a travel ticket varies and it depends on the type of bus. You can pay in cash, directly to the driver, or you can travel with a travel card, through which you benefit from reduced ticket prices.

• A ticket costs 2 euros if you buy it from the driver, or 1.85 euros with the transport card
• The ticket costs 3 euros if bought from the driver, or 2.85 with the card
• 3 euros if you pay directly to the driver, 2.85 euros with the transport card
• The price is the same as a standard ticket: 2 euros for the driver or 1.85 with the transport card.

From the moment you buy a bus ticket, it is valid for 2 hours, regardless of whether you change the means of transport.

To find out how to get from one destination to another, I recommend that you follow Google Maps or install the application Tallinja , to find out the timetable of all buses.

In Valletta there is the bus terminal from which most of the buses depart. Thus, if you want to move from one point to another on the island, it is quite likely that you will not find a direct means of transport and that you will need to return to Valletta to change buses. This means that you will lose more time on the road.

Travel card in Malta

If you plan to travel often by bus in Malta, I recommend purchasing a travel card. Here you have several options to choose from, and for tourists the most suitable ones are described below.

You can buy this card at the price of 6 euros, a value that will be considered travel credit. This card offers you reduced ticket prices on buses and public ferries.

You can recharge this card at any time directly from the Tallinja application.

Below is the list of transport services that you can pay with this card and what are the discounts:

If you plan to stay in Malta for a week, this card offers you unlimited transport on any means of public transport (standard or night bus) for 7 days. The card costs 21 euros / adult or 15 euros / child.

For more details, you can also check the official website: https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/ .

Advantages / Disadvantages by bus in Malta

• The buses are clean
• You can move to any location within the island of Malta or Gozo
• The travel time is quite long. If there is no direct bus between two locations, you must return to Valletta to change the means of transport
• It can be quite crowded. If the bus is already full, the drivers do not stop in every station to pick up other passengers, so you will have to wait for the next bus
• On some routes, buses do not run very often (for example, it may be one bus/hour). During weekends and holidays, they circulate less often.

2. With a rented car through Malta

In Malta you can choose to drive around with a rented car. You can rent a car at a fairly affordable price, but expect to leave a guarantee beforehand. You can find cars here: https://www.maltacar.com/ .

You should know that in Malta they drive in the English style: cars have the steering wheel on the right and are driven on the left side of the road.

In cities, parking spaces on the street are free, but the roads are quite narrow and it is more difficult to find a free space. Do not park in front of the garages or on the yellow lines! Only where the parking lots are marked with white lines.

Otherwise, you can look for paid parking lots, where you can leave your car easily.

Advantages / Disadvantages with a car in Malta

• You are flexible - you can visit many locations on the island in one day.
• You move quickly from one point to another - If a bus trip can take up to two hours to get to a location, by car you can get there in 10-20 minutes.
• You visit many more places - with a car, it's easy to get to places you would otherwise miss.
• The biggest disadvantage is that in Malta you drive on the left! Not everyone would feel comfortable driving with the steering wheel on the right, and maybe that's why many avoid renting a car in Malta or in other countries with a similar driving style.
• Parking places - in the months with many tourists it can become stressful to look for parking places in crowded areas - with the bus/bolt you don't have such problems.

3. With Bolt/Uber through Malta

The Bolt was the means of transport most often used by us in Malta. The prices are not very high, you have the comfort of a car, but you don't have the stress of finding parking spaces.

As an example, these were the prices we paid on Bolt trips:

• Aeroport – Valletta 13 euro
• Valletta – St. Julians 9 euro, Sliema – St. Julians 7 euro
• St. Julians – Blue Grotto 17 euros
• Blue Grotto - Mdina 14 euros
• Mdina – Marsaxlokk 18 euro
• Marsaxlokk – Valleta 14 euro

I mention that there are many cars that offer these ridesharing services in Malta. Never, after ordering a Bolt, did we wait more than 30 seconds for the car to arrive. Usually, at each tourist attraction, there were several Bolt/Uber cars already waiting in the parking lot for orders.

As a curiosity: all cars whose registration number ends in LY are ridesharing cars.

Advantages / Disadvantages with Bolt/Uber in Malta

• With ride sharing you get to your destination the fastest
• Compared to a rented car, you don't have the stress of parking
• There are many ride-sharing cars in Malta, you will not wait more than a few minutes for the car
• You will have the comfort of a car, and not the discomfort of a crowded bus, with many stops and long travel time
• If you are 4 people, the price is not much higher than the price paid for 4 bus tickets
• If you are one or two people, it is more expensive than traveling by bus
• You are not as flexible as with a rented car. If you notice an interesting location on the road, you could quickly stop there with your rented car, and then continue on your way

4. By ferry through Malta

In Malta you have the possibility to travel by boat between different locations.

If you want to reach Gozo, you can take the ferry from Valleta or from Cirkewwa , a port in the north of the island of Malta. The ships stop in Mgarr , the port on the island of Gozo, and the triptakes several tens of minutes.

• Valletta - Gozo - the trip takes 45 minutes
• Cirkewwa - Gozo - the trip takes 25 minutes

The companies that operate these routes are Virtu Ferries Gozo , Gozo Fast Ferry and Gozo Channel .

With Gozo Channel, for example, you have the possibility to go by car. The price is 15.70 euros (car + driver), 4.65 euros / adult or 1.15 euros / child.

If the weather does not allow, the water transport is cancelled.

From Valletta you have a return ferry to Sliema or to Cospicua (one of The 3 Cities). The trip takes a few minutes, and a ticket starts from 1.3 euros. You can pay with the transport card, and you benefit from a reduced price.

If you traveled by ferry to Cospicua (The Three Cities), on the basis of the ticket you have free access to the Barrakka Lift, from the port to the Upper Barrakka Garden.

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Maltabudget

Rent a student room or apartment next to University Campus Malta

apartment rental

centrally located one bedroom apartment close to University of Malta

How to travel by bus for free in Malta.

Benefits of applying for a Tallinja card.

Starting from 1st October 2022, holders of the Tallinja card can use the regular day and night buses for free.

It is still necessary to tap the card on the ticket reader when you get onto the bus but no credit on the card is necessary. (omitting to tap the card on the reader may result in a fine)

How to apply for your bus card

To apply for the card you can register for it online. You will need to upload a photo and a copy of your identity card.  Apply for your Tallinja card before your arrival to save on fares from the start of your stay.

It may take a couple of weeks until your card is processed, so do think in advance and apply for it early enough to be able to travel around the Island for free.

There is a registration fee of €25 + postage charges for delivery by registered mail. 

The card can be mailed to you at a local address as well as overseas.

If you are renting a room with us at Looza homestay or renting our Vista Apartment feel free to contact us. I will give you my address and keep the card safely for you until your arrival to save on overseas postage charges.

How to use the bus card

When you get on the bus you simply need to touch the tallinja card on the reader, a green light appears on the reader together with a sound which means that the card has been accepted for travel.

If a red light appears on the reader together with a different sound, the card has been rejected and you must pay the driver in cash to continue your journey.

The card is personalised with your photo on it and cannot be shared with another person.

If you don’t have a card yet then you can buy a normal ticket on the bus at the standard rates. (€2.50 during the day and €3.00 at night) These tickets are single journey tickets and are valid to travel to any location including of changing of buses for 2 hours.

In case you don’t opt to get yourself a tallinja card, make sure you have small change if you want to buy a bus ticket on the bus. It’s best to have exact change but if not the closest amount possible. The bus driver may refuse to sell you a ticket if you give him cash notes of €20 or more.

