Malta Transport Tallinja Card

Which Tallinja Card Do You Need in Malta?

Malta's Tallinja cards give visitors and residents different ways to use Malta Public Transport, and the right option depends mainly on whether you are visiting Malta or living here. Visitors can use short-term travel cards or pay for individual journeys, while eligible residents can apply for a personalised Tallinja card. This guide explains which option may suit you, how to use it, where to buy or apply for a card, and how to top up or check your balance when needed.

Tallinja cards and Malta transport

Malta Public Transport buses are designed to be accessible, with low-floor access and wheelchair ramps to make boarding easier for passengers with reduced mobility. Priority seats are available near the front for people with mobility difficulties, pregnant passengers, parents with infants and older passengers. Buses also provide audio and visual stop announcements to help passengers during their journey.

When planning a bus journey, check the latest routes, timetables and service updates before travelling. The Malta Public Transport Journey Planner and Tallinja App can also help you find the best route, nearby stops, interchange points, and expected journey times.

Malta bus travelling through Balluta

Tallinja Card Guide – Quick Links

• How to Top Up Your Tallinja Card
• How to Check Your Tallinja Card Balance
• How to Download the Tallinja App
• Where to Get Tallinja Cards
• Tallinja Cards for Visitors
• Explore Adult and Child Cards
• Explore Flex
• 12 Single Day Journeys Card
• Bus Tickets and Fares
• Personalised Tallinja Cards

How to Top Up Your Tallinja Card

If you have a personalised Tallinja card, you can add credit whenever you need to pay for services that are not covered by the free public transport scheme. Any credit added to a personalised Tallinja card does not expire.

You can top up your card in three ways:

1. Online: Use the Malta Public Transport online top-up service and follow the instructions to add credit to your card.
2. Tallinja App: If your personalised Tallinja card is linked to your Tallinja App account, you can top it up directly through the app.
3. Sales and Information Office: You can also top up your card in person at a Malta Public Transport Sales and Information Office.

How to Check Your Tallinja Card Balance

If you have money loaded onto your personalised Tallinja card, you can check your remaining balance online, through the Tallinja App or at a Malta Public Transport Sales and Information Office.

There are three main ways to check your balance:

1. Online: Use the official Malta Public Transport balance checker and enter your Tallinja card details to view the available balance.
2. Tallinja App: If your physical Tallinja card is linked to your account, you can check the card balance directly in the app.
3. Sales and Information Office: You can ask for assistance with your Tallinja card at a Malta Public Transport Sales and Information Office.

How to Download the Tallinja App

The official Tallinja App is available for both Android and Apple devices and is useful whether you are visiting Malta or using public transport regularly.

• Android: Download the Tallinja App from Google Play
• Apple: Download the Tallinja App from the Apple App Store

The Tallinja App is useful for both visitors and regular bus users. Its main features include:

• Real-time bus information: Find nearby bus stops and see the routes serving each stop.
• Live bus tracking: Track your bus on the map while you wait.
• Journey Planner: Enter where you are travelling from and where you want to go to see suggested bus routes.
• Buy bus tickets and travel offers: Purchase available transport tickets and offers directly through the app.
• Manage your Tallinja cards: Link a personalised Tallinja card or Explore Flex card to your account and manage supported card functions.
• Save favourites: Keep frequently used bus stops, routes and destinations for quicker access.
• Service alerts: Check disruptions and route changes and receive notifications for saved routes and stops.
• Tallinja On Demand: Where the service is available, you can book an On Demand journey through the app.

Where to Get Tallinja Cards

Where you get your Tallinja card depends on whether you need a travel card for a visit or a personalised Tallinja card for longer-term use.

Visitor travel cards can be purchased from Malta Public Transport at several locations, including:

• Malta International Airport — from the Sales Office inside the Welcomers’ Hall.
• Valletta Bus Terminal — from the Malta Public Transport Sales Office.
• Sliema Ferries — from the Sales Office.
• Buġibba Terminal — from the Sales Office.
• Card-dispensing machines — available at the airport and other popular locations around Malta.
• Authorised retail outlets — selected shops around Malta also sell public transport travel cards.

Check the official Malta Public Transport sales offices and ticket machines before travelling, as locations and facilities can change.

You apply for a personalised Tallinja card rather than buying an ordinary visitor travel card. You can apply online, and the card will then be issued to the applicant. We explain the application process and eligibility requirements in the Personalised Tallinja Cards section below.

Tallinja Cards for Visitors

If you are visiting Malta, you do not need to apply for a personalised Tallinja card to use the buses. Malta Public Transport offers several travel-card options for shorter stays, including the Explore Adult and Child cards, Explore Flex and the 12 Single Day Journeys card. The best choice depends on how long you are staying, how often you expect to use the bus when getting around Malta, and whether you prefer unlimited travel or a set number of journeys.

Tallinja travel cards for Malta

How to Use Tallinja Cards for Visitors

Using a Tallinja travel card is straightforward. Always tap or validate your card on the reader when you board the bus, even when your card includes unlimited travel. Keep the card with you for the entire journey as proof of valid travel.

