Sliema is about 20 minutes from Malta International Airport by car. The cheapest way there is the TD3 Airport Direct bus: €3, every 30 minutes from early morning until after midnight, and about 40 minutes to the Sliema seafront. The easiest is a fixed-fare taxi from the booth in the arrivals hall, at around €20 per car. Bolt, eCabs and Uber also work, from a dedicated pick-up zone. Here is how each option works, which stop to get off at, and how to get back to the airport.
€3
TD3 bus fare, cash or contactless
2 an hour
TD3 buses from 05:15 to 00:45
40 min
By bus to Sliema Ferries
20 min
By taxi, around €20 a car
Malta Airport to Sliema: Your Options
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD3 Airport Direct bus | €3 per person | About 35 to 45 min | Travelling light, on a budget |
| Taxi from the arrivals booth | Around €20 per car, fixed | About 20 min | Families, late arrivals, heavy bags |
| Bolt, eCabs or Uber | Varies with demand | About 20 min | Comparing prices in the app |
| Pre-booked transfer | Set when you book | About 20 min | A driver waiting with your name |
| TD2 Airport Direct bus | €3 per person | About 25 to 40 min | Staying in St Julian’s or Paceville |
Airport Direct buses replaced the old X1 to X4 airport routes in April 2025, so ignore older guides that mention them.
The cheapest way
Malta Airport to Sliema by Bus: the TD3
The TD3 is one of Malta Public Transport’s Airport Direct routes, with fewer stops, luggage space, USB charging and free wifi. It runs every 30 minutes, seven days a week, from 05:15 to 00:45, and loops through St Julian’s and Sliema before heading back to the airport via Gżira, Msida and Floriana.
- Find the bus terminus It is just outside arrivals and signposted as you leave the hall.
- Board the TD3 Pay €3 to the driver in cash or by contactless card, or tap an Explore Flex card. No booking is needed.
- Ride through St Julian’s You reach St Julian’s in about 30 minutes, then Balluta Bay.
- Get off in Sliema Tower Road and the Chalet stop come up after about 35 minutes, and Sliema Ferries, on the Strand, after about 40.
Which TD3 Stop for Your Hotel?
| Stop | Area | From the airport |
|---|---|---|
| San Ġiljan | St Julian’s centre | About 30 min |
| Spinola | Spinola Bay, St Julian’s | About 30 min |
| Balluta | Balluta Bay, between St Julian’s and Sliema | About 30 to 35 min |
| Torri | Tower Road, Sliema seafront | About 35 min |
| Chalet | Tower Road, south end | About 35 to 40 min |
| Ferries | The Strand and Sliema Ferries | About 40 to 45 min |
Times are from Malta Public Transport’s current daytime timetable. Early in the morning the bus is a little quicker; in summer traffic, allow longer. Check live times in the tallinja app.
Landing late?
The last TD3 leaves the airport at 00:45. After that, the taxi booth in arrivals works around the clock at the same fixed fares, and ride-hailing apps run through the night.
Door to door
Taxi from Malta Airport to Sliema
The taxi booth. In the Welcomers’ Hall in arrivals, a booth sells prepaid taxi tickets at fixed fares. Pay at the booth, take your ticket to the rank outside and hand it to the first driver in the queue. Transfer guides put the fare to Sliema or St Julian’s at around €20 per car for up to four people, with the same fare day and night; the booth has the official list.
Bolt, eCabs and Uber. App rides do not pick up at the terminal door. Since July 2025 they collect from a zone on Level -1 of the main car park, reached through the tunnel and signposted from arrivals. App prices move with demand, so they can come in above or below the booth fare; check before you confirm.
Pre-booked transfers. A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign. Useful with children or a late flight, since the price is agreed in advance.
Only take a taxi from the booth, an app or a company you booked. Many drivers work the airport, and the booth is the way to be sure of the fixed fare.
Sliema to Malta Airport
Going back, the TD3 is quicker because it carries on round its loop rather than doubling back through St Julian’s. Catch it at Sliema Ferries or along the Gżira seafront and it reaches the airport in about 30 minutes, via Msida and Floriana. It runs every 30 minutes until after midnight; check the first and last buses in the tallinja app if your flight is very early.
- From Tower Road or Balluta: you can board there too; the bus simply carries on through Sliema Ferries, which adds about 10 minutes.
- Allow for traffic: journeys take longer at rush hour and in summer, so leave extra time.
- By taxi or app: about 20 minutes in light traffic. Book the night before for a very early flight.
Bus Tickets and Travel Cards
- Single ticket: €3 on Airport Direct routes (€3.50 on the TD1 to Ċirkewwa), paid on board in cash or by contactless card. Ordinary routes cost €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer.
- Explore Flex card: unlimited travel, including Airport Direct, from €21 for 4 days or €27 for 7 days. Add-ons cover extras such as a Gozo fast ferry return or a harbour cruise.
- 12 Single Day Journeys card: €19, shareable, but an Airport Direct ride uses two of the twelve journeys.
- Children: under-4s travel free.
For routes around the island, night buses and the tallinja app, see our Malta bus guide.
Settled in Sliema?
Where to Go Next From Sliema
Sliema is one of the best-connected bases in Malta, so most day trips start right outside your hotel.
- Gozo: the fast ferry leaves Sliema and calls at Buġibba before Mġarr, about 1 hour 15 minutes. See how to get to Gozo.
- Comino and the Blue Lagoon: bus 222 runs from the seafront to the Comino ferry at Ċirkewwa in a little over an hour. See our Comino ferry guide.
- Valletta: just across Marsamxett Harbour, by ferry or a short bus ride.
- Where to stay: compare Sliema with St Julian’s, Valletta and the north in our where to stay guide.
Malta Airport to Sliema: FAQ
How do I get from Malta airport to Sliema?
Take the TD3 Airport Direct bus for €3, which runs every 30 minutes and takes about 40 minutes to Sliema Ferries, or a fixed-fare taxi from the booth in arrivals, about 20 minutes and around €20 per car.
How much is a taxi from Malta airport to Sliema?
Around €20 per car for up to four people, fixed and prepaid at the taxi booth in the arrivals hall, with the same fare at night. Bolt, eCabs and Uber prices vary with demand.
Is there a direct bus from Malta airport to Sliema?
Yes, the TD3 Airport Direct bus runs from the airport through St Julian’s to Sliema every 30 minutes, from 05:15 to 00:45.
How long is the bus from Malta airport to Sliema?
About 35 minutes to Tower Road and 40 to 45 minutes to Sliema Ferries, longer in heavy traffic.
Where do Uber and Bolt pick up at Malta airport?
From a pick-up zone on Level -1 of the main car park, reached through the tunnel from the terminal. Follow the signs from arrivals.
Can I pay by card on the bus?
Yes. Drivers accept cash and contactless bank cards for single tickets.
How we wrote this guideThis guide was researched and written by us at Experiences Malta, using the official and local sources listed below, and we review it through the year. Prices, timetables and opening hours change, so please check before you travel. More about Experiences Malta.
Sources: Malta Public Transport: Airport Direct, Malta Public Transport: route TD3, Malta Public Transport: route TD2, Malta Public Transport: fares and tickets, GuideMeMalta: new pick-up zone for app cabs (July 2025), Maltau: Malta airport transfers (November 2026), Welcome Pickups: Malta airport to Sliema, Malta Info Guide: taxis in Malta (August 2026).