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Car hire in Luqa – Gateway to Malta
Well situated towards the centre of the island, Luqa is a charming little town located just over 4 kilometres from Malta's capital, Valletta. Besides being right next to the airport, it is also on Malta's main Route 1 thoroughfare that connects the Gozo ferry terminal in the north with the seaside town of Birżebbuġa in the south. The town's excellent accessibility therefore makes it the perfect base from which to explore the whole island.
Although it's the main gateway to Malta, not many people actually stop and stay in Luqa because most visitors head straight for the more popular coastal resorts in other parts of the island. This is a shame because there is a lot of local history to explore, including a number of places of immense historical importance. The construction of the airport and its subsequent modern development also served to uncover several ancient tombs, human remains and artifacts in the area, from Roman ruins to many prehistoric sites that date back to the Bronze Age.
With a car hire in Luqa nowhere is very far away in Malta; for instance, you can be in Valletta visiting its many museums and monuments in just a few minutes, while Hollywood's famous Popeye Village film-set is a mere 30-minute drive from Luqa in the north-western corner of the island. The best beaches in Malta are also easily accessible from the town, such as Golden Bay (19 kilometres), St George's Bay (10 kilometres) and the equally popular Ghajn Tuffieha Bay just 18 kilometres away. Other popular road-trip destinations on Malta include Hamrun and Gozo, Malta's idyllic sister island.
Book your cheap car rental in Luqa with Auto Europe for the best savings and widest choice of vehicles in Malta and all other Mediterranean destinations. Worldwide, we offer you over 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in more than 190 popular destinations. Reserve online through our state-of-the-art search engine or contact our rental specialists for assistance.
For travel tips and other useful advice on getting around the island quickly and safely, why not take a look at our Malta Driving Guide to make sure you're on the right road. You might also want to consult our Malta car hire reviews page to see the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous visitors to the beautiful island of Malta.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Luqa, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Luqa
To help you make the right choice, our high-tech booking engine enables you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your car hire in Luqa. Once you've keyed in your dates and chosen your preferred supplier and car category, an interactive map will come up with all the available car hire locations in Luqa and all other parts of the island. By working with all the world's most important car hire providers, Auto Europe can offer you the widest selection of locations, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in Luqa and start exploring Malta in a few minutes.
Luqa Airport
Located in Luqa, Malta International Airport serves as the main hub for Air Malta (the national carrier) and Ryanair. Located a short drive south-west of Valletta, the island's capital, it receives direct flights from several UK destinations, namely Birmingham, Bournemouth, London, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Dublin, Exeter, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Norwich, Prestwick and Newcastle. Many of the top global car hire companies are present at Luqa Airport, with their offices located in the Arrivals Hall following the baggage-reclaim section. Just follow the signs to the Park East Car Park (a 3-minute walk away from the main terminal) where your vehicle will be waiting (keep an eye out for the Rental Cars signs).
Luqa Airport (MLA)
Website: Malta Airport
Address: Luqa LQA 4000, Malta
Telephone: +356 2124 9600
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Luqa
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Luqa
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Luqa. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please contact our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Luqa?
Yes. When you arrive to pick up your car rental in Luqa, the local supplier will ask for a major credit card (ie Visa, Mastercard, Diners and American Express) in the name of the main driver. The reason they require a credit card to release your vehicle is because they will need to hold a deposit on it, which is promptly released once car has been returned undamaged. It is therefor very important to make sure you have enough funds on your credit card for the deposit amount to be held. Make sure the supplier checks the vehicle thoroughly and signs it off as OK before you leave the pick-up point. Please note that for a standard hire only one credit card is required, but for a luxury car hire the car hire two credit cards might be requested.
For full info about which credit card (and type) will be required for your cheap car rental in Luqa, please click on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine where all the relevant details can be found. Please take a look at our guide on credit cards for further information. More credit card-related info can be found on our blog post about the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Luqa?
All our car hire rates include the minimum amount of legally required car hire coverage for Luqa and all other places in Malta, comprising Liability Insurance, Theft Protection (TP) and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) which may or may not require an excess. Please note that CDW does not cover every part of the vehicle, so it's always best to take out Auto Europe's Full Damage & Theft Protection for a little extra, which you can tick with a simple click on the box at the time of check-out. You can easily find out about any coverage fees, CDW, TP deductibles, Liability Insurance etc. by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) where all the details can be accessed. This same information is also included in the T&Cs sent by e-mail once the booking has been confirmed.
Please note that when you arrive to pick up your low-cost car rental in Luqa, it's possible that the staff of the local vehicle supplier might try to offer you additional insurance, which is entirely optional and in many cases won't be required. It's important to remember that Auto Europe will not be able to offer a refund for any insurance that you sign up for directly with the supplier, including Personal Accident Insurance, Personal Effects Coverage, Super CDW, Seguro Relax, Roadside Assistance, etc.
How is the traffic in Luqa?
Luqa is a small place with just a few thousand inhabitants so you will rarely have a problem getting from A to B, except perhaps during the height of the rush-hour. For visitors, its two main advantages are the fact that it is very close to Malta International Airport and is located in the middle of the island on Route 1 (Malta's main road running from north to south).
