Malta: Grand Harbour Cruise with Valletta & Three Cities Views

Two Harbours, 400 Years of Siege: What the Water Remembers

You board a small catamaran in Sliema and spend 90 minutes circling the two harbours that shaped Malta's military history, with live commentary explaining the Great Sieges and the forts you're looking at. The boat has WiFi, air conditioning, and a restroom. You can stay on board or hop off at Esplora to visit the Three Cities and rejoin a later departure. Departure times run daily, and the whole thing costs less than a restaurant dinner.

Step-by-step itinerary

Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Cruise

• Board eco-friendly harbour catamaran
• Listen to live historical commentary
• Enjoy views of Valletta and forts
• Pass Marsamxett Harbour landmarks
• Pass Grand Harbour and Three Cities
• Option to hop-off at Esplora Science Centre
• Return to Sliema by ferry

The experience

"Did you know the Ottomans tried to take this whole thing in 1565?" The guide's voice cuts through the engine hum as the catamaran pulls away from Sliema, and suddenly the limestone walls of Valletta aren't just a skyline anymore. They're a fortress that held. The Grand Harbour cruise runs 90 minutes, and in that time you're floating past the exact water where the Order of Saint John anchored for 268 years, where World War II bombs fell, where the geography itself decided Malta's fate. The commentary comes in English and German, live, not a recording, and it moves between the two natural harbours (Marsamxett to the north, Grand Harbour to the south), so you see how Valletta sits between them like a wedge driven into history.

The boat itself is a 20-metre eco-friendly catamaran, which means you're not packed in with a hundred other tourists fighting for rail space. You can sit outside on deck or drop into the air-conditioned cabin if the sun gets too much, and there's WiFi if you need to send a photo home before you forget which fort was which. The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Senglea) rise on the far side of the Grand Harbour, their balconies stacked like they're climbing over each other, and from the water you see why this place mattered so much. Fort Saint Elmo at the tip of the Sciberras peninsula, the bastions, the creeks cutting into the stone. It all makes sense from the deck in a way a map never does.

There's a practical option built in: you can hop off at Esplora, the interactive science centre in Kalkara, and spend time in the Three Cities or exploring the planetarium and 200-plus hands-on exhibits, then catch the boat again at 11:40, 13:40, or 15:55 to head back to Sliema. Or you stay on board the whole way. Either way, the departure times run throughout the day, so you pick the slot that fits your morning. Boarding is first-come, first-served, so arriving early means you get your choice of where to stand.

What’s included

• Your 90-minute cruise includes live commentary in English and German, free WiFi, air-conditioned seating indoors or open-air deck seating, restroom facilities, and views of Valletta's forts, the Three Cities, and both natural harbours.
• You have the option to hop off at Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara to explore the Three Cities and science exhibits, then rejoin a later departure to return to Sliema.
• Food and drinks are available for purchase on board.
• Departure times run daily from Sliema, and boarding is first-come, first-served.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:45

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 197

Live guideEnglish and German

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by V. Tabone Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Malta's military history from the water without renting a boat or navigating the harbours yourself: the live commentary and the vantage point do the work, and the hop-off option at Esplora lets you add the Three Cities without missing the return journey.

Traveler reviews

3.74★★★★★★★★★★

23 verified traveler reviews

5 ★9

4 ★5

3 ★4

2 ★4

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Grand Harbour cruise?

90 minutes total, departing from Sliema with multiple daily times to choose from.

Can I get off the boat and rejoin it later?

Yes, you can hop off at Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara and hop back on at 11:40, 13:40, or 15:55 to return to Sliema, weather permitting.

What's included in the cruise?

Live commentary in English and German, WiFi, air-conditioned seating, outdoor deck seating, restroom access, and the 90-minute harbour tour. Food and drinks are available to purchase on board.

Where does the boat depart from?

Sliema, at the Ferries in Marsamxett Harbour. Boarding is first-come, first-served, so arriving early is recommended.

What will I see on the cruise?

Valletta's forts and bastions, Fort Saint Elmo, the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Senglea), and the creeks and skylines of both the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.

Is there WiFi on board?

Yes, free WiFi is available throughout the catamaran.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on board.