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Malta Airport Transfers by Taxi, Shuttle Bus and more

Looking for the best Malta airport transfer to your place of stay or want to book a Malta airport taxi before you land?

You’ve come to the right place.

Today I’ll show you the options, what you can expect in terms of cost and where you can get the best rates for a hassle-free transfer to and from Malta International Airport.

Best transfer rates for Malta airport transfers

The best providers I’ve used for low-cost Malta airport transfers are Any.cab and Welcome Pickups. Why I recommend them:

  1. Super easy booking through their site
  2. You deal directly with professional providers
  3. They offer the lowest rates
  4. They’re very reliable.

You can check prices and book your airport transfer with Any.cab here:

… and you can book with Welcome Pickups here:

The Malta airport transfer area right outside the arrivals hall.

Why book your Malta airport transfers in advance?

Although it can cost a little more, there are several benefits to booking your Malta airport taxi in advance:

  • I don’t know about you, but when I’ve landed after a long flight, I want a hassle-free transfer. Booking a taxi in advance means you can get to your place of stay as quickly and efficiently as possible.
  • Although you can hail an airport taxi when you arrive at Malta International Airport, you often pay more, and you’ll likely end up queuing to get booked.
  • Booking in advance means you’ll have someone waiting for you as soon as you enter the arrivals hall. What you’re getting is a private Malta airport transfer, in fact. Booked taxi transfers also wait in case of flight delays.
  • Malta airport taxi services usually employ professional, courteous drivers.
  • Flexible cancellation policy: Full refunds until 24h prior to booking.
  • PRO TIP: Most taxi drivers in Malta know the country inside out and are usually happy to provide a few tips for your holiday itinerary.

How much does a Malta airport taxi transfer cost?

The cost of your transfers will depend on two things:

  1. The distance required to get to your place of stay
  2. The type of transport you choose: A private taxi or a shared shuttle bus
  3. Whether you booked your Malta airport taxi in advance or hailing one upon arrival. Although in the latter case you’re offered fixed rates, they’re usually more expensive than pre-booked transfers.

A private taxi is more expensive, but for some, it’s worth not having to stop at a number of hotels and having to wait at the airport for all passengers to have been collected for a shuttle bus journey.

The below table gives you a rough idea of the differences in travel time between each of those transport methods and the estimated cost for each, to a few of the popular transfer destinations in Malta.

If you decide to go for a shuttle bus, I usually recommend booking a transfer to and from the airport in advance with Suntransfers.

Malta Airport Transfer rates and times to different locations
Transfer to Taxi – Journey time Shuttle – Journey time Taxi (1-4 pax) – Price Shuttle – Price (for 2)
Valletta 20 mins. 35 mins. €27-30 €14-15
Buġibba 30-45 mins. 1h 20 mins. €27-30 €14-15
Qawra 30-45 mins. 1h 20 mins. €27-30 €14-15
Mellieħa 30-45 mins. 1h 30 mins. €34 €14-15
Sliema 20-30 mins. 40-50 mins. €17-20 €14-15
St. Julian’s 20-30 mins. 40-50 mins. €17-20 €14-15
Gozo (Ċirkewwa ferry terminal) 45-60 mins. n/a €40-42 n/a

What to expect

  1. Malta International Airport is pretty small, so getting to your airport transfer pickup is pretty straightforward. Once you pass baggage reclaim and customs you’ll be greeted with a horde of taxi/bus drivers holding up a card with your name. You’ll then be guided towards the vehicle right outside the Arrivals Hall. (There’s a specific exit and section for transfers).
  2. Although you’re usually greeted by a friendly driver, don’t necessarily expect a smile. Especially not during busy and stressful periods like the high season (July-September), also particularly in the case of bus drivers.
  3. The further away the final destination the more variation there will be in trip time, particularly during rush hour (6:00-8:30h and 16:30-18:30h). Traffic congestion is usually less of a problem during the high season when schools are closed. Private taxi transfers are always the fastest.
  4. The ride itself can be… eventful. Drivers/chauffeurs are usually on a tight schedule so hang on to your seat belt. ?
  5. If you’ve had a particularly good experience with a driver, you can tip them 10% as a gratuity, but it’s not expected.

Transfer from Malta airport to Valletta

Getting from Malta airport to Valletta takes around 20 minutes by car, under normal traffic circumstances. You can easily opt for a direct bus route from the airport since most bus routes start and terminate at the capital city. However, with a taxi, you can actually get to Valletta city centre while buses stop outside the city’s gate. If you’re travelling with more than just a backpack, a taxi will be more practical.

Transfers to Sliema and St. Julian’s

Getting to Sliema and St. Julian’s (neighbouring towns) takes around 20-25 minutes by car, but can take up to around 40-45 minutes by bus and up to 60 minutes with a shuttle bus.

A taxi transfer will usually be the quickest and costs around €25.

More info here:

Transfers from Malta airport to Mellieħa

Getting from Malta airport to Mellieħa can take 30-50 minutes with a private transfer, depending on any traffic congestion.

Being a destination that’s pretty far away from the airport and will have several stops along the way using a shuttle bus, I’d recommend using a private taxi transfer.

Transfers from Malta airport to St. Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra

Transfers to and from St. Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra back to Malta airport usually take around 30-40 minutes, again, depending on the time of day and how busy the roads are.

