Sleeping in Airports

Malta Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Malta Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

They won’t let you sleep in the food court, so you’re left with the metal chairs at the ground floor. Not a comfy night! – a guest traveller (June 2022)

MLA Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Malta International Airport.

What to Expect

Malta Airport (code: MLA) has a small terminal, and its security procedures are reportedly efficient. You’ll find a variety of shops and eateries, including a duty-free shop and a few eateries that are open 24 hours, both airside and landside. Free WiFi helps pass the time. Economy class passengers can pay to enter two airport lounges. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Malta Airport Guide
(Photo courtesy of Moyosvk / January 2020)

Sleeping in Malta Airport

A post-covid overnight traveller reported that sleepers will be stuck sleeping on metal chairs on the ground floor.  For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service for a fee. See our Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information.  For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Malta Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Airport Hotels

There are no hotels directly at Malta Airport, but there are a few B&Bs in the area.  It is only a 15-25 minute drive to the hotels in Valletta and Sliema. Visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Valletta, search for deals and read traveller reviews.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!

  • La Valette Club (Arrivals) – Location: Airside, near the Baggage Claim. Hours: Open 24 Hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
  • La Valette Club – Location: Airside, Main Departure Hall. Hours: Open 24 Hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Malta Airport Lounges

Rest & Relaxation Zones

No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Drinking Water

Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks

Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules.  At the time of this update, Relish is the only dining option that operates 24 hours. Outside the terminal, there is a McDonald’s behind the SkyParks Business Center with a 24-hour drive-thru window.

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Located in the Check-in Hall near Customer Services Information. Hours: Open 24 hours. Rates:

  • Hand/hold luggage to a maximum of 30kg: €5 for 0-12 hours • €10 for 12-14 hours • €10 per additional 24 hours or part thereof.
  • Special Items (Bulky): €10 for 0-12 hours • €15 for 12-14 hours • €15 per additional 24 hours or part thereof.

Mobile Charging

Head to one of these three areas to power up:

  • Departures Area: Wall-mounted power outlets and charging stations equipped for various devices are available throughout.
  • Check-in Hall: Work tables and power outlets are available at Costa Coffee.
  • Food Court: Wall-mounted power outlets and charging stations equipped for various devices are available throughout. Some work tables for laptop users are also available.

Showers

Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.

WiFi / Internet

Free WiFi is available at Malta Airport. Connect to the “Maltairport Wi-Fi” network.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

Amusement Room – Billiards, air hockey, and more are available. Location: Level -1.

Chapel – Location: Landside, Level 01, near the food court. The chapel is open 24 hours. Mass is offered at the following times: 6:15 PM (Saturday) and 8:30 AM (Sunday and Holidays).

Family Services

  • Baby Care Facilities – Feed and care for your baby in privacy and comfort in the Parenting Room. A couch, changing table, wash basin, and drinking water station are inside. Location: Check-in Hall, next to the Customer Service Information Centre. Two additional changing rooms are available in the Schengen Departures Lounge.
  • Children’s Play Area – The closest play area is at McDonald’s, located behind the SkyParks Business Center and within a short walk of the terminal. You can also keep your child occupied with a free colouring set, which you can pick up at the Customer Service Information Centre.

Information Desk – Have any questions? A Tourist Information desk may be able to provide assistance. Location: Check-in Hall. Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Luggage

  • Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
  • Luggage Trolleys – Luggage carts are available free of charge. A €1 deposit is required and refundable upon return.
  • Luggage Wrapping – Temporarily Closed

Money

  • ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside, in the Check-In area and the Welcomers Hall • Airside, in the Arrivals area.
  • Banking Services – Full-service banking is available near the airport at SkyParks Business Centre.
  • Currency Exchange – Location: Landside, Arrivals. Hours: open 24 hours.

Observation Deck – Relax and watch planes taking off and landing from the vantage point of the airport’s observation deck. Location: 3rd Floor. Hours: open 24 hours.

Pharmacy – Location: Welcomers Hall, landside. Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Shopping – As of this update, the only stores open 24 hours are Duty-Free and Agenda Bookshop. Locations: Airside. There is also a good selection of other shops to pass the time, including WHSmith (Airside, Schengen area) for any last-minute snack/drink needs.

SIM Cards – A reader let us know, “Pay-as-you-go SIM cards are available landside from the ‘Epic’ store located between the departure and arrival areas. Epic is one of the nationwide carriers, no markups are being charged at the airport store.” (October 2023)

Travel Agencies – If you are arriving in Malta and need local arrangements or help planning a last-minute trip abroad, a Lufthansa City Center travel agency with offices in the Departures Hall can probably assist (closed Sundays).

Airlines
Malta Airport is served by the following airlines: Aegean Airlines • Aeroitalia • Air Baltic • Air France • Air Malta • Atlantic Airways • British Airways • EasyJet • Emirates • Jet2 • Lufthansa • Luxair • Ryanair • Swiss • Transavia • Tunisair • Turkish Airlines • Voltea • Vueling • Wizz Air.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus

Malta Airport is served by four airport express buses (X1, X2, X3 and X4) and additional routes to nearby villages. Bus tickets and information are available in the Welcomers’ Hall. For routes, timetables and fares, visit the Malta Public Transport website.

Car Rentals

The car rental area is located in the Welcomers’ Hall, on your left side, as you exit the Baggage Reclaim area. The following agencies are available onsite: Avis • Budget • Dollar/Thrifty • Europcar • First Car Rental/Active Car Rental • Goldcar • Green Motion • Hertz • Sixt.

Hotel Shuttles

See also Airport Hotels above.

Shared Ride Shuttle

Malta Transfer offers private and shared-ride door-to-door service between MLA airport and hotels throughout Malta and Gozo. Rides can be booked online or through the Malta Transfer booking desk in the Baggage Reclaim area.

Taxi

Fixed-rate taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the terminal as you exit. Prepaid taxi tickets are sold from the ticket booth inside the Welcomers’ Hall. The following sample fares were current at the time of this update: Albert Town €15, Valletta €15, Marsascala €20 and Vittoriosa €20. For a list of additional fixed rates, visit the airport website.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.