Night Bus Malta 2026: Routes, Times and Fares Explained

Short answer: On the night bus Malta network, routes have an “N” in front of the number. Most start from Valletta, and in 2026 the network got bigger: from 5 April, Malta Public Transport added N3 (Valletta–Kalkara), N52 (Valletta–Dingli), N71 (Valletta–Żurrieq) and N120 (Xgħajra–Pembroke), and made N13 (every 10 minutes from Valletta, 23:10–02:10 on weekdays) and N212 (every 20 minutes from Buġibba, 23:50–01:30) more frequent. A night ticket costs €3.00, and night routes are free if you tap a personalised tallinja card. Check exact times in the tallinja app, which shows buses live.

This is the practical guide I wish I’d had in my first year here: which night routes exist, when they run, what they cost, how to track them, and how to build a night out around the last bus instead of discovering it at 01:59.

One honest caveat before we start: Malta’s night network is good on the main corridors and thin elsewhere. If you live in a small village off the main routes, expect fewer departures and a walk at the end, and keep a taxi app ready as plan B. If you live near Valletta, the coast road or one of the 2026 additions, the night bus can easily be your default way home.

Night routes added or improved in 2026

From Malta Public Transport’s announcement of 2 April 2026, effective 5 April 2026. Last checked October 2026.

Route	From–to	Departures	Days
N3	Valletta–Kalkara (same path as the day route)	From Valletta at 22:55 and 23:25	Monday to Sunday
N52	Valletta–Dingli (same path as the day route)	From Valletta at 23:00 and 23:30	Monday to Sunday
N71	Valletta–Żurrieq (same path as the day route)	Weekdays 23:00 and 23:30; weekends 22:45 and 23:15	Monday to Sunday
N120	Xgħajra–Pembroke (same path as the day route)	From Pembroke Park and Ride 4 at 23:10 and 00:10	Monday to Sunday
N13	From Valletta	Every 10 minutes, 23:10 to 02:10	Weekdays
N212	From Buġibba	Every 20 minutes, 23:50 to 01:30	Monday to Sunday

Source: Malta Public Transport, New Night Routes. Other night routes also run; the full, current list and every stop are in the tallinja app and on the MPT website’s routes and timetables section.

Fares and tickets

Ticket	Night route price	Notes
Single ticket (cash, contactless card or phone)	€3.00	Bought from the driver; valid for two hours
Personalised tallinja card	Free	Tap the card on the machine every time you board
12 Single Day Journeys card	2 journeys per night trip	Shareable within a group; expires 6 months after first use

Fares from Malta Public Transport, checked October 2026. Two rules worth knowing: personalised tallinja card holders must tap their card every time they board to benefit from free travel, and MPT says inspectors can fine passengers €50 if they’re caught without a validated card or a ticket. Tallinja On Demand (a bookable night-travel option in the app) is not free and needs credit on your card.

When night buses run

Night routes run late in the evening and into the early hours, but each route has its own pattern. Some, like the new N3 and N52, have just two departures a night. Others, like N13 on weekdays and N212, run every 10 or 20 minutes for a few hours. Some routes run every night; others differ between weekdays and weekends. The only way to be sure is to check the specific route in the tallinja app for the specific night.

For big events (Notte Bianca, BirguFest, festivals and New Year’s Eve), MPT often adds special services. For New Year’s Eve 2025, it added extra trips on 16 regular routes and five night routes. These are announced on MPT’s news page a few days before. Roadworks can also move stops and routes; see Malta roadworks and bus detours for nights out.

How to track your night bus

• Use the tallinja app. It has a journey planner, live bus positions on a map and service alerts for disruptions.
• Save your stop. The app lets you save favourite stops and routes, so you can check your bus in seconds at the end of the night.
• Check before you leave the bar, not when you reach the stop. Night buses run less often, and a five-minute walk can be the difference between catching one and waiting.
• Trust the live view over the timetable. Late-night traffic around Paceville and big events can delay buses.

Building a night out around the last bus

The night bus works best when you plan the evening backwards from it:

1. Find your last bus first. Before you set a meeting time, check the last night departure that gets you home.
2. Pick the area to match. Valletta is the hub for most night routes. Pembroke and Buġibba have their own late services (N120, N212). Paceville is busiest after midnight, so allow time to get to your stop.
3. Set a “leave by” time with your group. Agree it at the start of the night, when everyone is still thinking clearly.
4. Have a back-up. A taxi app with a card loaded, or a friend you can share a ride with, for the night you miss it.
5. Agree a meeting point in case you get separated, ideally near the stop.

For ideas on where to spend the evening before the bus, see the Valletta nightlife guide and our date ideas in Malta.

Three sample nights, planned around the bus

Dinner in Valletta, home to the south

You live in Żurrieq. N71 leaves Valletta at 23:00 and 23:30 on weekdays (22:45 and 23:15 at weekends). Book dinner for 20:00, have one drink after, and be at the terminus by 23:15 on a weekday. If dinner runs long, the fallback is a taxi.

