The Ultimate Guide to Boat Trips in Malta

I’ve been in Malta since 2011 and still book a private catamaran most summers with friends. Yet finding the right boat trip takes a little research. Should you book a group tour or hire a private boat? Which bays are actually worth the journey? This guide covers both.

Group Tour or Private Charter: How to Choose

The right choice depends on your group size. For six or fewer people, a group tour is better value. For eight or more, a private charter gives you a completely different day at sea.

Malta Boat Tours in Large Vessels

Why and when to choose a group tour

The big tour boats are busy — that’s not a criticism, they’re designed for it. They run efficient routes to Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, with some extending to Gozo. If you’re a couple or a small group and the cost matters, they do the job well enough.

• Budget-friendly: For smaller groups or solo travellers, group tours are the more economical way to get out on the water.
• Convenience: Most can be booked a few days ahead with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
• What’s included: Sundeck space, drinks and snacks on board, and lockers (usually at an added fee).

The one thing to know in advance: in July and August, these boats are crowded. You’re sharing the deck, the swimming stops, and the ladder with a lot of other people.

Check out my guide to the best boat tours to Comino — well-priced, flexible cancellations, and good reviews.

Are you planning to visit the Blue Lagoon in Comino? Check out my guide to the best Blue Lagoon boat tours.

Private Boat Charters

Why choose a private charter

The real difference is space and flexibility. Because the boat is smaller, there is more room per person. The skipper takes you where you want to go, not where every other operator goes. You can stay longer at a spot you like, leave earlier, or add somewhere new if the mood takes you.

• Personalised experience: Your choice of route, stops, and pace throughout the day.
• No overcrowding: Just you, your group, and Malta’s coastline.
• What’s typically included: Water and soft drinks, fridge and kitchen facilities, barbecue setup for cooking at sea, paddle boards, snorkelling gear, and music from your own phone.

The tipping point is roughly eight people. At that group size, the per-person cost of a private charter becomes comparable to a group tour ticket, and you get a significantly better day.

Booking a private charter:

• Pricing: Private boat charters in Malta often start at around €350 for a half-day, while full-day trips usually begin from about €600, depending on boat type, duration, and the month. July and August are typically the most expensive.
• Book early: Book several months in advance for July and August weekends — both tourists and locals compete for the same boats.
• Deposit: A 10–20% non-refundable deposit is typically required.
• Flexible timing: Half-day, full-day, or sunset trips are all available.

Booking outside peak season often brings reduced rates and a noticeably quieter experience.

When Is the Best Time for a Boat Trip in Malta?

Malta’s boating season runs from April to November. My favourite month is October: fewer tourists, milder sun, and the sea is still warm at around 25°C.

Summer in Malta is when most people think to book a boat trip, and the sea is at its warmest. But the boats are also at their busiest, especially in July and August. If you’re going in summer, mornings are quieter — you catch calm water before the larger group boats arrive at the popular stops. Sunset trips are another option: the light is better for photos and the heat of the day has passed.

If you can travel in shoulder season, do. October in Malta is a genuinely good month for a boat trip. You can still swim comfortably, the skippers are easier to reach, and the bays feel like themselves again.

A note on November: the season winds down and choppy days become more common, though calm days still happen. Worth checking the forecast rather than booking blind.

The Best Places to Visit on a Boat Trip in Malta

Most group tours head to Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, with some also stopping at Gozo. Private charters give you access to quieter bays that larger boats can’t easily reach.

Interactive Map of Boat Trip Destinations

Most Popular Places for Boat Trips in Malta

Blue Lagoon, Comino

The Blue Lagoon is worth seeing. The water really is that colour: a clear, bright turquoise you don’t often come across, and the white sand makes it even better. Every boat operator goes there, and with good reason.

The honest part: in summer it is very, very crowded. There is a small sandy area, but usually not enough space to get into the water comfortably through it, and the rocky coast is lined with hired deck chairs. The rocks are sharp — not very comfortable — but the place itself is beautiful and really worth going.

My approach: arrive, look at it, swim if you can find the space, then move. Walk towards Crystal Lagoon — it’s already noticeably quieter. Santa Maria Bay is a short walk further. It’s less dramatic than the Blue Lagoon, but it’s a small beach with clean water, and on a summer weekend it will be quieter than almost any beach on mainland Malta.

I haven’t seen the Blue Lagoon empty unless you arrive in the morning. In summer it’s always very, very crowded — weekends included.

