Malta Boat Trips in Winter: What’s Possible Nov–Mar

Yes, you can take a boat trip in Malta in winter — here’s what’s actually running

A boat trip in Malta in winter is absolutely possible, and in some ways it’s the best time to get out on the water. The sea is calm and uncrowded, the light on Valletta’s golden limestone is spectacular, and you won’t be sharing an anchorage with 300 other day-trippers. That said, what’s on offer between November and March is different from the summer menu — some operators close, some routes become weather-dependent, and the Blue Lagoon ferry runs on a reduced schedule. This guide covers everything you need to know before you book.

What Malta winter weather actually means for a boat trip

Even in the winter months of December, January and February, temperatures sometimes reach 20°C, and in March daily maximums often exceed 20°C, with lows already in double digits. In both March and December, average daytime temperatures sit around 17°C. By northern European standards, that is genuinely mild.

Most of Malta’s annual rainfall lands in the cooler months between November and February. November is statistically the wettest month, but the rain tends to come in short bursts rather than steady drizzle. On a boat this matters: a heavy shower passes in an hour, the sun comes back, and you carry on. What actually stops a trip is sustained wind or swell, not rain alone.

Days in winter are not as short as in the northern part of the continent — the average hours of daylight in December, January and February is around 10 hours. That’s enough for a relaxed half-day trip and even a full day without feeling rushed.

On average, the sea around Malta ranges from about 16°C in January to 27°C in August. In November the sea sits at around 22°C — warm enough for most people to swim. By January it’s cooler, but it’s still the Mediterranean, and you’re unlikely to be thinking about swimming — you’ll be thinking about the views.

For a full picture of how winter compares to other months, our Best Time to Visit Malta: A Month-by-Month Guide goes into detail on each season.

The honest guide to boat trip options in winter

Not all boat operators run through the off-season. Here’s what’s genuinely available and what to expect from each option.

Shared group tours

Several popular Malta boat trip operators list their Blue Lagoon and Comino cruises as “closed this winter” and “back in April” or “back in May.” The big catamaran cruises that fill up with 50+ passengers in July essentially don’t exist between November and March.

What does still run in winter is the harbour circuit. From Sliema, a 90-minute scenic cruise takes you past Valletta, the Grand Harbour, the Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua, and Gzira’s Marsamxett Harbour. These shared cruises are an easy, affordable way to see Malta’s harbour from the water — typically from around €20–25 per adult — and they run year-round. They’re a good option if you’re travelling solo or as a couple on a tight budget and you just want an hour and a half on the water.

Shared group tours join dozens of other visitors on a fixed departure, with a fixed route and fixed timing — you stop where the operator stops, for as long as the operator decides. Prices typically run €25–40 per person.

The Comino ferry in winter

Comino is reachable in winter, but with caveats. In winter, a strong Majjistral wind can cancel crossings at no notice. The off-peak winter service is weekend-only or weather-permitting. In winter there are no lifeguards at the Blue Lagoon and no swimming zone — ferries actually pass through the lagoon itself, so swimmers need to be especially cautious.

The Blue Lagoon itself is beautiful year-round — the colour of the water doesn’t change — but if you’re planning a trip specifically to swim there, check our honest take: Blue Lagoon Malta Winter: Is It Worth Visiting?

Private boat charters

Private charters are the most flexible option in winter precisely because they adapt to conditions. If the sea is good, you go further; if it’s breezy, the skipper finds you a sheltered route. You’re not tied to a fixed timetable or a vessel full of strangers.

With a private boat charter, you book the entire boat — your route, your pace, your stops. The skipper works around your group rather than a fixed timetable.

For a thorough comparison of these two approaches, see our guide to Private vs Group Boat Tour Malta — Which is Worth It?

What a Malta boat trip in winter actually looks like with Nautiful

We run private boat charters in Malta year-round on our 2023 Axopar 37 Sun-Top — a modern, fast, well-equipped boat that handles winter conditions comfortably. Here’s what a winter trip with us typically looks like.

We depart from Valletta Waterfront, right next to the cruise terminal, though pick-up points and start times are flexible on request. The boat holds up to 11 guests and is always private — the whole boat is yours, with a licensed local skipper who knows these waters.

In winter (November to March), our most popular route focuses on the sheltered waters of the Grand Harbour, the Three Cities — Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua — and Valletta’s creeks and fortifications. The fortified cities sit like a trio of villages in the heart of Malta’s historic centre, directly across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. Seen from the water, with Fort St Angelo on one side and Valletta’s bastions on the other, this is one of the most dramatic harbour panoramas in Europe — and in winter you have it almost to yourself.

