The Three Cities are Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, on the far side of the Grand Harbour from Valletta. They are older than Valletta and were where the Knights first settled. They took the worst of both the Great Siege and the Second World War.
The ferry across takes about five minutes. Most visitors never make the crossing, so it stays quiet.
What to see across the three
Fort St Angelo and the waterfront
The fort sits at the tip of the peninsula and held the centre of the defence through the Great Siege. Below it the old marina is lined with restaurants and superyachts.
The Inquisitor’s Palace and the Malta Maritime Museum are both a few minutes inland, in streets that have changed very little.
Museums and fortsBuy entry tickets
The best view of Valletta
The Gardjola is the stone watchtower on the point, carved with an eye and an ear to show that the guard was watching and listening. From beside it you get the view of Valletta that appears on most of the postcards.
Senglea is a single narrow street with steps running down either side, and almost nobody walks it.
Getting there
The ferry runs from the Valletta waterfront below the bastions and lands at the Birgu marina. It is cheap, it is frequent, and the crossing itself is the best short boat trip on the island.
Going by road takes half an hour and shows you the dockyard. Take the boat.
Ferries and fares
What to know
Practical
- Which is which
- Birgu is also called Vittoriosa, Senglea is also called Isla and Cospicua is also called Bormla. Both names are used interchangeably, including on signs.
- How long
- Half a day covers all three on foot. They are next to each other and the whole area is smaller than it looks on a map.
- Eating
- The Birgu marina is the obvious choice and it is good. The squares inland are cheaper and full of people who live here.
- Birgufest
- For one weekend in October the streets are lit by candles and the electric lights go off. It is the best evening of the year here.
The light comes across the harbour onto Valletta from here, so the view improves as the day goes on. Cross at about five, walk the three, and eat on the waterfront afterwards.