Why We’re Glad We Didn’t Rent A Car On Malta

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We recently spent five days in the island nation of Malta over the kids’ spring break. We flew from Atlanta into Paris, spent three days in the Montmartre neighborhood, and then flew to Malta. It was a wonderful opportunity to see an exotic location, and it brought us back to my favorite area, the Mediterranean Sea. While we planned the trip, we were uncertain if we should rent a car on Malta, and we found a lot of conflicting advice online.

So, I wanted to write this post to share our first-hand experience in Malta and help you make your own decision about renting a car in Malta. For context, we traveled to Malta in late March as a party of four (two adults and two teenagers).

Should You Rent A Car In Malta Europe Blog Post

Should You Rent A Car On Malta?

We spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos, reading Reddit forums, and reading blog posts, trying to decide if we really wanted to rent a car in Malta. Malta’s car rental prices are inexpensive, and we knew it would probably be slightly more affordable to rent a car rather than hire an Uber for every trip, but many people said that renting was a bad idea.

Initially, I booked a car rental through Hertz for our trip. But after much deliberation, I cancelled it about a month before our trip. With these mixed reviews, we were torn and decided to take our chances and decide once we got there. Hopefully, this post will shed some light on this issue and help you make your own choice.

Driving in Malta: What You Should Know First

Malta drivers drive on the left side of the road, similar to England and Australia. So, most cars are built with the driver’s seat on the right side of the vehicle. Obviously, this can be a big adjustment for Americans and requires extra attention from the driver. This is because of the heavy British influence in Matla, which is why you’ll see red phone booths like this one!

Malta’s roads are narrow, winding, and very fast-paced. Compared to most US roads, they are significantly less wide, and cars frequently pass between narrow spaces between rock walls, other vehicles, or buildings. The streets are winding, with fast-moving traffic moving along bends and turns at high speeds. It’s a frantic feel and not for the faint of heart. Honestly, we spent EVERY Uber ride plastered against our seats and freaked out that we would get into a wreck.

Maltese drivers are aggressive and know the road. Driving in Malta requires pushing into traffic, calculating speeds and turns, dealing with limited-visibility areas, and assessing road conditions that only local Maltese drivers have mastered. An unfamiliar driver would have a hard time keeping up with the flow of traffic.

There are many roundabouts in Malta. Almost every intersection is a roundabout rather than a stop sign or a stoplight. Traffic moves fast along the roundabouts as cars dart into the traffic stream and jockey for position. These roundabouts can be particularly disorienting when you aren’t used to driving on the left side of the road.

3 Reasons You Should Rent A Car On Malta

Here are some reasons I think it would make sense to rent a car on Malta. Of course, travel is very personal, and everyone’s wants and needs can differ. So, you will want to make the best decision for your group! You can also click here to browse rental cars on Malta to get an idea of the sizes and prices.

#1 You Are A Solo Traveler Or Couple

If you are solo or a couple traveling together and you would be comfortable handling the pace of driving, then it might make sense.

From our experience, the cars in Malta are mainly small cars that can comfortably fit only two people. Likewise, most of the parking spaces are for these smaller cars. We had a lot of trouble squeezing four people into these cars and usually had to hire an UberXL or a private van to accommodate the whole family comfortably. Be sure you know the make and model of your rental vehicle and if it will work for the size of your group.

#2 You Want To Explore Off The Beaten Path

Renting a car on Malta can be challenging because it’s the busiest island. The smaller island of Gozo is less busy and would be easier for a tourist to navigate. If you are staying outside of the larger cities of Malta and are mainly interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path areas and remote beaches, then a rental car would be ideal.

Once you are outside of the major cities like Valletta, Sliema, St. Julians, and St. Paul’s Bay, the area is more rural, and the traffic is lighter. However, there were plenty of times we felt scared in an Uber speeding along narrow, crowded, stone-lined streets in the countryside, too.

#3 You Don’t Want To Use Public Transport Or A Rideshare App

Malta and Gozo have a public transportation bus system that will get you around the islands, but navigating the system can be time-consuming and crowded, especially in peak seasons. You would need to factor in time to walk to bus stops and wait for buses.

Similarly, without a car rental, you would need to hire an Uber or a Bolt (the most popular rideshare app in Malta), which can be a bit costly if you plan to visit many places around the island.

TIP: You can easily arrange a private airport transfer via Get Your Guide. We did this and it worked out great. Plus, it’s always fun to start your vacation seeing someone holding your name on a sign at the airport!

