Malta Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — South Route

Temples, fishing boats and the Blue Grotto, from the top deck.

The Maltasightseeing Hop-on Hop-off SOUTH is an easy way to discover the south of Malta at your own pace. This open-top bus takes you past fortified harbours, prehistoric temples, quiet villages and the wild southern coast. You hop off wherever you like, explore, and simply catch the next bus. From the top deck you enjoy wide views, and audio commentary in many languages tells you the story behind every stop.

From Sliema to the Valletta waterfront

The tour starts at Sliema Terminus, opposite Burger King, and the first stop is Valletta Bus Terminus. From there, the bus continues to the War Museum and Fort St. Elmo, the star shaped fort at the tip of Valletta. Next, you pass the Mediterranean Conference Centre, once the hospital of the Knights of St John. The bus then reaches the Valletta Waterfront, a row of colourful old warehouses along the Grand Harbour with cafés and restaurants.

Tarxien Temples and Vittoriosa

After the harbour, the route turns inland to the Tarxien Temples and the Hypogeum, two of the oldest sites in Malta. The temples are more than 5,000 years old. Please note that the Hypogeum only allows a small number of visitors, so you need to book your entrance well in advance. Next, the bus stops at the Vittoriosa Waterfront in one of the Three Cities, where yachts lie in front of the old palaces of the Knights.

Zejtun and Marsaxlokk

The route continues to Zejtun, a traditional Maltese town with a large parish church and the old church of St. Gregory. After that, you arrive in Marsaxlokk, the fishing village known for its colourful luzzu boats. On Sunday, the village hosts its famous market along the harbour, so this is a good place to hop off, have lunch and take photos.

Ghar Dalam, the Blue Grotto and the temples by the sea

Further south, the bus stops at Ghar Dalam, a cave where bones of animals from the Ice Age were found, such as dwarf elephants and hippos. Then the road follows the coast to the Blue Grotto, where small boats take you into the sea caves. This boat trip is optional and costs extra. Close by, you find Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, two prehistoric temples on the cliffs above the sea. The last stop before the return is Limestone Heritage, a park that shows how Maltese limestone has been cut and used for centuries.

Route map

The map shows the full South route. The bus starts and ends at stop 1 in Sliema and follows the red line in the direction of the arrows. The main sights are marked in red: Valletta, the Tarxien Temples, Vittoriosa, Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and Hagar Qim. The numbers on the map match the numbers in the timetable below.

Timetable

The bus leaves Sliema Terminus at 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00. It runs every day except Christmas Day. Each column in the table is one bus: read it from top to bottom to see when that bus reaches each stop. Bus 7, leaving at 15:00, does not run on Sunday.

There is no pickup from hotels: you join the bus at any of its stops and hop off wherever you like.

What you can see and do

In one flexible day, this open bus tour covers southern Malta:

Why choose the Hop-on Hop-off South

Explore the south of Malta your way with the Maltasightseeing Hop-on Hop-off South. You see harbours, temples, villages and sea caves on one easy route, and you decide where to stop and for how long. Book your place and see the south of the island from the top deck.

Explore Malta by bus:

• Malta Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — North RouteFrom €25
• Gozosightseeing Hop on Hop off bus tour – GOZOFrom €25
• Night Tour to Valletta, Mosta & MdinaFrom €35
• Maltese Bus Tour to the Aviation Museum, Mosta Dome & World War II SheltersFrom €50