Sight guide · Valletta · Malta
Visiting St John's Co-Cathedral
The Knights' conventual church looks austere outside but inside is a blaze of gilded carved stone, ceiling paintings by Mattia Preti and a floor of some 400 inlaid marble tombstones of knights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Matthew Axiak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
St John's Co-Cathedral is a religious site in Upper Valletta, Valletta. Allow 1.5 hours; it is mid-priced. Queues build when cruise ships are in; arriving early or booking online saves time.
Key facts
- Type
- Religious site
- Area
- Upper Valletta
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- art, history, rainy day and architecture
- Best months
- November–January
About St John's Co-Cathedral
The Knights' conventual church looks austere outside but inside is a blaze of gilded carved stone, ceiling paintings by Mattia Preti and a floor of some 400 inlaid marble tombstones of knights. The oratory holds Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, his largest painting and the only one he signed, and his Saint Jerome Writing.
Tip: Use the included audio guide and save the oratory for last, when you can sit in front of the Caravaggio.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: Queues build when cruise ships are in; arriving early or booking online saves time.
- Where: Upper Valletta, city Gate, Republic Street and the cathedral end of the capital.
Best time to visit St John's Co-Cathedral
St John's Co-Cathedral 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.
When to visit Valletta has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Valletta itinerary visits St John's Co-Cathedral on day 1, together with Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery, Grandmaster's Palace and Manoel Theatre.
- No. 1 of the 16 sights in our Valletta things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in valletta on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Valletta.
Near St John's Co-Cathedral
Also in Upper Valletta, so you can walk between them:
- Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery — 45 minutes, free
- Grandmaster's Palace — 1–1.5 hours, mid-priced
- Lascaris War Rooms — 1–1.5 hours, mid-priced
If you like St John's Co-Cathedral
- Fort St Elmo and National War Museum — Lower Valletta, 2 hours
- Casa Rocca Piccola — Lower Valletta, 1 hour
- Manoel Theatre — Lower Valletta, 45 minutes
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum — Paola, 1 hour
Staying near St John's Co-Cathedral
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 St John's Co-Cathedral?
Plan 1.5 hours. With Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery nearby, it fits a half-day in Upper Valletta.
+Is St John's Co-Cathedral free?
No, it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is advised.
+When is the best time to visit St John's Co-Cathedral?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Use the included audio guide and save the oratory for last, when you can sit in front of the Caravaggio.
+Do I need to book St John's Co-Cathedral in advance?
Queues build when cruise ships are in; arriving early or booking online saves time.