Home / Valletta /Malta International Airport / Route 88 via Paola vs Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema

MLA → Valletta · head to head

Route 88 via PaolaorAirport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Route 88 via Paola reaches the Valletta bus terminus outside City Gate, by the Triton Fountain — bay B1, where the TD4 sets down, with the whole walled city on foot from there; the Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema does not. Runs to St Julian's and Sliema; it passes Floriana only on its way back to the airport, 52 to 55 minutes out. Take the TD4 for Valletta.

The Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema is quicker: 42 min against 43 min. The Route 88 via Paola varies between 30 and 51 minutes.

Route 88 via Paola: 05:30–22:50. Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema: 05:15–00:45.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersRoute 88 via PaolaAirport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and SliemaDifference
1€2.50€3€0.50
2€5€6€1
3€7.50€9€1.50
4€10€12€2
5€12.50€15€2.50
6€15€18€3
7€17.50€21€3.50
8€19€24€5

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
bus · Malta Public Transport (tallinja)Route 88 via Paola
From
The "Airport 2" stop at the bus terminal outside arrivals, with a 24-hour tallinja card machine beside it
To
The Valletta bus terminus outside City Gate, in 30 to 51 minutes, after Gudja, Ħal Għaxaq, Żejtun, Tarxien, Paola, Marsa and Floriana (Bombi, Sarrija, Mall, Publiju)
Luggage
An ordinary city bus: the operator welcomes "small luggage items" that do not block the aisle and says drivers "may limit or refuse" large or bulky ones.
Runs
05:30–22:50
Journey
30–51 min

Fifty cents cheaper than the TD4 and about half an hour slower: 30 to 51 minutes through nine localities and nearly forty stops against 11 to 17 direct.

The fare changes with the calendar: EUR 2.50 now, EUR 2.00 in winter. The TD4 is EUR 3 all year.

Last bus 22:50 on weekdays and 22:30 at weekends, first 05:30. After it, the TD4 until 00:50; after that, the taxi.

Eight of you: one EUR 19 twelve-journey card, tapped eight times, beats eight EUR 2.50 tickets and leaves four journeys for the week. It is sold at the office and the machines, not by the driver.

Cash on board is exact change only, by the operator's conditions; a contactless bank card avoids the problem.

This is one of the four routes the operator named as the X4's replacement; the airport's own bus page does not list it, but its timetable starts at the airport.

Route 88 via Paola: price for every party size →

See Malta Public Transport fares
shuttle · Malta Public Transport (tallinja)Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema
From
The "Airport 1A" stop at the bus terminal outside arrivals
To
St Julian's (San Ġiljan, Spinola, Balluta) in 28 to 32 minutes, then the Sliema seafront to the Ferries in 40 to 43, and on through Gżira and Msida
Luggage
An Airport Direct bus: "ample luggage space", by the operator.
Runs
05:15–00:45
Journey
28–43 min

Sliema is the far end: 40 to 43 minutes to the Ferries, after St Julian's. For Valletta it is the wrong bus — the TD4 does it in 11 to 17.

Last bus 00:45 from the airport, first 05:15, every day.

The taxi table is EUR 20 to Sliema and EUR 21 to St Julian's for up to five.

Airport Direct TD3 to St Julian's and Sliema: price for every party size →

See Airport Direct fares from Malta Public Transport

This compares two of 6 options. See all of them ranked for your party size →

The other comparisons at Malta International Airport