How many days · Valletta · Malta
How many days do you need in Valletta?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Valletta, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.7 h (Dec) to 14.6 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | St John's Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery, Grandmaster's Palace and Fort St Elmo and National War Museum |
| 2 days | Good | Fort St Elmo and National War Museum, Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell and Lascaris War Rooms |
| 3 days | Good | National Museum of Archaeology, MUŻA – National Community Art Museum and Casa Rocca Piccola |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Mdina and Rabat |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Mdina and Rabat and Gozo |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Valletta add up to roughly 12–15 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Fort St Elmo and National War Museum (2 hours), Strait Street (1–2 hours) and St John's Co-Cathedral (1.5 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| St John's Co-Cathedral | 1.5 hours | Upper Valletta |
| Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery | 45 minutes | Upper Valletta |
| Grandmaster's Palace | 1–1.5 hours | Upper Valletta |
| Fort St Elmo and National War Museum | 2 hours | Lower Valletta |
| Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell | 30 minutes | Lower Valletta |
| Lascaris War Rooms | 1–1.5 hours | Upper Valletta |
| National Museum of Archaeology | 1 hour | Upper Valletta |
| MUŻA – National Community Art Museum | 1–1.5 hours | Upper Valletta |
| Casa Rocca Piccola | 1 hour | Lower Valletta |
| Manoel Theatre | 45 minutes | Lower Valletta |
| City Gate, Parliament House and Pjazza Teatru Rjal | 30 minutes | Upper Valletta |
| Strait Street | 1–2 hours | Lower Valletta |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on St John's Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Mdina and Rabat and Gozo |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.7 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.6 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Valletta with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Valletta?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Valletta?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Mdina and Rabat and Gozo.