Gżira 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.
Gżira at a Glance#
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.
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.
Best Things to Do in Gżira#
Gżira Bucket List#
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January
January is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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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.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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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.
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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.
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.
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 small and easy to navigate: use the Tallinja bus network and short ferries between Valletta and Sliema/Gżira for the fastest, cheapest trips; taxis are useful for airport runs or late-night travel.
- Airport bus / TM service (€3-€4) - The airport is linked to Valletta and other main towns by scheduled TM buses (airport routes such as X1/X2/TM1 depending on timetable). From Valletta you can transfer to a short bus or ferry to Gżira; expect about 20-30 minutes travel time from the airport to the harbour area and fares around €3-€4 when using the airport bus.
- Malta Public Transport buses (Tallinja) (€2.00) - Tallinja buses form the backbone of local travel. Routes between Sliema, Gżira and Valletta are frequent; single cash/contactless fares are usually €2.00 (short hop times 5-15 minutes). Buy a Tallinja card or use contactless for cheaper multi-trip options.
- Valletta-Sliema/Gżira Ferry (€1.50-€2.00) - The Valletta ferry runs regular crossings to Sliema and Gżira (Valletta Waterfront ferry). A single ferry ticket is inexpensive (around €1.50-€2.00) and the crossing takes 5-10 minutes - a fast, scenic way to reach Gżira from Valletta’s waterfront.
- Taxi / Ride-hailing (€10-€20) - Taxis are widely available from the airport and around Valletta/Sliema; fares to Gżira are short and typically €10-€20 from the airport depending on time of day. Metered taxis and licensed private hires give door-to-door convenience, especially with luggage.
- Walking - Gżira is compact and very walkable for short littoral stretches - most hotels, restaurants and the seafront are within 10-20 minutes on foot. Walking is the best way to explore the harbourfront and nearby Sliema on a fine day.
Where to Stay in Gżira#
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
