A Valletta harbour cruise is a boat tour of the Grand Harbour, Malta's historic harbour, between Valletta and the Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua), often together with Marsamxett, the city's other harbour. From the Sliema Ferries quay, Luzzu Cruises (€20 per adult) and City Sightseeing Malta list a harbour cruise with commentary. To cross the harbour without commentary, the ferry from Valletta to the Three Cities costs €3 one way.
From the water, you see the walls of Valletta, Fort St Elmo and Fort St Angelo, the docks and the cruise ship quay. Prices and times were checked on 20 October 2026; several change on 1 November. None of our trips does this harbour tour: we tell you where to book it.
- Luzzu Cruises: from Sliema Ferries, 4 departures a day, all year; €20, €15 for ages 4 to 11.
- City Sightseeing Malta: from Sliema Ferries, except on Tuesdays and Sundays, from 10.30am to 12 noon and from 2.45pm to 4.15pm.
- Ferry: Valletta – Cospicua, €3 one way by day, free with a personalised tallinja card; from 1 November, last departure around 7.15pm.
- Dgħajsa: the harbour's traditional boat, with no published price or timetable: agree the price before you get on.
- With us: none of our trips goes round the harbour; our jet ski safari only passes in front of the Grand Harbour.
Malta's Grand Harbour: what you see from the water
Valletta, a World Heritage City, is built on a peninsula that rises steeply between two deep harbours, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour, according to Visit Malta, the tourist board. The Grand Harbour is still a working port: cruise ship passengers step off onto the Valletta Waterfront, according to Valletta Cruise Port, near Lascaris Wharf, where the fast ferry to Gozo leaves from.
The Grand Harbour side, from Fort St Elmo to the Three Cities
- Fort St Elmo: at the tip of the Valletta peninsula. In 1565, it took the brunt of the Ottoman attack and held out for about a month; it houses the National War Museum (Heritage Malta).
- Kalkara: Fort Ricasoli, at the mouth of the harbour, and Kalkara Creek.
- The walls of Valletta and Floriana: at the water's edge, the Valletta Waterfront lines up 19 warehouses built in 1752 by Grand Master Pinto, now restaurants, bars and shops.
- The inner harbour: Marsa, French Creek, the shipyard and the docks.
- The Three Cities: Vittoriosa (Il-Birgu), Senglea (L-Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla), the first home of the Knights, older than Valletta (Visit Malta). At the end of Birgu, Fort St Angelo dominates the harbour; the Order of St John made it its headquarters after 1530 (Heritage Malta).
- Up high, in Valletta: the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which look out over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, and the Lower Barrakka Gardens, facing the harbour and its breakwater (Visit Malta).
The Marsamxett side, between Valletta and Sliema
The Sliema ferry crosses this harbour with no stops. The Luzzu Cruises boat goes here first: Sliema Creek, round Manoel Island and its fort, Lazzaretto Creek and its marina, then Ta' Xbiex, Msida and Pietà, before entering the Grand Harbour.
Grand Harbour cruise: the ways to do it, compared
| On 20 October 2026 | From | Days and times | Length | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise with commentary Luzzu Cruises, both harbours |
Sliema Ferries | Every day, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm | Not published | €20 (€15 for ages 4 to 11) |
| Cruise with commentary City Sightseeing Malta, both harbours |
Sliema Ferries | Not on Tuesdays or Sundays, 10.30am–12 noon and 2.45pm–4.15pm | 1 hour 30 minutes | Not shown |
| Three Cities ferry Valletta Ferry Services, across the Grand Harbour |
Valletta or Cospicua | Every day, late into the evening until 31 October | Not published | €3 one way, €5 return |
| Dgħajsa or water taxi Grand Harbour tour |
Listed by the Valletta Waterfront | No published timetable | Not published | No published price |
The cruise with commentary by Luzzu Cruises
Luzzu Cruises sells a “2 Harbours Cruise”, a cruise round the two harbours. On 20 October 2026, its page shows 4 departures a day, all year, at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm, from the Sliema Ferries quay on The Strand: €20 per adult, €15 for ages 4 to 11.
The boat goes into ten creeks, from Sliema Creek to Rinella Bay, and round the Three Cities, with commentary in English only. The page gives neither the length of the cruise nor the price for children under 4: ask for them when you book.
The City Sightseeing Malta cruise
City Sightseeing Malta, the sightseeing bus company, also sells a “Harbour Cruise” of the two harbours, with commentary in English and German on the great sieges of 1565 and 1942. On 20 October 2026, its page gives departures from Sliema Ferries from Monday to Saturday, except Tuesday, from 10.30am to 12 noon and from 2.45pm to 4.15pm, with no price or season: ask for them when you book.
The ferry from Valletta to the Three Cities
For €3, it is the simplest way to cross the Grand Harbour. Valletta Ferry Services links Valletta with Cospicua (Bormla); on 20 October 2026, its website shows €3 one way and €5 return for an adult by day, €1 and €1.50 for a child, then €3.50 and €5.20 from 7.30pm. With a personalised tallinja card, it is free, according to Malta Public Transport.
Departure times, summer and winter, are on the Valletta Ferry Services timetable page. The same company links Valletta with Sliema with no stops, across Marsamxett: see our article on the Sliema Ferries quay.