Being a popular destination for tourists, expect shuttle buses to be pretty busy and pricey considering it’s shared transport. Private taxis usually work out close to the same, if not cheaper than a shared bus.

More info here:

The Gozo ferry departing from Cirkewwa in the North of Malta.

Transfers from Malta airport to Gozo

If you’ve chosen to stay in Gozo, getting from Malta airport to Gozo may take a little while.

Because of the distance, expect a transfer time of around 1.5-2 hours total, depending on which of the two Gozo ferries you choose.

Generally speaking, the fast ferries option from Valletta is a little quicker and a little cheaper but overall there isn’t much difference.

1) Main Gozo ferry

The main Gozo ferry departs from Ċirkewwa in the North of Malta

  1. Malta airport to Ċirkewwa: 40-60 minutes, depending on traffic
  2. Ferry crossing: 20-25 minutes
  3. Transfer from the ferry to your destination in Gozo: 15-25 minutes max

2) Gozo fast ferries

Two operators run the Gozo fast ferry services from the capital Valletta to Gozo. These are the timings if you decide to take this option:

  1. Malta airport to Valletta: 15 minutes, depending on traffic
  2. Ferry crossing: 45 minutes
  3. Transfer from the ferry to your destination in Gozo: 15-25 minutes max

TIP 1: The Gozo fast ferries use smaller vessels, which can 1) cause a bit of a bumpy ride and 2) mean cancellations due to bad weather happen more frequently. If you get seasick easily, go for the main ferry. If you’re travelling to Malta during the winter months, the main ferry is much less likely to face cancelled crossings.

Gozo transfer cost

There are two ways to get a Malta airport taxi transfer to Gozo, using either of the two Gozo ferry types.

Main ferry option:

  1. Transfer to Ċirkewwa: Around €45 / £39 / $51
  2. Ferry ticket: €4.65 (pp – adults), €1.15 (pp – children) (Around £4 / $5 and £1 / $1.30)
  3. Taxi in Gozo: Around €15 / £13 / $17 to most locations on the island

Total cost for two adults: Around €55 / £50 / $63

Fast ferry option:

  1. Transfer to capital Valletta: Around €17 / £15 / $19
  2. Ferry ticket: €10 / £9 / $12 (pp – adults)
  3. Taxi in Gozo: Around €15 / £13 / $17 to most locations on the island

Total cost for two adults: Around €52 / £37 / $48

Using shuttle buses instead of private transfers

Airport shuttles are an economical option compared to booking a private transfer but there are a few downsides:

  1. You end up waiting for other passengers on the list, often to fill large coaches of up to 20-25 passengers
  2. Your airport transfer will take significantly longer, with multiple stops that need to be made to drop off other passengers at their hotel.

If you decide to take this option, I can recommend booking with Suntransfers.

Public transport

Using public transport (route buses) is by far the cheapest option (just a few Euro per person to most popular locations around Malta), it is also the slowest and least comfortable option. Especially if you’re travelling with more than just hand luggage, it’s not the most convenient transfer from Malta airport.

If you’d like to travel by bus anyway, you can find the bus stop right across the road from the terminal building.

Frequently Asked Questions

A taxi from Malta International Airport to Valletta typically costs € 17-20 and takes around 15 minutes.

Yes, you can get a taxi at Malta airport once you arrive, but it’s not the cheapest, nor the most practical option. Booking your Malta airport transfer in advance costs less money and time.

Yes, there is an Uber in Malta and you can also use similar operators like Bolt and eCabs. You can download their apps in advance and book rides as well.

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10 comments

  1. Just returned from a Christmas break in Malta. Booked pick up transfer to and from the hotel. Thanks Ed for the recommendation of any.cab. A great service, on time, immaculate vehicle, friendly driver. Easy online booking with Paypal. Would use again without hesitation.

    Reply

  2. Hi Ed,

    You rock on the ground transportation suggestion for Any Cab. Just booked my transport from/ to MLA. Rather than renting a car (might do this in 2020 if I can locate lessons in the U.S. for driving on the ‘other side’ of the road 😉 ), for places I’m staying on the main island, I will also use Any Cab for these trips.

    Your other suggestions on your web page are very much appreciated!

    Namaste,

    Flo

    Reply

  3. Greetings,

    What is the luggage policy in public transportation? Can a person use them if he has a small back pack and a carry on luggage?

    Reply

    1. Hi Sam, bus routes that stop at the airport typically have a luggage storage space on board, so you should be fine. On regular buses it might be a little trickier although you can still carry smaller size luggage as you described anyway.

      Reply

  4. Would you recommend using the public bus service to get from airport to where you are staying? I have heard the bus service is very good?
    Thanks.
    Lynne

    Reply

    1. Hi Lynne, it really depends on where you’re staying. Public transport is OK but with long routes it’s definitely not the most efficient option if you’re staying further away than Valletta. If you’re on a tight budget, there’s nothing cheaper out there other than walking it though. 😉

      Reply

  5. Very helpful, thank you Ed! Just returned from Malta and booked my transfers to your site with a private taxi. That turned out to be very affordable and made getting to the hotel and back to the airport an easy process. Thanks for the tips and keep it up!

    Reply

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