How do you take the Valletta–Sliema ferry?

The ferry departs from Valletta's Customs House (Lascaris Wharf) and arrives at Sliema Ferries on the promenade. The crossing takes 5 minutes, departs every 30 minutes in each direction from early morning, and costs €3 each way (€5 return) by day. It's far faster than a taxi, which must drive around Marsamxett Harbour — a 15–25 minute detour. Just show up and pay on board.

Valletta–Sliema ferry: schedule

The ferry that everyone forgets to mention

Most guidebooks bury the Valletta–Sliema ferry in a footnote, which is criminal. This five-minute crossing across Marsamxett Harbour is one of the most useful and underused shortcuts in Malta, and the views of Valletta’s bastions from the water are better than most boat tours that charge €20 for essentially the same angle.

If you’re staying in Sliema and planning a day in Valletta (or vice versa), the ferry saves you 20–40 minutes of taxi or bus time each way. Over a week, that adds up to hours.


Where	Valletta: Lascaris Wharf, below Lower Barrakka Gardens. Sliema: Sliema Ferries dock, Tower Road
Cost	€3.00 each way or €5.00 return by day (adults); children €1.00 one way / €1.50 return
Time needed	5-minute crossing; allow 10–15 minutes either side for walking to/from the dock
Getting there	Walk from Republic Street (Valletta) or Tower Road promenade (Sliema) — both signposted
Best time	Late afternoon (16:00–17:00) for the amber light on Valletta’s bastions; early morning for the quietest crossing

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Where to board

Valletta side: The ferry departs from Valletta’s Lascaris Wharf, at sea level beneath the Lower Barrakka Gardens and very close to the Valletta Waterfront area. If you’re walking down from Republic Street, head toward the waterfront, pass the Siege Bell War Memorial, and the wharf is at the bottom of the steps. Look for the small yellow and blue boats.

Sliema side: The ferry arrives at Sliema Ferries, the main dock area on the Tower Road promenade. This is also where Captain Morgan departs for the Two Harbours cruise and various Comino trips, so it’s a busy spot that’s easy to find.

Both boarding points are well-signposted once you’re near the waterfront.

Timetable and frequency

The ferry leaves every 30 minutes in each direction all year (Sliema at :15 and :45, Valletta at :00 and :30), with the first sailing around 06:45 from Sliema and 07:00 from Valletta. In winter (1 November–31 May) the last sailing is around 19:30; in summer (1 June–31 October) a night service runs much later, with the last departures around 01:30. On Sundays and public holidays the service runs from about 08:45 (until 18:30 in winter, midnight in summer).

The exact timetable is posted at both boarding points and on vallettaferryservices.com/schedule. There’s no need to book; just turn up and pay on board in cash or by card. The service is operated by Valletta Ferry Services, which is part of Malta Public Transport.

Practical note: Do not confuse this ferry with the Three Cities ferry (Valletta to Birgu/Vittoriosa). That’s a separate service departing from a different wharf and crossing the Grand Harbour — a completely different direction.

Price (2026)

The daytime fare for adults is €3.00 each way or €5.00 return. Children pay €1.00 one way or €1.50 return. The night service (from 19:30) costs €3.50 one way or €5.20 return. No advance purchase required; pay the deckhand on board.

For comparison: a taxi from Sliema to Valletta runs €8–12 depending on time of day and traffic. The bus takes 20–30 minutes and costs €2.50 (summer). The ferry takes 5 minutes and costs €3.

What you see on the crossing

Don’t blink. In five minutes you’ll see:

Valletta’s northern curtain wall from the waterline — a perspective unavailable from land
Manoel Island with its old theatre and fortifications
The Tigné Point area and St Julian’s direction in the distance
Sliema’s Victorian-era waterfront

The light in the late afternoon (around 16:00–17:00) turns the Valletta bastions amber. If you’re crossing at that time and you have a camera, have it ready.

When to take the ferry vs. a longer cruise

The ferry is a transfer, not a sightseeing experience. You use it when you need to get from A to B. If you want to slow down and absorb the harbour properly, you want the Two Harbours cruise or the night harbour cruise.