It is now also possible to pay the bus fare by contactless payment using a contactless credit card, smartphone or smart watch.

Reduced Rates for Tallinja Card holders on the Valletta and Cospicua Ferries.

Tallinja Card holders enjoy the added benefit of free use of the ferries. There is a ferry service between Sliema and Valletta which runs every 30 minutes. There is also another ferry service between Cospicua and Valletta.

The Ferry services runs throughout the day and there are also some ferries during the night.  For more details you can have a look at the ferry schedule .

The crossing takes 7 minutes and is an enjoyable way of commuting between cities and towns traffic free.

What bus card should I purchase when Visiting Malta?

It is worthwhile applying for a tallinja card before your arrival, but in case you didn’t manage to get one, there are the following options :

For short visits to Malta you can purchase an EXPLORE 7 DAY TICKET which costs €25  for adults and €7 for children. The Explore 7 day ticket will permit you to take as many bus rides as you wish for 7 consecutive days.

If you don’t plan to use buses much you could opt for a 12 SINGLE DAY JOURNEY CARD   which costs €21

All cards are available to purchase from tallinja kiosks, or vending machines and other authorised outlets.  You can also easily order your card online.

The tallinja bus kiosks are found in the following locations : the Malta airport, Sliema Ferries, Valletta bus terminus, Bugibba bus terminus and Mater Dei hospital.

It is also possible to order them online and have them delivered by post either in Malta or overseas.

Order your bus cards online from here

Tallinja Bus App

An app for mobile phones called Tallinja is available for easy use.  You can download this app from Google play store . It will allows you to see buses coming within the next 30 minutes to the bus stop of your choice. It is also possible to top up your tallinja card by making an online payment by credit card directly on the app.

The app has recently been redesigned to improve on the search facility and usability of the app.

A number of buses are now also offering Wifi connection to commuters as an incentive for people to use buses more often.

TD Plus a pick up, drop off new service

The bus company is now also offering a new pick up/drop off service.

This service is available in the areas of Valletta, Floriana, Pietà, Blata l-Bajda, Msida, San Ġwann, St. Julian’s, Swieqi and Pembroke. The service is available every day between 05:30 and 22:30.

You can book this service through the Tallinja app. The fare for this service at the moment is €2 per trip. You can choose to pay by credit card or through the Tal-linja bus card.

This service is not for free and the fare will be deducted from the credit on your tallinja card (for card holders)

Tallinja Bike

You can make use of bikes found in 9 stations around Malta and 2 stations in Gozo. You will need to download the app in order to use the bikes, pick it up from a station of your choice and return it to any of the stations.

Holders of the tallinja card are charged at discounted rates while those without a card will be charged on a pay per use charged per 30 minutes of use.

Google maps App

If you already have the Google maps app downloaded on your phone, you can also use this option to plan out your route by bus. The app will tell you which bus stop to take the bus and where to stop to get to your destination.  It will also give you the timings of the buses and various routes possible.

Travel by bus for free in Malta.

We recommend long stay visitors to Malta, such as students , Medical electives or interns to get their bus card before arriving in Malta.

Bon Voyage!

Budget accommodation for your stay in Malta have a look at our rooms for rent or private apartment.

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Stefie Meekers

Stefie has been working in the hospitality industry for the past 30 years. Feel free to ask any questions, she will be happy to help.

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Malta Travel Tips (Complete Guide To Planning Your Holiday)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 21, 2023

Considering a trip to the beautiful island of Malta? Read on for our top Malta tips and everything you need to know to plan your perfect sunshine break in the Med.

Malta. A Mediterranean island archipelago that I guarantee will both charm and delight you.

After visiting Malta 5 times over the past 17 years I have come to know the island (and its smaller neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino) well.

When I first visited Malta in 2002 it was relatively unknown as a tourist destination. As a popular holiday and retirement destination for the British population it seemed to have slipped under the international tourist radar.

Over the last 10 years however the number of visitors to Malta has nearly doubled from 1.2 to 2.3 million. Not bad for an island with a population of just over 460 thousand and indicative of its growing popularity as a top Mediterranean holiday destination.

Valletta, Malta’s capital  and European Capital of Culture in 2018 is a city full of character and history. Due to its the magnificent harbour and central location it is a favourite port for the many cruise ships that sail the Mediterranean. It is also growing in popularity amongst Europeans seeking winter sun or an easily accessible weekend getaway.

If you are one of the millions of visitors planning to visit Malta soon this post will give you some travel tips worth knowing before you arrive.

After 5 visits my top Malta travel tips and advice to ensure you have a fantastic holiday. 

Some basic facts to know about the Maltese Islands

By hop-on and hop-off bus, best tours and day trips to do in malta, what are the traditional foods on malta and gozo, where are the best beaches on the maltese islands, what are festas and when are they held, the south of the island – marsaskala or marsaxlokk, resort area north of valletta – sliema, st julians and paceville, the north of the island – bugibba, qawra and st pauls and mellieha, where are the best markets to visit in malta, what souvenirs should i buy on malta.

• There are actually 21 islands that make up the Maltese archipelago. Malta is the largest of the 3 main islands. At only 27 kms long and 14.5  kms wide it is the smallest country in the European Union and tenth smallest in the world.
• Do not assume however that Malta is an island you can drive around quickly. The roads are congested and many are in quite a poor condition.
• As well as being one of the world’s smallest countries Malta is also one of the most densely populated (and add a few million visitors to that mix and it can get rather busy!)

• The name ‘Malta’ is believed to derive from the Greek word for honey.
• Malta was part of the British Empire for 150 years and gained independence on September 21st 1964.
• The entire population of Malta were awarded the George Cross by King George V for their bravery during World War II.
• Gozo is Malta’s smaller sister though only 20 minutes away by ferry.
• Comino is the tiny island sandwiched between the 2!  Comino has only 4 residents and is also the location of the fabled Blue Lagoon and lesser-known Crystal Lagoon.

• The main languages spoken on the islands are Maltese and English.
• The Euro is the unit of currency.
• The main airline is Air Malta.
• Victoria, the capital of Gozo, is also known as Rabat.
• There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the Maltese Islands.

What is the best way to travel around the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino?

I have never hired a car when on holiday in Malta but rather prefer to use public transport. The roads are narrow and and can be quite congested around Valletta and popular resort areas (and quite frankly I didn’t fancy sharing the road with Maltese drivers who seem to ignore any speed restrictions and overtake wherever they want)

The bus service is generally reliable and an inexpensive way to travel. Tickets can be purchased on the bus from the driver and cost €1.50 in winter €2 in summer and €3 for night buses. Summer rates are in place from mid-June to mid-October.

There are also a range of bus cards offering added value and reduced fares:

The ExplorePlus travel card gets you 7 days of unlimited travel on public transport around Malta. The card also includes 2 trips on the Valletta ferry. The card also includes a full-day tour on the hop-on hop-off buses OR a boat trip to Comino. What an absolute bargain! ExplorePlus Card (€39)

The 7-day Explore Card entitles you to unlimited use of buses on both Malta and Gozo. It is valid for both day and night services. Child prices are valid up to 10 years of age. Click here for information on where to buy your Explore Card. Explore (Adult €21 / Child €15) – Unlimited travel for 7 days

The 12 Journey card is another easy and cost-effective way of travelling around Malta and Gozo. If you are only planning a few excursions this is the perfect option. Click  here  for information on where to buy a 12 Single Day Journeys Card.

