Named after a famous Grand Master, Valletta is one of the smallest European capitals. However, despite its compact size, there are plenty of things to do in Valletta to keep you occupied for several days. A combination of sightseeing and the relaxed local life guarantees a fantastic holiday in Malta‘s capital. Therefore, in this Valletta travel guide, you’ll find everything you need to know before visiting the city.
Specifically, apart from discovering how you can reach Malta’s capital, you’ll also read about the best things to see in Valletta. Moreover, you’ll find the best places for your stay together with recommendations about the top day trips you can take right now. Last but not least, I’ll share some travel tips for your Malta holiday, and, of course, you’ll see plenty of my photos.
So, let’s start with this travel guide to Valletta and the best things to do in Malta’s capital.
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Valletta travel guide: know before you go
How to reach Valletta
Valletta is a popular destination for people cruising the Mediterranean. Therefore, if you decided to embark on a cruise, the first thing you’ll see up close in Malta is the Grand Harbour of Valletta. However, two more options currently exist to reach Malta’s capital city.
Visit Valletta by plane
The International Airport of Malta is one of the smallest airports in Europe. It has just one passenger terminal and a handful of gates. The airport is located in Luqa, just 5 km (3 miles) away from the city.
Even though Malta has its own national carrier, Air Malta, the airport’s busiest airline is Ryanair. If you’re flying from continental Europe, you’ll be surprised by the number of airlines operating in Malta. On the other hand, since Valletta is the southernmost capital of Europe, you can expect long flight times if you’re flying from northern Europe.
As you can imagine, Malta enjoys sunny weather all year long, making it an ideal destination for a sunny vacation, even during winter. That said, it doesn’t come as a surprise that seasonal charters are offering competitive prices. If you’d like to check the current flight deals to Malta, I highly recommend Kiwi, the best aggregator you can find online. Kiwi will compare hundreds of flights from your city and show you the best deals.
You can check the best flight deals to Malta here.
Travel tip: Malta’s international airport has an excellent business class lounge called La Vallette, located on the third floor. Moreover, it has a stunning veranda with direct views of the airstrip. If you’re a business class traveler, make sure to spend some time there. And there is more good news: you can access it if even you’re not a business class traveler. All you need to do is pay 35 euros at the entrance. Alternatively, if you have a Priority Pass, you can access it for free together with hundreds of other lounges worldwide.
How to get from Malta International Airport to Valletta
You have three options to travel from the Malta airport to Valletta:
- By bus
- To take a taxi from the designated area
- Prebook a private transfer
Let’s break down these three options.
From Malta’s airport to Valletta by bus
Taking the bus from Malta’s airport to Valletta is the most cost-effective way of traveling. The X4 travels twice per hour between the airport and the capital and costs 2 euros in the summer and 1,50 euros in the winter. The journey takes approximately half an hour, but it might take longer during rush hour. You can check the X4 schedule here.
From Malta’s airport to Valletta by taxi
Straight after luggage pick-up, you’ll see a desk with taxi services. That’s where you can book one of the airport’s official taxis. You’ll just have to mention your hotel in Valletta and prepay for your ride. At the time of writing, the ride costs 17 euros, and you can also pay via credit card. After paying for the ride, your driver will pick you up and drive you to your hotel. The ride won’t be longer than 10-12 minutes.
From Malta’s airport to Valletta via private transfer
If you’d like to skip the bus and taxi queues and don’t mind spending more, you can also pre-book a private transfer. The cars are in mint condition, and some of them are luxurious. Your driver will wait for you straight after luggage pick-up and drive you to your accommodation. The best private transfer costs 26 euros, and you can pre-book it here.
Visit Valletta by ferry
As I already wrote, several cruise ships stop at Valletta for a day or two, However, there’s also one more great option to reach Valletta by ferry. If you happen to be in Sicily, you can travel directly between Catania and Valletta. The ferry operates 16 times per week, and the journey takes less than two hours. You can find more info here.
The 10 best things to do in Valletta, Malta
Despite having just 6,000 permanent inhabitants and a compact city center, Valletta has plenty of things to do and see. Even though you can walk the whole city in just one afternoon, I highly recommend staying here for a couple of days. Moreover, the fact that all buses to every destination on the island start from Valletta means it will be more convenient to have Malta’s capital as your base.
So, in this section, you’ll find the best things to do in Valletta together with plenty of info.
Don’t miss St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta
Valletta is a paradise of baroque architecture, and one of its finest examples is the interior of Saint John’s Co-Cathedral. This Roman-Catholic church dedicated to St John the Baptist was concluded in 1577. Designed by the Maltese Girolamo Cassar, the church is an impressive highlight of local baroque architecture.
