Since autumn 2022, public transport provided by buses by Malta Public Transport has been free of charge. However, one cannot simply get on and drive off, but tourists in particular must note that a personalized Tallinja Card is required for free transport.

The solution chosen by the Maltese government is quite confusing, but the purpose of this is that the residents no longer have to pay for the regular buses and that tourists, if possible - due to ignorance of the new regulation - continue to buy tourist tickets or directly pay at the bus driver.

However, the personalized Tallinja Card is not linked to citizenship or residence in the Republic of Malta, but can be applied for by anyone. For people who want to spend a holiday of at least one week on the Maltese islands or who come here often, this card will definitely be worth it.

Rides are free, but the card must be purchased once

The Aviation.Direct editorial team keeps receiving letters that it is not true that the bus service is free, because you have to pay a fee for issuing and sending the personalized Tallinja Card. Yes, the exhibition is indeed not free of charge, but before the Introduction of general free travel pay a one-off fee and postage for shipping. In return, you benefited from the fact that in the standard variant (adult) you only paid 75 cents per maximum three-hour bus ride (with changes) instead of paying up to two euros directly to the bus driver. The one-off fee quickly pays off for a one-week vacation, provided you have explored the country and not spent the entire stay in the hotel.

Since autumn 2022, the 75 cents previously debited from the rechargeable card will no longer apply to holders of personalized Tallinja Cards. In concrete terms, this means that you don't have to pay a cent for the transport, because the presentation of the personalized Tallinja Cards entitles you to use the free local public transport. Not only residents, but also vacationers can apply for this card.

One-time issuance fee must be paid

If you consider that the weekly tickets, which are specially tailored to tourists, are sometimes more expensive than the issuing fee for the personalized Tallinja card, it can also be worth applying for vacationers. You should definitely keep the card after your stay, because it can of course be used again on your next trip to Malta and does not have to be organized again. However, it should be noted that it is not a good idea to lend the card to someone, because if you are caught, you can be fined at least 50 euros.

If you would like to benefit from free bus transport on the Maltese islands and do not yet have a personalized Tallinja Card, you can apply for one online from home. You need a photo of yourself, your passport number and a means of payment with which the issuance fee of 15 euros and the postage for the registered letter can be paid. The application should be made in good time before departure, because the issuance including postage can take about two weeks, depending on the country to which the personalized Tallinja Card is sent. It is also possible to provide a delivery address in Malta. For example, you can ask the hotel in advance whether it is willing to accept the registered letter and then hand it over at check-in. In principle, this is not a problem for the bus operator Malta Public Transport, but the hotel must agree to accept the letter and deposit it for the guest, which is why you should ask reception in advance by telephone or e-mail.

Card can be ordered online

Applying for the personalized Tallinja Card is quite easy and can under this link directly to Malta Public Transport be performed. If you do not have a Maltese ID card, simply enter your passport number or ID card number from your home country. Also, no local cell phone number is necessary, one from the country of residence is sufficient. It should also be noted that there are different variants of the Tallinja Card. Relevant for vacationers are those for adults, children and people with disabilities. In the second step, the required card can be selected. A photo must also be uploaded and the desired address to which the personalized Tallinja Card should be sent must be entered. It is then also displayed how much postage is due for the registered mail plus the one-time issuance fee of 15 euros. If the hotel or private accommodation provider agrees, you can save money by simply having the card sent there. Domestic letters are generally cheaper than international shipping.

It should be noted that the free travel that can be enjoyed with the personalized Tallinja Card is valid on all regular day and night bus routes. Exceptions to this are special services such as Tallinja on Demand – a kind of call shared taxi – and individual Tallinja Direct lines. The card is also not valid on the Gozo Channel Line, the Virtu Gozo Ferry, the Gozo Fast Ferry, the Sliema and Valletta harbor ferries and private special courses. The lift in Valletta is also not included free of charge. For the harbor ferries, the Tallinja Direct courses and the elevator, a possibly charged credit can be used, so that one can at least take advantage of greatly reduced fares. Detailed information on the free bus transport that can be used with the personalized Tallinja Card can be found here under this link directly to Malta Public Transport.

Important: The Tallinja Card has never been valid on the Gozo Channel Line. Tickets for this ferry can be purchased from the counter in Mgarr (Gozo). You do not need a ticket for the outward journey from Ċirkewwa, since you only have to pay for the return journey. The operators of the fast ferries between Valletta and Mgarr (Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Fast Ferry) left the Tallinja system about a year ago. Much to the annoyance of residents and tourists, there are no longer any perks. Previously, you could take advantage of greatly reduced fares and pay with the balance on the Tallinja Card immediately and did not need an additional ticket.

Excursion tips on Malta, Gozo and Comino

There is so much to explore on the Maltese Islands. The free bus service, which is accessible with the personalized Tallinja Card, can be quite useful. It is also important to remember that on the island of Malta almost all the sandy beaches are in the municipality of Mellieħa, so being mobile can be a great advantage. On Comino, the bus card is in fact unnecessary, because there are no bus lines on the small island.

Aviation.Direct has presented some excursion tips under the following links:

• Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and Santa Maria Bay - Comino
• Inland Sea and Blue Hole - natural spectacles on Gozo
• JCO: A heliport built for pigs
• Relaxation on the most beautiful sandy beaches of Malta
• Small but nice: Malta Aviation Museum
• GZM: Once the gateway to the world, now only "revived" because of Corona
• Valletta: Gozo fast ferry launched in a double pack
• Xlendi: Picturesque fishing village with a coffee house flair