Transportation in Valletta

Valletta's compact grid is best tackled on foot. But when the sun climbs or you need to reach the Three Cities across the harbour, the public ferry is the insider's choice, cheap, scenic, and drops you right at the water's edge. Buses fan out from the City Gate terminus to every corner of Malta. Buy the tallinja card at the airport or any kiosk to tap on/off and skip the exact-change scramble. Taxis and ride-hailing apps sit at the comfort end of the scale, useful late at night when the last buses thin out. First-timers should note that cars inside the city walls are restricted and parking is scarce. If you've rented one, leave it at the Floriana park-and-ride and walk the final 10 minutes uphill. Skip the horse-drawn karozzin unless you're after a photo op, the route is short and the fare is a splurge compared with the ferry or bus. For the airport run, the express bus is the cheapest option and runs throughout the day. If you land after it stops, the official white taxi rank outside Arrivals is the reliable fallback, agree the metered fare before you load the bags.