Malta Airport to Sliema Bus 2026: TD3, Taxi, St Julian’s

Short answer: the easiest Malta airport to Sliema bus is Airport Direct TD3, which runs from Malta International Airport to St Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira and Msida every 30 minutes. For St Julian’s and Pembroke there is also TD2, every 30 minutes. Both cost €3 per passenger, paid on board in cash or by contactless card. A taxi to Sliema or St Julian’s costs roughly €18 to €22 per car according to third-party guides, and takes about the same time as the bus when traffic is heavy. Fares and frequencies are from Malta Public Transport, last checked October 2026.

Arrival day is the one day everyone wants to go smoothly. I have done this trip with a backpack, with two suitcases and a cat carrier, and at midnight after a delayed flight. Here is what actually works, step by step, with the costs and the mistakes I see newcomers make.

Your options at a glance

Sources: Malta Public Transport, Airport Direct and fares pages; taxi range as summarised in our taxi guide. Last checked October 2026.

Taking the Malta airport to Sliema bus, step by step

1. Collect your bags and walk out of arrivals. The bus terminal is outside the terminal building and signposted as you exit the arrivals area.
2. Find the Airport Direct stop. Look for the TD3 for Sliema, Gżira and Msida, or the TD2 for St Julian’s and Pembroke. If you are staying in central St Julian’s, either can work; check which stop is closer to your address.
3. Check the next departure. The tallinja app shows routes, timetables and live bus positions. Download it before you fly so you are not relying on airport wifi.
4. Board and pay. Pay €3 in cash or tap a contactless bank card or phone. If you bought an unlimited travel card, Airport Direct is included.
5. Store your luggage. Airport Direct buses have luggage space, USB charging and free wifi, according to Malta Public Transport.
6. Get off at the right stop. Share your live location with your host or follow the map in the app. Sliema stops are spread along the seafront and inland streets; ask the driver if unsure.

Can I use a regular bus instead?

Yes, if you are travelling light and want to save a few euros. Malta Public Transport lists several regular routes serving the airport, including 117, 135, 208 and 218 to Mater Dei Hospital and the University area, and routes to Rabat and the southern villages. None of these runs straight to Sliema, so you would change buses; plan the connection in the journey planner. A regular single fare is €2.50 in summer and €2.00 in winter, valid for two hours. In 2025/26 the winter fare ran from 19 October to 13 June. When I checked on 18 October 2026, the fares page had not yet published the 2026/27 winter dates, so if you are arriving in late October or November, check the fares page or the tallinja app for the fare that applies on your travel day.

Malta airport to St Julian’s

St Julian’s is served by both Airport Direct lines: TD2 (St Julian’s and Pembroke) and TD3 (St Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira and Msida). If you are staying around Paceville, St George’s Bay or Pembroke, TD2 is usually the better fit. If you are near Spinola Bay or Balluta, on the Sliema side of St Julian’s, TD3 often drops you closer. Both run every 30 minutes and cost €3.

Many newcomers rent their first room around these areas because they are walkable and close to offices. If you are still choosing, our guide to a shared apartment in Malta covers room prices, leases and scams to avoid.

Bus fares and travel cards explained

Source: Malta Public Transport fares, Airport Direct and personalised tallinja card pages, last checked October 2026. Prices can change; check before you travel.

If you are moving to Malta, the personalised tallinja card is the one to apply for once you have an address. Cards are typically delivered within two weeks, according to Malta Public Transport. Our guide to Malta bus routes covers the lines you will use once you have settled in.

Taxis and ride-hailing from the airport

Taxis wait outside arrivals, and there is a taxi desk inside where you can pay a fixed fare before you ride. The airport no longer publishes its fare table online. Third-party guides checked in October 2026 put a standard car to Sliema or St Julian’s at roughly €18 to €22. Ride-hailing apps also operate in Malta; their prices move with demand and can be lower or higher than the fixed fare.

When a taxi makes sense:

• you land late and the last Airport Direct has gone;
• you are two or more people splitting the fare;
• you have heavy or awkward luggage;
• your accommodation is up a steep street or far from a bus stop.

