There are three different things called a taxi in Malta and they are priced in three different ways.
Knowing which one you are getting into before the doors close is most of the problem solved.
White taxis
From the airport these run on fixed zone fares.
You pay at a desk inside the terminal before you get in the car, so there is no meter and nothing to argue about.
The desk is in the arrivals hall past customs. Say the town, pay, and hand the docket to the driver outside.
Away from the airport it works differently. Agree the fare before you get in.
This is the one situation on the islands where the price can still be disputed afterwards.
The apps
Bolt is the one most people already have and it is usually the cheapest.
Uber works here on the same app you use at home, but the fleet is smaller and the wait can be longer.
eCabs is Maltese, runs its own cars and takes bookings by phone, which matters when your data has run out.
All three quote the fare before you accept, so there is nothing to negotiate and no cash to count.
Prices surge on Friday and Saturday nights and after big events. A ten-minute wait often halves the quote.
Black taxis and hotel cars
Chauffeur-driven cars booked through a hotel or an operator are the third kind.
They cost more than an app. For an early flight or a group with luggage they are worth it.
The car is booked for a time rather than hailed on the day, and the driver waits if the flight is late.
This is the only option that reliably has child seats and vehicles for six or more.
For the airport, book ahead
A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper than a white taxi and removes the queue at six in the morning.
There is more in getting to the airport for an early flight.
Allow more time than the map says between 07:00 and 09:00 and again from 16:00. The road in from the north backs up badly.
When the bus does the job
Buses run to the airport from Valletta, Sliema, Buġibba and the south, and they are free for residents.
With one bag and no early flight, the bus is fine. With three bags at half five in the morning it is not.
The full comparison of the three kinds of taxi is on the taxis page.