Where can I park my car hire in Luqa?
There are plenty of options for parking your car hire in Luqa, with several car parks and on-street parking possibilities from which to choose. The airport is also located nearby with thousands of spaces available, including the Park East Multi-Storey Car Park where many of the main car rental suppliers have their offices.
Can I pick up my car hire in Luqa and travel with it to other islands?
Yes. Travel to Gozo Island is permitted with Europcar, Budget and Sicily by Car (please note that written authorisation is required from the latter). It is also important to note that travel outside the Maltese Islands (to Sicily, for example) with your car rental in Luqa is strictly forbidden.
Luqa Travel Guide
If you're travelling around Malta by car then there's a good chance you'll pass through the peaceful town of Luqa at some point because it is conveniently located in the heart of the island and a natural stopover on Malta's main road called Route 1. It is also a stone's throw from the international airport situated adjacent to the town and reachable by car in a couple of minutes.
Best day trips with my car rental in Luqa
With its central location in the middle of the island, Luqa is an excellent base from which to explore this picturesque place. You can rent a car in Luqa and go anywhere you want in less than an hour. For more flexibility, why not ask one of your passengers to share the driving with you by taking advantage of one of our popular Free Additional Driver offers. Furthermore, you might also be interested in picking up your vehicle in one place and dropping it off somewhere else with an Auto Europe one-way car hire, which will give you even more freedom during your trip.
Valletta
Besides thousands of years of history, Malta's fascinating capital promises its visitors dozens of museums, monuments and many other first-rate tourist attractions. Te list of must-see sights is extensive but the first stop for most newcomers is Saint John's Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster's Palace. Valletta is close to Luqa (just a 15-minute drive north, in fact) so you might want to plan several trips to the city in order to see as much as possible during your stay.
Gozo
A major highlight for visitors to Malta is a relaxing day-trip to the neighbouring island of Gozo. With its peaceful little villages and pristine beaches, the order of the day (besides the freshest fish and seafood imaginable) is chilling out and enjoying all its unspoilt natural scenery, most notably the Ggantija Temples which date back to around 3500 BC and are arguably the most important archaeological remains in the archipelago.
Mdina
The ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mdina is number one on most visitors' list after the capital, Valletta. One entering the city through the main gate, you'll probably want to see inside St Paul's Cathedral, a glorious Baroque building with a magnificent dome, marble columns and a wonderful series of ceiling paintings. The cathedral's key attraction is the early 13th-century Siculo-Romanesque icon of The Virgin and Child known as the Virgin of St Luke.
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
Another of Malta's UNESCO World Heritage Sites is the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a complex of catacombs where prehistoric humans performed religious burial rituals. Carved from the local limestone using primitive rock tools, this unique place is one of Europe's most important archaeological sites and is easily accessible for visitors who choose to rent a car in Luqa. Today the Hypogeum and its museum are a top attraction in Malta and was recently renovated and improved with more exhibits and a new visitor centre.
What to do in Luqa
The small and very traditional town of Luqa is in many ways the gateway to the island of Malta. Situated in close proximity to the country's international airport, many visitors pass through Luqa and while away a couple of hours there en route to the capital, Valletta, and the many favoured tourist resorts lining Malta's magnificent Mediterrarean coastline.
- St Andrew's Church: Dating back to the middle of the 15th century, Luqa's splendid parish church is dedicated to St Andrew, one of Jesus' apostles. Designed by Dun Giulju Muscat with touches of Late Renaissance on the outside and baroque in the interior, its striking architecture was inspired by the Co-Cathedral in nearby Valletta. Equally impressive is its titular painting which was produced by the Italian artist Mattia Preti in 1687.
- St Mary's Chapel: St Mary’s Chapel (also known as Tal-Ftajjar) was first built in the 15th century (around 1430) and subsequently restored and upgraded in 1613. Rectangular in shape and depicting the Eternal Father holding a crucifix surrounded by angels, the chapel's amazing altar painting is painted on wood and dates from the 16th century. Frescos from the 16th century cover the inside western wall.
- House of Michelangelo Sapiano: Sapiano (1826-1912)is most famous for making large clocks for churches, convents and sacristies in various towns and villages in Malta and Gozo. He also made a large clock for the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Egypt. The clock in the belfry of nearby Luqa parish church is one of his many works. Situated in Pawlu Magri Street, the house where he lived and worked is a delightful place to visit and appreciate his work.
- Limestone Heritage Park & Gardens: A fine celebration of the island's natural heritage and culture can be enjoyed at the Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens just 8 kilometres away. The limestone of the Maltese Islands was formed in shallow waters about 22 million years ago and this family attraction set in landscaped gardens is a wonderful place to visit on a hot summer's day, especially the Waterfall Gardens shaded by old olive and bay laurel trees.
- Malta Falconry Centre: Situated in the outskirts of Siggiewi about a kilometre west of Luqa, the excellent Malta Falconry Centre showcases some of the rarest birds that live in the Mediterranean region, including the Golden Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon (known locally as the Maltese Falcon). Popular for its rural setting, the centre offers visitors the chance to get up very close to the birds and even adopt them for an annual fee.