Malta Harbour Cruises: the 15 Worth Booking

1.Cruise Around Malta’s Harbours & Creeks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,292 reviews · 1h 30m · from $24Our pick

Set out from Sliema Ferries for a 90-minute sightseeing cruise through Marsamxett and Grand Harbours. You’ll pass Valletta’s bastions, Fort St. Elmo, the Three Cities, shipyards, marinas, and narrow creeks while an English audio guide explains Malta’s story. Bring sunscreen, arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and expect open-air views rather than a guided walking tour.

“learned a lot from the guide and saw breathtaking views of Valletta and sunset from the sea! highly recommend 👌”

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2.The Best Traditional 2 Harbours Day Cruise of Malta

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 432 reviews · 1h 30m · from $24

From Sliema Ferries, cruise Malta’s Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour aboard a traditional Maltese boat, often called a luzzu. An English-speaking host explains Valletta, the Three Cities, forts, creeks, dockyards, and wartime Malta during this 90-minute ride. A bar and toilets are onboard, but the boat style and exact duration can vary.

“This trip gave great information about past and present Malta. A shame some people book it but cannot speak English so talk during the commentary. A quick way to learn about Malta in pleasant surroundings.”

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3.Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour Cruise by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 282 reviews · 1h 30m · from $24

Board a Maltese boat at Sliema Ferries for a 90-minute English-language cruise at 20:30. You’ll pass Manoel Island, the Yacht Marina, Msida and Pieta Creeks, Valletta’s fortifications, the Three Cities, and the old dockyard area. A bar, toilets, and live commentary are available on board.

“There were only few people on the boat this time of year , I liked it as I don’t like crowded tourist attractions . Interesting and definitely worthy trip .”

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4.Comino Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon – 3 Bay Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 249 reviews · 6 hours · from $47

Join Bluewaves Watersports for a six-hour cruise from Marfa Bay to Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Gebla ta Ħalfa. You get about four hours in the water, with time to swim, snorkel, walk on Comino, and see Santa Maria Caves. The boat carries up to 70 but limits bookings to 45, with toilets, showers, a snack bar, and English-speaking crew.

“Amazing 10/10 would recommend. After hours of research this cruise seemed to be the best in terms of the destinations you get to see, the time you can spend there and the value for your money. Crew was extremely friendly and welcoming and they showed us all the nooks and crannies of the island. The boat is well equiped w everything you need like clean toilets, fresh water showers, bar and sunbathing beds. Great cliff jumping spots, beautiful beaches, caves and rock formations. Loved everything, thank you guys!”

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5.Valletta & Three Cities Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 239 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $23Best value

Cruise Marsamxett and Grand Harbour from Sliema for about 90 minutes aboard an air-conditioned catamaran with live commentary and free Wi-Fi. See Valletta, Fort St. Elmo, Fort St. Angelo, Fort Manoel, and the Three Cities. You may stop at Esplora Interactive Science Centre when conditions allow.

“The trip to the best of our investigation no longer existed!. We arrive and there was no sign of the boat or operator - another outfit told us they had stopped trading. So we paid, travelled to the dock and nowt.”

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6.From Mellieha: Three Bay Cruise including the Blue Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 225 reviews · 6 hours · from $47

Sail from Marfa Bay with guides such as Danny and Ali to Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, then Gozo’s Halfa Rock Bay. You get about four hours of swimming time, boat shade, toilets, a small bar, pool noodles, and optional snorkel rental. The Blue Lagoon access pass must be booked online before departure.

“The guys were very chilled, we had a great time. so glad we didn't book a big boat. we had a great group of people, no drama. would highly recommend”

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7.Panoramic Cruise around Malta’s Harbours and Creeks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 218 reviews · 1h 15m · from $24

From Sliema Ferries 4, this 75-minute cruise circles Marsamxett and Grand Harbours aboard Antonia, Helena G, or Sansone. You’ll pass Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, the Three Cities, shipyards, marinas, and quiet creeks while listening to English commentary about Malta’s past and present.

“Very good activity, I highly recommend this. Beautiful scenery, very interesting commentary from the tour guide and in around 75 minutes you get to know not only Valletta but other islands and other cities history. :-)”

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8.The Traditional Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 159 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Cruise Valletta and the Three Cities from Sliema for about 90 minutes, with commentary on Malta’s forts, dockyards, marinas, and 1565 history. The boat carries up to 70 people and has a bar and toilets. Hotel pickup is offered, but meeting details and return transport need careful checking.

