Malta Airport to Valletta: bus, taxi or private transfer
Four ways from the arrivals hall into Valletta — how each one works, where to find it and what it costs.
Last checked on 16 September 2026
Malta International Airport is at Luqa, about 5 km south-west of Valletta, and there are four ways into the capital: the Airport Direct bus, an ordinary city bus, a taxi booked at the booth in the Welcomers’ Hall, or a private transfer arranged before you fly. Which one suits you depends mostly on your luggage, the hour you land and where in the city you are staying, because vehicle access to the core of Valletta is controlled and no option drives right up to every door.
Everything below was checked against Malta International Airport and Malta Public Transport. Fares and routes are set by the operators, and the bus network has been revised more than once since 2025, so the official page for each option is linked underneath it.
Airport Direct bus (TD4)
Malta Public Transport runs five Airport Direct routes from the airport, and TD4 is the one for the capital: the operator lists it as serving Valletta and the Gozo Fast Ferry, running every 30 minutes. It is a limited-stop service with luggage space, which makes it the simplest public option into the city.
- Where to find it
- Airport Direct buses depart from the Malta International Airport bus terminal, which the operator says is clearly signposted as you leave the arrivals area. The airport describes the bus service as running from just outside the terminal, across the road from the Check-In Hall.
- Fare
- €3.00 per passenger on TD4, and €3.50 on TD1. Airport Direct is included at no extra cost if you hold an Unlimited Travel Card.
- How to pay
- Cash or contactless payment on board. No pre-booking is required.
- Timetable
- TD4 runs every 30 minutes, as do TD2 and TD3; TD1 and TD5 run hourly. Departure times are published in the operator’s Routes and Timetables section and in the tallinja app.
- Best for
- Reaching Valletta or the Gozo fast ferry without changing buses.
- Good to know
- The buses have plenty of space for luggage, USB charging ports and free Wi-Fi. The other routes are TD1 (Rabat, Buġibba, Mellieħa, Ċirkewwa), TD2 (St Julian’s, Pembroke), TD3 (St Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira, Msida) and TD5 (Rabat, Buġibba).
City bus
Ordinary Day Route buses also serve the airport and cost less than the Airport Direct. For the capital the through service is route 88, which Malta Public Transport lists as serving Valletta, Floriana, Marsa, Paola, Ħal Tarxien, Bir id-Deheb, Ħal Għaxaq, Gudja and the Airport.
- Where to find it
- From the bus stops just outside the terminal, across the road from the Check-In Hall, and from the stop on the left-hand side of the terminal next to McDonald’s.
- Fare
- A single journey on Day Routes costs €2.00 in winter and €2.50 in summer. The ticket is valid for two hours and transfers within that time are free.
- How to pay
- Cash or a contactless bank card on the bus, or a travel card. All passengers must carry valid proof of travel: a fine of €50 applies without it.
- Timetable
- Departure times are published in the operator’s Routes and Timetables section and in the tallinja app.
- Best for
- The lowest fare, if you have time and little luggage.
- Good to know
- Tickets and tallinja cards are sold at the Malta Public Transport sales office in the Welcomers’ Hall (08:00–19:30 daily), at the WHSmith outlet there (10:00–19:00), from 24-hour dispensing machines outside the sales office and beside the bus stop, and on board every bus. Route numbers at the airport changed in April 2025 and the network is still being revised, so check your route in the tallinja app before you board.
Taxi
Taxi services between the airport and any destination in Malta are available 24 hours a day. The airport notes that many operators work from the terminal but that the official taxi service for the Maltese Islands is Malta Taxi, which describes itself as the only taxi company licensed by Transport Malta.
- Where to find it
- At the taxi booth in the Welcomers’ Hall, where you buy your ticket on arrival before joining the taxi.
- Fare
- Pre-paid tickets are sold at the booth at fixed rates, but the rates themselves are not published online — ask at the booth for the fare to your address before you pay.
- How to pay
- Pre-paid at the taxi booth. Malta Taxi says that rides booked through its app are paid to the driver at the end of the trip.
- Timetable
- Around the clock, every day of the year.
- Best for
- Late landings and trips you have not booked ahead.
- Good to know
- Rides can also be booked through the Malta Taxi app or at maltataxi.mt. Give the driver the full address rather than the district: several localities run into one another without a visible boundary.
Private transfer with HolidayCab
Book before you fly and a driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, follows your flight if it is late and takes you straight to your address. The price is fixed per vehicle and paid when you book, so there is nothing to sort out on arrival — the simplest option with children, a lot of luggage or a late landing. In Valletta the driver sets down at the nearest permitted point, because access into the core is controlled.
- Meet & greet with a name sign
- Flight tracking — the driver waits if you are delayed
- Fixed price, no hidden fees
- Private vehicle — no shared rides, no detours
from €27.50 per vehicle, taxes included
See vehicles and pricesTravelling on a package holiday?
If a transfer is part of your package holiday, check your travel documents for the meeting point before you queue for a taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a bus from Malta Airport to Valletta?
- Yes, two kinds. The Airport Direct TD4 runs between the airport bus terminal and Valletta every 30 minutes and also serves the Gozo Fast Ferry. Route 88 is an ordinary city bus that reaches Valletta by way of Gudja, Ħal Għaxaq, Paola, Marsa and Floriana.
- How much does the bus from Malta Airport cost?
- When we checked on 16 September 2026, Airport Direct cost €3.00 per passenger (€3.50 on TD1), and a single journey on an ordinary Day Route cost €2.00 in winter and €2.50 in summer, valid for two hours. Fares are set by Malta Public Transport, so check publictransport.com.mt before you travel.
- Where do I get a taxi at Malta Airport?
- Pre-paid tickets are sold at fixed rates from the taxi booth in the Welcomers’ Hall when you arrive. Taxi services between the airport and any destination in Malta run 24 hours a day.
- Where can I buy bus tickets at the airport?
- At the Public Transport sales booth and the WHSmith outlet in the Welcomers’ Hall, from the dispensing machines outside the sales office and beside the bus stop by the terminal entrance, and on board any bus.
- What is the easiest option with children or a lot of luggage?
- A pre-booked private transfer or a taxi. With a transfer, the vehicle is chosen in advance for your group and luggage, and the driver waits for you in the arrivals hall.
Photo credits Mike McBey (CC BY 2.0) · Kk70088 (CC BY 4.0) · Kk70088 (CC BY 4.0) · Frank Vincentz (CC BY-SA 3.0)