Valletta–Sliema Ferry Winter Timetable 2026: What Changes

Short answer: the Valletta–Sliema ferry runs its extended summer timetable until Saturday 31 October 2026, with late sailings until around 01:30. From Sunday 1 November 2026, the winter timetable applies until 31 May: according to Transport Malta’s published schedule, the Sliema–Valletta service runs roughly from 06:45 to 19:30 from Monday to Saturday, and from 08:45 to 18:30 on Sundays and public holidays. Adult fares are €3.00 single by day and €3.50 at night (from 19:30), and holders of a personalised tallinja card travel free. If you’re out in Valletta or Sliema after about 19:30 in winter, plan to get home by bus or taxi.

The ferry across Marsamxett Harbour is one of the nicest commutes in Europe: a short crossing, with the Valletta skyline in front of you. It’s also the thing that catches people out every November, when the late sailings stop.

What changes on 1 November 2026

Last checked October 2026. Times can change, and published sources don’t always agree, so check the operator’s timetable before you travel.

Route	Summer (1 June – 31 October)	Winter (1 November – 31 May)
Sliema–Valletta, Monday to Saturday	From early morning until late night	About 06:45 to 19:30
Sliema–Valletta, Sundays and public holidays	From morning until about 01:30	About 08:45 to 18:30
Valletta–Three Cities, Sundays and public holidays	From morning until about 01:30	About 09:00 to 18:15
Frequency	Frequent through the day; less frequent late at night	Frequent through the day (the timetable lists 15-minute departures)

Sources: Valletta Ferry Services (summer and winter timetable headings, fares) and Transport Malta’s ferry service page (winter Monday–Saturday and Sunday hours). Weekday times for the Three Cities route weren’t listed on the operator’s page when checked.

The big practical change is the end of the evening. In summer you can stay for a late dinner in Valletta and still catch a boat back to Sliema; from November, the last departure is in the early evening, before most people have even ordered. Morning sailings start at much the same time as before, so the change is mostly felt by people going out, not people going to work.

Fares

Ticket	Price
Adult single (day)	€3.00
Adult return (day)	€5.00
Child single / return (day)	€1.00 / €1.50
Night single (from 19:30)	€3.50
Night return (from 19:30)	€5.20
Personalised tallinja card holders	Free

Fares from Valletta Ferry Services, checked October 2026. According to Malta Public Transport, holders of a personalised tallinja card (the one with the holder’s name and photo) can use the ferries between Sliema and Valletta and between the Three Cities and Valletta for free, as well as the Barrakka Lift between the harbour and Upper Barrakka Gardens. Some online guides still say tallinja cards don’t cover the ferry; that’s out of date.

In winter, the night fare matters less than it does in summer, because the timetable ends close to the point where it kicks in. If you’re a visitor without a personalised card, a day return is the simplest buy if you know you’ll come back by ferry; if there’s any chance you’ll stay out late, buy singles, because a return is no use once the boats have stopped.

Who it affects

• Anyone going out in Valletta from Sliema (or the other way round): from 1 November, the ferry is a daytime and early-evening option only.
• Commuters: morning and early-evening sailings continue, so the commute is largely unaffected, but late finishes will mean the bus.
• Visitors staying in Sliema: a sunset crossing to Valletta still works in winter; the trip back after dinner usually won’t.
• Three Cities residents and visitors: the Cospicua (Bormla) crossing also runs a shorter winter timetable.
• People arriving on new winter flights: if you land in the evening and are staying in Sliema, don’t count on the ferry as part of your route in from the airport. Our guide to Malta airport new routes for winter 2026 covers which flights arrive when.

Getting to the landings

On the Sliema side, the ferry leaves from the Strand, the waterfront road facing Valletta, near the tour-boat kiosks. It’s easy to find: walk to the seafront and look for the queue and the ferry signs. On busy days, the tour-boat sellers will try to sell you a harbour cruise; the ferry is the plain shuttle, not the one with the loudspeaker.

On the Valletta side, the boat lands at the Marsamxett waterfront below the city walls, not inside the city itself. Getting from the landing up to the centre involves a climb, which is fine on a dry afternoon and less fun in winter rain or with shopping bags. If you’re meeting someone at City Gate or on Republic Street, add a few minutes for the walk up. For the Three Cities ferry, the Valletta landing is on the Grand Harbour side, which is where the Barrakka Lift is useful for getting up to Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Sundays and public holidays in winter

The shorter Sunday and public holiday timetable (roughly 08:45 to 18:30 on Sliema–Valletta) applies on several dates people often plan outings around in winter, including 8 December, 13 December, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. If you’re planning a Christmas lights walk in Valletta or a long-weekend day out, check whether it falls on a public holiday first; our list of Malta public holidays has the dates. On those days, the last crossing is earlier than on a normal Saturday, so an afternoon visit works much better than an evening one.

What to do instead after the last ferry

• Bus: buses run between Valletta and Sliema along the harbour road. A single costs €2.00 on day routes in winter and €3.00 on night routes, and travel is free with a personalised tallinja card. Use the tallinja app to see live times. Night routes from Valletta, including the frequent N13 on weekdays, are on the night routes page.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: Valletta to Sliema is a short ride. Book from near City Gate, where pick-ups are easiest.
• Walk: possible, but it’s a long walk around the harbour through Floriana, Pietà, Msida and Gżira. Not recommended late at night in winter rain.

Be honest with yourself about the bus: the harbour road gets congested, and buses at closing time can be full. Autumn roadworks can also change where buses stop; check our page on Malta roadworks and bus detours for nights out before you rely on a particular stop.

A winter evening, planned around the ferry

Here’s how I’d do a weekday evening in Valletta from Sliema in winter, using the ferry where it actually helps:

1. Late afternoon: take the ferry across while it’s still light. The view of the bastions from the water is the whole point, and it’s at its best around sunset.
2. Early evening: walk up into the city and catch something on the Valletta cultural agenda, or just wander; plenty of it costs nothing, and our list of free things to do in Malta has more ideas.
3. Dinner and drinks: by now the last ferry has gone, so stop watching the clock. The Valletta nightlife guide covers Strait Street and the wine bars, and there are regular comedy nights and pub quizzes if you want a plan with a start time.
4. Home: bus from the Valletta terminus or a taxi from near City Gate.

The same logic works for a date: meet on the Sliema side, cross together, and let the boat be the first part of the evening. There are more ideas, with costs, in our date ideas in Malta guide. If you’re heading further, the Gozo ferry is a different service from Ċirkewwa; see the Gozo day trip itinerary.

Winter tips

• Bad weather: crossings can be suspended in rough seas or strong winds. On stormy days, assume you’ll need the bus, and check the operator’s website before you leave.
• Plan evenings backwards: if you want the ferry home, you need to be at the landing before the last departure. For dinner in Valletta, that usually means the bus.
• Use the ferry one way: take the ferry over to Valletta for sunset, and the bus back. It’s the best of both.
• Keep your tallinja card handy: if you live in Malta, a personalised card makes both the ferry and the bus free.
• Dress for the water: the crossing is short, but the harbour is noticeably windier than the streets in winter. Bring a layer even if it felt mild in town.

For evening plans on the Valletta side of the harbour, see the Valletta nightlife guide.

Frequently asked questions

Updates

• 27 October 2026: page published, with timetables and fares checked on 10 October 2026.

Plan the crossing, then the evening

The ferry makes Valletta and Sliema feel like one town in summer. In winter, it’s still the best way to arrive; just sort the way back first.