Malta: City Sightseeing HOHO Bus Tour & Optional Boat Tour

Malta’s best sights are spread across the island, and this open-top bus tour gives you a practical way to connect them without renting a car. You can ride past Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto, ancient temples, and small coastal towns in one broad sweep.

I especially like the South Route, with its fishing village, prehistoric temples, and Blue Grotto stop. The optional harbor cruise is another strong point, giving you a different view of Valletta and the Three Cities from the water. The catch is timing: the two routes are long, buses finish relatively early, and you cannot realistically make every stop in one day.

Key points

• More than 30 stops: Cover Malta’s main sights by two routes linking the coast, inland towns, temples, and historic cities.
• The South Route is the prize: Marsaxlokk, the Three Cities, Blue Grotto, and Hagar Qim make this the most varied circuit.
• Mdina deserves a proper stop: Allow time to walk inside the medieval city rather than viewing it only from the bus.
• A boat trip adds real value: The harbor cruise shows Valletta’s walls and waterfront from a fresh angle.
• Plan around the timetable: North and South departures are spaced out, and a missed bus can cost you a large part of the day.
• Bring practical gear: Sunscreen, working headphones, water, and something to protect you from wet upper-deck seats are all useful.

What this Malta bus tour actually covers

This is not a short city loop around Valletta. It is an island-wide sightseeing service with separate North and South routes, each lasting several hours if you remain on board.

The North Route takes about 210 minutes. It links Bugibba, Qawra, St Julian’s, Sliema, Valletta, Mosta, Mdina, Rabat, and Golden Bay. The South Route takes about 180 minutes and runs through Valletta, Tarxien, the Three Cities, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbugia, the Blue Grotto, and the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples.

You can use the bus as a simple overview ride, or hop off at places that deserve a closer look. I prefer the second approach, but you need to accept a slower day. The buses do not run often enough for casual hopping at every stop.

The ticket costs about $33 per person, with one-day and two-day options. For a single day, it is best viewed as a sightseeing sampler. The two-day ticket makes more sense if you want time in Mdina, Marsaxlokk, the temples, and Valletta rather than a long ride with brief pauses.

Starting in Valletta, Sliema, or Bugibba

The route serves several popular parts of Malta, but the starting process can be confusing. Mobile vouchers must be exchanged at Sliema Ferries, Stop 17, or Valletta Waterfront Terminus, Stop 20. Paper vouchers can be exchanged at any bus stop.

If you are beginning in Valletta, allow extra time to find the correct stop and bus. Several sightseeing companies operate in Malta, and the buses can look similar. Check the City Sightseeing branding and confirm the route before boarding.

The main stops are spread across the island:

• Bugibba and Qawra on the north coast
• St Julian’s and Sliema
• Valletta city center and the waterfront
• Mosta, Rabat, Mdina, and Golden Bay
• Tarxien, Vittoriosa, Marsaxlokk, and Birzebbugia
• Blue Grotto and the prehistoric temple sites

This broad coverage is the main reason to choose the bus. Public transport can get you to many places, but connecting several far-flung sights in one day takes more planning. The bus gives you a fixed sightseeing framework, though traffic can still cause delays.

The North Route from Bugibba to Mdina

The North Route begins around Bugibba and Qawra, then passes the Malta National Aquarium, the Qawra seafront, and Mediterraneo Marine Park before heading toward St Julian’s.

This opening section is useful if you are staying in the north. Stops serve hotels, coastal promenades, and major resort areas. You will see plenty from the upper deck, but the early part of the route is more about orientation than landmark after landmark.

The bus then passes St George’s Bay, Spinola Bay, Balluta Bay, and Sliema. These stops are useful for visitors staying along the coast. Sliema Ferries is also important because it is a voucher exchange point and the departure area for the harbor cruise.

Valletta is the natural break in the route. You can get off at the city center or waterfront, then walk into the capital for forts, museums, churches, and the narrow streets around the old center. The bus stop is not a substitute for exploring Valletta on foot. It simply gets you close.

Mosta, Ta’ Qali, Rabat, and Mdina

After Valletta, the North Route heads inland. San Anton Gardens gives you a change from Malta’s dense urban areas, while Ta’ Qali offers the Aviation Museum and Craft Village.

Mosta is one of the more useful stops for a short visit. Its church is known for its enormous dome, which is the main reason to get off here. You do not need a full day to see the church, but check the return timetable before leaving the bus.

Rabat and Mdina are the real highlights of this inland section. Rabat has the Domus Romana and Roman-era sites, along with St Agatha’s Catacombs. The area is historically important, but the attractions are separate paid visits, not part of the bus ticket.

Mdina is the stop I would prioritize. The medieval walled town is compact enough to explore on foot, and its quiet lanes and stone buildings feel very different from the resort coast. Give yourself enough time to enter through the main gate, walk the central streets, and enjoy the views from the city walls.

A common mistake is to stay on the bus for the full loop and treat Mdina as a passing sight. That misses the point. Use the bus to reach the gate, then spend real time inside.

The North Route continues toward Golden Bay before returning toward the coast. Golden Bay adds a more open coastal stop, but the route is long. If you get off at Mdina, you may have to choose between a leisurely visit and several later stops.

The South Route and Malta’s oldest sights

The South Route begins around St Julian’s and Sliema, then passes through Valletta and heads toward Malta’s historic southeast.

Tarxien Temples are among the most important stops on this circuit. These prehistoric stone structures are generally dated to around 3000 BC. The site gives you a direct link to Malta’s ancient past, long before the Knights, Romans, or medieval rulers.

Next comes Vittoriosa Waterfront in the Three Cities. The area is tied closely to Malta’s maritime and military story, with old fortifications, harbor views, and historic streets. The bus only gives you the framework. To understand the Three Cities properly, get off and walk.

