Visit Valletta: Top 10 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions

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The 10 Best Things to Do in Valletta

You’re going to Malta and plan to visit Valletta, its beautiful capital city? Great choice, you will love it for sure!

In order to help you make the most out of your stay in one of the smallest European capitals, I have prepared a list of the 10 best things to do in Valletta.

In addition to the must-see attractions, I will give you itineraries to visit the city in 1, 2 or 3 days as well as a list of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

Now, it’s time to immerse yourself in the rich history of Valletta and the famous Order of the Knights Hospitallers.

Visit Valletta: The 10 Must-See Attractions and Points of Interest

1. St. John’s Co-Cathedral

Let’s start your visit to Valletta with a masterpiece of Baroque art: St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

Its somewhat simple facade hides a breathtaking interior. At first glance, there is so much things to see that it’s even a bit confusing. When I walked in, I didn’t know what to look at first!

The marble floor decorated with coat of arms houses the Knights of the Order tombs. The vault is entirely covered with frescoes depicting the life of St. John the Baptist.

You can also discover the eight chapels, each dedicated to one of the languages of the Order and richly decorated. And as if that wasn’t enough to dazzle you, the pillars and walls are all covered with magnificent golden decorations! Lastly, you will have the opportunity to admire some of Caravaggio’s paintings.

In order to get in, you need to follow the dress-code: shawls are distributed inside to cover your arms and legs. Ladies are not allowed to wear high heels because they could damage the precious floor. Anyway, it’s not a very good idea to wear high heels to walk in the cobbled alleys of Valletta!

You can find all the information you need to visit the cathedral on the official website.

Voyage Tips Advice
The Co-Cathedral is, to say the least, the most touristic place in Valletta. If you can, be there for the opening or around noon to avoid (at least a bit) the crowds.
St. John's Co-Cathedral
Interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral

2. Grand Master’s Palace

The Grand Master’s Palace is the second major tourist attraction of Valletta.

As its name suggest, it was originally the Grand Masters of the Order of Malta’s residence. Nowadays, the palace houses the President of Malta Office. It’s actually quite surprising that, although housing one of the highest authorities of the country, the palace can be visited freely.

From the start, you will be surprised by the beautiful courtyards with fountains and statues: a bit of shade is more than welcome during the hot days.

Inside the palace, you will have access to the State Rooms, which includes the Council Chamber and its magnificent drapes made by the Gobelins manufactory.

You can also visit the official dining room, the Supreme Council Hall and the Page’s Waiting Room (the grand master had 16 servants!). Finally you can discover the ambassador’s room, the former Grand Master’s audience chamber. Today, Maltese presidents still welcome foreign guests here.

In the part of the palace that used to be stables, you can also visit the armoury: it houses an impressive collection of weapons and armors. All of them are authentic and were used by the Knights and Grand Masters of the Order of Malta. When a knight died, his armour became the property of the order. That explains why there are so many to admire today!

I visited the Royal Armoury of Turin, in Italy, 2 months before and I was particularly thrilled. This one is also really worth a look if you are in Malta! Nearly 5000 armors, crossbows, muskets and swords are exposed. They really shows the visitor how heavy was the military equipment and gives you a glimpse of what war was at that time.

The price is 12€ for about 2 hours of visit.

Grand Master's Palace
Grand Master’s Palace

3. Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens

Every day at noon, you can hear cannon shots in Valletta. This may surprise you at first, but don’t worry, there is no need to go back to the Armoury to arm yourself, the situation is under control!

What you can do however, is head to Upper Barrakka Gardens, a garden located in the centre of Valletta to attend one of the capital’s major attractions.

Overlooking Grand Harbour, the Upper Barrakka Gardens, with its numerous arches, benches and flower beds offers a breathtaking view over the Three Cities.

It’s a very pleasant place to rest a bit during the day. Finding a bit of greenery and shade during the hot Maltese summer feels good!

Below the gardens, you will find the Saluting Battery. Once used to greet foreign ships, the cannons have been restored to bring a bit of folklore to your visit of the city. A salvo is fired every day at 12:00, by people in historic costumes.