A few points are worth remembering:

• Validate your card every time you board a bus, including when changing buses.
• Explore Adult, Explore Child and Explore Flex unlimited travel cards are for individual use and cannot be shared.
• The 12 Single Day Journeys card can be shared, making it a different option for couples, families or groups travelling together.
• If your Explore Flex package includes another service, such as a Gozo Highspeed trip or sightseeing option, follow the conditions for the specific package you purchased.

Explore Adult and Child Cards

If you are staying in Malta for up to a week and expect to use the buses regularly, the Explore cards provide seven consecutive days of unlimited bus travel. They are available as separate Adult and Child cards and are intended for individual use, so they cannot be shared between passengers.

Explore Adult – 7 Day

• Price: €25
• Validity: 7 consecutive days
• Unlimited travel on Day Routes and Night Routes
• Includes selected Special Services
• Tallinja Direct routes are not included
• For individual use only and cannot be shared

Explore Child – 7 Day

• Price: €7
• Validity: 7 consecutive days
• For children aged 4 to 10 years
• Unlimited travel on Day Routes and Night Routes
• Includes selected Special Services
• Tallinja Direct routes are not included
• For individual use only and cannot be shared
• Children under 4 travel free and do not need a card

Explore Flex

Explore Flex is a good option if you want more flexibility than a standard seven-day Explore card, particularly if you are staying for four days or want to combine bus travel with another visitor experience.

The main unlimited bus options are:

Explore Flex can also be combined with selected sightseeing and transport experiences. Current options include packages with a return trip on the Gozo Highspeed ferry, a harbour cruise, Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing and other seasonal combinations.

A few practical points are worth knowing:

• Explore Flex is for individual use and cannot be shared.
• You can link the card to the Tallinja App to view your card and purchase available travel offers.
• You can add credit through the Tallinja App or at Malta Public Transport Sales and Information Offices.
• If you are using credit rather than an unlimited package, the fare deducted depends on the transport service you use.
• Explore Flex packages and sightseeing combinations can change, so check the current offer before buying if a particular extra is important to your plans.

You can get Explore Flex cards from Malta Public Transport Sales and Information Offices, card-dispensing machines, authorised resellers, and through the Tallinja App, with app-purchased physical cards collected from a designated dispensing machine.

12 Single Day Journeys Card

The 12 Single Day Journeys Card is a useful option if you do not need unlimited travel and expect to use the buses only occasionally. Unlike the Explore Adult, Explore Child and Explore Flex unlimited cards, this card can be shared between more than one passenger.

• Price: €19
• Includes: 12 journeys on Day Routes
• Validity: 6 months from first use
• Each journey allows free transfers between buses within a two-hour period
• The card can be shared between passengers
• On Tallinja Direct routes, two journeys are deducted for each trip

How to Use the 12 Single Day Journeys Card

The card is designed for occasional travellers and groups who do not need unlimited bus travel. Unlike the Explore Adult, Explore Child and Explore Flex unlimited cards, it can be shared between travellers.

When using the card:

• Validate the card when boarding the bus.
• A normal Day Route journey allows free transfers between buses for up to two hours, so changing buses within that period does not use another journey.
• The card contains 12 Day Route journeys in total.
• You can also use Night Services, Special Services, Tallinja Direct, and Airport Direct, but each trip deducts two journeys.
• Because the card can be shared, it can be a practical choice for couples, families or groups making a limited number of bus journeys.
• Remember that the card expires six months after its first use, even if some journeys remain.

Bus Tickets and Fares

If you do not have a travel card, you can buy a ticket directly on the bus using cash, a contactless bank card or a smartphone. A single ticket is valid for two hours, and you can change buses within that period without paying for another ordinary journey.

This summer, the standard Day Route fare is €2.50. Seasonal fare dates and services can change, so check Malta Public Transport's latest fares before travelling if your trip is still some time away.

Personalised Tallinja Cards

If you live in Malta or Gozo and meet the eligibility requirements, a personalised Tallinja card is the main card used for regular public transport rather than the short-term visitor cards explained above. The card is issued in your name and includes your photo, so you cannot share it with another passenger.

There are five main personalised card types: Adult, Child, Student, Gozo Resident and Concession. Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on regular Day Routes, Night Routes and selected Special Services, although some services still require payment. We explain those exceptions further below.

Personalised Tallinja cards for residents

How to Apply for a Personalised Tallinja Card

You can apply for a personalised Tallinja card online through Malta Public Transport or submit a paper application at a MaltaPost branch.

For an online application, you will normally need:

• A valid identification document, such as a Maltese Identity Card, Residence Document, driving licence, passport or other accepted international identification.
• A passport-style photograph to be printed on the card, where required.
• Your email address and mobile number.
• Any additional documents required for your card category.

Some applicants need extra proof. For example, students aged 17 or over must provide evidence of their studies, while applicants for a Concession card may need to provide the relevant 60+ or disability documentation.

Current application fees are:

• Adult Tallinja Card – €25
• Student Tallinja Card – €25
• Gozo Resident Tallinja Card – €25
• Child Tallinja Card – €5
• Concession Tallinja Card – €5

Postage charges apply. Applications submitted manually through MaltaPost also carry an additional administration fee.

