Travelling through Malta - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

Malta is a resort republic, and therefore the transport system here is quite well developed. Most of the public transportation is represented by buses. It is worth noting that the network of routes covers almost the entire territory of the republic. In this case, almost every route connects to the capital of Malta. There are also several special routes that are designed to connect the most popular resorts. An alternative to bus, especially in small provinces, is a horse-drawn carriage. This mode of transport is not comfortable, but often helps out due to the difficulties with getting buses.

It is worth noting that in Malta, the quality of the road surface is good only in large cities, most notably, the capital. On the outskirt of cities, the roads are often bumpy and winding, and without asphalt covering. That is why the speed limit in Malta does not exceed 70 km/h. Within residential areas, you are allowed to drive at a speed of only 40 km/h. Due to the fact that Malta was previously an English colony, the left-hand driven vehicles still operates in the country. Another alternative to a car can be the movement on off-road bicycles. They are ideal for overcoming the difficult terrain of Malta.

Taxis are also available in Malta, but the cost of using this service is however quite high. Only the services of cars that are painted in black, have a certain tariff and payment is calculated according to the meter. In other cases, tourists have to negotiate personally with the driver about the cost, and it is still often ridiculously high. Despite the fact that the territory of Malta is quite small, a large international airport operates successfully in the republic. In addition, you can move between the Islands using a helicopter.

The railway interchange in Malta was developed two centuries ago, but in 1931 it was closed due to the popularization of road transport. Due to the territorial location of the Island, water transport is also very popular. Ferries operate between Malta and Gozo, as well as with other Islands. The ticket costs an average of about 5 euros per passengers. In general, the cost of the ferry ride depends on the class of services provided during the trip. Also in coastal regions, boats, yachts and other marine mode of transport operate.

The Republic of Malta is located on an Island, and within its territory is successfully operated a fairly large international airport. The airport is located just a few kilometers from the capital of Malta, Valletta. This airport was previously used as a strategic site, but in the middle of the 19th century, it began to engage in passenger transportation. After the cardinal reconstruction of the terminal was carried out, the airport was named Malta International Airport. Its unofficial name is Luqa airport. It is worth noting that today there is only one terminal at the airport. At the same time, it accepts, as a rule, low-cost international flights. Airplanes land here not only from Europe, but also from Africa. The Maltese themselves, much to the amazement of many, have their own carrier, called Air Malta. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It is worth noting that you can get to the city from the airport by various means of transportation, including transfers to a guest house or hotel. Also, this direction is followed by express buses, which depart from terminals every 30 minutes. There are also several shuttle buses, which will cost a bit cheaper. For those passengers who arrive at night, special night buses run from 11 pm until 4 am. You can also reach anywhere in the city by taxi. Please note that the airport infrastructure is at a very decent level. Also within the territory of the Airport there are restaurants and cafes, a medical center, Wi-Fi, recreation facilities for everyone including VIPs, various souvenir shops and stores, as well as duty free markets and chains of duty free shops.

For people with disabilities, the airport offers free rental of wheelchairs. It is worth noting also that the airport has a delightful observation platform, which will give unforgettable impressions to every traveler. Many say that despite the modest territory of this terminal, in terms of quality and range of services, it is not inferior to Europe’s largest air harbor. It should be noted that there is also a small airport on the Island of Gozo. Nonetheless it is intended only for helicopters. Its runway is only 53 meters.

In general, tourists in Malta do not encounter any difficulties with regards to transportation. The most popular type of public transportation are buses. They (buses) usually run frequently and practically all trips connect certain regions with the capital of the republic. There are buses from 5.30 to 23.00. Over-night trips operate only from Friday to Monday and with long interval. Tickets are usually purchased directly from the driver. The bus services work worse in areas which are far from tourist centers; the transport can run only two or three times a day. An alternative to it, in this case, are horse-drawn carriages. This is not the most comfortable form of transport, but it is however much cheaper.

If desired, anyone can rent a car. The rental price of an average car is from 20 euros per day. Typically, this requires the availability of an international driving license. Also, the driver must be over 18 years of age. It is worth noting that cars in Malta are left-hand driven, and there is a strict system of penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as improper parking. An alternative to a car can be bicycles. Their rental offices are located in just about any city. A taxi in Malta is considered a very expensive mode of transport, so tourists use it only in the most extreme situations.

Travelling by sea became very widespread. On the coastal territory, you will find modern ferries which connect Malta with other islands. A trip by ferry to the Island of Gozo for example costs only about 5 euros. The same trip by road will not take more than half an hour. The advantage with the ferry is that passengers can descend into cabins, have a drink and a snack or admire the sea view on the deck. In the coastal areas of the Island, you will also find small boats making runs. They usually have a carrying capacity of about fifty people. There are also cruise ships, boats and yachts, which perform not so much a transport function, as an excursion function. Often, in the territory of Malta, well-to-do tourists travel by helicopter. An airport is specially located for them on the Island of Gozo. And not far from Valletta operates a full international airport.