Getting to Valletta from Sliema is straightforward by direct harbour ferry or bus. The ferry crosses from The Strand in Sliema to a quay in Valletta, while bus routes connect Sliema with the city; once there, you can explore central sights on foot or use a circular bus route.
- Ferry: direct service between The Strand and Valletta, with no stops between.
- Bus: Routes 21 and 15 connect Sliema and Valletta.
- Ferry day fares: €3.00 single or €5.00 return for adults.
- St John’s Co-Cathedral recommends allowing about 1 hour 45 minutes for a visit.
For a wider look at your starting point, see this guide to Sliema’s old town and promenade.
Choosing a ferry or bus from Sliema
The ferry is a direct crossing, while the bus gives you a road connection between Sliema and Valletta.
Valletta Ferry Services runs a daily catamaran between The Strand in Sliema and Valletta, with no stops between the two.
Adult day fares are €3.00 for a single and €5.00 for a return; child fares are €1.00 single and €1.50 return. Holders of a valid personalised tallinja Card can travel free on the Sliema–Valletta ferry operated by Marsamxetto Steamferry Services.
The timetable changes by season and day. The operator publishes a winter schedule, with weekday, Sunday and public-holiday service patterns differing; check the official site before you go for the departure that suits your plans.
For the bus, Malta Public Transport lists Route 21 between Sliema Ferries 1, stop 2578, and Valletta B3, stop 6305. Route 15 also runs between Sliema and Valletta, departing from Ferries 4, stop 2581.
A valid personalised tallinja Card provides free travel on regular day and night bus routes. Check Malta Public Transport’s live timetable for your travel date, as listed departure times may not apply to every journey.
If you are planning more time around the harbour, the Three Cities trip from Sliema makes a useful separate outing.
Where to arrive in Valletta
The ferry arrives at a quay below Valletta, and a city bus can connect the quays with the centre.
From the ferry quay, Malta Public Transport’s Valletta circular Route 133 connects the waterfront with the city centre. That gives you a straightforward onward option if you would rather not continue uphill on foot immediately after the crossing.
Bus passengers on Route 21 arrive at Valletta B3, stop 6305. If you take Route 15 instead, confirm your exact arrival point against the live operator information before setting off.
To plan the day around Sliema as well as the capital, use this one-day Sliema itinerary as a companion guide.
A walk through Valletta’s central sights
St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Lascaris War Rooms are two central sights with enough detail to merit planning time for each.
St John’s Co-Cathedral is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 16:45, with last admission at 16:00; it closes on Sundays and public holidays. Admission is €15 for adults and €12 for seniors and students.
Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult. The ticket includes a handheld audio guide with 20 stops, available in 11 listed languages, and the cathedral recommends allowing about 1 hour 45 minutes.
The cathedral provides wheelchair access and access for visitors with mobility issues, although some areas are restricted. Appropriate dress is required, stiletto and narrow heels are not permitted, and flash photography is prohibited.
The Lascaris War Rooms are open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 17:30, with last admission at 17:00. Admission is €20 for adults aged 16 and over, €19 for seniors and €7 for children aged 5–15; a family ticket for two adults and three children under 16 costs €40.
Members enter free. Guided tours are listed at 10:30 and 12:30 for an additional €5 per person aged 16 and over; children under 16 may join free. The War Rooms close on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For the War Rooms, directions run from Castille Place and Upper Barrakka Gardens via Battery Street steps, or from the bus station via St James Ditch and Ganado Gardens. Check the relevant attraction’s official information before planning around opening hours, admission or access arrangements.
Returning to Sliema
You can return across the harbour by ferry or take a bus back to Sliema.
For a ferry return, check the applicable timetable before you leave Sliema and note the Valletta departure time that works for your day. The adult return fare is €5.00, while a valid personalised tallinja Card provides free travel on the eligible Sliema–Valletta ferry service.
If you are returning by bus, Malta Public Transport’s Route 21 links Valletta B3 with Sliema Ferries 1. Use the live timetable to confirm the departure, especially if your plans run late.
FAQs
Is there a direct ferry from Sliema to Valletta?
Yes. Valletta Ferry Services runs a direct catamaran between The Strand in Sliema and Valletta, with no stops between them.
How much is the Sliema–Valletta ferry?
Adult day fares are €3.00 single and €5.00 return. Child day fares are €1.00 single and €1.50 return.
Which bus goes from Sliema to Valletta?
Malta Public Transport lists Routes 21 and 15 as connecting Sliema and Valletta. Route 21 serves Sliema Ferries 1 and Valletta B3.
Can you get from the Valletta ferry quay to the city centre?
Yes. Valletta circular Route 133 connects the ferry quays with the city centre.