The Maltese sunset is the easiest “wow” in your trip. The whole western coast is limestone cliff and bastion wall, the sun sinks straight into the sea between Comino and Gozo, and on a clear July evening you’ll watch a thousand-year-old skyline turn pink for forty minutes. You can see it from the Upper Barrakka Gardens for free, and you should at least once. But the boat-borne version — drink in hand, Comino on the horizon, Valletta lit up behind you — is one of those tourist clichés that earns its cliché status.
The catch: there are five very different formats, sold under the same “sunset cruise” label, with very different vibes and value. Below is the honest comparison.
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The five types of Malta sunset cruise#
| Type | Cost | Length | Departure | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big-boat catamaran (50–150 pax) | €35–55 | 2.5–3 hours | Sliema or Buġibba | Groups, party energy, open bar |
| Small-group sailing yacht (8–16 pax) | €55–85 | 2.5–3 hours | Sliema | Couples, atmosphere, real sail |
| Small-group RIB / speedboat (8–12 pax) | €60–85 | 2 hours | Sliema or Mġarr | Speed, photos, Comino sunset |
| Grand Harbour sunset cruise (Valletta) | €25–40 | 1.5–2 hours | Valletta waterfront | Short, scenic, history angle |
| Private charter (skipper + crew) | €450–900 / boat | 3–4 hours | Sliema, St Julian’s | Groups of 6+, special occasions |
1. Big-boat catamaran sunset cruise#
The default and the most-booked. Large catamarans (50–150 passenger capacity) leave Sliema seafront at around 18:00–19:00 in summer, sail north toward Comino and the Blue Lagoon area for the sunset, then back. 2.5–3 hours, €35–55, usually with an open bar (Cisk lager, Marsovin wine, soft drinks) and a buffet or light dinner depending on the operator.
Sliema Sunset Cruise to Comino with Open Bar
2.5–3 hour catamaran sunset cruise from Sliema. Sails north past St Julian’s, the Mellieħa coast and Comino, with a swim stop in calm weather, then sunset on the open sea between Malta and Comino. Includes open bar and a light buffet on most operator versions. Good party energy.
What you get: large boat, multiple decks, music, big group atmosphere. Drinks flow freely. Sunset on the open sea between Malta and Comino — usually the best vantage point on the island.
What you don’t get: atmosphere. These cruises are popular with hen/stag groups and families with teenagers. If you’re a couple looking for a quiet evening, you’ll be sharing the deck with 80 strangers and a DJ.
Pick this if: you’re a group of friends, a stag/hen party, or a family with older kids who want food + drink + a swim stop wrapped into one evening.
Skip if: you want a romantic evening, you’re sensitive to crowds, or you’d rather a real sail than a motor-powered catamaran.
2. Small-group sailing yacht sunset cruise#
The grown-up version. 8–16 passenger sailing yachts (proper monohull or small catamaran) leave Sliema at around 18:00, sail under canvas (engine on for the harbour exit, off once they’re past Manoel Island), and tack up the coast. 2.5–3 hours, €55–85.
What you get: quieter boat, smaller group, drinks (typically wine + beer + soft, not always open bar), light tapas-style nibbles. The skipper usually doubles as a guide and points out the bastions and coastline. You can actually hear yourself talk.
What you don’t get: the crowd-energy and the open bar of the big catamarans. Some sailing operators charge for drinks beyond a welcome glass.
Pick this if: couples, friends who’d rather chat than dance, or anyone who values atmosphere over volume. This is the sunset cruise we’d recommend for most first-timers paying their own way.
Skip if: you specifically want the party vibe.
3. Small-group RIB / speedboat sunset cruise#
The faster, more adventurous option. RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) seat 8–12, leave from Sliema or Mġarr (Gozo side), and use their speed advantage to circle Comino at sunset before heading back. 2 hours, €60–85.
What you get: speed (you actually move), wind in your face, the best photo opportunities of any sunset cruise, and the chance to circle Comino with the sun behind it — the iconic Malta sunset shot. Some operators add a brief swim stop in Crystal Lagoon if conditions allow.
What you don’t get: drinks or food. RIBs are about the ride, not the dinner. Bring water and a windbreaker.
