Sight guide · Valletta · Malta
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dion Hinchcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Fort St Elmo and National War Museum is a castle in Lower Valletta, Valletta. Allow 2 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Area
- Lower Valletta
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, kids, views and rainy day
- Best months
- November–January
About 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. Its National War Museum covers Malta's history from the Bronze Age to independence, and displays the George Cross awarded to the island in 1942.
Tip: Walk the ramparts after the museum for views over both harbours and the breakwater.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Lower Valletta, quieter residential streets, Strait Street bars and Fort St Elmo.
Best time to visit Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
Fort St Elmo and National War Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds.
- December: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- November: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-January the sun sets at about 17:11 local time (calculated for Valletta).
When to visit Valletta has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Valletta itinerary visits Fort St Elmo and National War Museum on day 2, together with Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell, Casa Rocca Piccola and Strait Street.
- No. 4 of the 16 sights in our Valletta things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in valletta on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Valletta.
- A family favourite in Valletta with kids.
Near Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
Also in Lower Valletta, so you can walk between them:
- Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell — 30 minutes, free
- Casa Rocca Piccola — 1 hour, mid-priced
- Manoel Theatre — 45 minutes, low cost
If you like Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
- St John's Co-Cathedral — Upper Valletta, 1.5 hours
- Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery — Upper Valletta, 45 minutes
- Grandmaster's Palace — Upper Valletta, 1–1.5 hours
- Lascaris War Rooms — Upper Valletta, 1–1.5 hours
Staying near Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
Stay in Lower Valletta ($$$) to walk here: quieter residential streets, Strait Street bars and Fort St Elmo. All areas to stay in Valletta.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Fort St Elmo and National War Museum?
Plan 2 hours. With Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell nearby, it fits a half-day in Lower Valletta.
+Is Fort St Elmo and National War Museum free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Fort St Elmo and National War Museum?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Walk the ramparts after the museum for views over both harbours and the breakwater.
+Do I need to book Fort St Elmo and National War Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Fort St Elmo and National War Museum good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Valletta. Malta is easy with children: English is spoken everywhere, distances are short, and forts, boat trips and the noon gun are a hit.