Practical • 7–10 min
Valletta ↔ Sliema Ferry Guide
A practical guide to the Valletta ↔ Sliema ferry: why it’s worth using even if you don’t need transport, how to fit it into sunset plans, and what to check before you go.
Photo by Rose Galloway Green on Unsplash.
Highlights
- ✦Fast skyline-view upgrade for minimal effort
- ✦Great for sunset and blue-hour perspectives
- ✦Useful if you’re staying outside Valletta
- ✦Pairs with the Barrakka Lift and waterfront routes
At a glance
- Best for
- Skyline photos and an easy perspective shift
- Time needed
- A short loop + promenade time
- Best time
- Late afternoon and evening
- Check
- Current schedules and wind conditions
Why the Sliema ferry is worth doing
Even if you don’t need transport, the ferry is a viewpoint. In minutes you get the skyline back toward Valletta—one of the best photo angles of the city walls and harbour scale.
It also gives your day a reset: after hours of walking, a short ride feels like a break.
How to use it in a Valletta day
The best way is to fold it into your sunset sequence: viewpoints first, then waterfront, then ferry loop for skyline angles, then return for dinner.
- Upper Barrakka for golden hour
- Lift down to the waterfront
- Ferry loop to Sliema for skyline photos
- Return to Valletta for dinner and night walk
Practical checks before you go
Harbour travel can be affected by wind and seasonal schedules. Transport Malta publishes seasonal operating windows for the Valletta ↔ Sliema service, but the operator timetable is the final word for exact departures.
- Winter (1 Nov–31 May): Mon–Sat 06:45–19:30; Sundays/PH 08:45–18:30
- Summer (1 Jun–31 Oct): Mon–Sat 06:45–00:45; Sundays/PH 08:45–00:45 (night service from 19:30)
- Authorised fares baseline: €1.50 one-way / €2.80 return (night service slightly higher)
- If you’re returning very late: keep a taxi backup plan
A simple photo plan
Shoot the ferry experience as a story: boarding, wake, skyline, and the return glow. Blue hour is especially cinematic on the water.
- Golden hour: warm stone
- Blue hour: harbour lights and reflections
FAQ
Do I need the ferry if I’m staying in Valletta?
You don’t need it, but it’s one of the easiest upgrades for skyline views and a perspective shift. It’s worth doing once if you like photos or harbour atmosphere.