Malta operates a centrally managed public bus system serving the main island and Gozo separately. Malta Public Transport runs routes across Malta under a government contract awarded to Autogares Urbanos in 2014. The company operates approximately 400 buses covering 80 routes. Single journey fares cost 1.50 euros in summer and 1.50 euros in winter when purchased from the driver, with a two-hour transfer window. Seven-day Explore cards cost 21 euros. Children under three travel free. Routes operate from approximately 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM, with night services on major corridors until 2:00 AM on weekends. The primary hub sits at Valletta City Gate, where routes converge from across Malta. Secondary hubs operate at Sliema Ferries, St. Julian's, Bugibba, and Mosta. Real-time tracking exists through the Tallinja app and website, which also sells digital tickets. Buses display route numbers and destinations in English. Air conditioning functions on most vehicles manufactured after 2011. Wheelchair accessibility exists on approximately 80 percent of the fleet through low-floor designs and hydraulic ramps. Route 202 connects Malta International Airport to Valletta and operates every 30 minutes during daylight hours. The journey takes 25 minutes in optimal conditions, extending to 60 minutes during traffic congestion between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM. Route X routes operate as limited-stop services between major towns, reducing journey times by approximately 20 percent compared to standard routes. Route X1 connects Valletta to Cirkewwa ferry terminal in 50 minutes versus 75 minutes on Route 41.
Gozo Public Transport operates independently using a separate fleet of approximately 30 buses covering nine routes. Fares match Malta's system. Route 301 circles Gozo counterclockwise, while Route 302 circles clockwise, with departures every 60 minutes. Route 310 connects Victoria to Mġarr harbour every 30 minutes during ferry operating hours. The system uses Victoria as its central hub, locally called Rabat. Integration between Malta and Gozo bus systems requires separate tickets. No through-ticketing exists across the ferry crossing. Gozo buses display smaller route numbers and operate shorter hours, with most services ending by 9:00 PM. Night services do not exist on Gozo. The elderly ride free on Gozo using a Tal-Linja card issued to residents over 70. The card requires registration with Transport Malta and photograph submission. Gozo's compact size means most destinations sit within 20 minutes of Victoria by bus. Route 322 reaches the Ġgantija temples in 12 minutes. Route 305 serves Ta' Pinu Basilica in 15 minutes.
Ferry services connect the three inhabited islands. Gozo Channel Company operates the primary ferry between Ċirkewwa on Malta's northern tip and Mġarr harbour on Gozo. Crossings take 25 minutes. Ferries depart every 45 minutes during daytime hours, increasing to every 30 minutes during summer months from June through September. The schedule extends to every 90 minutes between midnight and 5:00 AM. Foot passengers pay 4.65 euros return. Car ferry costs 15.70 euros per vehicle return, including driver, charged on the Gozo-to-Malta direction only. Motorcycles pay 8.15 euros. Tickets purchase at booths before boarding or through the company's app. Advanced booking does not exist for standard crossings. Vehicle queues extend to two hours during Friday evenings in summer when Maltese residents travel to Gozo for weekends. Foot passengers board separately and rarely wait longer than one departure cycle. The ferry accommodates 800 passengers and 90 vehicles per crossing. Two vessels operate simultaneously during peak periods. A third vessel serves as backup during maintenance. The crossing operates in winds up to force seven on the Beaufort scale. Service suspends during force eight or higher, occurring approximately 12 days per year concentrated between November and February.
Comino receives passenger-only ferry service from three points. Captain Morgan operates scheduled services from Ċirkewwa to Blue Lagoon from April through October, departing every 30 minutes between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Round trip costs 13 euros. Comino Hotel Ferry runs year-round from Ċirkewwa to the hotel on the island's southwestern coast. This service operates on demand between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM, taking 10 minutes. Cost is 10 euros return for non-guests. Multiple operators run services from Mġarr harbour on Gozo to Blue Lagoon during summer months, typically charging 10 to 15 euros. No ferry schedule exists in printed form for these operators, who adjust frequency based on demand. On high-demand days in July and August, boats depart when full rather than on fixed schedules. Blue Lagoon accommodates approximately 3,000 visitors on peak summer days. The small pier limits simultaneous docking to four vessels. No permanent settlement exists on Comino beyond the hotel and one farmhouse. No public transportation operates on the island itself. Walking distance from the ferry landing to Blue Lagoon measures 500 meters.
Taxis operate under Transport Malta licensing with vehicles displaying a white number plate with an amber background. Meters became mandatory in July 2019 under regulations TR 04/2019. Flagfall costs 3.50 euros from taxi ranks, 5 euros for phone bookings. The per-kilometer rate sits at 1.09 euros during daytime hours from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, increasing to 1.31 euros at night. Waiting time charges 18 euros per hour, prorated by minute. Airport journeys to Valletta typically cost 18 to 22 euros depending on traffic. Taxi ranks operate at Malta International Airport, Valletta Triton Fountain, Sliema Ferries, St. Julian's Spinola Bay, and Ċirkewra ferry terminal. Pre-booking through eCabs or Bolt offers fixed pricing visible before confirming the journey. Bolt entered Malta in 2019, operating through smartphone app exclusively. Prices undercut traditional taxis by approximately 15 to 20 percent. Uber does not operate in Malta following legal challenges in 2016. Traditional taxi drivers staged protests against Bolt in 2019, blocking roads near the airport. The dispute centered on insurance requirements and licensing standards. Bolt drivers must hold the same license category as traditional taxis under a 2020 court ruling. Taxis accommodate up to four passengers in standard vehicles, eight in minivans. Wheelchair-accessible taxis exist through advance booking with specific operators including Karozzini Taxi and Paradise Cabs. These vehicles charge standard meter rates without accessibility surcharges.
Car rental operates through international chains and local companies at Malta International Airport, Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian's, and Bugibba. Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt maintain airport desks. Local operators including Avis Malta and Europcar Malta function as franchisees. Daily rates range from 25 to 80 euros depending on vehicle category and season. Manual transmission vehicles cost approximately 30 percent less than automatic equivalents. Booking 14 days ahead reduces rates by 20 to 30 percent. Minimum age sits at 25 years for most companies, reducing to 21 with young driver surcharges of 10 to 15 euros daily. Maximum age limits do not exist. Insurance options include Collision Damage Waiver at 12 to 18 euros daily and Theft Protection at 8 to 12 euros daily. Credit cards from major issuers provide coverage duplicating CDW when used for payment. Renters must present a driving license held for minimum one year. Non-EU licenses require an International Driving Permit. Deposit holds range from 200 to 500 euros blocked on credit cards. Fuel policy follows full-to-full standard. Vehicles arrive with a full tank and require return in the same condition. Failure results in refueling charges at 3 euros per liter plus 25 euro service fee.