Gżira Travel Guide

City City in Malta known for its harbor

Gżira’s waterside cafés look across Marsamxett Harbour to Manoel Island and Valletta; ferries, dive operators and seafood restaurants make it a practical base for island hopping and city walks.

Costs

$100-180 per day

Midrange cafés, hotels and short-term rentals dominate costs.

Safety

Very safe and tourist-friendly

Very low crime; safe to walk evenings in tourist areas.

Best Time

April-June, September-October

Warm, sunny weather with fewer crowds than peak summer.

In This Guide

Why Visit Gżira?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

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Population

11,669

Infrastructure & Convenience

Walkable peninsula with frequent buses and ferries; English everywhere.

Popularity

Busy with short-stay tourists, students and expats.

Known For

Manoel Island, waterfront promenade, ferries to Valletta, cafes and bars, language schools, boutique hotels, water sports, sea views, skyline of Valletta

Manoel Island in Gżira features Fort Manoel, a star-shaped 1723 fortification facing Marsamxett Harbour.

Why Visit Gżira? #

Perched on Malta’s waterfront with views across Marsamxett Harbour, Gżira is popular for its lively café and dining scene and for easy access to Manoel Island. Travelers come for bayfront promenades, sunset views of Valletta and fresh Maltese dishes such as stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew). Nightlife and small-venue concerts mix with picturesque harbour walks, offering a compact base between urban sightseeing and seaside relaxation.

Top Things to Do in Gżira

All Attractions ›

Royal Opera House, Valletta

Historic Valletta opera house rebuilt as cultural venue

Theater

Megalithic Temples of Malta

Prehistoric temple complex in Malta, UNESCO World Heritage

Building

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

Underground Neolithic burial chamber in Malta, exceptionally preserved

Archaeological Site

Saint John's Co-Cathedral

Baroque cathedral in Valletta with richly decorated interior

Church

Gozo

Smaller Maltese island with rural landscapes and megaliths

Island

Comino

Tiny Maltese island famed for the Blue Lagoon

Island

Malta (island)

Main Maltese island housing Valletta and historical sites

Island

Filfla

Small uninhabited rocky islet south of Malta

Mountains

Don't Miss

Fort Manoel and Manoel Island - 18th-century fort with historic chapel, quiet shoreline and panoramic Marsamxett Harbour views.
Gżira Waterfront and Ferry Terminal - Bustling promenade linking to Valletta, offering cafes, seaside walks and regular boat links.
Gżira Marina - Marina-side restaurants and lively evening atmosphere ideal for strolls and yachtspotting.

Hidden Gems

Msida Creek walkway - Tucked-away creek with moored boats, quiet walking path and local fishing scenes.
Manoel Island Chapel visits - Small Baroque chapel on Manoel Island open sporadically for guided visits and events.
Independent cafés on Triq ix-Xatt - Cluster of independent cafés offering Maltese pastries, coffees and harbour-facing seating.

Day Trips

Valletta ferry - Quick ferry ride to Valletta's museums, St. John's Co-Cathedral and city bastions.
Sliema promenade - Long promenade for seaside walks, boutiques and ferries to nearby islands and attractions.

Best Time to Visit Gżira #

Gżira has a Mediterranean climate - warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The nicest months are April-June and September for comfortable beach weather and fewer tourists.

Winter

December - February · 10 - 16 °C (50 - 61 °F)

Cool, wet winters bring mild temperatures and regular rain; good for museums and quieter streets, though some coastal winds can feel sharp.

Spring

March - May · 13 - 22 °C (55 - 72 °F)

Spring is golden - warm sunny days, blooming countryside and pleasant sea breezes, ideal for swimming, hiking and avoiding summer crowds.

Summer

June - August · 24 - 33 °C (75 - 91 °F)

Summers are hot, dry and busy: perfect beach weather but expect crowded ferries, high temperatures and little rain; evenings lively across the waterfront.

Best Time to Visit Gżira #

Climate

Gżira's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 10°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (523 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

32°

Warmest Month

8°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

66 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

10° – 16°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

88 mm

Rainfall

4.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

9.9h daylight

February

February is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

74 Very Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

10° – 16°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

58 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

10.8h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

76 Very Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

11° – 18°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

37 mm

Rainfall

4.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.0

UV Index

High

11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.

