Is it better to pay taxis in Malta with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Malta’s taxi scene is evolving. I’d say card acceptance exists, but it’s not foolproof. The white taxis, especially from the airport, often take cards, but a driver might claim the machine is down. Apps like Bolt or eCabs are much more reliable if you want to avoid cash. I personally switched to apps after one awkward cash-only situation. Still, I always carried some euros for backup. Cash isn’t disappearing anytime soon in Malta, but cards through apps work very well.
Taxis in Malta are in between old and new. A lot of the traditional white taxis accept card, but you can’t always rely on it. Once my driver said the reader was broken, so I had to give cash. However, app taxis are everywhere and they work great with card payments. I mostly used eCabs and never had an issue. My advice: download an app if you prefer paying by card, but still keep cash ready just in case.
My experience in Malta was fairly smooth, but not every driver wanted to take cards. The white taxis were a bit unpredictable, while rides through apps always let me pay electronically. I found it super convenient using Bolt because it linked directly to my card and I didn’t have to worry about carrying change. That said, I always had some euros on hand, just in case I needed to hop into a street taxi. The system isn’t 100% cashless yet.
Malta has a mix when it comes to taxi payments. The white taxis you see at the airport and tourist spots usually accept cards, but not all of them. I had one driver tell me his terminal wasn’t working. Ride-hailing apps like Bolt and eCabs are very popular in Malta, and those let you pay by card directly through the app. If you want to guarantee using your card, stick to the apps. Otherwise, carry some euros in cash for safety.