12 Single Day Journeys (€15)

If you want to enjoy Malta’s sights at your own pace consider purchasing a ticket on the hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour. The buses depart every 30 minutes and stop at top sites within the Malta North and South Routes.

Click here to purchase your hop-on and off bus tickets for Malta

If you do decide to hire a car and drive around the island do remember that the Maltese drive on the left (well they should). Although there has been some serious investment from the EU some of the roads are still less than perfect with ruts, potholes and poor surfaces common.

Other key points to remember are to park in the direction of travel.

I would recommend renting a small car as parking can be quite difficult in some areas. Don’t assume that people will indicate either.

To be honest I would catch the bus….

The best way to travel in Malta is by boat and you really should not spend any time there without setting foot on a boat! There are loads of Malta boat trips to choose from too.

Just don’t do the one that takes you all the way around the island. It takes all day and on the trip, we went on about 85% of the passengers were seasick.

If you only take 2 Malta boat trips I would highly recommend one to Comino and the Blue Lagoon and the other around the harbour in Valletta.

You will find there are numerous companies offering tours  to Comino. If you can (and are in the north of the island) I would highly recommend a trip with English Rose Cruises.

The boat is smaller, the captain is the very handsome Sandro and you will have the BEST time. Not only can you jump straight from the boat into the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean but he will take you to the lesser-known (and quieter) Crystal Lagoon.

We stay in Mellieha just so we can take 3 or 4 trips with Sandro. It really is that good.

Alternatively (if you are staying on another part of the island) these boat trips are also available

If you want to see Gozo you will need to catch the ferry across. The journey takes about 30 minutes and leaves from Cirkewwa in Malta and arrives in the port of  Mgarr on Gozo.

The ferry leaves every 45 minutes and costs €4.65 return for adults, €1.15 for kids aged 3-12 and free for under 3’s. If you are driving over it costs €15.70.

There are loads of activities available in Malta to keep you busy – these are a selection of the best from Get Your Guide

Tip – Save money and enjoy discounts of up to 50% at more than 150 establishments in Malta with a 10-day Malta Discount Card. Enjoy access to some of the island’s top tours, museums, and activities, including restaurants, water sports and much more.

Click here for more information about the Malta Discount Card

Try the food when you are visiting Malta. There are many tasty local dishes to eat and if you enjoy olives and capers you will find them in abundance!

• The Italian and English influences are very evident in the traditional Maltese foods.
• Pizza and pasta can be found in abundance.
• Seafood is also extremely popular with  Lampuki pie a staple of the Maltese diet. Lampuki is a common fish caught around the islands. Baked in a pie with capers, spinach and potatoes it is delicious.
• The national dish of Malta is Stuffat tal-fenek which is a rabbit stew.
• The most popular Maltese snack is the pastizzi. This is a savoury pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas. I have to say I wasn’t keen on these.
• Kinnie is a soft drink made with bitter oranges.
• Cisk i s the local beer.
• You will see prickly pears all over Malta and they feature in one of my favourite Maltese drinks -Bajtra. It is a beautiful (though very sweet) liquor made from the cactus fruit. You can also buy prickly pear conserve and jam.
• Try a plate of tomatoes, goat’s cheese, capers and olives in Gozo. Delicious!

READ MORE – YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO VISITING MALTA

Ok lets be blunt here but Malta is not known for its miles of stunning beaches. The islands are rocky and beaches are few and far between.

The best beaches are in the north of Malta so if a beach is really what you want head to Mellieha.

In Mellieha you will find Malta’s largest sandy beach. Further north there are Golden Bay and Paradise Bays. Do be careful though as I believe the sea can be a little rougher in these areas.

There is a beach at the   Blue Lagoon on Comino. The teeny tiniest beach in the universe. No problem. Take a boat trip and spend the day jumping into the clear blue waters from the deck! Far more fun than struggling for a space on the actual beach.

Malta is a predominantly Roman Catholic Island. Every village and city has a church at its heart and every church is named after a saint. So when it is the saint’s day the village or town or city go crazy with parties, celebrations and generally have a bloody good time!

I LOVE being in Malta when there are festas. The atmosphere is amazing and everyone has a great time. The best festas are in the hot summer months when warm evenings are perfect to enjoy the open air celebrations.

Expect plenty of food, drinks, music and fireworks. If you want to experience a festa (and you really should!) you can book a tour with Get Your Guide ( my preferred tour group company) below:

An evening of Colorful Festa Fireworks in Malta

One of our top Malta tips is to make sure to experience the spectacular Maltese Festa tradition, for which fireworks are a must. Enjoy the special sweets made for these parish feasts, as well as the beautifully lit-up streets and church, while the parish brass band fills the air with music.

→ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FUN FESTA EVENING IN MALTA

Where is the best place to stay in Malta?

To answer this question I would say that it really depends on what you want from your holiday in Malta. There are so many options to choose from that it is worth considering which part of the island would suit you best.

Read – Malta area and accommodation guide

For those seeking a quieter holiday away from the action. This is where we stayed on our first visit but subsequently, we have moved progressively up to the top of the island.

The south will give you a chance to experience Maltese life. Pop to Marsaxlokk for the market on Sunday. Definitely go to a local village Festa!

£ – Marsaskala Luxury Apartment & Penthouse

£ – Cerviola Hotel

£ – Port View Guesthouse

If you enjoy history Valletta is the place to stay. It is central and possible to catch a bus just about anywhere.

£££ – The Phoenicia Malta 

££ – 66 Saint Paul’s & Spa

££ – The Embassy Valletta Hotel

The main resort areas on Malta centre around Sliema and St Julian’s. If you enjoy shopping and some lively nightlife this is the area to head for.

££ – Palazzo Violetta Boutique

£££ – Corinthia Hotel St. George’s Bay

This is my personal favourite area of Malta to visit. The north is a little more rugged than the south but offers great views across to Comino and Gozo.

The three resorts of Bugibba, Qawra and St Pauls meld into one long coastal strip. I would given them a skip and head to Mellieha which is exactly what we have done on the last 3 visits!

£ – Luna Holiday Complex

£££ – Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands 

Gozo really deserves a post of its own. Although we always visit Gozo I have yet to stay on the island. Gozo is Malta’s greener more lush smaller sister and offers a quieter alternative to its big sister.

There are some fantastic accommodation options on Gozo including old farmhouses, cottages and secluded hotels.

£ – Il-Bàrraġ B&B Hosting Family

 ££ – The Duke Boutique Hotel

⇒ Click here for more accommodation options on Malta and Gozo

There are number of excellent markets in Malta to peruse! My favourite is in Marsaxlokk. This is also a great village to visit if you want to see the beautiful and very colourful traditional Maltese boats.

• Marsaxlokk Open Market – held every day but Sunday is the day to go to see the fish on sale. It does get very busy on Sundays as the locals also head to the market.

• Victoria Open Air It-Tokk Market – this market on Gozo takes place daily in Independence Square in Victoria. There are loads of restaurants and cafes around the square as well as some great artisan shops.
• Il-Monti Valletta – this is the largest market on the island and is held in Valletta every Sunday morning. Head there early to avoid the crowds!
• Rabat Market (near Mdina) – great market for fresh produce and traditional Maltese foods.
• Ta’Qali Farmers Market – this market only sells Maltese produce so stock up on honey, bread, goat’s cheese and other delicacies. This market is open Tuesdays 16:00-19:00, Saturdays 09:00-17:00 and is situated next to the Ta Qali Crafts Village.

