Here’s How to Get to Malta, One of Europe’s Most Beautiful Islands
Planning a Mediterranean getaway and wondering how to get to Malta? This small island country is surprisingly well connected, especially considering its location in the middle of the Mediterranean. We’ve traveled around Europe enough to know that getting to some of the smaller islands can be a pain, but Malta has a major international airport, ferry connections with Sicily, and plenty of cruise ships stopping in Valletta.
There are a few different ways to reach Malta depending on where you’re coming from and how you want to travel. Most visitors will fly, but if you’re already traveling around Italy or Sicily, taking a ferry can be a really fun alternative. You can also visit Malta as part of a Mediterranean cruise or arrive by private boat.
In this guide, we’re breaking down exactly how to get to Malta, including flight routes, ferry options, cruises, and what you need to know about documents before booking your trip.
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How to Get to Malta: Basic Info for Visiting
Before diving into how to get to Malta, let’s look at some of the basic requirements for travelers.
🛂 What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Malta?
Malta is part of the Schengen Area, so entry requirements are generally the same as traveling to other Schengen countries.
US citizens can currently visit Malta for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. You’ll need a valid US passport to enter.
If you’re traveling with another nationality, check Malta’s current visa requirements before booking your trip. Citizens of countries that require a Schengen visa will need to obtain the appropriate visa before traveling.
🌍 Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Malta?
Malta follows Schengen visa rules. Travelers from visa-exempt countries can visit for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa, while travelers from visa-required countries need a Schengen Type C visa for short visits.
If you’re planning to stay longer than 90 days in Europe’s Schengen Zone, you’ll need to look into Malta’s long-stay visa and residence requirements rather than traveling as a regular tourist.
🇪🇺 Do You Need an ETIAS to Travel to Malta?
If you’re a US citizen or another visa-exempt traveler, there’s an important change coming. ETIAS is scheduled to begin operating in the last quarter of 2026 and will apply to visa-exempt travelers visiting Malta and other participating European countries for short stays.
As of now, ETIAS is not yet in operation. Once it launches, travelers from countries including the United States will need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization before traveling to Malta.
How to Get to Malta: Location & a Sneak Peak on Options to Travel There
Now that you know what documents you need to travel to Malta, here’s a quick look on the map to see where it is, and how to get there.
📍 Where is Malta Located?
Malta is a small island country in the central Mediterranean, located south of Sicily and north of Libya. The country is made up of three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, along with several smaller uninhabited islands.
Its location makes Malta especially easy to combine with a trip to Italy. Sicily is only a short ferry ride away, which means you can travel through southern Italy and then continue to Malta without getting back on a plane.
🤔 How Do I Get to Malta?
Since Malta is an island, there are only two ways to reach it: by air or by sea. There is no overland travel from other countries.
Here are the main ways to get to Malta:
How to Get to Malta: Comparing Options
Ready to learn how to get to Malta? From flight routes and airport options to cruise itineraries and private sailings, we’re covering it all.
✈️ How to Get to Malta by Flight
One of the easiest ways to get to Malta is by flight, with one major airport serving the island.
❣️ What Airport Do You Fly Into to Go to Malta?
Malta International Airport (MLA) is the airport that is Malta’s only commercial airport and often comes up in flight searches as Valletta, Malta’s capital city.
Located in Luqa, this is the main entry point for international travelers. From here, you can easily reach Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, Mdina, and the rest of the island by bus, taxi, rental car, or private transfer.
📆 What is the Cheapest Month to Fly to Malta?
Flight prices to Malta can vary significantly depending on where you’re coming from and the time of year. Summer is generally the busiest period, particularly July and August, when travelers come for Malta’s beaches and warm Mediterranean weather.
Traveling during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall can often mean better prices and more comfortable weather. Winter can also be cheaper, although you’ll have fewer beach-oriented activities and some seasonal routes may not operate.
We recommend comparing different departure cities and being flexible with your dates when searching for flights. If you’re already planning to visit another European destination, it can also be worth checking the cost of a separate flight to Malta rather than booking one long itinerary. We actually found a flight from Sicily to Malta for under $10, so anything is possible!
The 3 Easiest Hacks for Booking Flights that Can Save Your Hundreds
Booking airfare is one of the first steps to booking your trip – and while it can be overwhelming, we’re here to help you!
🛩 Which Airlines Fly Direct to Malta?
Malta is served by a mix of Malta’s national carrier and European airlines. KM Malta Airlines operates flights connecting Malta with several European destinations, while airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, ITA Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and others connect Malta with different parts of Europe and beyond.
The exact airlines and routes available depend heavily on the season, so you may have to double check deoending on which month you choose to travel.
For travelers coming from North America, there are also options for connecting through major European hubs. And there is an especially exciting option for US travelers: Delta launched a direct New York JFK to Malta route in June 2026, giving travelers from the New York area a nonstop option.
🌍 What Cities Fly Direct to Malta?