The dgħajsa and water taxis
The dgħajsa (often written dghajsa) is the harbour's traditional boat. On its transport page, the Valletta Waterfront lists Grand Harbour tours in traditional boats, and water taxis, with no price or timetable; Visit Malta also names a fast water taxi company, Malta Water Taxis, without its fares. As there is no official price on 20 October 2026, agree the price and the length of the trip before you get on.
Where Valletta harbour cruises leave from, and how to get there
- Sliema Ferries, on The Strand: both cruises with commentary leave from here. From Valletta, the Sliema ferry goes there with no stops; by bus, route 13 stops at “Ferries 5”, a few minutes' walk from the quay.
- Three Cities ferry, in Valletta: a free shuttle links the Marsamxetto and Lascaris quays, timed with the ferries, and bus 133 runs a loop between the quays and the centre, according to the Malta Public Transport ferry page.
- Barrakka Lift: two lifts, 58 metres high, link the edge of the Grand Harbour with the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the centre in about 25 seconds (Visit Malta). Coming back from Cospicua, you get a ticket for this lift.
- Valletta Waterfront: bus 130 runs from the Valletta terminus to the “Waterfront” stop, and you can park on the quays (Valletta Waterfront transport page).
- Bus ticket: €2 from the driver from 18 October 2026 to 12 June 2027, €2.50 in summer, in cash or contactless; it is valid for 2 hours, changes included.
When to go: time, season and weather
In the morning, both cruises leave at 10.30am. In the afternoon, the last one leaves at 2.45pm with City Sightseeing and at 4pm with Luzzu Cruises: neither lists a sunset departure, and in the evening there is still the ferry (night fare from 7.30pm). In winter, ask the day before whether your cruise is running: Luzzu Cruises can change or cancel a trip depending on the weather, and City Sightseeing gives no season.
| What changes | Until 31 October | From 1 November |
|---|---|---|
| Sliema – Valletta ferry | Until late at night | Last departure around 7.30pm, around 6.30pm on Sundays and public holidays |
| Valletta – Cospicua ferry | Until late at night | Last departure around 7.15pm, around 6.15pm on Sundays and public holidays |
| Barrakka Lift | 7am–midnight | 7am–9pm |
| Fort St Angelo (Birgu) | Every day, 9am–7pm | Every day, 9am–5pm, until 3 January 2027 |
Tips before you go
- With children: €15 for ages 4 to 11 with Luzzu Cruises, €1 one way on the ferry, free bus for children under 4 (Malta Public Transport); at Fort St Angelo, €4 for ages 6 to 11 and €6 for ages 12 to 17.
- On the other side of the harbour: Fort St Angelo is open to visitors, €10 per adult and €6 from age 60, according to Heritage Malta. For the city, its museums and gardens, read our article on things to do in Valletta.
What we offer, and what we do not sell
We do not sell a harbour tour. Book with one of the two companies above, or take the ferry.
In season, two of our trips pass near the Grand Harbour, without going round it: the jet ski safari to the south of Malta, from 10am to 11.30am from St George's Bay, passes in front of it (jet ski in Malta page); with the boat you can drive without a licence, on our boat hire in Malta page, the Grand Harbour is 15 minutes away, according to our partner. In both cases, you are the driver, and you must be over 18.
All our trips at sea are on the boat trips in Malta page. For another ride in a small boat, into the caves in the south of Malta, read our article on the Blue Grotto.
FAQ: Valletta harbour cruise
How long does a Valletta harbour cruise take?
City Sightseeing shows slots of 1 hour 30 minutes, from 10.30am to 12 noon and from 2.45pm to 4.15pm. Luzzu Cruises does not give the length on its page: ask when you book.
How much does a Valletta harbour cruise cost?
On 20 October 2026, Luzzu Cruises lists €20 per adult and €15 for ages 4 to 11; the City Sightseeing page showed no price. The Three Cities ferry costs €3 one way by day.
What time should you go round the harbour?
The companies do not recommend a time: choose between the 10.30am departure and the 4pm one. In the evening, take the ferry: until 31 October it runs late into the night, then until around 7.15pm or 7.30pm.
Can you do the cruise with children?
Yes: Luzzu Cruises has a price of €15 for ages 4 to 11, but its page says nothing about children under 4: ask when you book. On the ferry, a single costs €1 for a child.
Do the harbour cruises run in winter?
Luzzu Cruises lists its 4 departures all year, but can cancel depending on the weather; City Sightseeing gives no season. From 1 November, the ferry stops earlier, around 7.15pm or 7.30pm.
Is the commentary in English?
Yes: according to their pages, Luzzu Cruises gives its commentary in English only, and City Sightseeing in English and German.
Can you tour the harbour in a dgħajsa?
The Valletta Waterfront lists Grand Harbour tours in traditional boats, and water taxis, with no price or timetable: agree the price and the length of the trip before you get on.
I'm arriving on a cruise ship: how can I see the harbour by boat?
You step off straight onto the Valletta Waterfront, according to Valletta Cruise Port, and the Waterfront lists tours in traditional boats, and water taxis. For a cruise with commentary, get to Sliema Ferries by ferry from Valletta.
Does Malta Adventures sell a harbour cruise?
No. Our jet ski safari to the south of Malta only passes in front of the Grand Harbour.