When you visit Malta make sure to take home some of the fantastic products for which the islands are famous. As a fan of prickly pears, I always purchase the local liquor made from the fruit. If you are visiting some of the markets you will easily be able to pick up some of these souvenirs!

• Bajtra – Prickly Pear liqueur
• Prickly Pear jam/conserve
• Lace – Bizzilla  Maltese Lace can be purchased in all the markets. The lace is a traditional craft that flourished in Malta over 400 years ago. The traditions have been passed from mother to daughter over the centuries. Much of the lace features the Maltese cross.
• Nougat – If you attend a festa you have to try some traditional Maltese nougat!
• Maltese Filigree – I bought a beautiful filigree ring on my first visit to Malta. The jewellery is very pretty and created using fine threads of gold or silver to produce ornate pieces.
• Blown glass from Mdina – visit the workshop and showroom in Mdina and watch beautiful glass creations made before your eyes!

I am confident these tips will help you plan a fabulous holiday to Malta. It really is one of our favourite destinations to visit in Europe.

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my research tells me i can buy this at the airport at Agenda Bookshop in the departures hall and WHS Express in arrivals. is this information current? thank you

4 replies to this topic

I believe so

You can also buy from the machines at the airport and the bus information point in arrivals.

There’s a list of places on the bus website

https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/our-sales-and-information-points-and-terminals

https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/where-to-buy-travel-card

He spoke excellent English too as I am ashamed to say I don't speak any Maltese.

The buses in Malta are brilliant and we have found all the drivers (and passengers) helpful too!

Have a great trip!

What was the money saving idea Cygnet?

I'm planning on getting a 7 day card for my trip in November purely for convenience as the 12-journey card may or may not be enough and the 6-euro cost difference is barely the price of a couple of pints in the grand scheme of things.

The bus info kiosk is just outside Arrivals at the airport and I will be heading there again when we return to Malta in December.

Please ask if I can help any further - I have benefited so much from other people's experience via the Forum 😊

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Unveiling The Ultimate Explore Travel Card Malta: Your Gateway To Adventure!

Explore travel card malta: the ultimate guide for travelers, introduction.

Hello Readers,

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the Explore Travel Card Malta. In this article, we will provide you with all the essential information you need to know about this travel card, its benefits, and how it can enhance your travel experience in Malta. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or planning your first trip to this beautiful Mediterranean island, the Explore Travel Card Malta is a must-have for convenient and cost-effective travel.

Image Source: travelsavvygal.com

Let’s dive into the details and explore everything there is to know about the Explore Travel Card Malta!

Table: Explore Travel Card Malta Information

Information Details

Card Type Single Journey or Day Pass

Validity 24 hours from the first use

Transport Modes Bus, Ferry, and Heritage Malta sites

Image Source: publictransport.com.mt

Cost Affordable and cost-effective

Benefits Convenience, cost savings, and flexibility

What is the Explore Travel Card Malta?

Easily explore the stunning landscapes and historical sites of Malta with the Explore Travel Card. This travel card allows unlimited travel on buses, ferries, and access to Heritage Malta sites for a specified duration. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, beach lover, or nature explorer, this travel card provides you with the freedom to conveniently explore all that Malta has to offer.

Who Should Use the Explore Travel Card Malta?

The Explore Travel Card Malta is ideal for both tourists and locals alike. Tourists visiting Malta can make the most of their trip by enjoying unlimited travel on various modes of transportation, including buses and ferries. For locals, the travel card offers a cost-effective and hassle-free way to commute within the island.

When Should You Get the Explore Travel Card Malta?

It is recommended to get the Explore Travel Card Malta as soon as you arrive in Malta. You can purchase the card at various locations, such as the airport, bus terminals, or online platforms. By having the card from the beginning of your trip, you can maximize its benefits and conveniently explore the island without worrying about individual ticket purchases.

Where Can You Use the Explore Travel Card Malta?

The Explore Travel Card Malta can be used on all public buses operated by the Malta Public Transport, including those that cover popular tourist destinations and major cities. Additionally, the card is valid for ferry rides between Malta and Gozo, as well as access to Heritage Malta sites, including historical landmarks and museums.

Why Should You Choose the Explore Travel Card Malta?

The Explore Travel Card Malta offers numerous advantages that make it the preferred choice for travelers:

1. Cost Savings: With the travel card, you can enjoy unlimited travel at a significantly lower cost compared to buying individual tickets for each journey.

2. Convenience: The card eliminates the need for carrying cash and purchasing tickets for every trip. Simply tap the card and hop on the bus or ferry hassle-free.

3. Flexibility: The Explore Travel Card Malta allows you to explore various destinations at your own pace, without worrying about additional costs for each journey.

4. Accessibility: The travel card can be easily purchased and topped up at numerous locations across Malta, including airports, bus terminals, and online platforms.

5. Time-Saving: By using the travel card, you can save time by avoiding queues to purchase individual tickets, allowing you to make the most of your limited travel time in Malta.

How to Use the Explore Travel Card Malta?

Using the Explore Travel Card Malta is simple and straightforward:

1. Purchase the Card: Buy the card at the airport, bus terminals, or online platforms. Choose between a Single Journey or Day Pass, depending on your travel needs.

2. Activate the Card: Once you’re ready to start using the card, simply tap it on the electronic card reader when boarding a bus or ferry, and the fare will be deducted automatically.

3. Enjoy Unlimited Travel: With the card activated, you can hop on and off buses and ferries as many times as you want within the validity period.

4. Explore Heritage Malta Sites: Present your card at Heritage Malta sites to gain access without the need for individual tickets.

5. Top Up if Needed: If your card runs out of credit, you can easily top it up at various locations or online platforms to continue enjoying unlimited travel.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Explore Travel Card Malta

Advantages:

1. Convenient and hassle-free way to travel around Malta

2. Cost-effective, especially for frequent travelers

3. Flexibility to explore multiple destinations

4. Access to Heritage Malta sites included

5. Time-saving by avoiding ticket queues

Disadvantages:

1. Limited validity period (24 hours for Day Pass)

2. Not valid for other modes of transportation, such as taxis

3. Limited availability of top-up locations

4. Not refundable if not fully utilized

5. Not applicable for group travel discounts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use the Explore Travel Card Malta on night buses?

Answer: Yes, the card is valid for night bus services operated by Malta Public Transport.

2. Does the Explore Travel Card Malta cover transportation to Malta International Airport?

Answer: No, the travel card does not cover transportation to and from Malta International Airport. However, you can use it for other travel within the island.

3. Can I use the Explore Travel Card Malta on ferries to Comino?

Answer: Yes, the card allows unlimited travel on ferries to Comino Island.

4. Is the Explore Travel Card Malta refundable if I don’t use it?

Answer: No, the card is non-refundable, even if it is not fully utilized.

5. Can I share the Explore Travel Card Malta with someone else?

Answer: No, the card is for individual use only and cannot be shared.

In conclusion, the Explore Travel Card Malta is an essential companion for anyone visiting or residing in Malta. With its cost savings, convenience, and flexibility, this travel card offers a seamless way to explore the island’s attractions and travel with ease. Whether you’re planning a historical adventure or simply commuting within Malta, the Explore Travel Card Malta is your ticket to hassle-free travel.

Final Remarks

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is accurate at the time of writing and is subject to change. It is advisable to visit official websites or contact relevant authorities for the latest details regarding the Explore Travel Card Malta.