When conditions allow — and they often do, even in January — we can extend the route to Comino and the Blue Lagoon. At 30 knots cruise speed, Comino is a quick run from Valletta. During the winter season (November to March), trips to the Blue Lagoon are dependent on weather conditions, and there may not always be a stop. We’ll always tell you honestly before you depart what’s realistic on the day.

The boat has two cabins, an electric toilet, fridge, Bluetooth speakers, bow and aft sun decks, a shaded cockpit with sliding sun roof, a bathing platform with ladder, an outdoor shower, and a paddle board. In winter, the shaded cockpit becomes a warm, sheltered place to sit — the sliding sun roof lets you open things up when the sun appears, which it regularly does.

You bring your own food and drinks, or we can arrange a stop at a waterfront restaurant ashore — there’s no catering on board, which keeps things simple and the price down.

Winter prices (November to March): half day (3.5 hours) from €750 for the whole boat; full day (7 hours) from €1,250. That’s the whole boat — not per person. Split between a group of eight or ten, it compares very favourably with per-head group tour pricing. Fuel is an optional flat €200 package paid upfront, or charged on what’s used.

If the weather turns unexpectedly bad, we’ll offer you a free reschedule or a sheltered route — whichever works better for you.

Who should book a private boat, and when it’s not the right choice

A private charter makes the most sense when:

• You have a group of 4 or more — the per-person cost starts to look very reasonable
• You want flexibility — a later start, a stop at a specific cove, a longer lunch break ashore
• Privacy matters — a family, a couple, a small group of friends who don’t want to share the experience with strangers
• You want to combine the Grand Harbour with Comino on the same day, weather permitting

A private charter is probably not the right choice if:

• You’re travelling solo or as a pair on a very tight budget — a shared harbour cruise at €20–25 per person will show you a lot of the same scenery
• Your absolute priority is swimming at the Blue Lagoon and nothing else — in deep winter, that stop isn’t guaranteed on any boat

Getting to Gozo in winter — what about the ferry?

It’s worth knowing that the Gozo Channel car ferry runs year-round. The Gozo ferry runs every 45 minutes all year round, with night services that are less frequent in winter. It departs from Ċirkewwa in Malta and returns from Mġarr in Gozo. Passenger standard fare is €4.65 return. The crossing between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr harbour takes about 25 minutes.

The ferry is a perfectly good way to visit Gozo. By private boat, you get there differently — approaching from the sea, stopping at Comino on the way, without a bus ride to Ċirkewwa. In good conditions, it’s a much more scenic journey, and you’re not tied to the ferry timetable on the way back. See our full Gozo Day Trip from Malta — The Complete Guide to weigh all the options.

FAQ

Are boat trips in Malta open in November, December and January?

Some are and some aren’t. The big shared Comino and Blue Lagoon cruises run seasonally and most close between late October and April. Harbour cruises around Valletta and the Three Cities run year-round. Private boat charters — including ours — operate throughout winter, adapting the route to conditions. Always check with an operator directly before booking anything off-season, as schedules can change.

Is the Blue Lagoon worth visiting in winter?

The colour of the water is just as remarkable in winter, and you’ll have the place almost entirely to yourself. The swimming zone and lifeguards are not in place during the off-season, so swimming directly in the lagoon requires extra caution. Comino is worth a visit in winter and is ideal for walkers and photographers. On a private charter with us, we’ll head there when conditions allow and anchor off so you can enjoy the view — and take a dip off the bathing platform if you’re feeling bold.

How much does a private boat trip cost in Malta in winter?

With Nautiful, a half-day private charter (3.5 hours) starts from €750 for the whole boat, and a full day (7 hours) from €1,250 — these are November-to-March prices. The boat holds up to 11 guests, so the per-person cost can be very reasonable for a larger group. For a broader look at what different types of charter cost, see our guide to Malta Boat Charter Prices — What to Expect.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my trip?

We monitor the forecast closely and talk to you before the day. If conditions mean we can’t go out safely, you get a free reschedule — no charge, no fuss. If it’s just a bit choppy in open water, we’ll suggest a sheltered harbour route instead. Malta’s winter weather is changeable but rarely stays bad for days at a end, so a reschedule usually works out well.

Ready to get out on the water this winter?

A boat trip in Malta in winter is one of those experiences that most visitors don’t even consider — which means you get the sea to yourself, prices that are significantly lower than peak season, and scenery that’s just as beautiful as July. The Grand Harbour wrapped in winter light, Fort St Angelo reflected in the still water, Valletta’s bastions from the deck of a private boat — it’s hard to beat. If you have a group, a special occasion, or simply want a day that’s completely your own, we’d love to take you out. Check dates and prices and get in touch — we’ll put together the right trip for the conditions and what you have in mind.