Transport in Malta

Transport Malta regulates licensing, vehicle registration, roadworthiness, traffic management and enforcement. The Police and Local Wardens handle traffic contraventions and accidents. The main public transport choices are buses, ferries, taxis, vehicle hire, cycling and walking. Malta International Airport at Luqa is the country's only customs airport and commercial international gateway, and the Civil Aviation Directorate regulates aviation. Malta Public Transport operates buses across Malta and Gozo, generally from about 05:30 to 23:00, with night services, special services, Tallinja Direct and Airport Direct. Visitors can pay when boarding or use a travel card. A single visitor fare costs €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer. Night, special and Tallinja Direct services cost €3, while TD1 costs €3.50. A ticket normally remains valid for two hours and allows transfers. Twelve single day journeys cost €19, a seven-day Explore Adult card costs €25 and a seven-day Explore Child card costs €7 for children aged 4 to 10. Children under 4 travel free. A passenger who cannot show a valid ticket or proof of payment may receive a €50 fine. Personalised tallinja cards provide free travel on regular day and night services and selected special services, including Valletta Ferry Services and the Barrakka Lift, but exclude Tallinja Direct, Airport Direct and On Demand services. On Demand operates in Sliema, San Ġwann, St Julian’s and Swieqi and costs €2.50 with a tallinja card or €3 by card, plus €1 for another passenger. Gozo Channel runs daily passenger and vehicle ferries between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr. The crossing takes about 25 minutes and accepts foot passengers, cars and drivers, motorcycles, bicycles and larger vehicles. Children aged 0 to 2 travel free, while children aged 3 to 12 pay €1.15. Gozo residents, people aged 60 or over and holders of an EU Disability Card can receive concessions when they provide the required proof. The researched timetable is valid through 8 November 2026, so travellers should check the current timetable before departure. Valletta Ferry Services connects Sliema with Valletta and Valletta with the Three Cities; its timetable and fares can vary by season. Malta uses left-hand traffic. A private vehicle needs registration plates, insurance, roadworthiness and an annual road licence for road use, with a vehicle roadworthiness test, called a VRT, where applicable. The normal maximum speed for a private car is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them, although local signs can set a 30 km/h or another limit. Seat belts are compulsory. A learner normally follows a learner permit, theory test, practical test and a three-year probationary licence pathway. An EU driving licence can be used in Malta. A non-EU licence can generally be used for up to 12 months from the last entry, and exchange is generally possible after 185 days of residence. An imported vehicle normally needs inspection and registration within 30 days. Parking is limited, especially in Valletta. Valletta’s CVA scheme controls vehicle access and charges under its access and parking rules, while Park and Ride can reduce the need to drive into central areas. Taxis, e-hire services and self-drive hire are regulated by Transport Malta. Cycling is legally recognised, but dedicated infrastructure remains fragmented. The Road Code treats cyclists as vulnerable road users. Safer junctions, segregated lanes and active-mobility links are planned or partly available. An e-kickscooter requires registration, insurance and a driving licence. Road use is limited to people over 16, the vehicle capability is limited to 20 km/h, and the rider needs a valid A, AM or B licence. Riders should keep to the left or near side, may use a footway or shared path at no more than 10 km/h, and must give precedence to pedestrians. High-visibility clothing is required after sunset. Rental e-kickscooters have been discontinued, but private use remains regulated. Malta Public Transport does not normally carry bicycles, except for folded purpose-built bikes; Gozo Channel has a bicycle category. Walking works well for short local or urban trips, pedestrian zones and access to buses and ferries, but limited footway and road space, congestion and long cross-island distances restrict it as a general substitute for motorised transport. Drivers must slow down and give way at crossings, turns and bus stops. Pedestrians include children, older adults and people with disabilities, whose safe movement depends on road design and driver behaviour. Malta in Motion includes safer walking links, first- and last-mile connections and a planned hybrid Rapid Transit System with underground, street-level and elevated sections. No current passenger railway or tram operates in Malta; the former Malta Railway and tram system ended in 1931, and the proposed system remains in the planning and evidence stage with routes and stations not confirmed. Private vehicles remain central to daily mobility. In 2024 Malta had 445,711 licensed vehicles, of which passenger cars represented 74.1%, and 285,132 driving licence holders. The average passenger car was 16.05 years old. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the motor-energy stock consisted of 58.2% petrol vehicles, 35.1% diesel vehicles and 4.0% electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Transport contributes to local air pollution, noise and greenhouse-gas pressure. Policy responses include free public transport, bus and ferry modal-shift measures, electric-vehicle incentives, a public charging framework, electric buses and walking and cycling infrastructure. Current signs, fares, parking rules and timetables take priority over general information when planning a journey.