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Welcome to Malta Marriott Resort & Spa

Explore our 5-star beachfront resort in malta.

Malta Marriott Resort & Spa, is located metres from Balluta beach, alongside a tranquil seafront promenade within the bustling, cosmopolitan neighborhood of St. Julian’s and a 20-minute drive from Valletta, a European capital of culture city. The resort combines luxurious charm and the relaxed feel of a Mediterranean Spa with well-appointed premium category rooms and luxury suites, providing sophisticated spaces, thoughtfully designed around business and leisure travelers alike. With four restaurants, two bars and three pools, the hotel has something for everybody. Cala lido with a large pool and kids splash pool, has spacious lounge areas all set within abundant landscaped gardens. A market-leading Spa includes an indoor pool, fitness centre, squash court and a variety of beauty treatments. The M Club lounge offers spectacular views of Balluta Bay, the ideal space to work or relax. An entire floor is dedicated to a state-of-the-art conference centre, covering an area of 15,000 square feet of versatile space.

Rooms & Suites

Luxuriously appointed, newly renovated spacious rooms ensure a comfortable and productive stay.

Signature Suites

The sophisticated and elegant signature suites, present a range of expansive and stylish suites for a memorable and exceptional stay.

Breathtaking Views

Situated in an ideal location, the resort serves as a sought-after recreational hub for swimming, diving, and water sports. A charming piazza, encircled by cafes and restaurants, adds to the allure. The skyline is graced by the neogothic Carmelite Parish Church and the breathtaking Art Nouveau Balluta Buildings.

What to Expect

Plan and Prepare for Your Stay

Discover a haven of serenity at our exclusive Cala Lido, boasting a spacious pool, a playful splash pool for children, and a meticulously crafted bar and restaurant nestled within lush, manicured gardens and captivating open spaces. Retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life and transform it into your own sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and reconnection.

Culture Vulture – A Journey Through Time

For the avid culture enthusiast – embark on a tailor-made voyage through time, spanning from prehistoric eras to the contemporary age. With a rich history spanning over 7,000 years, Malta stands as the quintessential holiday haven for history buffs.

Discover Malta by Sea

Embark on an exclusive adventure by chartering a private sailing boat to explore the gilded sandy shores, unique red sands, and rugged coastlines of the Maltese Islands, offering a diverse range of swimming spots to cater to every taste. Immerse yourself in the crystal-clear blue waters throughout the year and luxuriate in the pristine embrace of the Mediterranean Sea!

Taste of Malta

Enveloped in an abundance of exceptional produce, a sea teeming with delectable seafood, and recipes steeped in centuries-old tradition, Maltese culture is intricately woven with the essence of food and drink. Whether you're yearning for an epicurean adventure at a Michelin-starred establishment, or a hearty feast of remarkable local fare, Malta offers a culinary landscape that invites you to savor every moment.

Restaurants and Bars

The Marketplace

The resort’s main restaurant on level 2 offers an exquisite daily buffet breakfast and seasonal buffet lunches and dinners for guests. This newly refurbished restaurant also offers lavish evening buffets on special occasions throughout the year, prepared by an award-winning culinary team.

Atrio Bar and Restaurant

Atrio Restaurant offers an array of exquisite dishes serving Italian and Mediterranean specialties, including a selection of dry-ages meats. Enjoy al fresco dining on the resort's large terrace, with views overlooking picturesque Balluta Bay.

The Sundeck Pool and Bar

Located on the resort's top-floor, The Sundeck Pool and Bar offers a wide range of cocktails and light snacks throughout the day. With its breathtaking views of Balluta Bay, it is the perfect cocktail bar to relax and soak up the sun.

Aqua at the Sundeck

Offering a variety of seafood and fusion specialties. Choose from an extensive selection of eclectic cocktails while dining al fresco by the pool, complemented with stunning views overlooking picturesque Balluta Bay.

Cala Bar & Restaurant

Our exclusive Cala Bar & Restaurant provides the perfect dining setting by the pool, offering guests a unique setting to come together to socialize or relax within the versatile space. An oasis of relaxation surrounded by shimmering waters of the pool.

Discover Malta, a Mediterranean Gem

Immersed in a history spanning over 7000 years, Malta has hosted the Romans, Phoenicians, Knights of St John, and even Napoleon, each leaving an indelible mark. The historical tapestry unfolds through a myriad of temples, fortifications, and palaces, creating a magical bridge between past and present that captivates even the most sceptical tourists. Whether you're a history buff, a night owl, an adrenaline junkie, or simply a wanderer eager to be captivated by natural beauty, the array of activities in Malta is boundless. Whatever your holiday aspirations may be, with an abundance of sights and experiences, a journey to the Maltese Islands promises an unforgettable adventure for every type of traveler.

Malta Marriott Pools

Relaxing Escape

Indulge in a genuinely serene retreat at Malta Marriott, where two outdoor pools and one indoor pool beckon you to take a refreshing dip and unwind in a tranquil setting. This oasis provides the perfect escape, ensuring a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for your vacation.

Spa Facilities

Discover Myoka Lotus Spa

Experience the epitome of relaxation during your stay in St Julians, Malta. Immerse yourself in the indulgent offerings of our resort's Lotus Spa, where an array of spa treatments, including massages, facials, and body scrubs, awaits to pamper and rejuvenate your senses.

Getting Here

Malta marriott resort & spa.

39 Main Street, Balluta Bay, St. Julian's, Malta, STJ1017

On-Property:

Private Car Service:

Limousine/Van Service

Bus Station:

Let Your Stay Take You Further

Broaden your experience with us, whether by deepening your knowledge of cocktails in our Greatroom or learning something new with Manchester United.

Food for Your Journey

Pick up a fresh snack on your way out or linger over a meal with us. From light bites to classics with a local twist, enjoy food that is familiar yet elevated beyond the expected.

Experience Marriott at Home

Bring thoughtfully chosen details from our home to yours, from our iconic Marriott Pillow to our bath and body collection.

Property Details

Fitness Center

Indoor Pool

Outdoor Pool

Meeting Space

Dry Cleaning Service

Room Service

Wake up Calls

Daily Housekeeping

Turndown Service

Service Request

Check-in: 3:00 pm

Check-out: 12:00 pm

Smoke Free Property

Pets Not Allowed

Accepts: Credit Cards

Concierge desk service

Currency Exchange

Property has elevators

Languages spoken by staff: English, Italian, French, German

For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +356 2311-0000

Accessible on-site parking

Self Operating lift or a sloped entry in hotel swimming pools

Service Animals are Welcome

Van Accessible on-site parking

Accessible Entrance to On-Site Pool

Entrance to On-Site Business Center is Accessible

Entrance to On-Site Fitness Center is Accessible

Entrance to On-Site Spa is Accessible

Main Entrance is Accessible

Meeting Spaces are Accessible

On-Site Restaurants are Accessible

Room and Suites Access through the Interior Corridor

Accessible Vanities

Adjustable Height Hand-Held Shower Wand

Alarm Clock Telephone Ringers

Bathtub Grab Rails

Closed Caption TV

Deadbolts on Guest Room and Suites Doors

Electronic Room Key

Guest Room and Suites Doors Self-Closing

Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits

Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors

Lowered Electrical Outlets

Mobility accessible rooms

Non-slip Grab Rails in the Bathroom

Roll-in Shower

Room Windows Open

Safety Chains and/or Latches on Guest Doors

TTY/TTD Compatible

Toilet Seat at Wheelchair Height - Toilet for Disabled

Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms

Viewports in Guest Room and Suites Doors

Water Footprint: 256.07 liters per room night

Frequently Asked Questions

The check-in time at Malta Marriott Resort & Spa is 3:00 pm and the check-out time is 12:00 pm.