However, the main reason that even non-religious travelers visit the Cathedral is that it also hosts two masterpieces by Caravaggio. The “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist“(1608) is one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces, and you can find it in the Oratory. The painting is the largest that Caravaggio created and also the only one he ever signed. In the Oratory, you can also see Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing (1607–1608).
Saint John’s Co-Cathedral, previously known as the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta, is one of the must-sees in Valletta. However, you should be prepared for long queues; therefore, arm yourself with some patience -and a hat during the summer. The church is closed on Sundays, and the ticket costs 15 euros.
Travel tip: If you would like to learn everything about the Co-Cathedral from a professional guide, a walking tour will take you around the capital’s main attractions and bring you to the church. There you’ll learn interesting facts about St John’s Co-Cathedral and get information about the building. You can book the walking tour here.
Stroll around the Upper Barrakka Gardens
Valletta has a fair amount of greenery despite its small size, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens are one of the city’s iconic spots. This public garden, created in 1661, offers tremendous views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Moreover, on the lower tier, you can also see the Saluting Battery, where gun salutes are still fired daily, and it’s one of the most loved attractions of visitors. Every day at 12:00 and 16:00, the guns fire salutes, and crowds gather to observe the spectacle.
The Upper Barrakka Gardens feature arches overlooking the open sea. An interesting fact about them is that they originally had a ceiling. However, during the Maltese Rebellion of 1775, the roof was removed. The Gardens’ location is stunning: it’s the highest point within Valletta’s walls, making it probably the best spot to shoot landscape photos in the city. Of course, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are open to the public; specifically, you can visit them between 10:00 and 20:00.
You will also find the Barakka Lift on one edge of the Gardens. This lift is somehow an urban shortcut: it’s 58 meters tall and connects Laskaris Wharf with the Grand Harbour. The journey takes just 23 seconds -on foot, you might need more than 20 minutes. It’s pretty convenient, especially if you want to catch a boat at the Grand Harbour.
And here’s one more fun fact about the Upper Barrakka Gardens: the Knights of the Order of Saint John created them for recreation purposes, and it took more than 150 years to open to the public.
Stop at the Lower Barrakka Gardens
Adjacent to the Upper Gardens and only a level lower, the Lower Barrakka Gardens is also a must-see. Inside the Lower Barrakka Gardens, you can see a neoclassical temple dedicated to Sir Alexander Ball and a few more statues and monuments. The Lower Barrakka Gardens are not as impressive as the Upper ones, but they feel closer to the open sea and are always quieter.
Visit the Grandmaster’s Palace
The Grandmaster’s Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Valletta. As its name suggests, this was the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, who ruled the country. The most prominent Grand Master was probably Jean “Parisot” de la Valette (1495-1568), after whom the city got its name. Not every part of the Palace is open to the public, but visitors have access to some places of interest, like the Palace Armoury.
Unfortunately, significant parts of the building remain currently closed due to an extensive restoration project. However, you should see the impressive Grandmaster’s palace from the outside and admire its fine architecture and strategic location in Valletta’s heart. And if you enjoy ghost stories, be on the watch out: throughout the centuries, people claimed they felt some odd “presence.”
Cross the City Gate of Valletta
City gates have a long history in Valletta. The one you’ll actually cross is the fifth. Before this one, there was the Porta San Giorgio, the Porta Reale, the Porte Nationale, and the Kingsgate (also known as Kingsway). The current one was built by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano between 2011 and 2014, and straight behind it, you can see the new Parliament House. The new City Gate brought enough controversy, and many people compared it to the Third Gate.
If you plan to explore the island of Malta, you’ll most likely cross the Gate several times. Straight after exiting it, you’ll find the bus terminal, from where you can reach every place on the island.
Explore Casa Rocca Piccola
Malta has a wealth of old palazzos. Most of them are in excellent condition, and the good news is that some are open to the public. The most beautiful palazzo you’ll find in Valletta is the Casa Rocca Piccola, a 16th-century palace in the city’s heart. Home of the noble de Piro family, Casa Rocca Piccola is an excellent example of local architecture. The palace is open to the public, and there are several guided tours during the day (ticket: 9 euros).
While strolling around the palace, you’ll see plenty of rooms with 16th and 17th-century decorations. Members of the de Piro family still live in the Palazzo, and you even have the opportunity to rent a room at the Casa Rocca Piccola for your stay in Valletta. Other impressive spots in the palazzo are the World War II shelter and a tromp l’oeil painting on the ceiling, imitating the roof of Victoria’s Cathedral in Gozo. The palace has more than fifty rooms and features an extensive collection of artworks and traditional Maltese costumes.
