Getting Around Malta Without a Car: Buses, Ferries and Everything In Between

One of the pleasant surprises of basing yourself in Malta's harbour towns is how little you need a car. The island is dense, the distances are short, and in Gzira and Sliema the parking hunt is a hobby you can happily skip. Here is how to get everywhere that matters using buses, ferries, ride apps and your own two feet.

In short: along the Gzira, Sliema and St Julian's corridor you do not need a car. Buses cover the island, harbour ferries beat any road commute, Bolt, eCabs and Uber fill the gaps, and the promenade handles the daily distances on foot.

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The buses

Malta Public Transport runs a single network covering Malta and Gozo, with routes radiating out from Valletta and a busy corridor along The Strand in Gzira. A Tallinja card brings fares down and taps you on and off without cash. The honest advice: frequencies vary by route and hour, and timetables keep their own tempo, so build in a small buffer and plan journeys with the Tallinja app or Google Maps. For the daily Gzira to Valletta or St Julian's run, you will rarely wait long.

The ferries

The harbour ferries are the island's best-kept commuting secret. The Sliema to Valletta ferry, a short walk from Gzira's seafront, crosses to the capital in minutes with the best view of any commute in the country. From Valletta's other side, a second ferry serves the Three Cities. Heading to Gozo, the Ċirkewwa ferry runs frequently around the clock in season, and a fast ferry service links Valletta to Gozo directly.

Ride apps and taxis

Bolt, eCabs and Uber all operate in Malta, and short hops around the central towns are reasonably priced, especially split between two. They are the sensible answer for late nights, airport runs with luggage, and the handful of places the buses reach slowly.

On foot

The Gzira, Sliema and St Julian's corridor is one continuous, walkable seafront. Gzira to the Sliema ferry is ten minutes, to St Julian's about twenty, all of it along the promenade with the harbour for company. Inland Malta is hillier than it looks, but along the coast your feet cover a surprising share of daily life.

When you might still want wheels

For the island's remoter corners - the clifftop west, the temple circuit, a Gozo day with multiple stops - a one-day car hire now and then is far cheaper and calmer than owning. Rent for the morning, return it by evening, and go back to letting the ferry do the driving.

The car-free verdict

Living car-free in Malta is not a compromise; along the harbour it is simply the better life. You save money, skip the parking wars, and swap traffic for a ferry deck.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a car in Malta?

Not if you base yourself along the harbour corridor. Buses, ferries, ride apps and walking cover daily life comfortably, and the occasional one-day car hire handles the island's remoter corners more cheaply than owning.

Is there Uber in Malta?

Yes. Uber operates in Malta alongside Bolt and the local eCabs, and short hops between the central towns are reasonably priced, particularly late at night or for airport runs with luggage.

How do you get from Malta airport to Gzira or Sliema?

Direct buses connect the airport with the Gzira and Sliema seafront, while a taxi or ride app takes roughly twenty to thirty minutes depending on traffic. For arrival with luggage, the ride app is usually worth it.

Basing yourself here for a month or more? See our guide to furnished monthly rentals in Malta.

It helps to start from the right base: Morrison Court's short term and mid-term apartments in Gzira put the ferry, the buses and the whole promenade on your doorstep. For ideas on where all this transport can take you, see our 12 day trips from Gzira and our complete guide to working from Malta. Book direct at morrisoncourt.com for the best rates.