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Getting from Malta Airport to Valletta by taxi, bus & more

There are several ways of getting from Malta airport to Valletta when visiting Malta and on this page, I’ll help you figure out which airport transfer option is best for you.

Valletta is around 10km away from Malta International Airport and driving there by car takes around 20 minutes.

These are four ways to get from Malta International Airport to Valletta:

Taking a taxi transfer (I usually recommend Welcome Pickups)
Taking a shuttle bus service
Using public bus (Public Transport Malta)
Renting a car

Here’s a quick comparison of transfer options in terms of time vs cost vs effort for a single trip.

Comparison of transport options

	Journey time	Cost (single)	Effort 1-3	Provider
Taxi transfer	20 mins.	€25	1	Welcome Pickups
Shuttle bus	30-60 mins.	€15	2	Suntransfers
Public transport	30 mins.	€2 (summer)	3
Car rental	20 mins.	€15-30/day*	3

*Excluding parking fees

As you can see, public transport is the cheapest option (just €2 for a one-way ticket), though takes longer and is a lot less practical if you’re travelling with luggage. The good thing with your destination is that it’s straightforward getting to the Valletta main bus terminal. You won’t have to worry about which bus stop to get off on.

Taking a taxi transfer is by far the most convenient option if you can afford it. You get picked up and helped with carrying luggage and you’ll have a comfortable and quick trip from Malta airport to Valletta.

How to get from Malta Airport to Valletta by taxi transfer

By far the most convenient, albeit priciest, way of getting from Malta’s International Airport to Valletta is booking a taxi transfer. At around €25 you’ll have peace of mind that transport will be smooth. You’ll also have a driver waiting for you as you enter the Arrivals terminal (also referred to as Welcomers’ hall).

A plus is that local taxi drivers are often pretty savvy and can be very helpful to source some tips with local knowledge.

When it comes to taxis, there are two options you can choose from

Queueing up at the taxi stand once you get to the Arrivals terminal. It’s an option, but who wants to wait in line for a taxi after a tiring trip, right?
Exiting the airport and hailing a taxi yourself is also an option but you’re almost guaranteed to overpay for your airport transfer
Booking a taxi transfer online in advance. I use Welcome Pickups myself and recommend them without hesitation. In fact, I’ve partnered with them to make booking online easier.

TIP: If you’re travelling with more than three people, it’s good to know that you can easily select a larger vehicle when you book online. That saves you both hassle and cost.

Malta Airport to Valletta by shuttle

A shuttle bus airport transfer is also an option to get to Valletta and will cost you around €15. Given the relatively short distance though (for example, compared to having to travel to other locations like St. Paul’s Bay), it’s not that much more economical than taking a taxi. Moreover, it’s shared transport.

Should you still prefer this option, this is how these shuttle buses work:

Once you arrive at Malta International Airport, you’ll be greeted by the driver.
They will wait for all booked passengers to start their trip
On the way, there will be 1-4 stops over at different hotel drop-offs. Since your destination is Valletta, which is relatively close to the airport, you’ll probably be dropped off earlier.

I usually recommend Suntransfers for the most reliable service and best rates.

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Getting from Malta Airport to Valletta by bus

Malta International Airport is serviced by a few bus routes that reach various popular destinations across Malta without needing to change buses.

It’s only a 25-30 minute ride to reach the Valletta main bus terminal.

Where to find the bus and how to get on?

These are the directions you need to find your way onto the bus:

After you arrive at Malta International Airport and exit the Arrivals terminal, the bus terminal is located to your right, on the same road as the terminal building.
There are three bus stops in a row that are used by all airport buses, which are mostly direct bus lines. You’ll need to look out for bus number X4, which stops at the first stop coming from Arrivals. The timetable is also available at the bus stop itself, but you can also find it online here: X4 route timetable.
Get on the bus, stow away your luggage and take a seat.
The bus route terminates at the Valletta main bus terminal, so there’s no need to look out for a particular stop.

Valletta’s City Gate is a 5-minute walk away from the main bus station and everything is easy to reach on foot, however, no buses enter the centre of the capital. That makes getting there with luggage less practical, especially in the heat of summer.

TIP: It’s good to know that buses servicing the airport have allocated space on board for you to be able to store large luggage. Usually at the rear of the bus.

Where do I get bus tickets?

The three easiest options to pay your bus fare are

Getting tickets (or multi-day passes) from the Malta Public Transport sales office in the Arrivals terminal (- to your right as you exit Baggage Reclaim)
Getting tickets from the machine right in front of the booth
Pay contactless on the bus with a VISA debit or credit card (at no additional fee and making for a happy bus driver).

Bus ticket prices

Winter (one-way) – €1.50
Summer (one-way) – €2.00 (mid june to mid october)
Night service (one-way) – €3.00
Multiday pass (for 1 week, any destination) – €12

Malta Airport to Valletta by car

Renting a car is the final option to get from malta airport to Valletta, and if you need the flexibility of a car it’s doable, but not very practical. It does require a bit of effort so let me take you through the steps.

N.B. Parking within Valletta is notoriously difficult and limited, while a paid access system is applied as well. If you decide to rent a car you’ll need to use public or private parking options just outside the city’s main entrance and make your way on foot. Distances are short, but it does make a difference, especially in summer.

The paid access system is referred to as ‘CVA’ and registers license plates entering and exiting the city. Access is charged between 9 am and 2 pm on weekdays, timed stay within the city is measured until 4 pm. In the case of rental cars, the agency will receive any charges and bill you for them. Good to know: The first 30 mins after entry is free, which can come in handy to drop off luggage and passengers at your place of stay after which you can exit the city to park your car.

Step 1) Picking up or renting a car

The car rental agency desks are located at Park East, which is a parking garage located to your right with your back facing the terminal building.

Follow the signs to get there, then get up to Level 1 to rent or pick up your car. Pre-booking is always recommended. More info here: Car hire from Malta airport.

Several rental companies are represented here, including local companies.

Step 2) Driving off

After you’ve checked your car for any existing damage (!) and got the paperwork sorted, load up Google Maps on your phone, or set your car’s navigation system to the correct destination.

You’ll need to know at this point where you’ll be parking, keeping in mind my note earlier about parking inside the city’s walls being limited/difficult/costly.

Route description

As you exit Malta International Airport, follow the direction of Marsa. Marsa is a harbourside town that forms a major junction for several roads connecting the North to the South of Malta.
As you reach Marsa, pay close attention to sticking to the right lane. The destination Valletta is marked on all signs you’ll likely come across, including road markings.
Once you get past Marsa, it’s a very straightforward drive, following the main road. You’ll end up at Floriana, the town that lies on the doorstep of Valletta.

Step 3) Arriving at Valletta

Passing through Florian’s main road (St. Anne Street) and entering the large roundabout, you can choose to enter the large MCP car park (first exit), or take the next exit up Castille Road to head into Valletta. You can drop off luggage and passengers (free entry for up to 30 minutes) and find a parking space afterwards.
Important note: If your place of stay is in Valletta city centre, chances are you’re staying in the pedestrianised part of Valletta. Since you can’t get there by car, you’ll have to park first.

TIP: Rely on your GPS to help you get in/out of the city as there are a number of one-way roads.

About Malta International Airport

Malta’s International Airport is the only airport in Malta, catering for both international flights and local flights to and within the Maltese islands
Malta International Airport is located close to the villages of Gudja and Luqa.
Over 7M passengers passed through Malta International Airport in 2019, pre-Covid.

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