Malta: City Sightseeing HOHO Bus Tour & Optional Boat Tour

Malta’s two open-top bus routes give you a useful first look at an island packed with temples, forts, fishing villages, and Roman remains. The South Route is the stronger sightseeing day, with Marsaxlokk, the Three Cities, the Blue Grotto, and Hagar Qim. The North Route adds Mdina, Rabat, Mosta, Golden Bay, and several resort districts.

I like the broad coverage and the chance to step off near major sights without renting a car. I also like the optional harbor cruise, which makes a calm change of pace after a long bus circuit. The main catch is timing: the routes are long, buses may run late in traffic, and you cannot sensibly explore every stop in one day.

Key points to know

• The South Route packs in Malta’s best sightseeing: Marsaxlokk, the Three Cities, Blue Grotto, and prehistoric temples.
• The North Route takes about 210 minutes: Mdina, Rabat, Mosta, Ta’ Qali, Golden Bay, and Malta’s northern resorts.
• A one-day pass is ambitious: Choose only a few stops if you want time to get off and explore.
• A two-day pass is much more useful: The routes do not have to be taken on consecutive days.
• The audio guide is available in many languages: Bring patience, since some headphone sockets and recordings may not work well.
• The harbor cruise adds real value: It can be used separately from the bus, within the validity period of your chosen ticket.

How the two Malta routes actually work

This is not a short city loop. The buses cover much of Malta, beginning around Bugibba and Qawra in the north, running through St Julian’s, Sliema, Valletta, and then branching toward the island’s major sights.

The North Route takes about 210 minutes for the full circuit. Departures from the first northern stop are listed at 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm.

The South Route takes about 180 minutes, with departures from its first stop at 9:05am, 10:05am, 11:05am, 12:05pm, 1:05pm, and 2:05pm. Both routes operate daily, but the timetable makes it difficult to ride both in full and still visit more than one or two places.

That matters because hop-on hop-off sounds more flexible than it is here. If you spend an hour in Mdina, then another hour at a temple, much of the remaining day disappears. I suggest treating each route as a sightseeing drive with selected stops, not as a promise that you can visit every attraction.

Valletta, Sliema, and the best place to begin

Valletta is the practical center of the tour. The bus stops in the city center and at the Valletta Waterfront Terminus, where you can change between the North and South routes.

If you have a mobile voucher, you must redeem it at Sliema Ferries, Stop 17, or Valletta Waterfront Terminus, Stop 20. Paper vouchers can be redeemed at any bus stop. This detail is easy to miss, so do not assume a driver at every stop can activate a phone voucher.

Sliema Ferries is also the main point for the harbor cruise. The stop can be confusing because Malta has more than one sightseeing bus operator. Check the company name and bus branding before boarding. A wrong bus can mean getting off again and losing valuable time.

From Sliema and St Julian’s, the route passes Malta’s modern hotel and shopping districts before reaching Valletta. These areas are useful pick-up points, but they are not the reason to buy the tour. The real value begins once the bus carries you away from the resort strip and into Malta’s older towns and countryside.

The South Route: Malta’s strongest day of sightseeing

I would choose the South Route first if you have only one day. It links several of Malta’s most memorable places and gives you a good mix of archaeology, harbor towns, and coastal views.

Tarxien Temples

The South Route heads toward the Tarxien Temples, prehistoric stone structures believed to date to around 3000 BC. Entry is not included, so you will need to pay separately if you choose to visit.

This is an important stop for anyone interested in Malta’s ancient past. The drawback is time. A quick look from the bus is not the same as a proper visit, and stopping here can make it harder to reach Marsaxlokk or the Blue Grotto before the last buses.

The Three Cities and Vittoriosa Waterfront

At the Vittoriosa Waterfront, you get a look at Malta’s fortified harbor settlements. The Three Cities are made up of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua, historic communities facing Valletta across the Grand Harbour.

This stop offers one of the clearest views of Malta’s military and maritime setting. The waterfront is also more atmospheric than simply driving past a fort wall. If you want to walk, allow enough time to return to the correct stop. The routes operate on a fixed schedule, and a missed bus can disrupt the rest of your day.

Marsaxlokk fishing village

Marsaxlokk is one of the easiest stops to recommend. It is a traditional fishing village with a handsome harbor and the colorful boats Malta is known for.

You can step off, walk along the waterfront, and enjoy a slower hour before returning to the bus. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket, so this is a natural place to arrange your own break. It is also a good choice if you want an authentic working harbor rather than another fort or museum.

