Solo travel · Valletta · Malta
Solo travel in Valletta
How to enjoy Valletta at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Ellis, Public domain
Quick answer
Malta is straightforward for solo travellers: English is spoken everywhere, distances are short, and there is a large international community of language students and remote workers. Valletta is calm in the evenings, while St Julian's suits those who want a social scene. Many solo travellers base themselves in St Julian's and Paceville.
Key facts
- Base
- St Julian's and Paceville
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Language
- Maltese and English
Solo travel tips
- Language schools and hostels in St Julian's and Sliema make it easy to meet people.
- Join a free walking tour of Valletta for history and company.
- Eating at the bar or a small table in a Valletta wine bar is perfectly normal.
- Allow extra time for buses, which can be slow and full in summer.
- Use ride-hailing apps rather than unlicensed drivers late at night.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers and beach
St Julian's and Paceville
North of Sliema, St Julian's wraps around Spinola Bay and Balluta Bay with waterfront restaurants and big hotels, while neighbouring Paceville is a dense block of clubs and bars aimed at a young crowd. It is about 20–30 minutes from Valletta by bus.
- Good
- Malta's liveliest nightlife; Sandy St George's Bay beach; Many hotels and restaurants
- Watch out
- Very loud at night in Paceville; A bus ride from Valletta's sights
- Nearby
- Spinola Bay, Balluta Bay, Paceville, St George's Bay
Great on your own
Religious site · Upper Valletta
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.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Upper Valletta
Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery
Arrive about 15 minutes before noon to get a spot on the terrace for the gun salute.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
Palace · Upper Valletta
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.
- 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
Walk the ramparts after the museum for views over both harbours and the breakwater.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Garden · Lower Valletta
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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- History
Historic site · Upper Valletta
Lascaris War Rooms
Combine it with the Saluting Battery above; the entrance is down the steps from the gardens.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Meeting people
- Maltese platter in a wine bar — Valletta's wine bars on Strait Street and around the Lower Barrakka serve platters of ġbejniet, bigilla, sausages, capers and galletti with Maltese wines made from local grapes such as Girgentina and Ġellewża.
- Sunday at Marsaxlokk — The fishing village's Sunday fish market is followed by long seafood lunches facing the painted luzzu boats in the harbour.
- Strait Street — Wine bars and small music venues in the old sailors' district, with tables in the narrow street.
- Merchants Street and Republic Street — Cocktail bars and late cafés in the upper town, especially around St John's and the squares.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Staying connected
- Mobile coverage is good across the islands; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and local SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Valletta good for solo travellers?
Malta is straightforward for solo travellers: English is spoken everywhere, distances are short, and there is a large international community of language students and remote workers. Valletta is calm in the evenings, while St Julian's suits those who want a social scene.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Valletta?
St Julian's and Paceville: Spinola Bay restaurants by the water and Malta's main club district.