Valletta's Grand Harbour: a magical sunset arrival
Our cruise begins with an arrival at Valletta's Grand Harbour. Whether you're coming from the south of France, Sicily or Greece, Valletta is undoubtedly the most pleasant place to arrive. We recommend entering the Grand Harbour, the inlet to the south of Valletta, where you'll still have to watch out for large ships, which have priority when leaving the narrow passage formed by the breakwater at the entrance. For access to many historic sites, a good idea is to dock at the Grand Harbour Marina, located in the town of Birgu. From here, you can easily take a small water cab (2 euros) to the other side of the harbor to visit the historic town of Valletta, with its narrow streets, fortifications and historic buildings dating back to the Crusades.
The best time to arrive is at sunset, when the entire harbor is bathed in a golden glow and all the lights of the capital come on.
Birgu and the Three Cities
At Grand Harbour Marina, you'll find all the services and comforts of a large marina, as well as direct access to the Three Cities, three fortified towns opposite Valletta. Here, you can explore forts dating back to the time of the Knights of Malta, restaurants and picturesque alleyways; enjoy local specialties such as ftira, a tuna or anchovy sandwich, and pastizzi, friands filled with meat or spinach. If you prefer to spend the night at anchor near the Three Cities, you can drop anchor in front of Fort Rikasoli, at the entrance to Grand Harbour, in the Bay of Rinella, where you'll just have to watch out for an electric cable on the seabed when you anchor, with the help of a map and GPS.
Marina di Valetta and the other side of Valletta
The Marina di Valletta is also a good alternative for visiting the capital. Located in the inlet to the north of Valletta, it offers a view of Manoel Island and its fort. This solution allows you to reach the Capital on foot from the boat, or you can reach the Three Cities in the other direction, by taking a water cab from Valletta.
A good day's sightseeing in and around the capital, and you're ready to set sail on your tour of the archipelago, and discover the famous sites of Saint-Paul and Comino the very next day.
