Three Cities from Sliema: how to plan the harbour trip

The Three Cities are Birgu, Bormla and Isla, also known as Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. They face Valletta across the Grand Harbour, but the ferry route from Valletta serves Cospicua, making Bormla a practical starting point for exploring the group.

Birgu is the town to focus on for the Inquisitor’s Palace, Fort St Angelo and the Malta Maritime Museum. The Inquisitor’s Palace served as the official residence and law court of the Inquisitor from 1571 to 1798. The three sights give the day a clear historical thread without requiring a list of unsupported walking distances or visit times.

For another look at the starting point, this guide to Sliema’s old town and promenade covers the neighbourhood around your stay.

The Valletta Ferry Services network connects Sliema to the Three Cities with a change in Valletta. Take the Sliema–Valletta catamaran first, then board the Valletta–Three Cities service. The Sliema–Valletta service runs directly between its two stops, without intermediate stops.

1. Take the Sliema–Valletta ferry.
2. Change in Valletta for the Valletta–Three Cities ferry.
3. Arrive at Cospicua (Bormla) and continue your visit from there.

The operator’s published winter timetable runs from 1 November to 31 May. In that timetable, Monday to Thursday departures run from Cospicua between 06:30 and 22:00, and from Valletta between 06:45 and 22:30.

On Sundays and public holidays, service runs from 09:00 to 18:15. Transport Malta gives a winter operating span of 06:30–19:15 Monday to Saturday and 09:00–18:15 on Sundays and public holidays; schedules can change.

The operator lists adult day tickets at €3 single or €5 return, and children’s day tickets at €1 single or €1.50 return. Malta Public Transport says travel on the Valletta Ferry is free for holders of a valid personalised tallinja Card.

Passengers arriving on the Cospicua route also receive a ticket for complimentary access to the Upper Barrakka lift. Route 133 connects Valletta’s ferry quays with the centre of Valletta.

Before you go: Check the official site before you go, using the Valletta Ferry Services timetable for current departures and fare details.

Birgu is the natural focus for a visit centred on the Three Cities’ listed historic sights. From Cospicua, plan your day around the Inquisitor’s Palace, Fort St Angelo and the Malta Maritime Museum, all included among the Three Cities sights in a Malta tourism guide hosted by the University of Malta.

The palace’s former role as residence and law court gives it a distinct place in Birgu’s story. Pair it with Fort St Angelo and the maritime museum to make a day that moves between civic, military and maritime history.

The facts available here do not specify walking routes or distances between these sights, so check local maps when planning the order.

There is no visit duration specified for Fort St Angelo, the Inquisitor’s Palace or the Malta Maritime Museum, so the best plan is to set your schedule around the places you want to enter rather than assume a fixed tour length. Choose the sights that matter most to you, then leave room for the ferry connection in Valletta.

For a history-led day, make the Inquisitor’s Palace and Fort St Angelo your anchors, and add the Malta Maritime Museum if it fits your timing. Confirm opening information directly with the relevant attraction before setting out; the ferry operator’s timetable is also worth checking before you travel.