The pet policy at Malta Marriott Resort & Spa is:

The parking options at Malta Marriott Resort & Spa are:

Complimentary On-Site Parking

The property amenities at Malta Marriott Resort & Spa are:

Yes, Malta Marriott Resort & Spa has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.

Unlock your stay with the Marriott Bonvoy™ App

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MALTA MARRIOTT® RESORT & SPA

39 Main Street, Balluta Bay,

St. Julian's, Malta, STJ1017

Fax: +356 2311-0001

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Credit Cards

Chase Freedom Flex benefits guide 2024

Julie Sherrier

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 5:26 a.m. UTC April 3, 2024

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is often listed as one of the top cash-back credit cards, offering an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, a generous introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers and the ability to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Learn how to make the most of this card in our Chase Freedom Flex benefits guide.

Chase Freedom Flex overview

The Chase Freedom Flex is consistently ranked as one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. In addition to its great rewards rates, this card comes with a generous intro APR for purchases and balance transfers as well as an easy-to-earn welcome bonus all for no annual fee. This card is best for those who don’t mind having to opt into bonus categories that change every quarter.

The Chase Freedom Flex is one of three available Freedom cards, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Freedom Rise℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . The Freedom Flex card is the upgraded version of the old Chase Freedom card, which is no longer available to new applicants. All three cards earn cash-back rewards that are tracked as points and can be redeemed for statement credits, cash, travel or gift cards or transferred to eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards® -earning cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which both boost the value of points when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase Travel℠.

The Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Previous quarterly categories have included grocery stores, Target, gym memberships, Lowe’s, Amazon.com, gas, wholesale clubs, charities and PayPal, among others. The new categories are announced a few weeks prior to the new quarter and cardholders must opt in each time to earn that elevated rate.

Major Chase Freedom Flex benefits

The Chase Freedom Flex has many notable features. Let’s take a look.

Attainable welcome offer

With the Chase Freedom Flex, new cardholders can earn $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. This is a very attainable spending requirement compared to other top credit cards that may require a minimum spend in the thousands of dollars before you can earn their welcome bonuses.

Decent intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers

If you’re planning a big purchase that you’d like to finance for more than a year or if you need to transfer a high-APR balance , know that the Chase Freedom Flex offers 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. There is an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. Then the fee is the greater of $5 or 5% of each transfer.

Rewards varied spending categories

Cardholders have the ability to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Each $1 in cash-back rewards is equal to 100 points. Points can be redeemed as cash, gift cards, travel or by paying with points at select merchants.

Several insurance and travel benefits

When you use your Chase Freedom Flex card for travel reservations, you’ll have access to travel insurance for trips canceled or cut short for illness, severe weather or other eligible situations. You can be reimbursed for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable fares.

Cardholders also can get secondary rental car insurance against damage or theft when using their card to pay for the reservation. Finally, you’ll be able to access Chase’s travel and emergency assistance services for referrals while traveling, though you’ll have to pay for any services or medical treatment you need. 

Pay over time

If you’d like to break up the cost of a purchase costing $100 or more into monthly payments, you can opt to enroll that purchase in My Chase Plan® for a fixed monthly fee of 1.72% of the amount of each eligible purchase transaction (or an amount you choose) instead of being charged interest. Your purchase amount will then be divided into equal monthly payments ranging from three months to two years based on the purchase amount.

Additional benefits worth noting

Cellphone protection.

When you use your Chase Freedom Flex to pay your monthly cellphone bill, you can qualify for up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cellphone protection, which covers against theft or damage. Just know there is a maximum of two claims per 12-month period and a $50 deductible applies for each claim.

5% cash back on Lyft rides

Cardholders who pay for Lyft rides through the Lyft app with their Chase Freedom Flex will receive a total of 5% cash back on qualifying rides through March 31, 2025. 

Discounts on DashPass, DoorDash and Caviar

You can get a complimentary three months of DashPass if you activate a membership for the first time by December 31, 2024 with your card as the payment method. Once that time is up, you’ll get 50% off your membership for the next nine months. 

Complimentary Instacart+ membership

To receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, you’ll need to visit instacart.com/chase to sign up with your Chase Freedom Flex by July 31, 2024. Once the complimentary membership expires, you’ll be billed the regular Instacart+ membership fee of $99 a year or $9.99 a month unless you cancel. When enrolled, you’ll also earn up to $10 in statement credits each quarter through July 31, 2024 on eligible Instacart purchases with the card.

Additional protection and warranty on purchases

When using your Chase Freedom Flex, you’ll automatically get purchase protection on new purchases for 120 days against damage and theft. You can apply for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

If a purchase comes with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less, you’ll also get an additional year on eligible warranties, providing extra peace of mind for larger purchases.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Up to $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass Select lounge access.
• Redeem points for 50% more value to book travel through Chase Travel ℠ .
• Transfer points 1:1 to partners such as United Airlines and World of Hyatt.
• High annual fee.
• Not ideal if you aren’t interested in transferring points.
• May not qualify if you’ve applied for 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes, the Chase Freedom Flex offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for non-refundable prepaid fares in case your trip is canceled or cut short by severe weather, sickness or other covered situations.

No, the Chase Freedom Flex does not have hidden fees. However, the card agreement plainly states that there is a $40 late or returned payment fee, a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars, an intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days (then $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater) and a monthly fee of 1.72% instead of interest for eligible purchases enrolled in the My Chase Plan. It’s always wise to check the pricing and terms page before applying for a new credit card.

No, you cannot use the Chase Freedom Flex at Costco as it is a Mastercard. Costco only accepts Visa cards as well as most debit/ATM cards.

Yes, the Chase Freedom Flex offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance where you can get reimbursed for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for a non-refundable prepaid fare in certain situations.

The Chase Freedom card was replaced by the Chase Freedom Flex and is no longer available to new applicants. That said, the original Chase Freedom card offered a similar 5% cash back in rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter), but only 1% cash back on all other purchases. There are two other Chase Freedom cards: the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Freedom Rise (for students and those new to credit). Check out our list of the best Chase cards to see which may be best fit for your budget and lifestyle.

*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Julie Stephen Sherrier is a personal finance writer and editor based in Austin, TX. She is the former senior managing editor for LendingTree, responsible for all credit card and credit health content. Before joining LendingTree, Julie spent more than a decade as the managing editor and then editorial director at Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She also served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

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The infatuation’s eeeeeatscon presented by chase sapphire® set for summer return to los angeles.

Sofia Vergara, Chrissy Teigen, David Chang, Nicole Byer, Keith Lee, and more, highlight festival with more than two dozen restaurants from across the U.S. including Lucali (NYC), KG BBQ (Austin, TX), and more!

Pre-sale Discounted Tickets for Chase Sapphire Cardmembers On-sale Now at eeeeeatscon.com.

NEW YORK - April 3, 2024   – Today, The Infatuation announced its signature food festival,  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles,  presented by Chase Sapphire, will return to Santa Monica’s The Barker Hangar on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. This year’s event will offer exciting programming including conversations with television personality and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen , actress, producer, and entrepreneur Sofia Vergara with her son, restauranteur and television host Manolo Gonzalez Vergara , food critic and philanthropist Keith Lee , chef David Chang , comedian and actress Nicole Byer , in addition to more than 25 restaurants.