For a full breakdown of white taxis and app-based rides, see our Malta taxi prices guide.

Cost comparison

My comparison using Malta Public Transport fares and the third-party taxi range, October 2026.

How long does it take?

The distance from the airport to Sliema is short, but Malta’s traffic decides the journey time. Outside rush hour, allow roughly 30 to 45 minutes by bus or taxi. On weekday mornings and late afternoons, or when there are roadworks, it can take an hour. The bus is not much slower than a taxi in heavy traffic, because both sit in the same queues.

Moving with lots of luggage

Arriving to live here is different from arriving for a holiday. If you are bringing your life in two suitcases, a few practical points:

• Airport Direct has luggage space, but at busy times it fills up. If you have more than two large cases, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is less stressful.
• Sliema streets are steep in places and pavements are narrow. Check the walk from the stop to your door on a map before you choose the bus.
• Many older buildings have no lift. Ask your landlord or host which floor you are on before you land.
• Send heavier items separately once you have a long-term address, rather than paying excess baggage for things you could buy here.
• Travelling with a pet? Check the airline’s and Malta’s rules well in advance; you will almost certainly want a taxi or a friend with a car on arrival day.

Getting back to the airport

The same Airport Direct routes run in the other direction. Leave more time than you think: allow for traffic, a bus that is full when it reaches your stop, and the queue at security. On early-morning flights, check the first departure in the tallinja app the evening before, and book a taxi if the first bus will not get you there in time.

Late-night and early-morning arrivals

• Check the last bus before you fly. Look up TD2 and TD3 in the tallinja app for your date and keep a screenshot.
• Have a plan B. If your flight is delayed past the last departure, go to the taxi desk or open a ride-hailing app.
• Tell your host. Send your flight number and expected arrival time; many landlords and short-let hosts need to know about late check-ins.
• Carry a little cash. Contactless works on Airport Direct, but a few euros in coins is a useful backup on arrival day.

Your first week after landing

Once you have reached Sliema or St Julian’s, the next few days are about setting up: a local SIM, a personalised tallinja card application, a bank account and a longer lease. Our step-by-step guide to moving to Malta puts those steps in order with checklists.

And give yourself one easy social win in that first week. The Sliema and St Julian’s promenade is the island’s free meeting point: a walk at sunset, a swim off the rocks in warm months, or a coffee with someone you met at work or in your building. Plans that say up front where, when and who pays are the easiest ones to say yes to when you are new.

Malta airport to Sliema bus: FAQ

Which bus goes from Malta airport to Sliema?

Airport Direct TD3 runs from Malta International Airport to St Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira and Msida every 30 minutes, according to Malta Public Transport. TD2 serves St Julian’s and Pembroke, also every 30 minutes.

How much is the bus from Malta airport to Sliema?

Airport Direct costs €3 per passenger (TD1 is €3.50), paid in cash or by contactless card on board. It is included in Malta Public Transport’s unlimited travel cards. A personalised tallinja card does not make it free: a fare is deducted on tallinja Direct routes.

How long does it take from Malta airport to Sliema?

The distance is short, but traffic decides the time. Allow roughly 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour and up to an hour at busy times, by bus or taxi. Check live times in the tallinja app.

How much is a taxi from Malta airport to Sliema?

Third-party guides checked in October 2026 put a standard car from the airport to Sliema or St Julian’s at roughly €18 to €22. The airport does not publish its fare table online, so confirm the fixed fare at the taxi desk before you ride. App-based rides vary with demand.

Is the tallinja card free on the airport bus?

No for Airport Direct. The personalised tallinja card gives free travel on day routes, night routes, select special services, the Valletta ferries and the Barrakka Lift, but tallinja Direct (TD) routes are excluded and a fare is deducted.

What if I land late at night in Malta?

Check the last Airport Direct departure for your date in the tallinja app before you fly. If you land after it, use the taxi desk in arrivals or a ride-hailing app, and send your accommodation your flight number so they know you will be late.