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Malta Sightseeing Tour: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Optional Harbour Cruise

2.5

142 Ratings

Experience the best of Malta with a hop-on hop-off bus tour and optional harbour cruise. Explore Malta's top attractions, including historic sites and cultural landmarks, at your own pace.

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Hop-on Hop-off North Tour (Route)

Operating Schedule: North Route departure times from Stop 1:
8:00am - 14:30pm
Every 30/60 minutes. Operates daily

1. Topaz Hotel
Bugibba (Topaz Hotel/ Pebbles Hotel)

2. Bugibba
Pebbles Hotel

3. Bugibba
Seastrips Outlet

4. Bugibba
Bugibba Centre (Opposite HSBC)

5. Bugibba
Bugibba (Santana Hotel)

6. Malta National Aquarium
Malta National Aquarium

7. QAWRA Palace Resort & SPA
Qawra Palace Hotel (Bus Stop opposite Hotel)

8. Qawra Point Beach
Qawra Seafront (Opposite CitySightseeing Outlet)

9. Bella Vista Hotel Malta
Bellavista Hotel

10. Car Rental Office
ITS Roundabout (Radisson & Corinthia Hotels Roundabout)

11. Ninou’s Grill & Cocktails
St. George’s Bay (CitySightseeing Route Stage)

Westin Dragonara

13. 31 Vjal Portomaso
Hilton Roundabout

14. 6 St George’s Road
Spinola Bay

15. Antik
Balluta Bay (opposite Balluta Church)

16. Chalet
Sliema Seafront (Opposite Prelune Hotel)

17. VFS Sliema
Sliema Ferries

18. 1 Triq Sir Frederick C. Ponsonby
Opposite Bayview Hotel (City Sightseeing Outlet)

19. Publiju
Valletta City Centre

20. 31 Xatt Lascaris
Valletta Waterfront Terminus (Change for South Route)

21. Strickland
San Anton Gardens

22. VCR9+868
Ta’ Qali Crafts Village

23. Malta Aviation Museum
Ta’ Qali Aviation Museum

24. 291a Triq Il-Kbira
Mosta Church

25. Mdina Gate
Mdina Main Gate

26. W8PW+4HQ
Golden Bay

Points of Interest

Buggiba Perched Beach
Qawra
Malta National Aquarium
Mediterraneo Marine Park
St. George’s Bay
Sliema Promenade
Valletta
Blue Grotto (Il-Hnejja)
Golden Bay

Hop-on Hop-off South Route (Route)

Operating Schedule: South Route departure times from Stop 1:
9:05am - 14:05pm
Every 30 minutes. Operates daily

1. Car Rental Office
ITS Roundabout (Radisson & Corinthia Hotels Roundabout)

2. Ninou’s Grill & Cocktails
St. George’s Bay (CitySightseeing Route Stage)

Westin Dragonara

4. 31 Vjal Portomaso
Hilton Roundabout

Spinola Bay

6. Antik
Balluta Bay (Opposite Balluta Church)

7. Chalet
Sliema Seafront (Opposite Prelune Hotel)

8. VFS Sliema
Sliema Ferries

9. 1 Triq Sir Frederick C. Ponsonby
Opposite Bayview Hotel (CitySightseeing Outlet)

10. Publiju
Valletta City Centre

Valletta - Malta Experience/ Fort St Elmo

12. 31 Xatt Lascaris
Valletta Waterfront Terminus

Vittoriosa Waterfront
Esplora Science Centre
Marsaxlokk Fishing Village
Ghar Dalam Cave
Blue Grotto
Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples

Points of Interest

Hagar Qim Temples
Blue Grotto (Il-Hnejja)

What's Included

Vouchers valid for 1 year from travel date
24-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off access
Multilingual on-board audio commentary + free headphones
Discount booklet for eateries, shops, and attractions
Optional Hop On Hop Off Harbour Cruise

What's Not Included

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)

Additional Information

Regardless of the time your cruise ship docks in Malta, this is the ideal self-guided shore excursion. Explore the prime attractions of Malta on this City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off tour that offers comprehensive commentary and a safe, comfortable environment. Proud of more than 7,000 years of history, Malta overflows with fascinating spots and points of interest. Take in everything via two routes around Valletta that feature landmarks such as the Mosta Church and Dome, Ta’Qali Craft Village, Rabat and numerous Roman sites.