82 Excellent

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

12° – 20°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

21 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

13.0h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

94 Ideal

Comfort

20°

Feels Like Mild

20°C

Temperature

16° – 24°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

8 mm

Rainfall

4.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.9

UV Index

Very High

13.9h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

19° – 28°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

2 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

14.4h daylight

July

July is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

100 Ideal

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

22° – 31°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.4

UV Index

Extreme

14.1h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

100 Ideal

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

23° – 31°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

5 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.0

UV Index

Extreme

13.3h daylight

September

September is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

92 Ideal

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 28°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

42 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

12.3h daylight

October

October is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).

84 Excellent

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

18° – 25°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

77 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

11.2h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

17°

Feels Like Cool

17°C

Temperature

14° – 21°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

83 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Moderate

10.2h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (102 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

64 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

11° – 17°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

102 mm

Rainfall

4.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

How to Get to Gżira

Gżira is a small waterfront town on Malta's central northern harbour, closest to Valletta and Sliema. All international arrivals come via Malta International Airport (MLA); from the airport the island's compact public-bus network and short taxi rides are the most convenient ways into Gżira.

By Air

Malta International Airport (MLA): Malta’s only international airport is Malta International (MLA), about 8-10 km from the main harbour area. From MLA you can take the TM1/TM2 airport bus into Valletta (single fare around €3-€3.50, journey 20-25 minutes) then switch to local buses or the Valletta-Sliema ferry. Taxis from the airport to Sliema/Gżira cost roughly €15-€20 and take 15-25 minutes depending on traffic.

By Train & Bus

Train: Malta has no rail network.

Bus: Malta Public Transport (Tallinja) operates frequent buses across the island. From Valletta or Sliema you can reach Gżira with short local routes; single-trip fares are typically €2.00 when paid by cash/contactless on board or lower with a Tallinja card, and journeys around the central harbour area are 5-15 minutes.

How to Get Around Gżira #

Gżira is compact and easy to explore on foot; the seafront, restaurants and shops are within short walks. Malta Public Transport buses serve the town and connect to Sliema, Valletta and St. Julian’s; taxis and hire cars are available but parking is limited. Ferries and walk-on boats operate from nearby Sliema to Valletta; bus fares are generally low, and a Tallinja card gives the best rates for multiple rides.

Where to Stay in Gżira #

Budget

Seafront / Sliema ferry - $40-90/night

Gżira has many budget apartments and guesthouses close to the ferry and seafront; good value for short stays and independent travelers.

St. George Seafront Apartments (Gżira) - Basic self-catering, seafront location.
Guesthouses & apartments (Gżira) - Many small budget flats available.

Mid-Range

Gżira / Sliema seafront - $80-180/night

Mid-range options cluster along the Sliema-Gżira seafront: comfortable hotels and serviced apartments within easy reach of Valletta ferries and cafes.

AX The Palace Hotel (Sliema nearby) - Boutique, central seafront location.
The Wharf Apartments - Comfortable serviced apartments.

Luxury

St. Julian's / Sliema - $180-350+/night

True luxury resorts are in nearby St. Julian's; Gżira is more residential but offers high-end serviced apartments and proximity to top hotels.

Hilton Malta (St. Julian's) - Full-service resort near Gżira area.
InterContinental Malta (St. Julian's) - Upscale resort-style amenities.

Where to Eat in Gżira #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Gżira's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Burger

Italian

Mediterranean

Regional

Kebab

Pasta

Chinese

Indian

Seafood

Chicken

Turkish

Coffee Shop

Sushi

Pastizzerija

Asian

Sandwich

Maltese

Steak House

Fish & Chips

Nightlife in Gżira #

Nightlife in Gżira centers on seafront bars and cafes; evenings are relaxed rather than club-focused. For bars, clubs and late-night venues head a short distance to Sliema or St. Julian’s, where the night scene is much busier.

Shopping in Gżira #

Gżira has small boutiques and seafront souvenir stalls along the promenade, with everyday shops on the main streets. For a wider range of shops, Bay Street Shopping Complex in nearby Sliema is the closest full mall and a short bus or walk away.