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles tickets are available today through April 30 exclusively for Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers for 50% off ( plus applicable taxes and fees ). General admission tickets will go on-sale April 16 at 10 a.m. PT for $30 each ( plus applicable taxes and fees).

Pre-sale tickets will grant Chase Sapphire cardmembers access to EEEEEATSCON at 11 a.m. local time, one hour earlier than general admission tickets. At the event, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers will have special access to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge. This unique in-event experience will offer cardmember-only perks, including a complimentary beverage, entertainment and more. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers will also have access to purchase tickets for an exclusive cocktail class through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

EEEEEATSCON is a different kind of food experience built in the spirit of a music festival, but with restaurants as the headliners. Event lineups are derived from The Infatuation’s editorial expertise where the restaurant discovery platform helps its readers find expert recommendations for every situation. EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles will feature an exciting lineup of some of The Infatuation’s greatest hits from across the country, including: Lucali (New York City), KG BBQ (Austin, TX), Community Goods, Two Hommés, Za Za Zá x Loreto, Bar Chelou, Tacos Los Cholos, Le Great Outdoor, Amiga Amore, Kuya Lord and more!

“As we’ve expanded EEEEEATSCON to four cities across the country, The Infatuation has proudly established the festival as an iconic food and culture event,” said Paul Needham, CEO and Head of The Infatuation. “But we’re always excited to return to Los Angeles where it all began – once again bringing to town amazing restaurants from outside the city, including Lucali pizza from Brooklyn – while also highlighting the incredible dining offerings of this city.”

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles arrives on the heels of the first-ever EEEEEATSCON Miami in February 2024.

Created by The Infatuation, EEEEEATSCON now operates in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. The events are designed for people who want more from a food festival than just tasting portions and cooking demonstrations. With live music performances throughout the day and panels from thought leaders and industry pioneers, EEEEEATSCON is as much about connecting with a community and getting inspired as it is about eating and being entertained.

The Infatuation was acquired by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2021 to accelerate the firm’s investment in dining and further demonstrates JPMorgan Chase’s commitment to meeting customers where they are with exceptional benefits, useful content and one-of-a-kind experiences, at scale.

In addition to Chase Sapphire, other brand partners creating special experiences for EEEEEATSCON include Chase® Ink®, MLB Life, LaCroix, and DashPass by Doordash.

EEEEEATSCON LOS ANGELES Saturday, June 8 & Sunday, June 9 Chase Sapphire Reserve & Preferred Cardmembers Presale Tickets Entry: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. PT General Admission Entry: Noon - 6 p.m.  PT The Barker Hangar -  3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, CA

TICKETS Available at  eeeeatscon.com

For more information visit  The Infatuation  and  EEEEEATSCON   online, download The Infatuation app, follow The Infatuation on  TikTok  or  Instagram , and  sign up for your city’s newsletter .

Press Contact:   Michael Sinatra, [email protected] , 551-574-8031 April Lee, [email protected] , 201-788-9089   

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Is the Amex Business Platinum card worth it?

Amex business platinum card rewards, amex business platinum card benefits, amex business platinum card fees, rates & limit, how the amex business platinum card compares, is the amex business platinum card right for me, how do i apply for the amex business platinum card, faq: amex business platinum card.

Amex Business Platinum Card Review 2024: Is It Worth It?

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers a chance to earn 5x points on travel and rack up points on everyday business spending too.
• Card members can benefit from more than $1,000 in statement credits every year.
• This card does come with an annual fee of $695 ( see rates and fees ).
• You can carry a balance for some charges with the Pay Over Time feature, but not for all.

At first glance, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a high admission price — its annual fee is almost $700. However, when you dig into the benefits, you find out that it also comes with more than $1,000 in statement credits annually and ample opportunity for earning valuable points. That’s especially true if you book travel for yourself or your employees regularly.

Find out more about this card to decide if it’s right for you in our Amex Business Platinum card review.

We’ll take a look at:

• How you can maximize rewards with this card
• What types of statement credits you can get
• Whether this is a charge card or credit card
• How to apply for the Amex Business Platinum card
• Excellent welcome offer
• Easy to earn points
• Great travel benefits
• No intro APR offer
• Hefty $695 annual fee
• High spending requirement for welcome offer

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express may be worth it for business owners who travel frequently and can take advantage of its premium travel benefits, such as Amex lounge access worldwide. It also comes with high point earnings on select purchases, which makes it a great option for businesses that spend on more than just travel.

However, this American Express card does come with a substantial annual fee of $695. This makes it less appealing for small businesses that don’t usually spend much on travel. In these cases, you may prefer another business credit card better suited to your organization.

Amex Business Platinum pros and cons

• A generous welcome offer
• 5x points on prepaid flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel
• Comprehensive travel benefits including access to Amex lounges worldwide
• Up to $1,400 in credits, including for airline fees, Dell purchases and more
• A high annual fee of $695
• A more complex rewards system that requires careful management and an understanding of your options
• Requires good to excellent credit

Learn more about the Amex Business Platinum card

Terms apply / Rates & fees

As the flagship business rewards card , the Amex Business Platinum offers an excellent rewards structure, especially if you book regular travel for yourself or your staff. 

Welcome offer

You can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend $15,000 in the first three months of holding this card. 

The value of rewards points depends on how and when you redeem them, but the average is around 1 cent per point. That means this welcome offer has a potential value of around $1,200.

Earn Amex Business Platinum rewards

You can earn valuable rewards points outside of the welcome offer too, including:

• 5x points when you book prepaid flights and hotel stays through American Express Travel
• 1.5x points on certain business expenses, such as electronic goods, construction and hardware expenses, software subscriptions and expenses and shipping
• 1.5x points on any purchase of $5,000 or more
• 1x points on all other purchases

Redeem Amex Business Platinum reward points

You can redeem Amex Platinum Business card rewards in a variety of ways, providing flexibility on how you use these perks. 

Some options include:

• Booking travel.  When you use your rewards to book through American Express Travel, you typically get the most value per point.
• Transferring points. Amex lets you transfer points to hotel and airline rewards programs, including Delta, Marriott Bonvoy and Virgin Atlantic. You need at least 500 points to transfer and must transfer in increments of 250 points.
• Shopping.  You can use your points to purchase gift cards and merchandise.
• Receiving a statement credit. Request a conversion to cash back and get a statement credit using your points.
• Donating to charity. In some cases, you can redeem points for charity donations—a benefit that could help with goodwill for your business. 

In addition to a pretty strong rewards structure, the American Express Business Platinum card offers some great benefits for business card members . 

Travel benefits

Amex is known for its travel cards , and the Amex Business Platinum is no exception.

Some travel benefits you can get with this card include:

• American Express Global Lounge Collection.  Platinum cardholders get access to Amex lounges across the globe, making business travel more enjoyable. 
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. You can leverage our card membership status to upgrade to Elite status with this hotel rewards program without meeting stay requirements. That can help you earn free nights and other perks faster. 
• Hilton Honors Gold status.  Not a Marriott Bonvoy member? That’s okay because you get a similar benefit with Hilton’s hotel rewards program. 
• Fine Hotels & Resorts program.  When booking luxury and other hotel stays through American Express Travel, you can get hundreds of dollars in perks and upgrades, making any stay more enjoyable. 
• Travel insurance. By paying for travel expenses with your Amex Platinum Business card, you get automatic Amex travel coverage that helps mitigate losses due to delayed or canceled trips, interruptions during travel, damage to rental cards or lost or delayed baggage.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/​benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Statement credits

The Amex Business Platinum card comes with a bevy of statement perks every year to help your business save money. 

