Top 10 Marinas in Malta
The Knights of St John understood the Mediterranean from a maritime perspective that few landlocked powers could match. They chose Valletta's Grand Harbour for its depth, its choke-point geography, and its shelter from the gregale — the cold northeasterly that sweeps the central Mediterranean in winter. Eight hundred years later, sailors still feel the same pull. Malta sits at the exact centre of the Mediterranean, equidistant from Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, between Sicily to the north and Libya 300 km to the south. Its harbours are deep, its customs procedures efficient, its chandleries well stocked, and its English-speaking population makes paperwork almost painless. Every spring the island fills with blue-water yachts preparing for the eastern Mediterranean or the Red Sea run; every autumn they come back from the east and begin the process of wintering over or heading west.
Msida Marina, Grand Harbour Approaches
Msida Marina, operated by Malta Maritime Authority, is the principal berth for visiting and liveaboard yachts. Tucked into Msida Creek at the head of Marsamxett Harbour, it has over 650 berths at floating pontoons with electricity, water, Wi-Fi, and a fuel berth at the marina entrance. Valletta's fortifications are visible across the water. The creek is well sheltered from all but a strong sou'westerly, and the surrounding streets are dense with chandleries, yacht services, riggers, and engineers — arguably the best serviced creek for sailors anywhere in the central Mediterranean.
Vittoriosa Marina (Birgu), Grand Harbour
In the ancient Three Cities on the south shore of Grand Harbour, Vittoriosa Marina puts yachts in the literal shadow of the 16th-century fortifications of Birgu. The setting is extraordinary — limestone ramparts, the Maritime Museum, and the Inquisitor's Palace all within a short walk. The marina has around 150 berths, and the Dockyard Creek arm of Grand Harbour provides outstanding shelter even in a severe gregale. It is quieter and more atmospheric than Msida, though provisioning requires a walk or a short bus ride.
Grand Harbour Marina, Valletta Waterfront
At the foot of Valletta's Baroque fortifications on the Floriana waterfront, Grand Harbour Marina offers around 300 superyacht-class berths on floating pontoons with deep-water access to 10 m or more. Security is 24-hour, the nearby Valletta waterfront restaurants and bars are walking distance, and the water taxi to Valletta centre takes three minutes. This is the prestige address for larger yachts on the Malta stopover.
Kalkara Marina
In Kalkara Creek on the south side of Grand Harbour, a smaller marina operates inside a basin formed by the old naval victualling yard. Berths are quieter and cheaper than Grand Harbour Marina, and the creek's historical atmosphere — 19th-century British naval architecture still intact — is compelling. Depths run to 4–5 m inside the basin.
Ta'Xbiex Marina
Immediately adjacent to Msida on the Marsamxett side, Ta'Xbiex is a residential and boating suburb with a long line of private berths and a handful of berths available to visitors on a nightly basis through the Malta Maritime Authority. The promenade is lined with yacht brokers and several of Malta's largest charter operations. Depths at the pontoons are 2–4 m.
Mgarr Harbour, Gozo
On the island of Gozo, Mgarr is the arrival port for the Malta–Gozo ferry and has a small marina basin with around 70 berths available to visiting yachts through prior booking with the local harbour authority. The surrounding bay is well protected from northwesterlies by the outer headlands. Gozo is quieter, greener, and markedly less developed than Malta — a different feel to the island entirely.
Marsaxlokk Bay, Southeast Malta
Malta's largest natural bay on the southeast coast is a major commercial port and the home of the island's fishing fleet. Visiting yachts anchor off in the northern section of the bay, where depths of 5–10 m and a sand-and-mud bottom provide excellent holding. The Sunday fish market in the village of Marsaxlokk — where brightly painted traditional luzzu boats are moored — is one of the most atmospheric gatherings in the Mediterranean.
Blue Lagoon Anchorage, Comino
Between Malta and Gozo, the uninhabited island of Comino has the Blue Lagoon — a turquoise inlet with 2–6 m depth over sand that is one of the most photographed anchorages in the Mediterranean. Overnight stays are permitted outside the summer crowds. Holding is good in sand; take care of the tourist ferry routes and the speed restriction zones during daylight hours.
St Paul's Bay and Bugibba
On the northwest coast, St Paul's Bay is a sheltered inlet with several small-boat berths and a working fishing harbour at Xemxija. The town of Bugibba sprawls along the shore with every imaginable provisioning option. The bay is historically significant as the likely site of St Paul's shipwreck in AD 60, described in the Acts of the Apostles. Depths inside the bay range from 3 to 8 m.
Marsamxett Harbour Overall
The second of Valletta's twin harbours, Marsamxett contains Msida, Ta'Xbiex, Lazzaretto Creek (used for superyachts and larger charter vessels), and Sliema Creek, where a number of day-boat charter operations are based. Lazzaretto Creek — named for the historical quarantine facility — has depths to 6 m and is increasingly used for larger visiting yachts that cannot fit into Msida.
Sailing Malta: Practical Overview
Malta uses the euro. VHF channel 16 is standard; Malta Radio broadcasts weather four times daily. Customs clearance is efficient and digital since 2022 — the eMARS system allows advance registration. Charter yacht bases, qualifications recognition, and flag registration are all anchored in EU maritime law. The classic Malta race from Sicily, the Rolex Middle Sea Race (600 nm around Sicily, Pantelleria, and Lampedusa), departs from Grand Harbour every October and is one of offshore sailing's premier events.
Explore on the map
Malta's harbours, anchorages, and ferry routes are concentrated in an area just 27 km across, yet offer extraordinary variety. Use the interactive map to explore every creek, anchorage, and marina across Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Search Malta on the map to plan your approach and pick your berth before arrival.