Malta without a car: a rewarding three-day route by bus and ferry

Choose Valletta for simplicity or Sliema for a different base

For this particular itinerary, Valletta is our simplest starting point: one day is on your doorstep, buses serve Rabat, and the Three Cities ferry gives you another route across the harbour. Compare accommodation by its final walking approach from the bus terminal or ferry quay, especially when travelling with luggage.

Sliema is a useful alternative if you prefer to stay there and are happy to add a connection to Valletta. The ferry links the two, but check the season's timetable before relying on it for late dinners. Compare room prices with the extra journeys and waiting time. A cheaper room is only better value if its location suits your daily routine.

Arrange the airport journey and price the right ticket

Malta Public Transport currently lists Airport Direct TD4 for Valletta and TD3 for Sliema, Gżira and St Julian's. Check the exact stop, service hours and onward walk for your flight. Keep arrival day light enough to absorb a delayed flight or a slower transfer, and leave a separate buffer for the return to the airport.

For a short break, compare single fares, the shareable 12 Single Day Journeys card and the applicable Explore Flex offer. The current four-day and seven-day bus offers include Airport Direct. Do not assume that a bus bundle includes harbour ferries: those inclusions need their own check. Count the journeys in this itinerary before buying a larger package simply because it sounds comprehensive.

Day one: give Valletta a complete day

Start with a walk through the UNESCO-listed capital, using VisitMalta's maps to choose a manageable loop. Pick one museum or historic interior to anchor the day, leaving the remaining time for streets, views and a long lunch. The National Museum of Archaeology is one option if you want context for Malta's older history before exploring more of the island.

Check opening times before deciding the order, then reserve any admission that needs it. Keep a nearby indoor option for poor weather. If staying in Sliema, decide your return connection before the evening begins; this avoids having to leave a meal early because you assumed the daytime ferry timetable continued unchanged.

Day two: cross to the Three Cities and slow down

Take the Valletta–Cospicua ferry for a day around the Three Cities: Birgu, Isla and Bormla. Concentrate on a harbour walk and Birgu's streets rather than rushing through every museum. Select one paid visit only if it fits your interests and the current opening hours. The crossing is part of the outing, so allow time to enjoy the waterfront at either end.

From Sliema, the Valletta and Three Cities services are separate routes, so allow time to transfer between quays. Malta Public Transport describes a connecting shuttle; check its current operation before relying on it. If the ferry is unavailable, the operator lists bus 2 from Valletta for Birgu and buses 3 or 4 for Isla and Bormla.

Day three: pair Mdina with neighbouring Rabat

Travel inland in the morning and keep Mdina and Rabat together. Malta Public Transport lists routes 50, 51, 52, 53 and 56 from Valletta towards Rabat; use the journey planner to select the appropriate stop and departure. Begin with Mdina's gate, streets and bastion views, then move into Rabat for lunch and your chosen historic site.

St Paul's Catacombs offer an underground Roman cemetery visit, while the Domus Romana is an alternative for Roman history and mosaics. Pick the one that interests you most, checking access information and opening hours beforehand. Leave time for the bus home instead of adding a distant coastal stop that turns a pleasant afternoon into a race.

Leave a practical margin around the plan

Check service alerts and the next day's routes each evening. Save your accommodation address, useful stops and return options so you can find them easily. Ferry timetables vary by season; a scenic crossing should not be the only connection you understand. On flight day, choose an airport departure with room for delay rather than the last journey that appears to fit.

Budget for meals, admissions, the bus product you actually need, separate ferries where applicable and a contingency journey. With an extra full day, research Gozo as its own outing rather than squeezing it between these stops. The main saving comes from a coherent route and accommodation that supports it, with fewer unnecessary transfers and purchases.

Take this with you

• Use one area per day: Valletta, the Three Cities, then Mdina and Rabat.
• Compare a Valletta base with the extra connections required from Sliema.
• Check TD4 for Valletta and TD3 for Sliema airport journeys, plus the exact inclusions of your chosen travel card.
• Know the bus alternative to the Three Cities ferry and leave a generous airport buffer.