Getting There by Air or Sea

Air

Airport

Malta’s airport is the Malta International Airport, located in the locality of Luqa. Its airport code is MLA.

Duty free shopping, restaurants (including a Hard Rock Café, Burger King, KFC, Dr Juice, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and Turkish cuisines, and an English Pub), cafes, and a pharmacy are located within the airport. The pharmacy is open till late and is located in the Arrivals area. On the airport premises you can also find a McDonalds, the only 24/7 drive-through in Malta.

Luggage storage/deposit is available at the Check In Hall and operates 24/7.

Free wireless Internet is provided in all areas of the airport, including restaurants.

Computer kiosks are available to use in the Flite Bite Cafeteria in the Check-In Hall.

Multi-plug Battery Charging Units are available in the Departures area at Gates 3 to 7 and 13.

Foreign currency exchange is available through the Bank of Valletta (BOV) and HSBC during normal business hours in the Welcomer’s Hall/Arrivals area. ATMs/ABMs are also located in the Welcomer’s Hall on Level 0, and as soon as you disembark your plane on Level 1 of the airport.

Postal services are available at the airport through Malta Post, from Monday to Saturday, 730hrs/7:30am to 1245hrs/12:45 pm, in the Check In Hall on Level 0.

Vodafone has its own outlet in the Welcomer’s Hall of the airport where you can purchase pre-paid cards.

The Malta International Airport also has a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Airways, located on Level -1 next to the food court. Mass is celebrated Monday to Friday at 1205hrs/12:05pm, Saturdays at 1815hrs/6:15pm and 1925hrs/7:25pm, and Sundays at 725hrs/7:35 pm, 830hrs/8:30am, and 1030hrs/10:30am.

For luxury and business travel services, the La Valletta Club and lounge is available, offering meet and greet, chauffeur, and special occasion services. Lounge entry is €29 per person, or complimentary for La Valletta Club members.

Tax refunds for non-EU travellers are available at the Check In Hall behind the Customer Service desk, and in the Departures area next to Gate 10. To obtain a tax refund, you must fill out an application form. Your application form is stamped at your last point of departure before finally leaving the EU. The application form is then sent directly to Malta’s VAT Department, along with the original fiscal receipts. Receipts must be for items not consumed in Malta valued over €55, with all receipts totaling no less than €315. An administrative fee of €23 or 4% is applied against your return.

Assistance for persons with reduced mobility is available at the airport with pre-booking. Contact specserv@maltaairpot.com or +356 2369 6333 to book.

Parking at the Airport Car Park is free for the first 10 minutes, €1.60 for 1 hour, €2.60 for 2 hours, €3.00 for 3 hours, €3.50 for 4 hours, €4.00 for 5 hours, and €5.00 for up to 12 hours. Long-term parking is €7 per 12-24 hours, and €5 per additional day or part of. Motorcycles park for free.

To park at the Malta International Airport, obtain a ticket from an automated ticket dispenser upon entry to the car park. Park anywhere, except the blue spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders. Pay your ticket at the automated machines located outside the Arrivals area, in the basement tunnel on Level -1, or within the car park next to the fountain. Payment can be made in coins, notes up to €20, or by Visa or Mastercard.

Airlines

Malta’s national airline is Air Malta, operating since 1974 and now offering 200 flights a week to over 50 destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Many other major European airlines and discount airlines also service Malta, making it competitive and affordable to reach the island from Continental Europe and the Middle East.

As of this writing, flights to/from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom are available.

Airlines and flight availability change seasonally. For a full list of airlines flying to/from Malta, see the Malta International Airport’s web site.

For the lowest rates, travel during low season (October-April).

Sea

As of this writing, previously available crossings between Malta and Livorno, Genoa, Civitavecchia, and Salerno are no longer operating.

Ferries to/from Sicily and Libya depart from the Valletta Cruise Port Terminal, next to the Valletta Waterfront.

Sea - Sicily

Virtu Ferries offers frequent trips between Malta and Sicily (Pozzallo). The crossing to/from Pozzallo takes 90 minutes. Virtu Ferries offers bus transfer between Pozzallo and Catania, making transport time to Catania 4 hours, including ferry crossing. In high season, up to 11 crossings to Pozzallo are offered per week.

One way trips start from €113 per person in high season (July and August) and €55 per person in low season (October to April). Children under four travel free. Children, youth, family, and senior discounts are available, as are day return and special four-day return fares.

You are permitted to take pets in cars on Virtu Ferries free of charge, or in carriers for €12 each way. When transporting pets by ferry, all Maltese pet importation rules apply.

Sea - Libya

Mediterranean Maritime Services Ltd also offers a Malta to Tripoli, Libya crossing. This crossing takes 16 hours. Four crossings are offered per week.

As of this writing, round trip fares start from €115, or €85 one way. Children under four travel free.

By Jess Gerrow, who traded city life in Canada for island life in the Mediterranean two years ago. She is a postgraduate marketing student, blogger, and freelance writer.