Getting Around Malta !

Route 222 and here's a timetable. http://www.arriva.com.mt/file.aspx?f=2210

I really do not understand your difficulty but then if you are moving here without ever having visited you will have a few preconceptions and dare I say some unrealistic expectations (particularly if you are from Manchester).

Contrary to many others, I think that the bus service is OK, but sometimes you may be left standing at the roadside as they either glide swiftly past you or do not arrive.

Have you been on Google Maps? they will show you the bus stops with names and then you can refer to timetables.

http://www.arriva.com.mt/journey_planner?l=1

Download maps and timetables.

Malta (love it or hate it) is unique and beyond any comparison to what you may have been used to. Don't even think of making any comparisons

Thanks for the reply.

Im half Maltese and spent a month over here from the age of 1-12 during every summer. Im led to believe that a lot has changed since then.

Its my first time abroad alone, and the prospect of being stranded in Mellieha after missing the last bus is a little unnerving.

Thank you again for the links, finding the correct routes has been a little confusing but its something ill have to get to grips with.

Google Maps will also suggest bus routes when you click the "Get directions" button near the top left corner, followed by a click on the bus icon.

Keep in mind the summer timetables will come into effect from tomorrow (Sunday) on and some schedules will be different than they are today.

jordan.shaw wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

Im half Maltese and spent a month over here from the age of 1-12 during every summer. Im led to believe that a lot has changed since then.

Then I won't 'teach you to suck eggs' but you're right, a lot has changed over the years. (And not all for the better.)
Arriva site has both summer and winter timetables available.

if you are going to mellieha/ghadiera bay then on your return journey go to the northern most part of the beach and get on the bus home from there as further down the beach its likely to be full..and remember the busy traffic times of the day and the ferries arrival all have an impact on the bus services and their ability to take waiting passengers

toonarmy9752 wrote:

if you are going to mellieha/ghadiera bay then on your return journey go to the northern most part of the beach and get on the bus home from there as further down the beach its likely to be full..and remember the busy traffic times of the day and the ferries arrival all have an impact on the bus services and their ability to take waiting passengers

Excellent point!

And sometimes it can be quicker to go into Valletta and get the bus from the terminus, rather than try en route.

This reminds me of a question I have been pondering for a while. Is there actually an advantage in changing buses at the Valletta terminus instead of changing at Bombi? It seems all buses going to and coming from Valletta pass through Bombi, so it might be possible to catch a bus that would have departed by the time one arrives in Valletta.

danex2 wrote:

Google Maps will also suggest bus routes when you click the "Get directions" button near the top left corner, followed by a click on the bus icon.

Keep in mind the summer timetables will come into effect from tomorrow (Sunday) on and some schedules will be different than they are today.

I think it may be worth also saying that it is always worth a double check with Arriva as not all Google information is updated as necessary.

danex2 wrote:

This reminds me of a question I have been pondering for a while. Is there actually an advantage in changing buses at the Valletta terminus instead of changing at Bombi? It seems all buses going to and coming from Valletta pass through Bombi, so it might be possible to catch a bus that would have departed by the time one arrives in Valletta.

And that is another good point if you are late getting to the terminus, provided the buses are not full when leaving the terminus.

The Google Maps bus route tool is now part of Arriva's web site: http://www.arriva.com.mt/searchresults

danex2 wrote:

The Google Maps bus route tool is now part of Arriva's web site: http://www.arriva.com.mt/searchresults

Great little tool there danex2......thanks