Do not try to combine Marsaxlokk with every other South Route stop. The village deserves more than a quick photograph, and the bus circuit itself already takes three hours without getting off.

Pretty Bay and Birzebbugia

The bus continues to Pretty Bay in Birzebbugia. This stop provides a coastal change from the older fortified towns and archaeological sites.

It is less essential than Marsaxlokk or the Blue Grotto, but it can suit you if you want a short seaside pause. If your day is tight, I would keep riding and save your time for the temples or Blue Grotto.

Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto is one of the tour’s most popular natural stops. The route takes you to the viewpoint area, where you can see Malta’s dramatic southern coast and the sea caves below.

The bus ticket does not include entry to the Blue Grotto caves. Any boat ride into the caves is an extra expense, and conditions may affect whether it operates. Plan this as a scenic stop unless you have confirmed the separate cave visit and have enough time.

The Blue Grotto is especially useful on a bus tour because reaching the area without a car takes planning. Still, do not assume that the stop itself includes a guided cave experience. It does not.

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples

The South Route also stops at the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, another major prehistoric site. These temples are among the most significant archaeological sights on the island, and the setting makes the stop feel very different from Valletta or the harbor towns.

Allow real time here if you want to enter and understand what you are seeing. The attraction entry is not included, and a rushed visit will give you little more than a quick view of old stone walls. This is one of the South Route’s best stops for history-minded visitors, but it is also one of the easiest places to lose your timetable.

The North Route: Mdina, Rabat, and Mosta

The North Route is longer and more varied. It begins around Bugibba, Qawra, and St Paul’s Bay, passes through St Julian’s and Sliema, then turns inland toward Malta’s older towns.

Bugibba, Qawra, and the northern coast

The northern section includes stops at Bugibba, Bugibba Jetty, the Malta National Aquarium, Qawra Palace, Qawra Seafront, Bellavista Hotel, and Mediterraneo Marine Park.

These stops are convenient if you are staying in the resort districts. They also show the modern side of Malta, with hotels, promenades, and seaside attractions. If you are based in Valletta, you may not want to spend your best sightseeing hours riding all the way north unless you specifically want these areas.

The open top is pleasant in good weather, but Malta’s sun is strong. Bring sunscreen, and consider sitting downstairs during the hottest part of the day. The upper deck also becomes less appealing after rain because seats can hold water.

San Anton Gardens and Ta’ Qali

The route continues through San Anton Gardens and Ta’ Qali, including the Aviation Museum and Craft Village.

Ta’ Qali is a useful stop if you want locally made crafts rather than another ancient site. The Aviation Museum gives the route a different subject, while San Anton Gardens offers a quieter break from roads and traffic.

You need to choose. Visiting both stops in detail, then continuing to Mosta and Mdina, will likely take more time than the timetable allows. I would select one based on your interests.

Mosta Church and its great dome

The Mosta stop centers on the church and its large dome, one of Malta’s best-known landmarks. The building is easy to recognize from the bus, but you need to get off if you want to see the interior.

Mosta works well as a short stop because it sits inland on the route toward Mdina. If you are making only one North Route stop, I would choose Mdina instead. If you have two days, Mosta pairs nicely with Mdina and Rabat.

Mdina, the Silent City

Mdina Main Gate is the North Route’s star stop. This medieval walled town, often called the Silent City, gives you narrow streets, stone buildings, and broad views across central Malta.

I would make Mdina a priority. It is one of the few stops where simply walking around is the attraction. You do not need a complicated plan: enter through the gate, wander the lanes, and enjoy the change from Malta’s busy resort districts.

The nearby city of Rabat adds Roman remains and early Christian sites. The route stops at Rabat’s Domus Romana, as well as places connected with St Agatha’s Catacombs and other Roman sites. Entry fees are separate, so decide in advance whether you want a walk through town or an attraction visit.

Mdina is also where the bus tour is most useful as a first introduction. You can see the setting from the road, then return later with a better idea of how much time you want to spend.

Golden Bay

The North Route finishes its outer section around Golden Bay on Malta’s northwest coast before returning toward Bugibba.

Golden Bay offers a scenic coastal pause and a contrast to the inland towns. It is a good option if you want fresh air and sea views rather than another museum or church. Just watch the clock. The long circuit and limited departure times make it unwise to hop off casually near the end of the day.

The harbor cruise: best used as a separate outing

The optional harbor cruise is not the same as the Blue Grotto cave visit. It is a separate cruise around Malta’s harbor area, accessed through the Sliema Ferries stop.