“What an amazing and cozy activity. They played music and we were able to meet new friends. We enjoyed the breeze of the open waterfront.”

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9.Valletta Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 129 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Join Luzzu Cruises at Sliema Ferry for a roughly 75-minute harbor cruise around Valletta and the Three Cities. You’ll pass Fort St. Elmo, Valletta Waterfront, Senglea, Vittoriosa, Fort St. Angelo, and Fort Ricasoli while hearing about Malta’s Great Sieges. The boat returns to Sliema, with space for up to 70 people.

“Splinded 1.30 hours tour through magnificent natural harbours near La Valetta. The see was quiet and the sun was shining”

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10.1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus + Harbour Cruise Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 108 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $42

See Malta by air-conditioned hop-on hop-off bus and luxury catamaran. Your 24-hour ticket covers the North and South routes, plus a 90-minute cruise around Valletta, the Grand Harbour, and the Three Cities. Commentary is offered in English, with onboard Wi-Fi.

“I have purchased in other cities previously but found the service in Malta highly lacking. The website stated that hop on hop off incluced buses in Malta and gozo but this was not what we found. We had to pay for seperate ferries and buses on both islands in order to avail of the service at all and the times were extremly limted for peak season. An expensive and dissapointing lesson learned.”

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11.Cruise around Malta’s Harbours and Creeks from Sliema

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 97 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Board at Sliema Ferries for a 75 to 90-minute sightseeing cruise through Marsamxett Harbour, Grand Harbour, and their smaller creeks. You’ll pass Manoel Island, Valletta’s walls, the Three Cities, dockyards, and yacht marinas. English audio commentary, outside seating, and a modest price make this a practical introduction to Malta from the water.

“We were on the sun deck of a well maintained medium sized boat. The tour was excellent, taking in all the creeks of both the harbours and there was much to see. The commentary in English was very informative without being too much. There were long periods of silence in which to relax and enjoy the view. Highly recommended and good value.”

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12.Three Cities guided tour including harbour boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 91 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $46

Walk Birgu and Cospicua with an English-speaking guide, ride a traditional dghajsa through the Grand Harbour creeks, and visit Senglea’s Gardjola Gardens. Guides such as Donna, Josephine, Elena, and John have led this tour, though the group may reach 50 people. Hotel pickup and return transport are offered at selected locations.

“Really well organised trip. I missed the name of our guide, but she was excellent. Very interesting tour around the cities and then a brilliant ride around the harbour in the little traditional fishing boats. Can highly recommend.”

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13.2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus + Harbour Cruise Pass

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 89 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $60

Use Malta’s North and South hop-on hop-off bus routes for 48 hours, then take a harbour cruise within three days of activation. Start at Captain Morgan in Sliema at 10:00 am. Live commentary and an optional Esplora Science Museum stop are included, but museum admission is extra.

“The ticket we had wasn't 'registered' with the tour company so they had no record of us having paid. Called VIATOUR and the person on the phone said they would get in touch with the tour company to help us get the situation sorted. I am still waiting for a reply from them, 6 weeks later. I would not recommend buying a ticket through this website and buy it from a seller at your holiday location.”

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14.Hera 3 Bay Cruise including the Blue Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 59 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $90

Spend about eight hours aboard Hera Cruises’ Turkish gulet, sailing from Sliema to Comino, the Blue Lagoon, St. Paul’s Islands, and another Maltese bay. You’ll have swim stops, a buffet lunch, open soft drinks, and hotel transport from many areas. From May 2025, a government pass is needed to go ashore at Blue Lagoon.

“The experience was good but the boat had a little more people than it should have. With ten less people it will be great.”

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15.Private Boat Tour of the Grand Harbour on the Island of Malta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 35 minutes (approx.) · from $40Top rated

Join Keith for a private 35-minute boat tour around Malta’s Grand Harbour. From the Valletta meeting point, you’ll see Fort St Elmo, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Angelo, Senglea, and the Three Cities while hearing clear stories about the Knights of St John, wartime Malta, and the harbor’s defenses.

“A fabulous way to understand part of Malta. Keith was generous with his time and knowledge. He turned up on time, answered all our questions and filled us in on the history and architecture of the Grand Harbour”

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