Sight guide · Valletta · Malta
Visiting City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Renzo Piano's redesign of Valletta's entrance, completed in 2015, cut a narrow stone gateway into the bastions, added a Parliament House of perforated limestone on stilts and turned the bombed ruins of the Royal Opera House, destroyed in 1942, into an open-air theatre.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joe Ambrogio, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal is an architectural landmark in Upper Valletta, Valletta. Allow 30 minutes; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Architecture
- Area
- Upper Valletta
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, architecture and history
- Best months
- March, May and November
About City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Renzo Piano's redesign of Valletta's entrance, completed in 2015, cut a narrow stone gateway into the bastions, added a Parliament House of perforated limestone on stilts and turned the bombed ruins of the Royal Opera House, destroyed in 1942, into an open-air theatre.
Tip: Walk through the gate and look back from Republic Street to see how the new stone matches the old bastions.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 30 minutes.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Upper Valletta, city Gate, Republic Street and the cathedral end of the capital.
Best time to visit City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- March: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- November: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 2 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Valletta has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen St John's Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery.
- No. 11 of the 16 sights in our Valletta things-to-do list.
- Day 5 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Valletta.
Near City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Also in Upper Valletta, so you can walk between them:
- MUŻA – National Community Art Museum — 1–1.5 hours, low cost
- National Museum of Archaeology — 1 hour, low cost
- Lascaris War Rooms — 1–1.5 hours, mid-priced
If you like City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
- Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell — Lower Valletta, 30 minutes
- Manoel Theatre — Lower Valletta, 45 minutes
- Strait Street — Lower Valletta, 1–2 hours
Staying near City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Stay in Upper Valletta ($$$$) to walk here: city Gate, Republic Street and the cathedral end of the capital. All areas to stay in Valletta.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal?
Plan 30 minutes. With MUŻA – National Community Art Museum nearby, it fits a half-day in Upper Valletta.
+Is City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal?
March, May and November, the quietest of the good months. Walk through the gate and look back from Republic Street to see how the new stone matches the old bastions.
+Do I need to book City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.