Did you know? Queen Elizabeth lived for a while in the Casa Rocca Piccola.
Stroll through Valletta’s impressive streets
Even after a quick stroll around Valletta, you’ll get an impression of why the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has two natural harbors, and that’s where the Great Siege of Malta took place in 1565. Valletta is the first planned European capital, with a holistic plan based on Rennaissance’s ideas. The small streets and tall buildings create a fantastic atmosphere; walking each of them will expose you to Valletta’s beauty. Plus, you’ll see the beautiful Maltese balconies decorating the facades.
As I wrote earlier, you might need just one afternoon to walk through most of its streets. Republic Street, Old Mint Street, and Strait Street are all a joy to explore. However, different times of the day will show you various city aspects. Therefore, make sure to walk the (totally safe) streets of Valletta during the night for a more atmospheric touch.
See the Fort Saint Elmo
Valletta’s beautiful star fort is located straight between the Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. Fort Saint Elmo is where the Great Siege of 1565 took place. After the siege, Grandmaster Jean de Valette decided to build a new city -Valletta. Francisco Laparelli was the man who designed the city’s fortification and the one who rebuilt the Fort. Today, you can visit Saint Elmo and see the fortifications together with fantastic sea views.
Visit the Three Cities with the boat
The Three Cities can be seen as Valletta’s suburbs, exactly like Sliema and St Julian’s. You can see them from the Upper Barakka Gardens, and to reach them, you’ll have to take a 15-minutes boat ride starting from the Grand Harbour. Sometimes though, the swell is so powerful that the boats will be suspended. In this case, you can cross the City Gate and catch the bus; the ride takes 45 minutes.
Now, each of the Three Cities has its name: Birgu, Senglea, and Conspicua. The most beautiful is by far Birgu, but make sure to stroll around each of them for a glimpse of local life. So, here’s what you can see in each of the Three Cities:
- Senglea: The Gardjola Gardens with impressive views of the Grand Harbour, the Senglea Basilica, and the Saint Michael Bastion.
- Conspicua: See the beautiful Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
- Birgu: Stroll along the waterfront, visit Fort Saint Angelo, and see Inquisitor’s Palace.
And: don’t miss the opportunity to walk the backstreets of the Three Cities. Visitors tend to ignore them, and in the afternoon, you’ll feel that you’re on a movie set.
Travel tip: There’s an excellent guided tour that will take you to the Three Cities after exploring Valletta. It lasts 4 hours, and you can book it here.
For art lovers: visit Muza, the Museum of Fine Arts
Apart from hosting an impressive 800-year-long collection of Maltese art, Muza is also hosted in a fantastic building. The Auberge d’Italie is one of the most iconic palaces of Valletta. Originally used as a residence of the Knights of Malta, Muza is today the city’s most dynamic museum. Its prime location on Merchants Street means that you’ll be in the heart of a busy road if you want to explore Valletta further. Find more info about Muza here.
Where to stay in Valletta, Malta
Valletta has an impressive number of accommodations. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the tourists are actually more than the inhabitants during peak season. In this section of this Valletta travel guide, you will find the best hotels in Valletta and the services to expect from them. Moreover, I’ll also share the accommodation I chose for my stay in the city.
Although it’s something to expect, I must say that the prices vary significantly depending on the season. Therefore, check your budget and choose your accommodation accordingly. A note: staying in a hotel within the city walls is slightly pricier than you might expect. Let’s start.
The best hotels to stay in Valletta
Here are the best hotels for your stay in Malta’s capital.
The Phoenicia. That’s Malta’s most iconic hotel, located straight out of the City Gate. You can expect an old-world hotel with all modern luxuries and live piano music in the lobby. The Phoenicia enjoys great views of the Triton Fountain and is conveniently located close to the bus terminal. Moreover, there’s an infinity pool overlooking the Grand Harbor. Spacious rooms, breakfast, and air-conditioning are included in the price. Book your room at The Phoenicia Hotel.
Casa Ellul. If you enjoy staying in small boutique hotels, that’s probably one of the best options in Valletta. Casa Ellul features unique rooms with original Maltese floor tiles. In addition, the hotel’s building is a masterpiece on its own: a well-preserved 19th-century building with lots of charm. Book your room at Casa Ellul.
19 Rooms. That’s one of the most convenient hotels in the city center. It’s just 3 minutes away from the beach, 350 meters away from the Grandmaster’s Palace, and very close to Casa Rocca Piccola. The rooms are elegant, and the prices are fair. Book your accommodation in 19 Rooms.