To enhance your Malta journey, we’ve included a Harbour Cruise (usable within 3 days of pass activation) - guiding you around Valletta’s harbour with its breathtaking military fortifications, allowing you to hop off and explore the Esplora Interactive Science Museum (entrance fee not included). Please be aware this only applies to the bus & harbour cruise ticket.

North Route: Operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
North Route: Departures from Stop N1 at 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm
Tour duration - 210 minutes
South Route: Operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
South Route: Departures from Stop S10 at 9:05am, 10:05am, 11:05am, 12:05pm, 1:05pm and 2:05pm
Tour duration - 180 minutes
1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Harbour Cruise: Bus ticket is valid for 1 calendar day. Harbour Cruise can be used within 3 days of voucher activation
Harbour Cruise:- Main embarkation point: Sliema Ferries. Departure times from Sliema Ferries: 10:30, 12:30 and 14:45. Stops include: Esplora (Kalkara) and Sliema Ferries. Customers may hop on and off the cruise at any of the stopping points however, timetables change regularly so they will need to check locally for the latest timetable and stop off times.
Note: Please be aware that boarding on the cruises is on a first come first served basis so we recommend arriving apx. 15 minutes before departure time to have the best chance of securing a place on the cruise.
Cruise Passenger Info: Arrivals will be required to walk to Bus Stop 16, the Silema Ferries, as this is the closest stop to the cruise port. Inside the Cruise Terminal is a City Sightseeing Kiosk who can provide customers with directions and any additional information to guide them to this shore excursion.
With your voucher, enjoy flexible access for up to 12 months from the travel date you select at check-out.
Mobile vouchers must be redeemed at Sliema Ferries (Stop 17) or Valletta Waterfront Terminus (Stop 20). Paper vouchers can be redeemed at any of the bus stops
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please note times and frequencies are subject to change at any time so please check locally for the latest information

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

2.5

(142 Ratings)

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1 star

Debbiebx1934if

May 10, 2024

Great way to see the Island for $25 euros. - Think we went on a good day, even though there were several cruise ships in port! We took the Blue route (North) from The Independence Monument (Valletta) to Mdina. No seats on the upper deck when we boarded but as it's a hop on/off bus, seats upstairs became available after a few stops. The bus was on time too. The return from Mdina was also on time and we hopped off at St Julien's Bay for lunch. Back on the tour (upper deck), again, it was on time, we changed buses at Sliema for our transfer back to Valletta. No issues at all. A great way to see the Island for 25 euros. Sadly, there were also plenty of whingers onboard but put the earphones in and drown them out!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ilses998

Sep 1, 2023

Interesting but very difficult to get information - It is somewhat difficult to get information about the tour. I contacted them several times. First I got an itinerary for the two different routes, then I had to cancel because I wanted to travel two different routes from two different locations in Malta. Finally, the days of the week I had chosen did not work out either because the routes alternate. Finally, I contacted them again about the booked harbor cruise and its departure times and meeting point, which took another day or two. Finally, the departure times of the buses at the two departure locations... I got no answer to that, so I just went to the location that I knew from the last bus event in Valetta and had to wait because one bus had just left and the next one wasn't coming for another 40 minutes. The actual bus ride was smooth and very interesting and the harbor tour was great too. For €35 you have to put up with all that, including the fact that there was no translation on the boat, so I had no information about what I saw. Despite all that, it was a lovely and interesting day in Valetta.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Gregg_m

Aug 23, 2023

Did the North bus route.... - Did the North bus route. 3.5hours - not a great deal to see, although a couple of good stops, such as Medina, Sileni and Valletta. Visited on a cruise excursion, would advise anyone on a short visit, to take the shorter cruise passenger bus and spend more time exploring Valletta

