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Valletta
Malta's tiny UNESCO capital — Baroque streets, harbour views and history at every corner.
Where to stay
Valletta is about a kilometre end to end, so anywhere inside the walls is walkable. The real choice is whether you want to sleep in the capital at all.
- Inside the walls — Boutique hotels and restored townhouses on the grid of streets. Beautiful, quiet after the day-trippers leave, and the most atmospheric base on the island. Parking is difficult and many buildings have stairs rather than lifts.
- Near City Gate — The entrance end, closest to the bus terminus, which matters because almost every route on Malta passes through it.
- Sliema instead — Ten minutes across the harbour by ferry, with far more restaurants, hotels and nightlife. Many people base there and treat Valletta as a day.
What to see
For a capital this small, the concentration is unusual. The whole peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- St John's Co-Cathedral — Plain outside, overwhelming inside, with a floor of inlaid marble tomb slabs. The oratory holds Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, his largest canvas and the only painting he ever signed.
- Upper Barrakka Gardens — The view over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. The Saluting Battery below fires at noon and at four, and it is worth timing.
- The Grandmaster's Palace — The seat of the Knights, and later the British governors.
- Fort St Elmo and the War Museum — At the tip of the peninsula, covering the Great Siege of 1565 and the far more recent siege of the Second World War.
- The Barrakka Lift — Drops you from the gardens to the waterfront in seconds, and saves a long walk back up.
Getting there
- From the airport — About twenty minutes by taxi, or the X4 bus.
- From Sliema — The ferry takes under ten minutes and is far quicker than the road around the creek.
- From the Three Cities — A ferry runs across the Grand Harbour, and the traditional dgħajsa water taxis still work the same route.
- Buses — Every route on the island effectively starts or ends at the terminus outside City Gate.
How long to stay
- Half a day — The cathedral, the gardens and the main streets. What most cruise passengers get.
- A full day — Adds Fort St Elmo, the palace and time to wander the side streets, which is where Valletta is at its best.
- Two or three nights — Worth it if you stay inside the walls, because the city changes completely once the day crowds leave.
Worth knowing before you go
- The cruise ships empty into the city between roughly ten and four. Early morning and evening are a different place.
- The main streets run flat along the ridge, but the cross-streets are stepped and steep. Shoes matter.
- St John's Co-Cathedral enforces a dress code and stiletto heels are not allowed on the marble floor.
- Valletta is quiet at night. If you want bars until late, that is St Julian's, not here.
Plan your trip to Valletta
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Valletta: frequently asked questions
Is Valletta worth staying in?
Yes, if you want atmosphere. The city empties in the evening once the day-trippers leave and the restored townhouse hotels inside the walls are the most characterful stay on the island. Choose Sliema instead if you want more restaurants and nightlife.
How long do you need in Valletta?
Half a day covers the cathedral and the main sights. A full day is better. Two nights if you want to see it in the evening, which is when it is at its best.
Can you see the Caravaggio in Valletta?
Yes. The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist hangs in the oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral. It is his largest work and the only one he signed.
How do you get from Sliema to Valletta?
The ferry, in under ten minutes. It runs frequently and is much faster than going round by road.
Is Valletta walkable?
Very. It is about a kilometre from end to end. The streets along the ridge are flat but the cross-streets are stepped, and there is a lift down to the waterfront.
What time does the Saluting Battery fire?
At noon and at four in the afternoon, below the Upper Barrakka Gardens.