Pick this if: you’re an active traveller, photography matters to you, or you’ve already done a “sit and drink” cruise on a previous trip and want something different.
Skip if: you’re prone to seasickness (RIBs are bouncy), you have back issues (the seats are firm), or you want a relaxed dinner-on-the-water vibe.
4. Valletta Grand Harbour sunset cruise#
The shortest, cheapest, and most history-rich of the lot. 1.5–2 hours, €25–40, departs the Valletta waterfront (not Sliema) and circles the Grand Harbour plus the Marsamxett Harbour on the other side of Valletta. You see Valletta’s bastions lit up, the Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua) at golden hour, the entrance to the harbour where the Knights’ galleys came in, Fort St Elmo, and the Saluting Battery.
What you get: the most photogenic Valletta-from-the-water shots in your trip, history-heavy narration on most versions (Knights, Great Siege, WWII), and you’re back on shore by 21:00 in time for dinner in Valletta. Some operators serve a glass of wine.
What you don’t get: the Comino-and-open-sea sunset that the Sliema cruises offer. The Grand Harbour faces east — you don’t see the sunset itself, you see Valletta lit up by it.
Pick this if: you’re short on time (one evening only), staying in Valletta, you’ve already got a Sliema cruise booked for another day, or sunset-on-the-water-with-history matters more to you than sunset-on-the-water-with-cocktails.
Skip if: you specifically want the orange-sun-on-the-horizon shot.
5. Private charter sunset cruise#
For groups of 6+ or special occasions. Private skipper + boat for 3–4 hours, €450–900 depending on size and crew. Includes drinks, sometimes catering, fully customisable route (most popular: out toward Comino + sunset + back via Mellieħa).
Pick this if: you’re a group of 6+ (the per-person cost lands at €70–110pp, on par with a small-group sailing cruise but with the privacy), you’re celebrating an anniversary/proposal/birthday, or you have specific dietary or pacing needs.
Skip if: you’re a couple. The maths really doesn’t work — €450 for two = €225pp, vs €65pp on a small-group sailing yacht with the same vibe.
What about Comino sunset specifically?#
A few operators run dedicated Comino sunset cruises that head straight north, anchor off Crystal Lagoon for the sunset, and come back in the dark. 3 hours, €55–80, smaller boats. The advantage: you watch the sun set with Comino’s cliffs as the foreground instead of open sea. The trade-off: you skip the Sliema/Valletta coast scenery on the way out.
If you’re already booking a daytime Comino trip, don’t double up — the daytime Comino cruises spend several hours at the Blue Lagoon and have you home by mid-afternoon, leaving the evening free for a separate sunset cruise. Format breakdown in Blue Lagoon Comino tours and how to get to Comino.
When to book#
- Big-boat catamaran: 2–4 days ahead in summer; same-day usually fine in shoulder. Saturdays book up first.
- Small-group sailing yacht: 5–10 days ahead in summer — small caps fill fast.
- RIB sunset: 3–5 days ahead — small caps, weather-cancellation risk.
- Grand Harbour cruise: 1–2 days ahead; often same-day available.
- Private charter: 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season.
What time does the sunset actually happen?#
Malta sunset times by month (approximate):
| Month | Sunset | Cruise depart | Cruise return |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 19:30 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
| May | 20:00 | 18:30 | 21:30 |
| June | 20:25 | 18:45 | 21:45 |
| July | 20:25 | 18:45 | 21:45 |
| August | 20:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
| September | 19:15 | 17:30 | 20:30 |
| October | 18:30 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
Cruises run April–early November for the most part. December–March, only the Grand Harbour cruises run on a regular schedule, and even those are weather-dependent.
For wider season planning see best time to visit Malta.
Insider tips#
- The free version is genuinely good. Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta has the best free sunset view in Malta — the gardens face east, but the sun setting behind you lights up the Three Cities and Grand Harbour gold. 15 minutes before sunset, get a drink at one of the small Republic Street cafes nearby and walk over.
- The Tigné Point seafront in Sliema is a free walking option facing west — nothing fancy, just a clear horizon and a lot of locals on bench-watching duty.
- Bring a cardigan even in July. Once the sun’s down and you’re moving, the wind chill on a boat is real.