The cruise gives you a different view of Valletta and the fortified waterfront. From the water, the scale of the walls, bastions, and harbor settlements makes more sense than it does from a bus seat. I consider this the best part of the optional add-on for anyone who enjoys city views and maritime scenery.

The boat can be used within three days of activation with a one-day bus and cruise ticket. With the two-day version, it can be used within five days of voucher activation. The bus and cruise do not need to happen on the same day, which is helpful.

I would save the cruise for a separate day if your schedule allows. After a long bus circuit, sitting on the water lets you continue sightseeing without more road time. Be careful with connections, though. Traffic around Valletta and Malta’s narrow streets can delay the bus, and a late arrival could put a scheduled cruise at risk.

Audio commentary, seating, and bus comfort

The driver speaks English, and headphones are supplied for the recorded commentary. The audio is offered in several languages, including English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Maltese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, Danish, and Finnish.

The commentary can help you follow the route, but do not expect a full guided lecture at every sight. Some sections are brief, and audio quality can vary from bus to bus. Headphone sockets may not work, volume may be low, and a recording may occasionally be out of sync with what you are passing.

Bring your own basic patience, and check the sound early. If one socket fails, ask to switch seats or share headphones. A route map is useful because not every stop is clearly marked, and drivers do not always announce every stop consistently.

The buses are open top, which is excellent for views but exposes you to sun, wind, and rain. The upper-deck seats are fairly basic, and a long circuit can become uncomfortable. Carry sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer. After rain, check the seat before sitting down.

How much time should you allow?

The one-day ticket costs about $33 per person. That is fair value if you use the bus as transport to several distant parts of Malta, especially if you do not want to rent a car.

It is less impressive if you stay on board for one loop and never get off. The tour’s strength is coverage, not speed. Traffic, roadworks, narrow streets, and delays can stretch the day. Buses may also finish earlier than you expect, so check the day’s timetable before choosing a distant stop.

The two-day option is the better buy if you want both routes. Use one day for the South Route and another for the North Route, then fit in the harbor cruise during the ticket’s valid period. The two bus days do not have to be consecutive, which helps if you are staying several nights.

For a one-day visit, choose the South Route and make one or two stops. For two days, do the South Route first, then use the North Route for Mdina, Rabat, Mosta, and Golden Bay.

Who should book this Malta bus tour?

I would recommend it to you if this is your first visit, you want a broad introduction, or you prefer not to deal with Malta’s roads and public transport. It is also useful for solo visitors who want an easy way to reach far-flung sights.

Families and older visitors may appreciate the simple hop-on system, but the long rides and basic seats are worth considering. Anyone seeking a detailed archaeological tour should know that the audio guide is limited and attraction entries cost extra.

This is not the best choice if you want a leisurely visit to every site. Malta’s major stops are spread out, and the timetable forces choices. Use the bus to identify your priorities, then return independently to the places that deserve more time.

Should you book it?

Book the two-day bus and harbor cruise option if you want to see both sides of Malta without renting a car. Give the South Route priority, reserve time for Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto viewpoint, and the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra area, then use the North Route for Mdina and Rabat.

Choose the one-day ticket only if your schedule is tight and you are happy with a panoramic overview plus one or two stops. The tour offers strong coverage and reasonable value, but it rewards an early start and a firm plan more than spontaneous hopping.

FAQ

How long are the North and South Routes?

The North Route takes about 210 minutes for a full circuit. The South Route takes about 180 minutes.

How often does the North Route operate?

The North Route operates every day. Listed departures from the first northern stop are 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm.

How often does the South Route operate?

The South Route operates every day. Listed departures from its first stop are 9:05am, 10:05am, 11:05am, 12:05pm, 1:05pm, and 2:05pm.

Is entry to the Blue Grotto caves included?

No. The bus ticket does not include entry to the Blue Grotto caves or other attractions.

Where do I redeem a mobile voucher?

Redeem a mobile voucher at Sliema Ferries, Stop 17, or Valletta Waterfront Terminus, Stop 20. Paper vouchers can be redeemed at any bus stop.

Is the harbor cruise included?

The harbor cruise is included only if you select the bus and harbor cruise option when booking.

Can I use the bus and cruise on different days?

Yes. With the one-day option, the bus is valid for one day and the harbor cruise can be used within three days of activation. With the two-day option, the bus is valid for two days, which do not have to be consecutive, and the cruise can be used within five days of voucher activation.

Is an audio guide provided?

Yes. Headphones and recorded commentary are provided in multiple languages. The driver’s language is English.