Paceville, home to Buġibba

The day route 212 links Sliema and Buġibba, and MPT lists N212 night departures from Buġibba every 20 minutes between 23:50 and 01:30. Check the night service in the other direction, from the St Julian’s side, in the app before you go out, note the last useful departure, and set the group’s “leave by” time around it.

Drinks in Valletta, home to Kalkara or Dingli

N3 (to Kalkara) leaves Valletta at 22:55 and 23:25; N52 (to Dingli) at 23:00 and 23:30. With only two departures, these are early-ish nights, so plan a late afternoon start or accept a taxi for anything after 23:30.

Where to catch a night bus

• Valletta terminus (City Gate): the hub. N3, N52, N71 and N13 all depart from Valletta, so if in doubt, head for the terminus.
• Sliema and St Julian’s: night routes run along the coast road. Use the journey planner in the tallinja app to find the stop and route nearest you, as stops differ by direction.
• Pembroke: N120 leaves from Pembroke Park and Ride 4, at 23:10 and 00:10.
• Buġibba: N212 runs from Buġibba every 20 minutes between 23:50 and 01:30.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Assuming the day timetable applies. Night routes have their own numbers, times and sometimes paths. Check the “N” route, not the day route.
• Not tapping the tallinja card. Free travel only counts if you tap; otherwise you risk a fine.
• Missing a two-departure route. On routes like N3 and N52, missing the second bus means a taxi.
• Waiting at the wrong side of the road. Late at night, it’s easy to stand at the stop for the opposite direction. The app’s map helps.
• Relying on the ferry in winter. From 1 November, it stops in the early evening.

Tips for visitors

If you’re visiting and don’t have a personalised tallinja card, you can pay the driver in cash or with a contactless bank card or phone: €3.00 for a night route. If you’ll use buses a lot during your stay, look at MPT’s travel cards; the 12 Single Day Journeys card, for example, can be shared within a group and uses two journeys per night trip. Keep small change for cash payments and download the tallinja app before you go out.

If you miss the last bus

It happens to everyone once. Don’t wait at a dark stop hoping for a bus that isn’t coming. Check the app for any later route that gets you part of the way, then book a taxi or ride-hailing car from a busier, well-lit street, or share a ride with friends heading the same way. Let someone know you’re on your way. And next time, set the “leave by” time at the start of the night.

Night bus or taxi?

• Night bus: cheapest (€3.00, or free with a personalised tallinja card), reliable if you’ve checked the time, but limited departures on some routes.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: door to door, but demand and prices spike after 02:00 and after big events. Walk a few minutes away from the busiest street before booking.
• Shared ride: if three or four of you are going the same way, a shared taxi split evenly can be close to the bus fare.
• Ferry: not an option late at night in winter. The Valletta ferries’ winter timetable (from 1 November) ends in the early evening.

Night buses and new people

Big nights: New Year’s Eve and festivals

On the biggest nights of the year, MPT usually adds extra night services. For New Year’s Eve 2025, the special services were free with a personalised tallinja card and €3 for everyone else. Watch for the 2026 announcement in December on MPT’s news page, and check the tallinja app on the night for any route changes. For other evenings worth staying out for, see the Valletta cultural agenda.

Frequently asked questions

Does Malta have night buses?

Yes. Night routes are marked with an “N” and run late in the evening and into the early hours. Most start from Valletta, and the network was expanded on 5 April 2026 with N3, N52, N71 and N120.

How much is a night bus in Malta?

€3.00 for a single ticket bought on board (cash, contactless card or phone), valid for two hours. Night routes are free for holders of a personalised tallinja card who tap it when boarding (checked October 2026).

What time do night buses run in Malta?

It depends on the route. For example, N13 runs from Valletta every 10 minutes from 23:10 to 02:10 on weekdays, and N212 runs from Buġibba every 20 minutes from 23:50 to 01:30. Some routes have just two departures a night. Check the tallinja app for your route and night.

Is there a night bus from Paceville?

Night routes run through the St Julian’s area, and N120 runs between Xgħajra and Pembroke, departing Pembroke Park and Ride 4 at 23:10 and 00:10. Use the tallinja app’s journey planner to find the night route from your nearest stop.

Is the night bus free with a tallinja card?

Yes, with a personalised tallinja card (with your name and photo). You must tap it every time you board. Tallinja On Demand and tallinja Direct services are not included.

Do night buses run every night?

Many do, but not all routes run the same way every night. The 2026 additions N3, N52, N71 and N120 run Monday to Sunday, while N13’s 10-minute frequency applies on weekdays. Check the specific route and night in the tallinja app.

How can I track the night bus?

With the tallinja app, which shows buses live on a map, plans journeys and sends service alerts.

Make the plan, then the bus

The best nights out start with a time, a place and a way home. Check the last bus, tell the group, and enjoy the night.