That said, doing the ferry in both directions in the same day gives you a total of about 10 minutes of harbour views that would cost €20+ on a formal cruise. Many experienced Malta visitors do exactly this.

Book the Sliema–Valletta return ferry ticket on GetYourGuide

The GYG option for the ferry is useful if you want the convenience of pre-booking (especially useful if you’re on a cruise stop and need to manage time precisely), but in practice most people just walk on and pay cash.

If you want to see the harbours at a slower pace with historical commentary, the Two Harbours cruise is the natural upgrade:

Book the Two Harbours day cruise of Malta (Captain Morgan)

And for a scenic 90-minute harbour cruise that includes Valletta and the Three Cities:

Book the Sliema to Valletta and Three Cities scenic cruise

The Three Cities ferry — a different crossing

If you’re heading to Birgu (Vittoriosa) and the Three Cities rather than Sliema, the correct service is the Grand Harbour ferry, which departs from the Valletta Waterfront (a different wharf from the Sliema ferry) and crosses to Senglea or Birgu.

Book the Valletta to Three Cities ferry return

The Three Cities ferry takes around 10 minutes and offers dramatic views of the Grand Harbour — one of the finest short boat rides in the Mediterranean. Unlike the Valletta–Sliema run, this one genuinely feels like a sightseeing experience in its own right. See the Three Cities walking tour guide for how to combine it with an exploration of Birgu.

How to get to the Sliema ferry from your hotel

If you’re staying in Sliema centre: Tower Road is Sliema’s main promenade. The ferry dock is near the Sliema Ferries stop — about a 5–15 minute walk from most hotels depending on your exact location.

If you’re staying in St Julian’s: The ferry isn’t the most convenient option from here. Taking the bus to Valletta (route 12 or 13, about 25 minutes) or a Bolt (€7–10) may be faster.

If you’re staying in Valletta itself: You don’t need the ferry to reach Sliema per se, but it’s a pleasant way to arrive in Sliema for an evening stroll rather than dealing with the bus.

The Sliema promenade and what’s nearby

The ferry drops you right onto the Sliema promenade, one of the most pleasant walks in Malta. The promenade runs from Sliema Ferries northwest along Tower Road and continues toward St Julian’s (about 3 km). Along the way:

Dozens of restaurants and cafés, ranging from tourist-facing to genuinely local
Rocky swimming spots accessible via metal ladders (this is how Maltese people swim — the shoreline here is almost entirely rocky)
Clear views back across to Valletta and Manoel Island
Several pharmacy and supermarket options if you need to stock up

For dinner on the Sliema side, avoid the places right at the ferry dock (overpriced and average). Walk five minutes along the promenade and the quality improves noticeably. If you’re deciding between basing yourself in Sliema or Valletta for your whole trip, the ferry link is one of the strongest arguments for Sliema — see the full Valletta vs Sliema comparison.

Ferry vs bus vs taxi: the real numbers

Most first-time visitors default to a taxi or rideshare out of habit, without realising the ferry is both cheaper and faster for this specific crossing.

Option	Time	Cost (one way)	Notes
Ferry	5 min	€3.00 (day)	Fastest, most scenic, no booking needed
Bus (routes via Tallinja network)	20–30 min	€2.00 (winter) / €2.50 (summer)	Fine if you’re not in a hurry or the ferry isn’t running
Taxi / Bolt	15–25 min drive	€7–12	See taxis and ride-share in Malta for booking apps and typical fares

The only scenario where a taxi wins is late at night after the ferry has stopped running, or if you have heavy luggage and want a door-to-door drop-off.

