Do you need to get a transfer from Malta Airport to Sliema?
In this guide, I’ll take you through the best options to get from Malta Airport to Sliema.
You can take a taxi, use public bus services, rent a car or use a shuttle bus from the only airport in the Maltese islands.
Public transport is the cheapest at around €2.50 per person, while the taxi is the most convenient in terms of travel time, efficiency, and comfort, starting from around €27 per trip (that’s for three adults + luggage. I always recommend Welcome Pickups – tried and tested).
Let’s go through the options so you can decide what’s best for you!
Taxis are the quickest way to get a taxi transfer from Malta Airport to Sliema, as they offer door-to-door transfers. The trip takes between 16 and 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxi drivers know Malta and Gozo inside out. Ask them to help you with your itinerary, and they’ll usually give you additional insights only the locals know of.
You have two options:
Tip: Don’t walk directly out of the airport to grab a taxi, as you might pay way more.
This option is slightly more expensive, starting from around €25, but you can put your mind at rest since a driver will be waiting for you to pick you up and get you to your place of stay. This private transfer service is also available any hour of the day and drivers do keep an eye out for late arrivals.
In both cases, a regular taxi can typically carry up to three persons and three pieces of luggage. If you need more than that, you’d need to hail a second taxi if you went for option 1, while by booking online in advance, you’d be able to select a larger vehicle and save on extra cost and hassle.
The Malta bus system offers the cheapest way of travel on the island. A bus from Malta Airport to Sliema will cost you just a couple of euros per adult.
The big downside is waiting/travel time – especially on returning to the airport and during rush hour. There is a direct bus which takes you to your destination in Sliema in under an hour, with extra space for your luggage. This is how to do it:
Step 1: Land in Malta, clear immigration and walk into the Arrivals terminal.
Step 2: Find the Malta Public Transport booth. Here, you can buy bus tickets to your destination (Multi-day passes are also available).
Tip: Tickets can also be bought on the bus or from the WH Smith outlet within the Arrivals hall, the Agenda bookshop within the Departures hall, and from a dispensing machine in the outer corridor as you head outside of the airport.
Tip: Cash OR a VISA card (touchless) can be used on board the bus as well.
One-way public transport ticket prices:
A multiday pass costs €21 per week and lets you travel anywhere on the island.
Step 3: Head out of Malta International Airport and cross the road to the public bus bay.
Tip: You should look for the X2 bus bay since this will take you straight to your destination. The bus passes by every hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Step 4: Hop on the bus when it arrives. If you didn’t manage to get a ticket from the airport, you can buy a ticket from the driver when you get on the bus.
Step 5: Reach Sliema and start your holiday! The Malta Public Transport has a decent app which you can download on your Android phone in the Google Play Store or iOS phone in the App Store and lets you check when the next bus is due, as well as gives you route info and a list of stops. All you need to do is find the bus stop nearest to the place you’re staying.
The most practical option to travel from Malta Airport to Sliema is to drive yourself there. Why? Because from Sliema, you can then drive to all the interesting places in Malta or Gozo. The short drive is only between 16 and 25 minutes long, depending on traffic. Prices vary according to the car you choose and the period you need it for. Medium-sized cars can cost anywhere between €15-35 per day, depending on the time of year.
Heads up: Cars in Malta are right-hand drive, and you drive on the left side of the road, like in the UK and Japan.
Car rentals can be made at Malta International Airport. Here, you have two options:
Car keys can be left in a deposit box at the airport on the day of your departure from Malta.
The route from Malta Airport to Sliema is easy to navigate. You need to cross a handful of villages, but the roads are good, and the road signs are pretty clear.
First, head to Luqa, then follow the road to Marsa, onto Ħamrun, Msida, and Kappara. You will then reach Sliema.
Heads up: Parking in Sliema is a nightmare, especially in the city centre and during the summer. There’s a car park in a central location, but it is quite expensive to use daily for long hours. My advice is to park on the outskirts of Sliema, where it is usually less busy. If you haven’t booked accommodation yet, try and find a place of stay where private parking space is offered – even if it is paid parking, it may be worthwhile.
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Shuttle buses are an alternative to Malta Airport taxis. It can drop you off or pick you up from specific locations, such as your hotel. A one-way trip from Malta Airport to Sliema for two adults plus luggage costs €9-10.
The downside? You’d be sharing the shuttle bus with other travellers, meaning travel time is longer. The shuttle bus stops at various hotels and places of stay to drop off other travellers as well. You will also have to wait at the airport until everyone’s gotten on the bus.
You can book a shuttle bus in advance at Suntransfers for a hassle-free transfer and welcome at the airport.
Sliema is located about 12 km from Malta Airport. This means a trip of about 25 minutes by car or taxi or 60 minutes by bus or shuttle bus service.
A taxi from the airport to Sliema costs around €27 if you pre-book online via Welcome Pickups.
Sliema is just 12 km from Malta International Airport. To get there, you can take a taxi, rent a car (approx. 25 min), use public transport or use shuttle buses (approx. 60 min).
Yes, the X2 bus makes daily trips between Malta Airport and Sliema. The bus can be boarded from a bay outside the airport. The bus passes by every hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and is very cheap – €2.50 for a single day trip.
Sliema is a very good place to stay, with nice hotels, plenty of bars, restaurants, and all kinds of shops. The town is well connected with public transport and a ferry service to Valletta. It is also very close to St. Julian’s and Paceville.
You will find plenty of hotels in Sliema, from 3- to 5-star properties, and there’s a wide variety of restaurants in the area to suit most budgets.
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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