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Do you need to get a transfer from Malta airport to Sliema? There are a few options. You can take a taxi, use public transport, rent a car or use a shuttle bus.
Public transport is the cheapest at around €2 per person, while the taxi is the most convenient in terms of travel time, efficiency, and comfort, starting from around €25 per trip (that’s for three adults + luggage. I usually recommend Welcome Pickups).
But what works best for you?
This article gives you all the info you need to decide on the best way to get from the airport to Sliema.
A taxi is the quickest way to get from Malta Airport to Sliema. 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 end up paying 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 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 normally 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 took 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 the way back 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 hall.
Step 2: Find the Malta Public Transport booth. Here you can buy a bus ticket to your destination (Multi-day passes are also available).
Tip: Tickets can also be bought on the bus or from the WHSmith outlet within the Arrivals hall, Agenda bookshop within the Departures hall, and from a dispensing machine in the outer corridor as you head outside of the airport.
Tip: Have some cash ready, it will make your life easier.
One way public transport ticket prices:
A multiday pass costs €12 for the week and lets you travel anywhere on the island
Step 3: Head out of the 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 am and midnight.
Step 4: Hop on the bus when it arrives. If you didn’t get a ticket from the airport, you can buy a ticket from the driver when you get on the bus.
Step 5: Reach your destination 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 giving 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 €15-30 per day, depending on the time of year.
Heads up: Cars in Malta are right-hand drive and you drive on the right side of the road, like in the UK and Japan.
Car rentals can be made at the 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 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. There’s a car park in a central location but it is quite expensive to use on a daily basis 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.
Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2023!
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 shuttle bus is an alternative to taxis. It can drop you off or pick you up from specific locations, such as hotels. A one-way trip from Malta Airport to Sliema for 2 adults plus luggage costs €12-15.
The downside? You’d be sharing the shuttle bus with other travellers, meaning that 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.
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