Sally Port Suites. That’s one more excellent accommodation option in Valletta’s heart. Sally Port Suites offers beautiful, atmospheric rooms and a convenient location close to Upper Barakka Gardens. If you’d like to use the boat services, this will be an ideal stay for your vacation. See the prices for Sally Port Suites here.
Ursulino Hotel. Located just 300 meters away from the famous Manoel Theater, the Ursulino Hotel offers modern rooms and a terrace with a sea view. The hotel is located in a typical Post-War building, and you can expect bathrobes and toiletries in your room. Book your room at Ursulino here.
Osborne Hotel. Last but not least, Osborne Hotel is one of the most affordable options in downtown Valletta. While it might not have the standards of the hotels mentioned above, Osborne has simple yet beautiful rooms just 5 minutes away from Saint John’s Co-Cathedral. Book your room at Osborne Hotel here.
Where I stayed in Valletta, Malta
I visited Valletta on very short notice, and most accommodations were sold out. After hours of searching, I managed to find a free room at Hotel Castille. Set in a beautiful 16th-century building and featuring a rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views of the Three Cities, Hotel Castille is an excellent option for those searching for an old-fashioned hotel. The prices are moderate, and breakfast is included. However, this is not a modern hotel; therefore, if you are more into modern rooms, you won’t find them here.
I had a great stay at Hotel Castille: the room was spacious, it had a nice view, and the staff was polite. I would definitely stay here again on a future visit to Malta.
See the prices for Hotel Castille here.
For all other accommodation options, please use the interactive Valletta map below.
Valletta travel guide: Where to eat
Valletta has a fair amount of restaurants, and in most of them, you’ll enjoy good quality food. The local kitchen might sound familiar to you if you have traveled before to the Mediterranean. Therefore, while you might not discover many new dishes, Mediterranean cuisine offers a wide variety of tastes.
Part of Valletta’s dining experience has to do with the locations. There are several hidden spots in the stairways or little alleys where the scenery has a great vibe. So, while the food is good, the whole dining experience is elevated due to the environment. In the following lines, you’ll find the Valletta restaurants I ate and recommend. These are:
Cafe Cordina. That’s probably one of the most atmospheric places to drink or dine in Valletta. Located at 244 Republic Street, the cafe offers a wide selection of pastries and dishes on its fantastic terrace. The building is a historic palazzo, and Cordina has operated non-stop for almost 200 years. Check it out.
San Paolo Naufrago & Taste. These two restaurants are in one of the most instagrammable spots in Valletta. Located on the corner of St Paul Street with St Lucia Street, both places offer a selection of dishes. However, everything is here about the environment: the tables and chairs are on the charming stairs of St Lucia Street, and at night everything is illuminated with colorful lamps. Get a table and enjoy. See the St Lucia location here.
Piadina. Ideal for quick lunch and espresso, Piadina is close to everything. The food is good and the coffee even better. You can find it at 24 St. Lucia Street.
Kantina. Finally, if you’d like to have dinner next to the cathedral, Kantina offers a spacious terrace next to Valletta’s landmark. The food is tasty, and the location couldn’t be better.
Guided tours in Valletta and beyond
In this section of the Valletta travel guide, you’ll find some guided tours you can take in Valletta. The city is rich in history, and if you’d like to know as much as possible, it’s a good idea to book a guided tour. Moreover, you’ll discover plenty of hidden spots in the city that’ll give you a better overview of what Malta looked like in the past. Last but not least, you’ll find some of the best day trips you can take from Valletta.
The best Valletta tours
Malta’s tourist industry is booming, and Valletta is the country’s gem. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that several operators offer guided tours to places of interest. Joining one of these tours will give you insights into local life. So, the best Valletta tours you can join right now are:
3-hour walking tour. If you’d like to see all the major attractions, that’s the best tour you can have. A professional guide will take you to every place of interest, and you’ll have the option to enter the cathedral. It’s one of the most affordable ways to discover Valletta, and it currently costs 18 euros. You can book the walking tour here.
Street Food and Culture. If you’re into tasting street food in the countries you visit, that’s for you. Apart from the cultural sightseeing, you’ll also taste Valletta’s street food and discover the Maltese pastizzi. It currently costs 35 euros and sells out fast. Check out the street food tour here.
Private walking tour. Finally, if you’re more into private walking tours, this one is ideal if you’re traveling with friends. The tour costs 200 euros per group of four and will take you to every attraction. The tour lasts three hours. Book the private walking tour here.
Beyond the capital: day trips from Valletta
Valletta is pretty small, and the chances are that you’d like to see more of Malta during your stay. The distances are not long, and if you have a week in Malta, you will probably see the best attractions on the island. Although you can visit everything independently, I’ll only propose guided day trips from Valletta. And there’s a reason for that.