Crystal Lagoon, Comino

If the Blue Lagoon is too packed, head around the corner to Crystal Lagoon. It’s next door, protected by cliffs, and noticeably calmer. The water is 5 to 6 metres deep with a sandy bottom that shifts from light to deep blue as you move further in.

There’s a 30-metre cave tunnel with its own small sandy beach inside — small boats can pass through it, and you can swim through it too. For snorkellers, this is one of the better spots on the island: reefs, caves, and actual room to move.

Ghadira Bay, Malta

Ghadira Bay is a favourite among locals at weekends. Boats anchor side by side and it turns into its own floating social scene, especially on summer Saturdays. There are boats selling ice cream, drinks and food directly from the water, so you don’t need to go ashore for a snack.

Ramla Bay, Gozo

Ramla is Gozo’s biggest beach, with distinctive red sand and good views of the surrounding valley. Less popular with the big charter boats, more popular with Gozitans and Maltese boaters. Calmer than Comino or Ghadira Bay, but with its own relaxed atmosphere.

Hidden Coastal Gems for Boat Trips in Malta

These spots are quieter, though not entirely deserted in summer. Given Malta’s size, a completely private bay in July is rare — but these are noticeably calmer than the main stops.

Mgarr Ix-Xini, Gozo

In the south of Gozo, there’s a narrow gorge that opens into a sheltered bay called Mgarr Ix-Xini. Even on a windy day, the water stays calm here. It’s one of my favourite snorkelling spots on the islands: clear water, colourful fish, and rock formations worth exploring. Divers find seahorses in this area. A few boats usually anchor here, but it never feels crowded.

San Blas Bay, Gozo

A small beach in north Gozo with the same red sand as Ramla, and good views of the valley. A storm some years back took much of the sand away, so the best way to enjoy San Blas now is from the water. Clear sea suitable for swimming and snorkelling around the rocks — seabass, eels, starfish, crabs and octopuses in the shallows.

Imgiebah Bay, Malta

Imgiebah Bay, also known as Selmun Bay, is spacious enough that it never feels too packed, even when other boats are there. The sand beneath the water gives it a bright blue glow, and the yellow limestone cliffs stand out sharply against the sea. I took a sunset boat trip from Sliema to Imgiebah Bay last summer. The water was completely calm and clear enough for a night swim.

Hofriet, Delimara

Hofriet in Delimara is another great boat trip spot on Malta’s south side. Close to St. Peter’s Pool, these two round coves are connected by a natural arch called the Hofriet Window. The cliffs are smooth and white, the water is clear. Only accessible by boat, which is exactly what keeps it quiet. Sometimes dolphins appear on the way.

How to Book and What to Look For

For summer weekends in July and August, book at least two to three months in advance. Both tourists and Maltese locals book private charters for summer Saturdays, and the good operators fill up early.

Malta’s marine scene has plenty of boat operators. Rather than booking the first one you find, look at photos of the actual boat first — not just the destination shots, but images of the deck space and shade. You want to know there’s room for your whole group to sit comfortably throughout the day.

A review that reads “Amazing trip!” is encouraging. But “sailed into a secluded cove and paddleboarded into a cave” has authenticity written all over it. Scroll past the first few reviews to find the specific ones.

For a catamaran, Suncat Malta is a solid starting point – they now operate multiple catamarans and leave from Tignè in Sliema. I booked with them as recently as 2025, but they were fully booked for most of the summer, so plan ahead. Despite the cost, it becomes very affordable when split across a group of 15.

What to Pack for a Day on the Water

For a full day on a boat in Malta, bring high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, swimwear, a light layer for the journey back, and anti-nausea medication if you’re prone to seasickness.

• Sunscreen: The Maltese sun on the open water is more intense than it feels on land. Factor 50+ is not excessive on a full-day trip.
• Hat: Shade on a boat is limited. A hat makes a real difference on longer trips.
• Swimwear: You’ll be in and out of the water at each stop — have it ready.
• Anti-seasickness medication: Pick up tablets from any pharmacy before you go. Take them an hour before the trip. The sea around Malta is generally calm, but the stretch heading north towards Comino can get choppy in a wind.
• Camera: The coastal views from the water are different from anything you’ll see on land.

Boat Trips in Malta: FAQ

Malta boat trips promise sun, sea, and scenic views. And with these preparation tips in hand, you’re ready for an unforgettable maritime adventure in Malta!

I hope you found this guide helpful. However, beyond the sailing in sea, Malta has many more activities to offer and places to visit. Check out beach guides, water sports, historic Valletta and Mdina, and more.