You can apply for a personalised Tallinja card online here. Malta Public Transport advises that cards are typically delivered within about two weeks, provided the application and required documents are complete.

Using and Managing Your Personalised Tallinja Card

Once you receive your personalised Tallinja card, tap it on the reader every time you board a bus, including when your journey is covered by the free public transport scheme. The card is issued specifically to you and cannot be shared or transferred to another passenger.

You can manage your card in several ways:

• Tallinja App: Add your physical personalised Tallinja card to your app account to access supported card-management features.
• Check your balance: View any remaining credit on your card in the Tallinja App, on the Malta Public Transport website, or at a Sales and Information Office.
• Top up when needed: Add credit online, through the Tallinja App, or at a Sales and Information Office for services not covered by the free-travel scheme.
• Lost or damaged card: Malta Public Transport provides a replacement service for cards that are lost, stolen, damaged or expired.
• Keep your card for your own use: Personalised Tallinja cards are non-transferable, and another passenger should not use your card.

What Is Free and What Still Requires Payment?

With a valid personalised Tallinja card, most regular bus travel across Malta and Gozo is free, but not every Malta Public Transport service is included in the Government free-travel scheme.

Free with a personalised Tallinja card:

• Day Routes
• Night Routes
• Special Services

Services that still require payment:

• Tallinja Direct routes
• Airport Direct routes
• Tallinja On Demand journeys

You must still tap your personalised Tallinja card every time you board, even when the journey is free. If you plan to use a paid service, make sure your card has enough credit before travelling.

Adult Tallinja Card

The Adult Tallinja Card is the standard personalised card for people aged 17 and over who do not qualify for another Tallinja card category.

• Eligibility: Age 17 and over
• Intended for customers who do not fall under the Child, Student, Gozo Resident or Concession categories
• The card is personalised and cannot be shared
• Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on the covered bus services explained above
• Credit is only needed when using services that still carry a fare

Child Tallinja Card

The Child Tallinja Card is the personalised card for children aged 4 to 10 years who are eligible to use Malta's public transport system.

• Eligibility: Ages 4 to 10
• Children under 4 travel free and do not need a Tallinja card
• A parent or legal guardian must provide consent when applying
• The card is personalised and cannot be shared
• Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on the covered bus services explained above
• Credit is only needed when using services that still carry a fare

Student Tallinja Card

The Student Tallinja Card is available to young passengers aged 11 to 16, as well as eligible older students in Malta attending a recognised full-time course.

• Ages 11 to 16: Eligible for the Student Tallinja Card.
• Ages 17 to 59: Eligible when attending a recognised full-time educational course lasting at least three months.
• Students aged 17 or over must provide proof of attendance or enrolment when applying.
• The card is personalised and cannot be shared.
• Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on the covered bus services explained above.
• Credit is only needed when using services that still carry a fare.

Gozo Resident Tallinja Card

The Gozo Resident Tallinja Card is intended for people whose principal place of residence is in Gozo.

• Eligibility: Your Malta-issued Identity Card must show your principal place of residence in Gozo.
• Your Gozo residency is subject to verification by Malta Public Transport.
• The card is personalised and cannot be shared with another passenger.
• Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on the covered bus services explained above.
• You only need credit when using services that still charge a fare.
• The Gozo Resident Tallinja Card is normally valid for up to two years, subject to continued verification of your Gozo residency.

Concession Tallinja Card

The Concession Tallinja Card is available to eligible older residents and people with qualifying mobility impairments living in Malta or Gozo.

• 60+ eligibility: Available to holders of a Malta-issued 60+ Identity Card who reside in the Maltese Islands.
• Disability eligibility: Available to qualifying residents with a mobility impairment who hold an EU Disability Card marked “MT”, or other accepted Malta-issued disability documentation.
• The card is personalised and cannot be shared.
• Eligible cardholders benefit from free travel on the covered bus services explained above.
• Credit is only needed when using services that still carry a fare.
• Concession cards issued on the basis of a 60+ Identity Card do not normally expire.
• Disability-based concession cards remain valid according to the expiry or continued validity of the qualifying disability documentation.

Tallinja Office and Contact Information

If you need in-person help with a Tallinja card, the Malta Public Transport Sales Office is next to Bay A1 at the Valletta Bus Terminal.

• Valletta Tallinja Office opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 06:00 to 18:30
• Customer Care telephone: +356 21222000
• Call centre hours: Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 19:00
• Email: enquiries@publictransport.com.mt
• In-person help: The Valletta Sales Office can assist with tickets, Tallinja cards and general public transport enquiries.

You can also check the current Malta Public Transport office locations and opening hours before travelling, especially around public holidays or if you are visiting another sales office.

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We are Albert and Benjamin Magro, two Malta locals who enjoy exploring the island and sharing practical advice with visitors. Our guides combine local knowledge with first-hand visits to Malta's towns, beaches, attractions and accommodation areas. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook for more Malta tips, photos and videos.

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