Located in Luqa, 10 km South of the capital Valletta, Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport in Malta. It is served 24 hours a day. Your transfer to your accommodation can be done by cab, bus, shuttle or with your own car. Let’s see here which solution will be the best for you in order to avoid unpleasant surprises on arrival.
Book your private airport transfer
The best value for money way to get to your accommodation from the airport in Malta is to book a cab transfer from the airport. This way, you will be sure that a cab will be waiting for you even if your plane is late, you will know the price in advance, he will already know where you are going, you can cancel up to 24 hours before and you will be able to evaluate him at the end to ensure a good service.
Moreover, the rate is the same as for a classic cab. Count €20 to €25 to go to Valletta, Sliema or St Julian’s.
Enter the address of your destination and your flight number.
Your rate will be calculated right away.
Book and receive your confirmation.
Your driver will be waiting for you upon arrival. Even if your flight is delayed.
Welcome pickups is a service dedicated to airport pickups. They are rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google, your driver will monitor your flight and there is assistance if needed. This is the option we recommend when there are several of you or even if you are alone and prefer to ensure your tranquility: Click here to calculate the price and book your private cab.
Other airport transportation:
By bus
6 bus lines connect the airport to the whole island between 05:00 and 23:00 every day of the week:
X1 Airport <-> Ċirkewwa (ferry terminal to Gozo)
X2 Airport <-> Msida, St Julians, Sliema, Gzira.
X3 Airport <-> Bugibba
X4, X5, X7 Airport <-> Valletta as well as the cities of Birzebbuġia, Marsaskala, Birgu
Rates
This is the cheapest option: A bus ticket (one way) costs, regardless of the distance travelled :
A ticket will cost you €2 euro per person in Summer or €1,50 in Winter.
Tickets can be purchased directly from the bus driver or at the ticket machines. You can find the airport bus stations here.
Average travel time
25 minutes to Valletta, 40 minutes to San Julian’s and 75 minutes to Cirkewwa across the island.
Schedules
The timetables (Winter and Summer) are available here on the Malta public transport website.
By minibus shuttle
Offered by most airlines, hotels and travel agencies, the shuttles operate at each arrival and departure of the plane and drop you off at the address of your stay in Malta. The rates are fixed according to your destination.
The transfer is done in minibuses of 10/15 seats, air-conditioned and adapted to large luggage. If you have not booked your transfer prior to arrival, a reservation desk located in the baggage claim area allows you to purchase a transportation voucher. You will have to wait until the shuttle is full.
The drivers all speak English, often Italian and sometimes French. You can book online and consult all the information in French on the website Maltatransfer the main transfer company of the airport. If there are several of you, the shuttle will be more expensive than booking a cab from the airport.
Maltese cabs operate 24 hours a day. Upon arrival, the airport cab counter allows you to book and pay in advance for your trip. The availability of cabs to take you right away will depend on how busy it is, you may have to wait.
The fare between the airport and other Maltese cities is fixed and regulated, ranging from 15 to 37 euros depending on the distance traveled. There is no night premium. Find the price list on the airport website here. The quality of service varies from company to company.
b/ Book your private cab
For the same price, book your private cab in advance by entering your hotel and flight number. This is the safest option and the best value for money. Welcome pickups is a service dedicated to airport pickups. They are rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google, your driver monitors the progress of your flight, there is assistance if needed and you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before. This is the option we recommend:
Renting a car allows you to discover Malta in complete freedom. International rental agencies are present in the airport. Their counters are open at each arrival and departure of aircraft. The rates in Malta are among the lowest in Europe. Here you can compare car rental rates in Malta. NB: Don’t forget that in Malta, we drive on the left. Be careful! Count 17min to go to Valletta, 20min to Sliema.
Are you going directly to Valletta when you land? In this case, you are only 10 km from your destination and a private cab will cost you €20 to €25 to take you there.
If you take the bus, you must take one of the following lines: X4, X5, X7
Transport from St Julians and Sliema airports
Are you going directly to St Julians or Sliema on arrival? In this case, you are only 12 km from your destination and a private cab will cost you about €25 to get there.
If you take the bus, you will have to take the X2 line.
Airport transportation at night
At night, there are no buses to the airport, they start around 5:30 am.
It is better to take a private cab to your accommodation. To be sure to have a cab waiting for you, we recommend you book it here with Welcome pickups.
Alex| Editor of My Little Malta Passionate about Malta for many years. I love writing articles of the best recommendations for trips and visits to these wonderful islands.
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