5 days in Valletta

Day by day

1. Day 1: St John's Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery

   St John's Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery and Grandmaster's Palace, then Manoel Theatre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St John's Co-Cathedral

      Use the included audio guide and save the oratory for last, when you can sit in front of the Caravaggio. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery

      Arrive about 15 minutes before noon to get a spot on the terrace for the gun salute. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pastizzi

      Pastizzerias across Valletta and every town; the best are straight from the oven and cost very little.

   4. Afternoon

      Grandmaster's Palace

      Check Heritage Malta's site for which state rooms are open, as parts of the palace are still used for official functions. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Manoel Theatre

      If you can, see a performance rather than a tour; the acoustics and the intimate boxes are the point.

2. Day 2: Fort St Elmo and National War Museum and Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell

   Fort St Elmo and National War Museum, Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell and Casa Rocca Piccola, then Strait Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fort St Elmo and National War Museum

      Walk the ramparts after the museum for views over both harbours and the breakwater. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell

      Come in the late afternoon, when it is much quieter than the Upper Barrakka and the light falls on the Three Cities. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ħobż biż-żejt

      Snack bars and cafés across the island, especially near swimming spots.

   4. Afternoon

      Casa Rocca Piccola

      Take the guided tour rather than wandering alone; the family stories are the highlight. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Strait Street

      Come after dark for a glass of Maltese wine at a table set out in the narrow street.

3. Day 3: Lascaris War Rooms and National Museum of Archaeology

   Lascaris War Rooms, National Museum of Archaeology and MUŻA – National Community Art Museum, then Strait Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lascaris War Rooms

      Combine it with the Saluting Battery above; the entrance is down the steps from the gardens. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of Archaeology

      Visit before your temple day trips; the figurines make far more sense once you have seen the sites. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ftira

      Bakeries and kiosks in Valletta and across Malta; try Gozitan ftira on a day trip to Gozo.

   4. Afternoon

      MUŻA – National Community Art Museum

      Look for the Preti paintings first, then compare them with his ceiling in St John's nearby. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Strait Street

      Wine bars and small music venues in the old sailors' district, with tables in the narrow street.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Mdina and Rabat

   About 30–40 minutes by bus each way. Getting there: Bus from Valletta terminus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Mdina and Rabat

      About 30–40 minutes by bus (Bus from Valletta terminus); about 12 km.

   2. Day

      Mdina and Rabat

      Malta's walled former capital, the 'Silent City', has narrow medieval lanes, St Paul's Cathedral and views across the island from its bastions. Best for culture, couples and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Valletta

      Dinner: try Rabbit stew.

5. Day 5: City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal and Birgu and Fort St Angelo

   City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Birgu and Fort St Angelo and Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise, then Merchants Street and Republic Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal

      Walk through the gate and look back from Republic Street to see how the new stone matches the old bastions. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Birgu and Fort St Angelo

      Take a traditional dgħajsa water taxi one way and the ferry back for two different views of the harbour. (Half a day, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rabbit stew

      Traditional restaurants in Valletta and village restaurants in Mġarr and the countryside.

   4. Afternoon

      Grand Harbour and Marsamxett cruise

      Choose an open-deck seat and go in the late afternoon, when the low sun lights up the bastions. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Merchants Street and Republic Street

      Cocktail bars and late cafés in the upper town, especially around St John's and the squares.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for St John's Co-Cathedral before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Upper Valletta keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Lower Valletta ($$$) suits couples, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–20 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.7 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Valletta
• 2 days in Valletta
• 3 days in Valletta

Questions travellers ask