The route then reaches Marsaxlokk, a traditional fishing village. This is one of the most appealing stops for a slower break. The harbor and fishing boats provide a more local, coastal setting than the resort towns farther north.

Marsaxlokk is also a good place to pause for food, although meals are not included in the ticket. Keep an eye on the timetable. A long lunch can leave you waiting for the next bus, and the service ends earlier than many first-time visitors expect.

Birzebbugia, Blue Grotto, and the temple coast

The South Route continues to Pretty Bay in Birzebbugia before reaching the Blue Grotto. The coastal scenery is the main attraction here, with open views across the water and dramatic rock formations.

The bus ticket does not include entry to the Blue Grotto Caves. That distinction matters. The stop lets you see the area and arrange your own visit if conditions and time allow, but any cave admission or separate boat ride costs extra.

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples are another major South Route stop. These ancient sites sit near the coast and offer some of Malta’s most striking prehistoric remains. They are a good choice if you want history beyond the better-known medieval cities.

The temple stop can be rewarding, but do not treat it as a quick photo break. The sites need time, and the return bus may not arrive immediately. Check the departure schedule before you leave the vehicle.

The South Route then returns toward Valletta. Stops include Malta Experience, the Knights Hospital, the War Museum, and Fort St Elmo. These are useful Valletta-area options if you prefer military history and the story of the Knights.

The harbor cruise from Sliema

The optional harbor cruise is a sensible addition, especially if you have a second day. It shows Valletta, the surrounding forts, and the Three Cities from the water, where the scale of the defensive walls becomes much easier to understand.

The cruise is not a replacement for visiting Valletta on foot. It is a visual companion. From the harbor, you see the fortified waterfront as a whole instead of encountering each wall and bastion separately in the city streets.

A practical way to use it is on the last day of your pass. After walking around Malta, the cruise offers sightseeing with less effort. The cruise has its own operating arrangements, so protect your connection if you are trying to fit it between bus routes.

For a one-day bus and cruise ticket, the bus is valid for one day and the cruise can be used within three days of activation. With the two-day option, the bus can be used across two days, not necessarily consecutive days, within five days of activation. The cruise also can be used within five days of activation.

Timetables matter more than the map

The published North Route departures from Stop N1 are 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30. South Route departures from Stop S10 are 9:05, 10:05, 11:05, 12:05, 1:05, and 2:05.

These times explain why the two routes are hard to combine in one day. The circuits are long, the departure gaps can be substantial, and traffic around Valletta and the coastal towns can slow the buses.

I would not plan a packed list of six hop-off stops. Pick one or two important stops per route. For many people, the best two-day plan is:

• Day one: North Route, with Mdina as the main stop
• Day two: South Route, with Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto, or the temples
• Add the harbor cruise on either day, or use it on a separate day if your ticket allows

The buses can be crowded when cruise ships are in port. Start early, especially if you want to visit both a historic town and an archaeological site.

Audio commentary, comfort, and service

An audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Maltese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, Danish, and Finnish. The driver speaks English.

The commentary is useful for basic orientation, but do not expect a full historical lecture. Some sections are brief, and audio ports or headphones may not work on every seat. A few riders have found the volume too low or the recording out of sync with what they are seeing.

Bring your own sense of direction and keep the route map handy. If your audio fails, the ride still works as transport and sightseeing, but you will lose much of the context.

The upper deck gives you the best views, yet Malta’s sun is strong. Bring sunscreen and water. After rain, check the seats before sitting down because water can collect on the upper deck. The seats are basic, and a long full-route ride may feel tiring.

The service is not perfect. Stops can be hard to identify, signage is not always clear, and occasional delays are possible. Drivers have also been reported to skip stops late in a route. If a particular temple or museum is essential to your day, confirm the stop with the driver before setting off and leave time for the next bus.

Is the $33 price good value?

At about $33, the pass can be good value if you use it for long cross-island journeys and visit several places. Malta’s sights are scattered, so the bus saves you from arranging separate connections between north-coast resorts, Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk, and the southern temples.

The value drops if you only ride one short section or spend most of the day waiting between stops. A one-day ticket is most useful for a full sightseeing day. A two-day ticket gives you breathing room and is the better choice if you want to explore Mdina and Marsaxlokk instead of simply photographing them from the bus.

The harbor cruise strengthens the package, especially for a first visit. Food, drinks, attraction admission, and Blue Grotto cave entry are extra, so budget for those separately.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a broad first look at Malta, prefer not to rent a car, or are staying in Bugibba, St Julian’s, Sliema, or Valletta. It also suits solo visitors who want a simple way to reach distant sights.

It is less suitable if you need precise departure times, dislike sitting for long stretches, or want a detailed guided history lesson. It is also not ideal for a rushed one-day visit where you hope to explore every stop.

Book it for coverage, not perfection. Choose the two-day pass if you can, make Mdina and the South Route priorities, and use the boat cruise as a relaxed extra. With an early start, a timetable in hand, and realistic expectations about delays, this is a useful way to see far more of Malta than you could comfortably manage from one base.

FAQ

How long do the North and South bus routes take?

The North Route takes about 210 minutes, while the South Route takes about 180 minutes if you remain on the bus.

How many stops are included?

The tour has more than 30 stops and passes more than 50 points of interest across the two routes.

Is entry to the Blue Grotto Caves included?

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

Can I use the bus and harbor cruise on different days?

Yes. With the one-day bus and cruise 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 and cruise can be used within five days of voucher activation, subject to the stated validity rules.

Where do I redeem a mobile voucher?

Mobile vouchers must be redeemed at Sliema Ferries, Stop 17, or Valletta Waterfront Terminus, Stop 20. Paper vouchers can be redeemed at any bus stop.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Maltese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, Danish, and Finnish.