Options include:

• Indeed statement credit. You can get up to $90 back each quarter on purchases you make with Indeed as you work to round out your staff. This credit opportunity is through December 2024.
• Dell statement credit.  Through December 2024, you can earn up to $400 on purchases with Dell in the United States. You can earn up to $200 semi-annually.
• Adobe statement credit.  If you use your Amex Platinum Business card to pay for an auto-renewing Adobe subscription, you can get up to $150 back in statement credits per year.
• Wireless services statement credit. You can get up to $120 back per year when you use your Business Platinum card to pay for services with a U.S.-based wireless phone carrier. 
• Airline fee credit.  You can get up to $200 in credits on airline fees, including baggage fees. You’ll need to choose one airline and spend with that airline to get these perks.
• CLEAR plus credit.  Earn up to $189 back on CLEAR Plus membership annually when you pay with this card.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.  Get up to $100 in statement credit every 4.5 years to help cover the cost of either Global Entry or TSA Precheck .

Shopping protections

Using your Amex Business Platinum to make purchases for your company ensures you’re backed by numerous shopping protections.

These protections include:

• Extended warranty. When you use this card to purchase items that have a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less, you get extended coverage for up to one year. That means if your business laptop, printer, copy machine, or other covered item breaks right after the manufacturer’s warranty is up — as often happens — you’re still covered. 
• Purchase protection. Use your Amex card to purchase items and get peace of mind knowing you can get reimbursed for losses if the item is damaged in an accident or stolen. This coverage is good for up to $10,000 per incident and a total benefit of $50,000 per year.
• Return protection.  If you can’t return your item to a vendor, you may be able to return it directly to Amex and get a refund. 
• Cell phone protection.  Amex coverage will reimburse you for replacement or repair of a damaged cell phone up to $800 total minus a $50 deductible. You can use this benefit up to two times annually as long as you are paying your cell phone bill with your Amex card.

So far, the Amex Business Platinum is stacking up to sound like a great option. But you need to understand the fee structure to know if all those rewards and statement credit opportunities actually end up profiting your business. 

Business Platinum Card from American Express fees

With Amex, huge perks and rewards usually come at a price, and that’s true with this card. The annual fee is $695. However, you can add up to 99 employee cards at no additional fee, and spending on those cards also earns rewards ( see rates and fees ).

Other fees you may pay with this credit card include:

• $39 or 2.99% of any past due balance when you make a late payment, whichever is greater
• $39 if your payment is ever returned

You won’t pay foreign transaction fees if you make purchases outside of the United States.

Business Platinum Card from American Express interest rates

With this card, Amex offers a Pay Over Time feature that lets you carry a balance over time at an APR of 19.49% to 27.49% variable, depending on your creditworthiness. This feature is only available on certain purchases and is limited by a Pay Over Time Limit, which works similarly to a credit limit. 

If you make late payments, you may be assessed a penalty APR of 29.99% variable for 12 billing cycles. The penalty APR applies if you make two or more late payments within 12 months, you have a returned payment or you fail to make a minimum payment at all within an entire statement cycle. 

Business Platinum Card from American Express credit limit

This card doesn’t come with a preset spending limit. The amount you can spend at any one time depends on your credit history and your management of American Express credit card accounts, including this one. As you demonstrate responsible account management, you can typically increase your credit limit . 

Note that the Pay Over Time benefit does come with a limit. This limit might also change as you demonstrate a responsible payment history. You can call Amex to discuss your limits and how much you would like to be able to spend.

While it’s one of the most costly when it comes to an annual fee, the Amex Business Platinum is among the top business rewards cards on the market. It offers plenty of statement credits, rewards opportunities and card member perks, and you may find that you get more benefits from this card than others.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express vs. American Express® Business Gold Card

For businesses that can’t maximize Platinum card perks, an American Express Business Gold Card might be a better option. The annual fee for this card is only $375 ( see rates and fees ), and you earn 4x points on two spending categories you select, 3x points on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel and 1x points on other purchases. You can also get a welcome offer of 70,000 bonus points when you spend $10,000 in the first three months.

It’s worth noting that you can only earn 4x points in your selected categories on a total of $150,000 in spending annually. After that, spending in those categories earns 1x points. 

While the Business Gold card doesn’t offer quite the same level of perks and statement credits that the Platinum card does, you can still earn $155 in Walmart+ credit and $20 monthly credits for eligible business expenses. 

The Business Gold card also utilizes Pay Over Time features, and the rates and fee structures on this card are the same as they are for the Platinum card. 

Read our full Amex Business Gold card review

The Amex Business Platinum card holds a lot of enticing benefits, but it’s best for businesses that have higher spending budgets. If you’re only spending a few thousand each month, you probably won’t maximize the rewards and perks on this card, making that $695 annual fee a financial albatross.

Explore these alternatives if you’re not convinced the Amex Business Platinum card if the right fit for you.

• Capital One Spark business cards
• Chase business cards

You can learn more about the Amex Business Platinum card and apply online. The application typically only takes a few minutes and requires information such as your full name, Social Security or tax ID number, business name, address and contact information, and some basic information about your business revenue or finances. In some cases, Amex might ask for more information, and you may need to provide documents like tax paperwork or checking account statements.

This card requires good or excellent credit . People with credit scores of 700 or higher have the best chance of being approved for this card, but other factors, such as income and overall credit history, are factors in approval.

What credit score do you need for an American Express Business Platinum Card?

You need good or excellent credit to get approved for this card, and a higher score improves your chances. Look to apply for this card if you have a score of 700 or higher. If your score is lower, you may want to consider other options.

How much does the American Express Business Platinum Card cost each year?

The annual fee on this card is $695. However, if you maximize statement credit and rewards opportunities, you can balance out that cost and end up earning with this card.

Can you carry a balance on Amex Business Platinum?

Yes, you can carry some balances forward using the Pay Over Time feature. You must pay other balances off every statement cycle.

How do you redeem American Express Platinum points?

You can redeem American Express points earned with the Platinum card on travel, as statement credits or for various other purchases, including gift cards. Redeem points for travel via American Express Travel or by transferring the points to a hotel or airline loyalty rewards program that participates with Amex.

What type of business do I need to get an American Express Business Platinum Card?

Amex accepts applications from all types of business owners. You can apply as a sole proprietor even if you are the only employee of your business, for example. Whether you are approved has less to do with your business type and more to do with your credit history, business income and ability to make your statement payments.

What airport lounges do I have access to with my American Express Business Platinum Card?

Card members can access more than 1,400 airport lounges across the globe. That includes Aspire, Escape, Plaza Premium, Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass lounges. Some lounges require you to enroll in a program or be flying a certain airline that day.

Sarah Stasik is well versed in personal finance thanks to her previous role as a Revenue Cycle Manager for a Fortune 500 healthcare company. Using her inside knowledge and expertise, Sarah often covers topics ranging from insurance and the economics of private healthcare to personal finance and small business management.

Over the past 12 years, Sarah has contributed to numerous publications in the personal and small business finance sector, including content on budgeting, bankruptcy, small business accounting, and financial tech. Her writing focuses on making complex or seemingly daunting financial topics more accessible and providing helpful, relevant resources for readers.

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