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Three Cities
Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua — the atmospheric old harbour cities across the water from Valletta.
Where to stay
The Three Cities are where Valletta was before Valletta existed, and they are still lived in rather than visited.
- Birgu, also called Vittoriosa — The most restored of the three, with boutique guesthouses in the old streets and the marina on the waterfront.
- Senglea — Quieter and more residential, with the best view back across the harbour to Valletta.
- Cospicua — The largest and the least touristed, ordinary and cheap.
- Valletta instead — Ten minutes across the water, and many people visit from there.
What to see
These three peninsulas held out through the Great Siege of 1565, before the Knights built Valletta on the ridge opposite.
- Fort St Angelo — At the tip of Birgu, and the centre of the defence in 1565. The view from it takes in the whole Grand Harbour.
- The Malta Maritime Museum — In the old naval bakery on the Birgu waterfront.
- The Inquisitor's Palace — One of the few surviving inquisition palaces open to the public anywhere in Europe.
- Senglea's Gardjola — The little watchtower on the point, carved with an eye and an ear, and the view from it is the classic photograph of Valletta.
- The streets of Birgu — Narrow, quiet and genuinely residential, and the best part of a visit.
Getting there
- The ferry — From Valletta across the Grand Harbour, a few minutes.
- Dgħajsa water taxi — The traditional boats still work the crossing, and it costs a little more and is worth it.
- By bus — Possible but slow, since the road goes right around the head of the harbour.
- By car — Parking is difficult in all three.
How long to stay
- Two to three hours — Fort St Angelo, the waterfront and a walk through Birgu.
- Half a day — Adds the Maritime Museum or the Inquisitor's Palace.
- A night or two — Worth it for the quiet, and for the harbour at first light.
Worth knowing before you go
- The ferry from Valletta is the right way to arrive. Coming by road misses the point entirely.
- These are working neighbourhoods, so keep the noise down in the residential lanes in the evening.
- Birgu has the restaurants, Senglea has the view, Cospicua has neither and is cheaper.
- Birgu holds a candlelit festival in October when the electric lights go out across the old streets.
Plan your trip to Three Cities
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Three Cities: frequently asked questions
What are the Three Cities in Malta?
Vittoriosa, also called Birgu, Senglea, also called Isla, and Cospicua, also called Bormla. Three fortified peninsulas across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, and the Knights' base before Valletta was built.
How do you get to the Three Cities from Valletta?
The ferry across the Grand Harbour takes a few minutes. Traditional dgħajsa water taxis run the same crossing for a little more, and are the nicer way to do it.
Are the Three Cities worth visiting?
Yes. They are quieter and more lived-in than Valletta, and Fort St Angelo, the Maritime Museum and the streets of Birgu are worth half a day.
Which of the Three Cities is best to stay in?
Birgu for restaurants and the marina, Senglea for the view back at Valletta, Cospicua for price.
What is there to see in Senglea?
The Gardjola, a small watchtower on the point carved with an eye and an ear, which gives the classic view of Valletta across the water.
How long do you need in the Three Cities?
Two to three hours for the highlights, half a day if you visit a museum.