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Rent A Car On Malta

Here are some reasons why you might not want to rent a car in Malta. Full disclosure – I spent only five days there, so I don’t have a complete picture of all the considerations across every season. However, our visit was in late March, so I can imagine that it gets significantly busier than what we experienced during the peak summer season.

#1 Traffic In Malta Is Intense

Traffic is intense, especially in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian’s. In many areas, traffic is bumper to bumper, and the pace is fast. Cars speed up quickly and reach high speeds on open stretches and then slam on the brakes as they enter traffic or roundabouts. Lane switching is hasty and aggressive. Blind spots, hidden entrances, or wet conditions mean little to most drivers.

#2 Parking In Malta Is Limited

There is limited parking in many tourist areas. Even with a small car and good parallel parking skills, you may not be able to find a space. The city is ancient, real estate is precious, and roads have been built patchwork over time, meaning that parking is non-existent in some places. Likewise, not all lodging will have easily accessible parking. Be sure to check with your hotel or rental home before deciding to rent a car.

#3 Rideshare is Affordable and Convenient

Renting a car isn’t really necessary because affordable rideshare options like Uber or Bolt are available. We had no trouble at all finding an Uber or Bolt whenever we needed one, at any time of the morning or night. We even matched an Uber Private Van fast at 4:00 AM out of St. Julian’s when we needed to get to the airport.

UberX is available, although you will usually be picked up by a small 2-door car. Even with Uber XL, we rarely were picked up in anything larger than what would be considered a small 4-door car in the USA, and never an SUV. You can also book taxis and private car services.

Alternatives To Hiring A Car On Malta

Here are some alternatives to hiring a car in Malta. Of course, you should consider your travel priorities and which month you will be visiting. It’s also important to know in advance what activities there are in Malta so that you know where you will need to be for each.

Public Transportation In Malta

Malta has an extensive public transport system with over 2,000 bus stops across the islands. The bus network connects major hubs, tourist attractions, and even remote areas. Whether you’re heading to Valletta, Mdina, or the Gozo ferry terminal at Ċirkewwa, there’s likely a bus route available. For a small fare (currently between €2.00 and €3.00), you can use the bus for travel to any location within two hours, including transfers.

Additionally, the ExplorePlus travel card offers 7 days of unlimited travel, including direct services from the airport and to various beaches. Most buses are equipped with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

If you plan to use the bus system, be sure to download the Tallinja app. The app provides real-time bus locations, route planning, and service updates.

Uber and Bolt in Malta

As I discussed earlier, Uber and Bolt are safe, easy, and fairly inexpensive compared to the rest of Europe. We had no problem getting around Malta with these apps. Most fares are in the $10 range to get around the larger cities. Compared to other international cities we have visited, these were some of the least expensive Uber rides we’ve come across.

Organized Tours With Pick-Up And Drop-Off

Some guided tours offer pick-up and drop-off options, which is wonderful and makes planning the event easier and less stressful. We love taking Get Your Guide tours, and they have been the highlight of our travels all over the world. Check out the page Top Tours in Malta to see guided tour options on the Maltese Islands. Look for tours that offer hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Summary: When Renting a Car Might Make Sense

I think it might make sense to hire a car on Malta in some or all of the following circumstances:

#1 Your group is no larger than two people, and you do not mind driving a small car.

#2 You’re a confident driver used to left-side road systems (e.g., from the UK or Australia).

#3 You are planning an extended trip and want to explore hidden gems.

#4 You’re staying in Gozo or a rural area with limited transport.

#5 You don’t mind driving under some stressful conditions, including narrow, winding roads and high-traffic areas.

Exploring The Magic Of Malta

We had a great time exploring Malta and saw a lot in the five days we were there. We didn’t feel that renting a car on Malta was the right fit for us, but for others, the decision will depend on your travel style and comfort behind the wheel.

For most tourists, I’d suggest skipping the rental cars and sticking to Uber and Bolt, especially if you’re not used to left-side driving. Malta is amazing, even without getting behind the wheel.

Click here for some great tours in Malta!

More European Travel Inspiration

If you enjoyed this tip for traveling to Malta, you’ll love my other content. Here at Our Little Lifestyle, we pride ourselves on only writing about places we have been and sharing first-hand travel tips! Feel free to browse the entire European Travel section of my website, and here are a few posts that you might like to read!