Malta has nonstop connections with cities throughout Europe and several destinations farther afield. The exact list changes seasonally, but major European hubs and cities commonly connected with Malta include Bari, Barcelona, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Catania, Dusseldorf, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Istanbul, Liverpool, London, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Newcastle, Nice, New York, Porto, Rome, Trieste, Vilnius, Wroclaw, and Zagreb.
For travelers coming from the United States, New York JFK now has a direct connection to Malta through Delta, which launched in June 2026.
If there isn’t a convenient nonstop flight from your city, connecting through a major European airport is usually the easiest way to get there.
🌊 How to Get to Malta by Sea
If flying isn’t your plan, there are still several ways to reach Malta by water.
🛳 How to Get to Malta by Cruise
Malta is a major Mediterranean cruise destination, and Valletta is one of the most beautiful cruise ports you’ll find.
Many Mediterranean itineraries stop in Malta, particularly cruises traveling through Italy, Greece, Spain, and other parts of the Mediterranean. Depending on the itinerary, Malta may be a port of call or the beginning or ending point of the cruise.
Cruising is a great option if you want to see Malta as part of a larger Mediterranean trip, especially if you’re interested in visiting multiple countries without changing hotels every few days.
If you want to spend several days exploring Malta, however, we recommend treating it as a standalone destination rather than relying on a cruise stop. A cruise gives you only a limited amount of time in Valletta and the surrounding areas, while Malta has enough to explore that you can easily fill several days.
⛴ How to Get to Malta by Ferry
If you’re already traveling through Italy, taking a ferry from Sicily to Malta is one of the most interesting ways to arrive. Virtu Ferries operates high-speed passenger and car ferry service between Malta and Sicily, with the main route connecting Malta with Pozzallo in southeastern Sicily.
The crossing itself is around two hours, making it realistic to combine Malta with a Sicily itinerary. You can also bring a car, which can be particularly useful if you’re doing a larger road trip around Sicily and Malta.
Schedules vary throughout the year, so make sure to check the ferry schedule for your specific dates. Virtu Ferries currently operates the Malta-Pozzallo route throughout the year, with multiple departures on many days.
There are also connections that make it possible to reach Catania from Malta, generally using the Pozzallo ferry connection with onward coach transfers. This can be useful if you’re trying to connect Malta with eastern Sicily and Mount Etna.
🚗 Can You Take a Car Ferry from Sicily to Malta?
Yes! This is one of the biggest advantages of traveling between Malta and Sicily by ferry. Virtu Ferries carries both passengers and vehicles, so you can bring your car across the Mediterranean rather than returning it in Sicily and renting another vehicle in Malta.
Just remember that driving in Malta is different from driving in Italy. Malta drives on the left side of the road, so make sure you’re comfortable with that before deciding to bring a rental car.
🛥 How to Get to Malta by Private Boats or Charters
Malta is also a popular stop for private yachts and sailing trips around the Mediterranean. Its location between Sicily, Tunisia, and the rest of the Mediterranean makes it a natural stopping point for boats traveling through the region.
If you’re arriving by private boat from another country, you’ll need to follow Malta’s customs and immigration procedures upon arrival. The exact process depends on where you’re coming from and your vessel, so make sure you check the current requirements before sailing.
For most travelers, this obviously isn’t the most practical way to reach Malta, but if you’re already traveling around the Mediterranean by boat, Malta is incredibly well positioned for a stop.
How to Get to Malta: Final Tips & What’s Next
Getting to Malta is much easier than you might expect for such a small island. For most travelers, flying into Malta International Airport will be the simplest option, and the island has strong connections with cities throughout Europe. But if you’re already traveling through Sicily, the ferry gives you another easy way to arrive, and cruises offer a convenient way to add Malta to a larger Mediterranean itinerary.
If you’re coming from the United States, definitely compare your options carefully. Connecting through Europe has traditionally been the easiest way to get to Malta, but the new nonstop New York JFK service makes Malta much more accessible from the US.
Now that you know how to get to Malta, the next step is figuring out where to stay, how to get around Malta, and which places you want to add to your itinerary.
Whether you’re planning to explore Valletta, visit Gozo, take a boat to Comino, road trip around Malta, or combine the islands with Sicily, getting there is the easy part.
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👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know how to get to Malta, we’re sure you’re ready to see all of the fun things to do across the island!
Here are other Malta guides we have coming up:
🪂 Fun things to do in Malta
☀️ The best time to visit Malta
🚤 Day trip to Comino Island
⛵️ How to get to Gozo Island
💦 Things to do on Gozo Island
🚌 How to get around Malta
This island is such an incredible island full of beautiful nature, sunny days, and plenty to do! We hope this article helped you how to get to Malta in the best way possible.. Have questions still? Feel free to drop them below.
Ready to learn more about visiting the island of Malta? We have quite a few coming up – but in the meantime, you can explore all of our other European travel guides. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get all of our updates on articles, trips, and shop discounts..
Are you ready to start booking your trip to Malta? With Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning we make it super easy, so you can adventure more and stress less. To learn more about how it works, take a look at some of our travel planning packages or book your one-on-one consultation with us.
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