Marsaxlokk Transportation

Marsaxlokk is Malta's unofficial luzzu capital. A luzzu is an awesome traditional fishing boat from the Maltese islands. Luzzus are awesome because they are traditionally colorful, painted in bright shades of yellow, blue, red, and green with a pair of eyes at the bow. Supposedly the eyes are added to avert the "evil eye", so the luzzu will be safely and successfully transporting its owner out into the sea and back ashore with boatloads of fishy cargo.

The design of the luzzu dates back Phoenician times, which explains the protection from the "evil eye", a custom still practised in Greece and the Middle East. Some luzzus (or is it luzzi) have been converted to tourist boats, although most of them are still used as fishing boats. So if you would like to take a luzzu tour, then Marsaxklokk is definitely the place to do so. It's also a great place to just take luzzu photos and to get absorbed into the colorful atmosphere of the harbor. I like boats in general, but luzzi are my absolutely favorite.

The following bus services are available:

- Bus 27 regular service from Valletta
- Bus 127 regular services from Valletta via Birzebugia
- Bus 427 Sliema seafront – Marsaxlokk
- Bus 627 Bugibba bus terminus

The Marsaxlokk bus terminal is not at the harbour, but 2 streets up from the waterfront.

2011 Update: The Malta bus service has taken over by the Arriva bud company.

Although we arrived and left Marsaxlokk on foot, the town is nevertheless reachable by bus. Every 30 minutes bus #27 serves a route between Valetta and Marsaxlokk. A single ticket costs 0,47 Euro (2010).

Tickets have to be bought directly from the driver. It is highly recommended to have the exact fare ready, as the bus drivers are often too lazy to give you change or they just like to increase their earnings by a few Cents.

Malta buses are yellow and usually second hand British type of buses dating back as far as to the 1950's. Many of them are no longer in service anywhere else in the world. This makes them a unique sight for every tourist.

Website: http://www.atp.com.mt/

We arrived in Marsaxlokk on foot from Marsaskala and left it on foot to Birzebbugia.

Marsaxlokk is situated in the south of Malta in an area which is quite perfect for hiking along the coastline and its cliffs.

You find more info about our small hikes along the coastline of Marsaxlokk in the "Off the beaten path" section of this page.

Marsaxlokk is about 35 minutes from Valletta by public bus.

Bus 27 is covering the regular service from Valletta to Marsaxlokk, while the line 127 goes via Birzebugia.

From Sliema seafront to Marsaxlokk there is a route covered by bus 427, and from Bugibba bus terminus there is bus 627.

The 27 bus takes you to Marsaxlokk, with the trip taking about half an hour. The countryside on the way is very similar to a lot of Malta's scenery. The fare is Lm 0.20 (about EUR 0.47) for a single from Valletta with buses leaving from the central bus station. The buses are of varying ages - if you are easily travel sick beware of the somewhat bumpy ride you might have.

The 27 bus route goes from Valletta to Marsaxlokk, with a full priced single costing MTL 0.20 (20 cents) and taking about 35 minutes from the bus stattion in Valletta. If you are going on the way back to the airport, then get on the 8 at Ghaxaq in the the direction of of Gudja/Luqa.

Go by bus to Marsaxlokk and that way you will see some of the interior or Malta.

You can go there as part of an island tour, but I am afraid you whizz through, and in most cases, are unable to stop and appreciate the place.

If you are holidaying in the Sliema/Buggibba area, then the 627 bus from Buggibba, via Sliema, down to Marsaxlokk is a good way to see the countryside, and villages.

The buses run practically hourly, but do obtain a bus Route and Fares leaflet, either locally, or from Valletta Bus Station.

There are NO destinations given on the buses, only the numbers, so do find out which number bus you require.

The bus fare are quite cheap, and we only paid 50cents. from Sliema to M'xlokk. Note too, that the cost from Buggibba to M'xlokk was also 50 cents, so you see, you can get a good ride on the bus for very little cost.

The leaflet I referred to above is published by the Public Transport Association, and give a map, with route numbers shown, also the bus station in Valletta, showing where in the area to catch the numbered bus.

Be sure to pick one up, and enjoy your bus trips around Malta.

Please click on the website for a facinating history of the Maltese buses,

It has among other pieces of information, their winter/summer timetables and route numbers,