Malta’s scheduled ferries do not need booking. The Gozo Channel crossing and the Valletta harbour ferries are turn-up-and-go, and buying a ticket in advance from a third party gains you nothing.
The bookings that do make sense are the private ones.
What needs a ticket and what does not
The Gozo and harbour ferries
Gozo runs day and night with gaps rarely longer than 45 minutes. The Sliema and Three Cities crossings run constantly and take about five minutes.
You pay for Gozo at Mġarr when you leave, not when you board at Ċirkewwa.
Routes and fares
Comino and private boats
There is no public ferry to Comino. Every crossing is a private operator, and the Blue Lagoon needs a free pre-booked slot on top.
Weather cancels these rather than rain, so check the terms before you pay.
Blue Lagoon trips
Sicily
A fast ferry runs to Pozzallo and takes around two hours. It is worth booking ahead in summer. It works better over two or three nights than as a day trip.
Check the sailing days before you plan around it.
Getting to Sicily
For Gozo you pay at Mġarr on the way back, and foot passengers effectively never queue. For Sliema to Valletta you buy at the kiosk. Neither benefits from a pre-booked ticket, and we would rather say so than sell you one.
Where booking does help
Worth arranging ahead
- Comino
- No public ferry exists. Everything is a private operator, and in summer the good departure times go.
- Sicily
- The fast catamaran to Pozzallo runs to a seasonal timetable and does need booking, particularly with a vehicle.
- Taking a car to Gozo in August
- The crossing itself is not bookable in the ordinary sense, but vehicle tickets are sold online, and the queue at Ċirkewwa is the main constraint.
- Private charter
- Where you want a boat on your own schedule rather than a scheduled service.
Fares, timings and who collects them are on the ferries page.