Review provided by Viator

Davorin

Oct 31, 2023

Okay, but hard to find a bus. Definitely recommend embarking on a bus you encounter on the way rather than booking it in advance - There is no clear info where to get on the bus. I was not able to find the right one (there are two companies providing such bus tours in Malta) until later that day, when there was only enough time to go on a quick round, without leaving the bus. If you decide to go, I definitely recommend just walking on one of the buses and buying the ticket on the spot, rather than booking it in advance. The ticket is also much cheaper if you buy it on the bus. Otherwise the tour is okay. There are two bus tracks: red and blue and you can switch between them on a certain bus stop. They visit all the important spots in Malta, where you can disembark and later embark on another bus to continue the journey. There is also audio guide on the bus. If it doesn't work with your headphones you can ask the conductor to give you free ones.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Paul_d

Aug 8, 2023

Long wait for pickup got... - Long wait for pickup got off twice and ended up waiting for about an hour for bus to come both times

Review provided by Viator

Don

Apr 25, 2024

Don't waste your time or money!! - So, we visited Valletta on a cruise. Have used City Sightseeing HO-HO in other cities and our experience has been good. Weren't we let down! Firstly the tout advised us that as there were 3 cruise ships in port extra routes and buses were being put on so we wouldn't have more than a 20 minutes between buses. WRONG!! We waited for nearly an hour at Mdina for a bus back to Valletta with no information or anything. Secondly, on sitting down on the top deck water started pouring from the seats and you found yourself sitting in a pool of water. To make matters worse, there was that much water around everything in bags got soaked. Accepted its an open top bus and it rains but surely the seats should be waterproof!! You could tell who'd been on these buses by their sodden backsides! Finally, the episodic commentary, when it worked, bore no relation to where you were or what you could see. To be honest, a least Dock Turpin told you he was a highwayman. Do yourself a favour and AVOID!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Drennan14

Feb 28, 2024

Awful and not worth the money - Awful over crowded buses only arriving every hour and going through areas with no tourist attractions on very boring routes.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Karinc413

Jan 19, 2024

Tourist scam - Impossible to find departures and stops in Valletta. Lousy customer service. A great tourist scam! No timetable either. For my part, I was not able to use my ticket because no correct information was sent to me!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Climber726913

Aug 22, 2023

Mobile Hell Hole - If your idea of a good time is burning under the blistering Maltese sun while trying to hold you nose against the stench of vomit, then this is the tour for you. Seriously, this is the worst HOHO bus tour I’ve ever had the misfortune of experiencing. The bulk of the stops on the north route are at hotels with very few actual sights. So effectively you’re paying for a very expensive bus. If you want to go to Mdina, there are direct local buses for a 1/4 of the price of this mobile hell hole. And they are air conditioned. Or book an Uber! To cap it all the driver tried to flog us water for €1 a bottle after he jumped out (leaving engine on and keys in ignition) at a local shop to buy at considerably less. What was really alarming though was the bus stop at Mdina. Basically the disembarking and embarking passengers are sandwiched between the buses and some railings while the buses attempt to move forward with their doors open and people at risk of crushing. There is likely to be a serious injury there soon and both the local council and the bus operators need to address this.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Steveyw7310ht

Aug 10, 2023

Avoid the Hop on Hop off Red Bus - Terrible experience with this company, would never use again. If I could have given no stars I would have, had to give 1. Bought a ticket that should have enabled us to use all three bus routes - red and yellow every 30 mins, blue every 15 mins. At Mdina where we'd arrived on a yellow bus from the Port, we waited over 45 minutes for any of the buses to arrive before the same yellow bus we came on arrived. Other people had waited over 1 1/2 hours. In theory, every 30 mins there should be 2 red and yellow buses and 3 blue - nothing!! Use Malta Sightseeing not the Red buses. Writing this on our return to Valletta from Mdina instead of seeing the rest of the island, we don't want to waste our day waiting for buses that aren't going to arrive. Complete waste of 50 Euros. Wifi didn't work either.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 15 guests

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