- Catamaran open bars peak fast. If you’re on a 3-hour cruise with an open bar, queues at the bar hit a 15-minute wait by 19:30. Order your second drink before sunset.
- Photography settings matter. The Malta sunset is fast — peak colour lasts ~10 minutes. Have your camera ready by the time the sun is one finger-width above the horizon.
- Sea-sickness pills work. If you’re worried, take one 30 minutes before boarding. Cinnarizine (Stugeron) is the local pharmacy go-to.
Common mistakes#
- Booking a sunset cruise the night you arrive. You’ll be tired, jet-lagged and the open bar will end you. Day 2 onwards.
- Booking the cheapest catamaran without checking group size. A 150-passenger boat at €35 is a different experience from a 50-passenger boat at €40. Check capacity before booking.
- Booking a small-group sailing cruise in 25-knot wind. Read the weather forecast (windy.com is the local default) before the day. Better to push to another evening than spend 2 hours seasick.
- Skipping dinner expecting the cruise to feed you. “Light buffet” on a Maltese cruise can mean three trays of crisps, ham, and Maltese galletti. Eat first if you’re hungry.
- Trying to do Comino daytime + Comino sunset on the same day. That’s 6+ hours on a boat. One or the other, on different days.
- Forgetting cash for the tip. Crew on small-group boats live off tips. €5–10pp at the end is standard.
How a sunset cruise fits a wider Malta trip#
For most travellers, a sunset cruise lands on Day 2 or Day 4 of a 5–7 day trip — late enough that you’re settled, early enough that you can still book a quieter alternative if the weather kills it. In our itineraries:
- 3 days in Malta — Day 2 evening if you want the full version
- 5 days Malta + Gozo — Day 1 evening as a Sliema-arrival treat
- 7 days in Malta — Day 4 evening (Marsaxlokk day) as the splurge moment
For other tour categories see best Malta tours, or specifically Blue Lagoon Comino tours for daytime boat options.
FAQ#
Is a Malta sunset cruise worth it?#
For most first-timers: yes. The sunset itself is free from any westward-facing cliff, but the boat version — Comino on the horizon, drink in hand, Valletta lit up behind — is the iconic Malta evening. €40–70pp for 2.5–3 hours of food, drink and the best Mediterranean sunset of your trip is fair value.
What’s the best Malta sunset cruise for couples?#
A small-group sailing yacht (8–16 passengers) from Sliema, around €60–75pp. Real sail, quieter group, proper atmosphere. Avoid the 100-passenger party catamarans unless you’re a group of friends.
What time do Malta sunset cruises start?#
Departure times follow the actual sunset — 18:00 in October, 18:30 in May, 18:45 in June/July. Most cruises run 2.5–3 hours, returning to Sliema or Valletta around 21:00–22:00 depending on season.
Where do sunset cruises depart from in Malta?#
Most depart from the Sliema seafront (Tigné, Strand or Ferries area) or the Valletta waterfront. A handful run from Buġibba for travellers staying in the north, and Mġarr (Gozo) if you’re staying on Gozo.
Are sunset cruises safe in summer?#
Yes — Malta’s prevailing summer winds (the majjistral, NW) are usually 10–18 knots, well within sailing comfort range. Strong gregale (NE) or sirocco (S) winds can cancel small-boat sailings; operators rebook or refund. Big catamarans run in almost any weather short of a storm.
Are children allowed on Malta sunset cruises?#
Most operators welcome kids; big catamarans are usually fine for all ages. Some adults-only sunset cruises exist with open bar focus — check the listing. RIBs are not recommended for under-8s because of the bouncy ride and the firm seating.
Can I do a Malta sunset cruise with a swim stop?#
Yes — many big-boat catamarans include a swim stop in Mellieħa Bay or near Comino on the way out, before sunset. Bring a towel and swimsuit. Sailing yachts and RIBs sometimes do; Grand Harbour cruises don’t (the harbour is not for swimming).
What should I bring on a Malta sunset cruise?#
Cardigan or windbreaker (it gets cool once the sun’s down), camera or phone, sunglasses for the early portion, water bottle, and cash for the tip. Most cruises provide drinks, towels (if there’s a swim stop), and basic snacks.
Last verified: April 2026. Operators, departure times and routes change — confirm on the operator’s page before booking.
