Malta in 2 Days: Our £296.30 Trip for Two
We flew directly from Edinburgh, stayed one night at a budget hostel in Sliema and explored Valletta, Sliema and Mdina using buses, the harbour ferry and long walks.
We left Edinburgh on the 6:00 AM flight on 2 May and landed back at 11:45 PM on 3 May, reaching home after midnight on 4 May. Only one of us needed a Schengen visa.
Exactly what we spent
| Expense for two | Actual cost |
|---|---|
| Direct Ryanair return flights · Edinburgh ⇄ Malta | £110.00 |
| Budget hostel in Sliema · one night | £44.00 |
| Malta buses and Sliema–Valletta ferry | £16.30 |
| Edinburgh Airport tram returns | £15.00 |
| Shared European eSIM | £8.50 |
| One-month VPN plan | £11.00 |
| Dry vegetarian food and coffee mix from Edinburgh | £15.00 |
| One traveller’s Schengen visa · €90 | £76.50 |
| Confirmed total | £296.30 |
The average is approximately £148.15 per person, although the visa cost applied to only one traveller.
Our two-day Malta itinerary
After landing, we used the airport bus to reach Sliema and left our bags at the hostel. We crossed the harbour by ferry, walked past Triton Fountain and along Republic Street, then enjoyed the free view from Upper Barrakka Gardens before returning to Sliema.
We checked out, stored our bags and took a public bus inland. In Mdina we walked through the gate, explored the silent lanes and enjoyed the bastion viewpoints for free. We returned to Sliema for our luggage, travelled to the airport and landed in Edinburgh at 11:45 PM.
The map joins Malta Airport, Sliema, the ferry landing, central Valletta, Upper Barrakka Gardens and Mdina.
Open the Malta route in Google Maps →Food we carried from Edinburgh
Our £15 food budget covered commercially packed vegetarian dry food, instant meals, snacks and dry coffee mix. We did not record any separate food or coffee purchase in Malta. Anyone bringing food from Great Britain into the EU should check current restrictions before travelling, particularly for products containing meat or dairy.
Transport, mobile data and money
Buses and ferry
Our combined Malta bus and ferry spend was £16.30 for two. Malta Public Transport’s official tariff for our May 2026 dates was €2 for a regular daytime single journey, valid for two hours and payable by cash or contactless card. Airport Direct and night services used different fares. Ferry prices and schedules can change, so check them before travelling.
eSIM and Wi-Fi security
We budgeted £8.50 for a shared European eSIM and £11 for a one-month VPN plan. A VPN is optional, but can add privacy on shared hostel Wi-Fi. Travellers should compare current roaming, eSIM and local SIM prices rather than assuming the same provider will remain cheapest.
Cards and euros
Malta uses the euro. We favoured card payments and avoided unnecessary currency exchange. Check your bank’s foreign-transaction fee and exchange rate before relying on any card advertised as “zero markup”.
Schengen visa: what applied to us
One traveller required a short-stay Schengen visa and we recorded the statutory €90 fee, approximately £76.50. The other traveller did not require a visa. The VFS service charge is excluded because we did not retain a confirmed figure. Visa requirements depend on nationality and UK residence status; use the official Malta/VFS checklist for the application location and passport involved.
Official Malta visa application guidance →
Official Malta bus fares →
Official Valletta ferry schedule →
Budget traveller’s quick summary
Trip: Edinburgh → Malta Airport → Sliema → Valletta → Mdina → Edinburgh
Dates: 2–3 May 2026; home after midnight on 4 May
Travellers: 2
Cost: £219.80 before visa; £296.30 including one visa
Highlights: Sliema waterfront, harbour ferry, Triton Fountain, Republic Street, Upper Barrakka Gardens and Mdina
Biggest savings: direct budget flights, one hostel night, packed food, public transport and free sights.
Transparency: These are our May 2026 trip costs. Current flights, visa charges, transport fares and schedules can change, so verify them before travelling.
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