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The Traditional Harbour Cruise

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Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Enjoy your cruise around the two natural harbours and their ten creeks. A detailed commentary will help to unfold the history of Valletta and the Three Cities dating back to 1565. Visiting historical forts, battlements and the ten creeks from the sea, will give a different prospective of days gone by as you witness Malta's living past and busy present dockyards & marinas.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Detailed commentary on all cruises.

Boats are fully licensed, insured and in line with EU regulations.

A fully stocked bar and toilet facilities are available on board.

Commentary on board available in English.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

1

Fort Manoel

Passing by

Admission Not Applicable
2

Ta' Xbiex

Passing by

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Live commentary on board

Food and drinks

Options

The Traditional Harbour Cruise

Reviews

3.78

159 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

60
46
29
6
18
  • Lena

    lenasQ2019VZ,,Nov 7, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Nice tour, nice weather, informative guide, small intimate boat, plus with a toilet and that it was possible to shop for refreshments on board.

  • Best introduction to Valetta - value for money and relaxing way to travel on a bright sunny day

    MatthewJB,,Aug 29, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Sliema is the departure location for many Malta tours, both seagoing and land-based. On our first day we wanted to get an overview of the city, its layout and main points of interest. We usually do this with one of the ‘hop-on, hop-off’ buses in the city that we’re visiting. This time we decided that a harbour tour was more appropriate given the out-sized place that seafaring and maritime history play in the development of Malta, and of Valetta. We caught the local ferry from Valetta to Sliema (10 mins) to Sliema harbour. The boat was described by the captain as a traditional Maltese boat, few hundred years old, with obvious updates and refurbishments. The English commentary was interesting and informative. The crew friendly and helpful. The tour price is excellent, and it was one of the few boats leaving Sliema that morning that wasn’t crowded (Valetta and Sliema can be overcrowded at times). A small bar offered drink and snacks at reasonable prices. The 90 minute tour was value for money and an excellent introduction to the city and its history.

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  • Walk through the sea

    margareta490,,Aug 8, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Very nice views and there is very cold beer on board. It is also important to say that there is plenty and a very friendly man explains each site or monument.

  • Mykonos shipping

    Erwin C,,Jul 28, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    4.00

    It was a nice trip. However, we did not invest in the excavations. This should definitely be planned!

  • Very good for a pleasant and easy visit

    Daydream61975711035,,Jul 27, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    4.00

    Too bad that only the English language is available for comments. Comfortable boat and friendly crew

  • Ok but lots of travel

    Go48161740295,,Jun 7, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    3.00

    Tour great but a lot of travel with the boat and transfer buses. Also, the pick up bus from the Diplomat is not directly across the road, you need to walk left to the bus stop. We weren't told that.

  • Good cruise

    michaelkK9059OT,,Apr 3, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    4.00

    One of three operators doing harbour cruises from Sliema with their reps touting for business on the waterfront. “I See Malta” tried upselling us some sort of ticket including two open top hop on off bus tours but as we were only here for a short break it wasn’t going to be worthwhile and we instead chose Malta Sightseeing mainly because it was the next one to depart, the rep offered us 25% discount if we booked there and then, saying it went at 12 then admitted it was actually 12.15! Of the three operators this one’s boat seemed the most rustic and I’m amazed the access arrangements met Health & Safety legislation with a short “gangplank” bobbing up and down with the swell in the harbour and passengers helpfully told to leap on at the lowest point! The tour itself was actually pretty good, having done it before I knew things could get a bit choppy on the open water between the two harbours but maybe avoid if your sea legs aren’t that good. Commentary purely in English was informative but the renditions of Rod Stewart “I am sailing” over the microphone was naff. Supposedly an hour and a half but more like an hour and twenty minutes but for the length of the tour it’s fair value. Anyway it enabled us to move smartly across to the next landing stage and just get the next ferry back to Valletta.

  • If you want to learn more about Malta, take this cruise!

    irenefS3682FZ,,Mar 27, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    My husband and I enjoyed this cruise because, not only were we told about the various buildings pointed out to us in the different creeks and the Grand Harbour, but also the history of Malta going back hundreds of years.

  • A half hour dash around Gozo!!

    505lyndsayc,,Mar 25, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    3.00

    Very long boat trip to Gozo with an unscheduled half hour stop to pick up more people which ate into what little time we did have there. The driver of our minibus decided that he would take us to a shop where we could sample local goods for free, which reduced our time by another 20 minutes at least. We were completely powerless to stop this and we, along with most of the other people on the bus, were furious. He then told us that he would be late to pick us up as he had to do the school run!! We ended up getting a taxi as we were so angry with him, he ruined our trip. The boat trip was informative, the crew were great, and the stop off on Comino Island was very pleasant 👌

  • Well worth doing

    782micko,,Mar 22, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    4.00

    A rocky start when we arrived and they turned us away saying not their cruise despite it being directly opposite McDonald's in the harbour as per our joining instructions and there being no other harbour cruise vessels in sight. Quickly resolved however and the cruise was very good with lots of interesting info. Don't expect too much from the 'drinks available ' tag as its a crew member in a kiosk on board. It's not polished, it's not slick and it's not a gleaming polished yacht but it's exactly what it says on the tin - a traditional harbour tour on a traditional vessel. Would recommend if you really want a local tour of the harbour area. Fantastic perspective of the magnificence of the fortified defences of malta.

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From €20.00

3.78
(159 reviews)
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