Mistakes to avoid

Confusing it with the Three Cities ferry — the Sliema ferry and the Grand Harbour ferry to Birgu depart from different wharves in different directions. Check which dock you’re at before boarding.
Assuming it runs 24 hours — the last sailing is around 01:30 in summer and around 19:30 in winter. Plan your return before you head out for a late dinner in Sliema.
Eating right at the dock — both the Valletta Waterfront and Sliema Ferries area have overpriced, average food aimed at passing tourists. Walk a few minutes further for better value.
Not checking the Three Cities is a separate trip — if your plan includes Birgu, budget it as a distinct outing; see the Valletta and Three Cities day for how to combine both harbours properly.
Forgetting cash as a backup — most operators take card, but the fare is so small that having a couple of coins avoids any card-machine delay.

Building the ferry into a Valletta day

The ferry works best as the hinge of a day rather than a stand-alone outing. A simple pattern: cross in the morning while Valletta is still quiet, spend the first hours on foot, then come back across the water when your legs have had enough. Valletta is compact but hilly, and the stairs that drop toward the harbour are tiring on the way back up, so it pays to plan your route so that you finish near the wharf rather than start there.

If you want structure for the Valletta side, the three-hour Valletta walking tour fits neatly between two crossings. For the churches and art, St John’s Co-Cathedral and Caravaggio in Valletta deserve a slot of their own, and the Valletta destination page helps you decide what else to add. Food stops are better planned in advance too: the best restaurants in Valletta guide separates the places locals use from the ones aimed at passing groups.

Using the ferry on a short stay

If you only have a couple of days, the crossing is a cheap way to see two very different sides of the island without losing time in traffic. The 3-day Malta itinerary and the 5-day Malta itinerary both assume you will move between the Sliema side and the capital more than once, and the ferry is the easiest link between them. Travelling in the evening is also pleasant: the lights on the bastions are worth seeing from the water, and the Valletta evening bars guide gives you a reason to stay out after dark. Just keep an eye on the last sailing before you order a second drink.

Practical habits that make the crossing easier

Arrive at the dock a few minutes early, particularly in summer, so you are not rushing down the steps as the boat is about to leave.
Keep the fare ready in your hand. The deckhand collects it on board and a queue builds quickly when several people fumble for change.
Stand on the side facing Valletta on the way out of Sliema if you want the bastions in your photos without other passengers in the frame.
In rough weather, hold the rail when stepping on and off; the boat moves against the wharf more than you expect.
If luggage is part of the plan, travel outside the busiest morning and late-afternoon periods, when the small boats fill up with commuters and day visitors.

None of this is complicated, but it is the difference between a smooth five minutes and a slightly stressful one. For the wider picture of how to get around without a car, the Tallinja bus guide covers the routes that complement the ferry when it is not running.

Frequently asked questions about the Valletta–Sliema ferry

How often does the Valletta–Sliema ferry run?

Every 30 minutes in each direction, all year, from about 06:45 (Sliema) or 07:00 (Valletta). The last sailing is around 19:30 in winter (1 November–31 May) and around 01:30 in summer (1 June–31 October). Check the timetable posted at the boarding point or on vallettaferryservices.com/schedule.

Do I need to book the Valletta–Sliema ferry in advance?

No. Just turn up and pay on board. The only exception would be if you’re on a tightly scheduled cruise stop and want the certainty of a pre-booked time — in that case, GYG offers a bookable return ticket.

Is the ferry cash-only?

Most ferries accept both cash and card, but having a few euros in cash is always advisable as a backup. The fare is so small that cash is usually easier.

Can I take a bicycle on the ferry?

Small bikes and foldable bikes are generally accommodated, but the ferries are small and can be crowded at peak times. Check with the operator if you’re planning this.

Is the ferry running in winter?

Yes, with the same 30-minute frequency but an earlier last sailing (around 19:30). Be aware that winter weather in Malta can occasionally cause the service to be suspended temporarily. Check at the dock.

What’s the difference between the Valletta–Sliema ferry and the Two Harbours cruise?

The ferry is a 5-minute crossing from A to B. The Two Harbours cruise is a 90-minute sightseeing circuit of both harbours with commentary. They share part of the same water but serve completely different purposes.

Is the ferry accessible for wheelchair users?

The boarding process involves a small step from the dock to the boat, which can be awkward for wheelchair users, particularly in choppy weather. Call ahead if accessibility is a concern.