Malta on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Malta is good for a budget trip: about €80 per person per day covers a shared room, buses, street food and one main sight. The islands are small, so cheap buses and ferries reach almost everywhere.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €75 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Local transport | €5 | €10 | €40 |
| Per person, per day | €80 | €160 | €350 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Malta day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Valletta's grid of streets and bastions
- See the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and the noon or 16:00 cannon
- Walk the silent lanes of Mdina, especially at night
- Watch the sunset over the sea from the Dingli Cliffs
- Swim at Golden Bay or Għajn Tuffieħa
- See the Inland Sea and the cliffs at Dwejra on Gozo
Cheap eats
- Pastizzi (ricotta or pea pastries), about €0.60-1 each
- Ftira or Ħobż biż-żejt (Maltese bread with tomato, tuna and capers), about €4-6
- Imqaret (date pastries) from a stall, about €1-2
- Timpana or a slice of baked pasta from a bakery, about €3-4
- Lunch menu in a local bar, about €10-15
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and guesthouses in Sliema, Gżira and St Julian's, with dorm beds from about €20-35 and budget doubles from about €60-90 outside peak summer. Valletta has fewer cheap options.
Getting around cheaply
Tallinja buses run across Malta and Gozo for about €2-3 a ride, less with a multi-journey card. The X4 bus links the airport with Valletta. Ferries connect Valletta with Sliema and the Three Cities, and the Gozo ferry from Ċirkewwa costs a few euros, paid on the way back.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Valletta streets and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, free
- Lunch: pastizzi and coffee, about €4
- Afternoon: St John's Co-Cathedral, about €15
- Evening: ferry to Sliema and dinner in a local bar, about €20
- Total: about €80 per person including a shared room
More ways to save
- Visit outside July and August for cheaper rooms.
- Take the early morning Blue Lagoon boats, often cheaper and much less crowded.
- Pick up picnic food at a supermarket for beach days.
- Use the ferry between Sliema and Valletta instead of the bus at rush hour.
- See the temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra if the Hypogeum is sold out.
- Go to village festas in summer for free music, fireworks and street food.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Is Malta good for budget travellers?
Yes, at about €80 a day with hostels, cheap buses, pastizzi and free walking sights.
What is the cheapest food in Malta?
Pastizzi, ftira, timpana and imqaret, usually €1-6.
How do I get from Malta airport to Valletta cheaply?
Take the X4 bus, which takes about 20-30 minutes and costs about €2-3.