Travel guide · Malta
Valletta travel guide
A fortified Baroque capital on a peninsula between two harbours
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mandyy88, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Valletta was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565 on a narrow peninsula between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. Its grid of steep limestone streets, about 1 km long and 600 metres wide, holds St John's Co-Cathedral with two Caravaggios, the Grandmaster's Palace, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Renzo Piano's City Gate. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and ferries cross to Sliema and the Three Cities in minutes, so it makes a compact base for exploring all of Malta. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Malta
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- MLA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $130–$230 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- St John's Co-Cathedral, Caravaggio, Grand Harbour and Knights of St John
Why visit Valletta
- St John's Co-Cathedral holds Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only work he signed, in one of Europe's most lavish Baroque interiors.
- The Upper Barrakka Gardens look straight across the Grand Harbour to the fortified Three Cities, with a saluting battery firing below.
- The whole capital is walkable in a day, yet layered with 7,000 years of Maltese history from prehistoric temples to WWII war rooms.
- English is an official language, and buses and ferries from Valletta reach Mdina, Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and the Gozo ferries.
- Mild winters with highs around 15–16°C make it one of Europe's best off-season city breaks.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Religious site · Upper Valletta
St John's Co-Cathedral
The Knights' conventual church looks austere outside but inside is a blaze of gilded carved stone, ceiling paintings by Mattia Preti and a floor of some 400 inlaid marble tombstones of knights.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Upper Valletta
Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery
The arcaded garden on the highest point of the bastions looks across the Grand Harbour to Birgu, Senglea and Fort St Angelo.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
Palace · Upper Valletta
Grandmaster's Palace
The seat of the Grand Masters of the Order of St John, and later of British governors and the Maltese president, faces St George's Square.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Castle · Lower Valletta
Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
The star-shaped fort at the tip of the peninsula held out for a month in the Great Siege of 1565 and was bombed repeatedly in the Second World War.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Garden · Lower Valletta
Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell
A small, shaded garden on the eastern bastions, centred on a neoclassical monument to Sir Alexander Ball, with views over the harbour mouth and breakwater.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- History
Historic site · Upper Valletta
Lascaris War Rooms
Tunnels cut deep beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens served as the British command centre for the defence of Malta in WWII and as a headquarters for the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Where to stay
Upper Valletta is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and luxury
Upper Valletta
City Gate, Republic Street and the cathedral end of the capital
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Lower Valletta
Quieter residential streets, Strait Street bars and Fort St Elmo
$$ · Best for budget, families and quiet stays
Floriana
Bastion suburb of gardens and the Granaries just outside City Gate
$$$ · Best for families, shopping, beach and first-timers
Sliema
Seafront promenade, shopping and swimming platforms facing Valletta
What to eat
- Pastizzi — Diamond-shaped pastries of flaky dough filled with ricotta or mushy peas, baked until crisp.
- Ħobż biż-żejt — Thick slices of Maltese sourdough rubbed with tomato paste (kunserva) and olive oil, topped with tuna, capers, olives and onion.
- Ftira — A flattened ring of sourdough bread, often filled like ħobż biż-żejt with tuna, tomato, capers and potato; Gozitan ftira is a different, pizza-like bake.
- Rabbit stew — Malta's national dish: rabbit slow-cooked with red wine, garlic, tomatoes and bay leaves, often served with spaghetti in the sauce first and the meat as a main.
- Lampuki pie — A pie of dolphinfish (lampuki) with spinach, olives, capers and tomatoes.
- Timpana — Baked macaroni with a rich meat sauce, eggs and cheese encased in pastry, a filling Sunday dish reflecting Malta's Sicilian links.
When to go
The best times to visit Valletta are April to June and September to October, when it is warm enough to swim but cooler and quieter than midsummer. July and August are very hot and busy. Winter is mild, low-priced and fine for sightseeing, though boat trips can be cancelled by wind.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Wild flowers in the countryside, Easter processions, the fireworks festival and pleasant temperatures for walking; the sea warms slowly. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry and busy, with festas and fireworks almost every weekend, warm sea and the highest prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea into October, Notte Bianca and fewer crowds, with storms becoming more frequent in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild highs around 16°C, some rain and wind, low prices, Christmas cribs and carnival in February. |
Getting there and around
Malta International Airport at Luqa is about 8 km south of Valletta. Malta Public Transport airport buses, including the X4, reach the Valletta terminus in about 25–30 minutes. Taxis from the official desk in arrivals charge fixed fares and take about 20 minutes.
Valletta itself is small enough to cross on foot in 15 minutes, though its streets are steep and stepped. Buses from the terminus outside City Gate reach almost every town in Malta, and ferries link the city with Sliema and the Three Cities.
Plan your days
Two days covers Valletta itself: St John's, the Barrakka Gardens, Fort St Elmo, the museums and a ferry to the Three Cities. Four days adds Mdina, Marsaxlokk and the Hypogeum; with a week you can spend days on Gozo and Comino.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Maltese and English
- Plugs
- Type G sockets (UK-style three-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink but much of it is desalinated and tastes salty, so many people drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated rather than expected.
Valletta is generally calm for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in crowds when cruise ships are in, and take care on slippery limestone steps. Traffic drives on the left, so look right first when crossing; in summer, heat and strong sun are the main concerns.
Flights to Valletta
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Valletta?
Two days covers Valletta itself: St John's, the Barrakka Gardens, Fort St Elmo, the museums and a ferry to the Three Cities. Four days adds Mdina, Marsaxlokk and the Hypogeum; with a week you can spend days on Gozo and Comino. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Valletta?
The best times to visit Valletta are April to June and September to October, when it is warm enough to swim but cooler and quieter than midsummer. July and August are very hot and busy. Winter is mild, low-priced and fine for sightseeing, though boat trips can be cancelled by wind.
+What is Valletta known for?
St John's Co-Cathedral, Caravaggio, Grand Harbour, Knights of St John, Baroque architecture, Upper Barrakka Gardens and Pastizzi. St John's Co-Cathedral holds Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only work he signed, in one of Europe's most lavish Baroque interiors.
+Is Valletta expensive?
Valletta is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $130–$230 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Valletta?
Not for Valletta. Buses, ferries and ride-hailing cover the main sights; consider a car only for a day or two on Gozo or for remote beaches, remembering that Malta drives on the left.