Malta travel tip: Although several buses start from Valletta, here’s the thing: Malta has no intercity buses. That said, you can’t expect to move from Valletta to another city with a non-stop bus. Every bus in Malta acts as a city bus; in other words, you’ll have to stop loads of times. For example, Marsaxlokk is 44 stops away, and Cirkewwa, where the Gozo ferry starts, is almost 100 stops. As you can imagine, it’s much more convenient to go on a day trip with an organized tour.
So, here’s what you can see away from Valletta.
Explore Malta in one day. That’s one of the best day trips in Malta. In this private day tour, you’ll explore Valletta, travel to Mdina, the old capital, and finish your day in the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Visiting 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one day doesn’t sound bad, right? See the tour’s availability and prices here.
Explore Gozo in one day. Gozo is Malta’s sister island (read my guide to Gozo here), and it definitely deserves a visit. There you’ll have a more original Malta feeling due to the slower rhythms and the beautiful landscape. Most guided tours from Malta follow the same itinerary, and prices include hotel pick-up (Valletta, Sliema, or elsewhere in Malta) and a short ferry crossing. You’ll see the Comino caves, the Citadel in Victoria, and the Blue Lagoon.
Most of these tours cost between 60 and 70 euros. One of the best day trips to Gozo from Malta is the Jeep Tour with a Lunch and Powerboat ride. Alternatively, within the same price range, you can have a full-day sightseeing tour or one that deals mainly with the country’s past.
Valletta travel guide: Travel tips for your Malta vacation
Apart from the travel tips you read earlier in this Valletta travel guide, I’ll add a few more here. These travel tips will make easier your stay in Malta.
Consider ecabs
Ecabs is a local platform that resembles Uber. You can download the ecabs app and call a driver instead of a taxi. Of course, the prices don’t compare with the bus tickets, but it’s a good way to ride from point A to point B. You can expect to pay approximately 25% less in comparison to taxis. It might be costly for solo travelers, but it’s a reasonable way to explore some parts of the island for groups of people.
You can download ecabs for iPhone and ecabs for Android.
Rent a car
If you feel comfortable driving abroad, renting a car in Malta will make your journey easier. However, please remember that driving in Malta is on the left side (like in the UK). Therefore, if you haven’t driven a car with the steering wheel on the right, think twice about renting a car.
The prices for renting a car in Malta are moderate. The best service is RentalCars, which is an aggregator comparing loads of car rentals and showing you the best prices for your desired dates. You can search for car rentals in Malta here.
Try the hop-on-hop-off bus
That’s another great way of exploring Valletta and the island of Malta. The hop-on-hop-off bus is exactly what it sounds: a bus that stops at designated stations around the island, and you can visit them with a day ticket. Therefore, if you’d like to see several attractions and enjoy hopping on and off, this might be a good idea. You won’t probably see as much as on a guided day trip, but you’ll definitely have more freedom.
You can find more about the hop-on-hop-off bus of Malta here. Make sure to check the itineraries and departure times.
Think twice before boarding the catamaran
A couple of catamarans operate in Malta, and there are currently two that will bring you to Gozo for an independent day trip. The catamarans are a great shortcut: from the Grand Harbour of Valletta to Gozo, they take approximately 45 minutes. On the other hand, if you travel by public transport from Valletta to Gozo, you’ll need 1 hour and 40 minutes to the port of Cirkewwa by bus and another half an hour on the ferry.
But: even with an average wind, the catamarans are really shaky. The forty minutes might feel like an eternity if you get easily seasick. The ride will be very bumpy; therefore, think about it twice. The two companies operating catamarans from Valletta to Gozo are Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries.
When to visit Valletta?
Malta enjoys fantastic weather all year long. However, the summers tend to be extremely hot. Therefore, if you can’t stand the heat, visiting Valletta between April and June or in September and October is better.
Travel guide to Valletta: Final Thoughts about the capital of Malta
Valletta is one of the loveliest Mediterranean cities. Its urban planning and architecture are things to admire. Plus, the wonderful Maltese balconies decorating the facades will fascinate you and occupy your camera’s memory card. Despite its size, there are plenty of things to see in Valletta. Therefore, if you’re not visiting Malta just for its fantastic weather, explore the city’s attractions.
So, that’s it with this long Valletta travel guide. Let me know in the comments below if you already visited Valletta or if you’d have further questions about the city.
More Malta: Malta without a car itinerary, Marsaxlokk guide, Mdina guide, Thomas Pynchon’s V and Valletta
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Last Updated on January 4, 2024 by George Pavlopoulos