# The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea) > There was no way we could miss visiting the Three Cities which face Valletta. Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/three-cities-vittoriosa-cospicua-senglea/ Published on 31 August 2019 There was no way we could miss visiting the **Three Cities** which face Valletta. We saw them every day from the rooftop of our flat and they were winking at us with their impressive forts and their picturesque harbours. > **Good to know** > > the Three Cities, also called "Cottonera", are made up of Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla). You can find both names on city maps or on Google Maps. ## Getting to the Three Cities from Valletta To cross over, we took a shuttle boat (**3€ return**) with the company **Valletta 3 cities Ferry** which you catch at the foot of the Upper Barakka Gardens. The trip is very short and takes about fifteen minutes: the boat dropped us in the port of Senglea. We started our day of discovery with this stone peninsula. > **Our tip** > > remember to bring change because the company doesn't accept bank cards on the boat! ## What to see in the Three Cities ### Senglea (Isla) We really liked this small town where few tourists go. You can follow the ramparts down below, by the sea and the harbour, and then visit the inner streets. Unfortunately, because of an event planned that day, we couldn't get into the Il-Gardjola gardens (remember to go there for the view over Valletta!). ![Colourful Maltese boats floating in front of the fortifications](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-02-e9fc6481.webp) ![Quay lined with stone houses and boats at anchor](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-03-74b123db.webp) ![Lane with colourful wooden balconies and washing hung out](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-04-c08115d3.webp) ![Old blue boat set on land in front of a stone palace](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-05-bc75c180.webp) ![Pale stone building set against the city wall](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-06-58163722.webp) ![Rectangular basin between two quays and a lawn](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-07-a813c525.webp) ### Cospicua (Bormla) This town really charmed us with its architecture, its many views over the other cities and over Valletta and with its colours. We went there on the day a religious festival was being prepared, so the whole town was decorated for the occasion! We wandered through the little streets, a bit at random, and discovered magnificent, very well restored facades. Numerous belvederes and a long promenade give you a view over both Vittoriosa and Valletta. ![Street hung with red and gold drapes for the feast](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-08-e99571ec.webp) ![Red boat moored among the yachts along the quay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-09-be4c51c4.webp) ![Sloping lane decked with drapes and enclosed balconies](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-10-91e7479c.webp) ![Harbour and bell towers seen from a bunting-hung viewpoint](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-11-3c5b517d.webp) ![Red flags and garlands strung above the square](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-12-2fdae3f2.webp) ![Marina and white facades seen from a balcony](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-13-b4be2dd3.webp) ![Couple leaning on the parapet of the seafront promenade](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-14-13727abd.webp) ### Fort Saint Angelo The lovely surprise of that day was discovering **Fort Saint Angelo** at the tip of Cospicua. The fort can be reached from the harbour: on the left hand side, a passage gives access to the rocks below the fort. Perfect for a good quiet swim, facing Valletta! We were there at the end of the day, at sunset, and we were almost alone facing the sea. ![Swimmer at the foot of the ramparts in the Grand Harbour](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-15-3e9a2827.webp) ![Golden stone bastion and flags in the setting sun](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-16-9a134074.webp) ![Fortified point and red buoy just above the rocks](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-17-e04d2748.webp) ![Two rowers in a boat in front of the fortifications](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-18-7e19f108.webp) ![High bastion wall standing out against the blue sky](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-19-c8ecd0bf.webp) ![Red and white lighthouses guarding the harbour entrance](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-20-2ed91ad8.webp) ![Figure standing on the rocks facing the city](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-21-6698098b.webp) ![Couple posing in front of the stone watchtower of the bastion](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-22-09aac929.webp) Leaving in the evening at sunset lets you enjoy the beautiful warm colours over the Three Cities... A lovely spectacle that brings out the ochre-coloured stone of the monuments lining the harbour! ![Clock tower and restaurant terraces on the quay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-23-aa2db3cb.webp) ![Yachts and bell towers of the marina at dusk](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-24-be8b3840.webp) ![Setting sun filtering between the masts of the sailing boats](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-25-571290ac.webp) ![Maltese boat in front of the domes and the golden facades](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-26-b4e81d67.webp) ![Ginger cat asleep on the quay in front of a schooner](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-27-98e1ce71.webp) ![Sailing boats moored in front of the flag-decked domes](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-28-f97c53b6.webp) ## Our favourite spot in the Three Cities (Cospicua) - **[Nuovo Cafe San Giogio](https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g1748965-d12308868-Reviews-Nuovo_Cafe_San_Giorgio-Cospicua_Bormla_Island_of_Malta.html)**: a good spot for Italian food in Cospicua (Bormla). Special mention for the homemade tiramisu whose portion is gigantic! ![Jets of a fountain in the middle of a shaded square](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-29-c701eb6a.webp) ![Tiramisu dusted with cocoa served on a large plate](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-30-152b1658.webp) ## What we thought of the Three Cities Visiting Senglea and Cospicua was one of our loveliest discoveries in Malta. The harmony of the stone architecture and the view over Valletta make all the charm of these small towns. The big plus: swimming at the foot of Fort Saint Angelo. We were really surprised by the tranquillity of these towns, even in the middle of August. **We recommend devoting a whole day to them to enjoy each of the towns! If you want to discover a quiet place, far from the hordes of tourists, this is it.** In the middle of planning a trip to Malta? Read [our articles about this beautiful island](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/destinations/malta/). ![Promenade running along the quay facing the harbour](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/les-trois-cites-vittoriosa-cospicua-et-senglea-31-2d1e4422.webp)