Sight guide · Valletta · Malta
Visiting Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise
Boat tours from Sliema circle both natural harbours, passing the bastions of Valletta, the Three Cities, the creeks of the Grand Harbour and the dockyards.
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Photo: Mandyy88, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise is an experience in Sliema, Valletta. Allow 1.5 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Sliema
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, views and outdoors
- Best months
- May–July
About Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise
Boat tours from Sliema circle both natural harbours, passing the bastions of Valletta, the Three Cities, the creeks of the Grand Harbour and the dockyards. It is the easiest way to understand why the Knights and later the British prized Malta.
Tip: Choose an open-deck seat and go in the late afternoon, when the low sun lights up the bastions.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Sliema, seafront promenade, shopping and swimming platforms facing Valletta.
Best time to visit Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise
Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 2 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- June: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
- July: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-May the sun sets at about 20:00 local time (calculated for Valletta).
When to visit Valletta has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen St John's Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery.
- No. 14 of the 16 sights in our Valletta things-to-do list.
- Day 5 of the 5-day plan.
- A family favourite in Valletta with kids.
If you like Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise
- Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery — Upper Valletta, 45 minutes
- Fort St Elmo and National War Museum — Lower Valletta, 2 hours
- Birgu and Fort St Angelo — The Three Cities, Half a day
Staying near Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise
Stay in Sliema ($$$) to walk here: seafront promenade, shopping and swimming platforms facing Valletta. All areas to stay in Valletta.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise?
Plan 1.5 hours.
+Is Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise?
May–July for the most comfortable weather. Choose an open-deck seat and go in the late afternoon, when the low sun lights up the bastions.
+Do I need to book Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Valletta. Malta is easy with children: English is spoken everywhere, distances are short, and forts, boat trips and the noon gun are a hit.