Malta & Gozo · self-drive car hire
Car hire in the Three Cities
Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua sit across the Grand Harbour from Valletta — older, quieter, and much less walked.
Getting to the Three Cities from the airport
Roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the airport, and closer than most of the tourist centres. The three run into one another around the creeks, so arriving by car and finding your way in is easier than the map suggests once you're past Cospicua.
Driving and parking in the Three Cities
Better than Valletta, which isn't a high bar, but the streets are old and narrow and the marina area fills up. There's parking around the edges and along the waterfront; the historic cores are best walked. Nothing here suits a large car.
What a car unlocks from here
Valletta across the water
The Birgu ferry crosses the Grand Harbour in minutes, so you can leave the car and avoid the capital's access charge entirely.
The southern coast
Marsaskala and Marsaxlokk are both about 20 minutes out.
A quieter base
You're central without the crowds, and 30 to 40 minutes from most of the island.
Where you collect
There's no desk in the Three Cities — collection is at Park East inside Malta International Airport, 15–20 minutes away. Walk out of arrivals, turn right and carry straight on for a few minutes; the car is waiting there.
Open 08:00 – 02:00, every day.
How the airport pickup worksIn every rate
- Comprehensive insurance
- Unlimited mileage across Malta and Gozo
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours
- 10 classes, from €6 a day
Car hire in the Three Cities — common questions
- Which are the Three Cities?
- Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea (Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla), on the far side of the Grand Harbour from Valletta. Most visitors mean Birgu and its marina.
- Where do I collect the car?
- At Park East inside Malta International Airport, 15 to 20 minutes away.
- Can I get to Valletta without driving in?
- Yes, and it's the better plan. The Birgu ferry crosses in a few minutes, so you leave the car on this side and skip both the parking and the controlled-access charge.