With a size of (only) 316 km² (122 sq miles), Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world. But don’t let its size fool you. There are a lot of things to see and do on the island. And according to us, the best way to do so is to explore it all by car. Renting a car in Malta gives you the freedom you need to visit the beaches, temples, towns and other attractions at your own pace, without relying on bus schedules or taxis.
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In this post, we cover everything you need to know about driving and renting a car in Malta. From tips on driving in Malta to the best places to park, we’ll include it all in this post. That way, you’ll be able to explore Malta free and independently.
Table of Contents
Renting a car in Malta
Finding a reliable rental car company in Malta
And one of the best surprises we had was that car rental prices in Malta are very affordable. We rented a car for nine days with full coverage for just €110. Compared to other European destinations, it definitely was a great deal. As always, we booked through DiscoverCars.com, our recommended platform for car rentals worldwide. DiscoverCars.com makes it very easy to compare prices, offer free cancellation, and include insurance in their deals. We always use this platform during our travels and always had a great experience, especially with their all-inclusive insurance, which gives us total peace of mind.
Check availability and compare prices
What type of car is best to explore Malta?
Our best recommendation when renting a car in Malta is: smaller is better! The roads on the island are narrow, especially in towns and in more remote locations. Parking can also be tight, so having a compact car makes navigation and finding a parking spot so much easier. We noticed that a lot of Maltese people have small cars as well.
We booked a Toyota Aygo and for just the two of us, this was the perfect size. It was fuel-efficient, easy to park, and perfect for driving. Another thing to keep in mind is that many rental cars in Malta are manual. So if you prefer an automatic, make sure to book well in advance. Automatic cars tend to be more expensive and there is a limited offer.
Another recommendation of us is to make sure you take full insurance coverage. The traffic in Malta can be a bit chaotic and we always are happy to have peace of mind with full insurance coverage.
Prejudices about driving in Malta
When we were in Malta, we noticed that a lot of people used the bus to get to a certain location and then walked the last kilometers or so to get to that specific attraction. If you have a lot of time, public transport can be a great and sustainable way to get from A to B. However, people told us they didn’t rent a car because they heard a lot of warnings about driving in Malta. Traffic is chaotic, roads are in terrible condition and too narrow. Well, after nine days, we can confidently say that driving in Malta isn’t as bad as people make it seem!
Let’s talk about some common prejudices about driving in Malta and how we experienced it:
Driving in Malta is crazy and unsafe.
We must admit that Maltese drivers can be a little bit aggressive, and they sometimes have creative interpretations of road rules. But overall, if you stay alert, drive defensively, and just go with the flow, you should be fine. Compared to other places we drove in, like Morocco, driving in Malta was definitely manageable.
The roads are terrible.
We experienced that the major roads are well-maintained. Side streets and more rural roads can be bumpy, with potholes. But if you drive slowly and carefully, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Parking is impossible.
Most of the time, we found plenty of free or affordable parking. Sometimes you need to pay for a parking spot. But if you are willing to walk a little bit, you can find free parking everywhere.
Read more: How to get from Valletta to the Three Cities
Malta is small, so you don’t need a car.
We agree that Malta is small, but there is so much to see. Having a car meant we could explore places like the Dingli Cliffs, more remote places, and Gozo. If you want to see everything Malta has to offer, renting a car is definitely worth it.
The most important traffic rules
To be confident on the road, we suggest you get familiar with the basic driving rules in Malta. So here’s what you need to drive safely and confidently on the island.
Drive on the left
Malta used to be part of the United Kingdom. This is still visible as there are many British red telephone boots on the island. And just like in the UK, the traffic in Malta drives on the left side of the road. If you’re used to driving on the right, this can sometimes be a bit tricky, especially at roundabouts and intersections.
Speed limits
The speed limits in Malta are low compared to other countries. Due to the small and winding streets, the many roundabouts or the traffic, we never managed to drive faster than 70 km/h. Speed is limited to 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas and 80 km/h (50 mph) on open roads.
Roundabouts
As we mentioned in the above section, Malta loves roundabouts! Always give way to traffic coming from the right and make sure to signal clearly when exiting.
No phones while driving
As in many other countries, using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, unless you have a hands-free system.
Parking rules
To make sure you are parked correctly, you can follow these easy rules:
- Blue lines: Residents-only parking
- White lines: Free parking for everyone
- Yellow lines: No parking allowed
How to get to Gozo with your rental car
If you go to Malta, we also suggest you take a trip to Gozo! Again, if you want to enjoy the beauty of Gozo to the fullest, we suggest to take your rental car with you. There is a ferry and the process is very easy.
Step 1: Drive to the Gozo Ferry Terminal
The first step of taking your car to Gozo is to drive to the Gozo Channel Ferry Terminal, located at the northern tip of Malta. The drive to the ferry terminal from Valletta will take about 45 minutes. The terminal is well signposted. More information can be found on the official website.
Step 2: Boarding the ferry
If you are heading from Malta to Gozo, you don’t need to buy a ticket in advance. Simply drive into the queue, follow the signs, and wait for the ferry crew to guide you to your place on the boat. The Gozo Channel Ferry is very efficient and boats depart every 30-45 minutes. If you’re visiting Gozo for just a day, try to take an early ferry, so you can make most of your time. We went to Gozo for two days, as there is really a lot to see on this small sister island.
You only pay on the way back from Gozo to Malta. The fare for a standard car (including the driver) is around €15. You pay a small additional fee for an extra passenger.
The boat trip takes about 25 minutes. Make sure to go to the deck to take in the sea views and snap some photos.
Step 3: Arrival at Gozo
You’ll arrive in Mġarr, Gozo’s main port. You can simply drive off the ferry and start exploring! When you’re ready to head back, just drive back to the Mġarr ferry terminal and get in the queue. You’ll pay for the round trip before boarding the ferry.
And that’s it! By now, you know everything there is to know about driving in Malta! If you have any questions or recommendations, get in touch with us via our social media channels!
Happy travels!
Matthias and Mieke
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