The Three Fortified Cities of Malta Half Day Tour Incl. Boat Trip and Transfers

40 Reviews | Mellieha, Malta

Book online or call us

Chat now

4 hours (approx.)

Hotel pickup offered

Mobile ticket

Instant confirmation

Overview

The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea.

The oldest of the Three Cities is Vittoriosa, which has existed since the Middle Ages. The other two cities, Senglea and Cospicua, were both founded by the Order of the Knights of Saint John in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively.

During this half-day tour, you will have the opportunity to appreciate these unique historical fortified cities and admire magnificent churches, traditional piazzas, incredible fortifications, and architectural treasures found all around the Three Cities area, pieces of living history kept alive by hundreds of years of preservation!

What's Included

Pick-up and drop-off transfers (choose your preferred location from one of our meeting points)
Boat tour of the harbour creeks on a traditional Maltese carvel-built fishing boat
Transportation during the tour in an airconditioned coach or bus
Licenced tour guide

Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)

See 1 more See 2 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Pickup details

9:45 AM is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be any time between 8:15 AM and 9:15 AM, depending on where you are staying.

What To Expect

Cospicua (Bormla)

You will start your tour with a panoramic drive past the city of Cospicua, a double fortified harbour city and the largest of the Three Cities, flanked by Senglea on the West and Vittoriosa on the East. Cospicua is well known for its large dockyard and its impressive fortifications known as the Santa Margherita Lines and the Cottonera Lines.

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Birgu (Vittoriosa)

A short stretch away from Cospicua lies the city of Vittoriosa, the city occupies a promontory of land with the impressive Fort Saint Angelo at its head and the city of Cospicua at its base.The origins of this glorious city date back to the Medieval times, over the centuries Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, the Angevines, the Aragonese and the Order of the Knights of Saint John all contributed to the development of this magnificent city. Here you will enjoy a fascinating walking tour through the distinctive narrow winding streets of the city, admiring and appreciating all the historical buildings and captivating treasures found at every twist and turn.

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Vittoriosa Waterfront - Birgu Waterfront

Upon your arrival at the stunning Vittoriosa Waterfront, we will board a traditional Maltese “Frejgatina” (a small, carvel-built fishing boat) for a delightful tour of the colourful harbour creeks.

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Senglea

The tour will end at Senglea. Named after Claude De La Sengle, the Grand Master who founded the city, Senglea is also known as “Civitas Invicta” a name given to the city for managing to resist the Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of Malta of 1565.Here you will enjoy another fascinating walk around this majestic city.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Gardjola Gardens

During our tour of Senglea you will also visit the Gardjola Gardens. Located at the tip of the peninsula you will enjoy a stunning 360° view of the Grand Harbour, including the impressive Fort Saint Angelo, from where the Grand Master Jean Perisot De La Valette led the defence of the island during the Great Siege of Malta of 1565.

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 3 more stops

Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be anytime between 8:15 AM and 9:15 AM, depending on where you are staying.

The tour will be guided in the language you have booked, however please note that at times, depending on operational circumstances, the commentary might be provided by a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of 2 languages).
The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.
The boat trip is always subject to favourable weather conditions; if the boat trip cannot be done due to poor weather conditions, we will spend more time visiting the three cities.
The visit to Cospicua is a panoramic drive-by; we will not be stopping there.
The difficulty level of this tour is considered easy; however, one should take note that it’s a rather long walk.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 52 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: Will I get seasick on The Three Fortified Cities of Malta Half Day Tour Incl. Boat Trip and Transfers?

A: If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy. Read more Feb 2023