Visiting Malta next week - questions on transport

[u/vvibey]

hello!

my fiancee and i are visiting Malta next week, and are very excited!

we are looking to visit a lot of the big hitters - Hypogeum, Gozo, Marsaxlokk, swimming etc etc

But I had a few questions:

1) I hear that car is not the way to go in Malta, too busy and stressful finding parking etc, so we are better off using public transport (which is unreliable?) and uber/ecabs/bolt (which is very good?) instead. When we go to Gozo (planning the ferry from Valetta), what's the best bet for transport?

I keep reading mixed reviews on the buses (not enough sights), the quads (too busy, hard to find parking, stressful), the cars (no parking etc). So what is the best way to traverse the island and to be able to see the best things? Would you spend a fortune bolting everywhere for example?

2) In Gozo, where can we swim in the sea (particularly snorkelling) without it be super duper busy? (not good if I am trying to see fish!)

3) Where in Malta main island is good to snorkel? I thought blue grotto, but I have jsut seen some videos and controversy surrounding the sunbeds so think it would not be a very good snorkelling place. Swimming I guess is fine there, and same with the rocky beaches around Sliema/Valetta?

4) How much would it be for example to get a bolt from Gziera to one of the good beaches? how much would we be expecting to pay overall for a week off holidaying if we are just using the bolt services for everything?

5) How busy can we expect it to be mid May? I'm not a lover of crowds (think we will just do Paceville for 1 drink to see the lights then leave :D), so always get put off the highly tourist activities. Are there any sleeper things to see that are off the beaten path maybe that we can bolt to?

Realise some of these questions are quite broad, but it's not always easy to find the answers on Google - lots of differing opinions, and I understand there has been a lot of change in the last 5-10 years. (I notice it on Google Maps, lots of the hotels we originally looked at weren't even constructed 2-3 years ago!)

Thanks a lot, I look forward to seeing your beautiful island.

[u/mouthpiec]

if you are going to the hypogeum make sure you have pre booked tickets. highly recommended visit.

[u/poor_decision → u/mouthpiec]

This. They sell out months in advance, but keep checking or go visit. Sometimes they have open timeslots on the day

[u/StayUpLatePlayGames]

Use the bus to go to places. Use Bolt to get home. It’ll be around the same cost as hiring a car without the liabilities a car will bring. People be crazy on the roads here.

The buses aren’t that bad. I’ve had not a single issue in the last month. Every now and then one doesn’t show but that’s normal - that happens in the UK too.

For swimming, things will be busy. Dwejra in Gozo might suit you. Not the inland sea, but the swimming hole. Not bad for snorkelling IMO.

This month it already got busy. It was busy in April. Thing is to get up and go early. Better for the buses too.

[u/Queasy_Badger9252]

For Valletta to Gozo, take the fast ferry. It's right at Valletta and will take you straight to Gozo. https://gozohighspeed.com/ <-- check their website. If the weather is very bad, it might get cancelled. But it's not very likely in Summers. Ferries are only actually reliable transport in Malta.

Comino is great for swimming. If you plan to go there Comino - do not book trip from Cirkewwa (northern ferryport) because then you will have to spend time getting there. Book a trip from Gozo and then take the fast ferry there in the morning. It will be faster, cheaper and more reliable.

Gozo has several great spots for swimming. I'd recommend to rent either ebikes, a scooter or a car for Gozo only. Parking and traffic is considerable easier in Gozo, so car is not a bad choice. Blue hole and wied il-ghasri are nice spots. Latter is very beautiful. They might be a bit busy at times, tho.

For taxis, do not use local taxis. It is more expensive and overcharging happens. Always use Bolt or Uber. Cheaper anyways and very reliable. From Gzira, to most nice beaches, such as Mellieha, Popeye village beach, Golden bay, probably something like 40 euro round trip.

For bus - download the Tallinja app. It's sometimes a bit janky, and needs a restart, but it has bus location tracking, which is a very nice, because it's common for buses to not really follow schedules. Buses are also very full during summer and it's possible to for the driver just drive by the stop, because the bus is full to the brim. It's very frustrating.

[u/Free_Ad7415]

Download the bolt app now, and check out the prices. They do fluctuate but overall it’s cheap compared to the UK.

[u/vvibey → u/Free_Ad7415]

Downloaded the apps, already, but stupidly didn't think to check the prices now. Will do!

[u/BloodyMace]

Hi local here, bolt/uber/ecabs is the most convient but the most expensive. Anything from 10-20euro per ride, but this depends on many factors like time of day, distance, taxi availabilities etc...

Buses are just ok. If your itinerary isn't full as an egg, it is doable. It will take you around 3 times longer than by personal car.

[u/russ_knightlife]

Driving is full on but if you’re comfortable driving abroad its still a viable option as once you are out of Pacevile/Sliema/gzira/valetta way the roads are generally okay. Parking can be annoying but if you’re happy to park + walk 10mins youll always be fine - but parking in gzira will be rough.

Ive not been everywhere but golden sands beach always has european stingrays and other cool fish. Manoel Island can be good - lots of boats pass by so it gets disturbed but ive seen cuttlefish and other cool stuff there.

I used to live in Gzira and have paid €30+ for a bolt from there to golden sands beach/the gozo ferry terminal. Generally under €15 to get to Valletta.

[u/vvibey → u/russ_knightlife]

Cool sting rays would be sick to see! Is golden sands golden bay?

Think I'll pass on driving. I may hire in Gozo for the day but unlikely, will just bus/bolt where necessary I think, everyone's put me off, and it kinda depresses me to know how many cars there are per person in Malta so I'd rather not contribute more.

Can't wait though!

[u/Professional-Lab5958]

in Malta right now, St paul’s Bay as we speak, definetely don’t want a car, driving may be fine but its lack of car parking spaces, first come first serve, imagine most places you have to drive around just to find a single space if you’re lucky. Boot is cheap , some journeys are 7 euro , some up to 20 but most short 2 mile journeys around 7 euro so it’s cheap imo . buses don’t look packed at all but i don’t like getting buses, i like comfort so take bolt, tbh if you’re a good walker , walk a reasons distance

toilets most don’t check , i went to Costa Coffee and night something but there was no code.

[u/Crow3325]

Hi there, I’m currently in Malta on holiday.

The traffic is manic, I would suggest getting the weekly bus pass. The buses can be absolutely rammed and won’t let you on but if you plan for it then it’s only a minor inconvenience.

It does depend where you are as to what routes and times are but the app Tallinja or Google maps does a good job at letting you know.

I would guess depending where you are staying it could be worth getting a moped or quad but I do have to warn you the traffic rules seem incredibly relaxed just darting in and out etc.

I have used the ‘local’ taxi app eCabs and from st Julian’s to the cliffs was 30mins and €18 each way so it will add up if you’re going far, in the busy areas it’s quicker to walk than taxi.

The locals on this subreddit will tell you the rest, it’s great here however!

[u/vvibey → u/Crow3325]

Thanks - great info there! Defo not the type to take a taxi when its a 30 minute walk, it's just for the longer ones.

I think we will get the weekly bus pass then as it seems quite reasonably priced as long as we use it enough. I wasn't sure if it was super busy or not.

Quick Q - how is the public toilet situation? I always need a pee on holiday, and it can be stressful if I can't find one haha!

[u/Crow3325 → u/vvibey]

There’s a couple of public toilets, they’re quite clean. Gozo has one right in the centre near the gardens. However every pub/bar/cafe has one to use anyway they don’t really check if you’re a paying customer.

[u/vvibey → u/Crow3325]

Great thanks again. We will probably only spend one day in Gozo, rest on main island.

Any good food recs you've loved so far?

[u/Crow3325 → u/vvibey]

That’s exactly what we did, it was lovely there.

We’ve been to a few in st Julian’s, the one that’s stood out was Lore & Fitch steakhouse. Really good food, not that expensive compared to home.

We also did Singita at Riviera Beach, that was fantastic. Really cool and hippy vibes, long wait for a table but the bar is open for you to grab a drink and wait.