You may suspect that if there are Upper Gardens, there must be Lower Gardens as well. You’re right!

The Lower Barrakka Gardens, is a bit further along the seashore, close to Fort Saint Elmo.

Smaller than its big brother, it is especially worth a look for 2 things:

  • The small neoclassical temple, dedicated to Alexander Ball, the gentleman who led the Maltese in war against the French.
  • The Siege Bell War Memorial, often simply called “The Bell” is a very photogenic monument, with the sea and the Three Cities in the background.

Voyage Tips - Advice

To stroll through the typical streets and discover the history of Valletta and its unmissable monuments, I recommend you to opt for a guided tour. The guides are really great and have many great anecdotes about the city.

This guided tour in Malta can be booked by clicking the button below:

This tour is also available in a private version (only for your group – book here) and the historical version: “Valletta in World War II” (Also a private tour click there to book)

And if you want to enjoy a magnificent view of Valletta from the sea, I recommend you to book a trip on board a traditional Maltese boat, the “Luzzu”.

To book, please follow this route:

Valletta
The bell of Valletta

4. Republic Street and Merchant Street

During your visit to Valletta, you shouldn’t miss the 2 main shopping streets.

Republic and Merchant streets are the best places to find souvenir shops with magnets, postcards, “I love Malta” t-shirts and Malta’s iconic souvenir: a knight of the Order of Malta figurine. Yes, in case you’re wondering, I do have one of these in my living room now!

While walking along the street, you will also find a lot of jewellers: Maltese craftsmen are renowned for their gold and silver filigree. Some of the works are particularly impressive.

In Republic Street, there are numerous cafes and restaurants with terraces: perfect for your lunch break! You will also be able to see some monuments like St Francis of Assisi Church, the Church of Saint Barbara or the Parliament (The Grand Master Palace I told you about earlier).

Still in Republic Street, there is a big local market that takes place every Sunday morning. You should go early to avoid the crowds!

Voyage Tips Advice
As Valletta is the most touristic place of the country, the souvenir shops are more expensive than anywhere else in Malta. If you’re looking for cheap souvenirs, you should rather go to Marsaxlokk Sunday market or shop in other, less touristy towns.
Typical houses in Valetta
Typical houses of Malta

5. The Casa Rocca Piccola

The Casa Rocca Piccola is the only palace in Valletta that is still inhabited. Since the XVI century, 9 generations of Marquis de Piro have been living here.

The owner has opened a part of his house to the public in order to share and spread the history and culture of a Maltese aristocratic family. You will be able to visit about 12 rooms of the palace and discover the private collections of the Marquis as well as objects of the daily life of the past centuries.

At the end of the visit, you will go to the air raid shelters dug during the Second World War.

There are only guided tours (no free visit) in English, which take about 1 hour. You can even book a private tour with the Marquis (obviously more expensive).

Find all the information you need to plan your visit on the official website.

Voyage Tips - Advice

You’re going to Valletta?

You probably know it: the hardest part of planning your trip is to find an hotel offering a good value for money!

The closer you get to your travel dates, the harder it will be to get a good deal. Lots of people will be visiting Valletta on the same dates as you, so you can be sure that the best deals are booked extremely quickly!

Hopefully, there is a pretty simple solution to this problem: do like me and book your hotel as early as possible!

So, my best advice is to take 5 minutes (now) to have a look at the list of travelers’ favorite hotels in Valletta.

And if you see a good offer, book it!

Most hotels offer free cancellation, so it’s quick, easy, and you will avoid the the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the current best deals for your hotel in Valletta, simply click on the green button below 😎:

Once you’ve booked your hotel, it will be time to continue reading this guide and find out more about the best things to do in Valletta!

Visit-Casa-Rocca-Piccola-Valletta
Casa Rocca Piccola

6. Teatru Manoel

Built in 1731 to entertain the knights and the population, the Maltese national theatre or “Teatru Manoel” is one of the oldest in Europe.

This small but pretty theatre is worth a look for its elegant baroque hall with its impressive golden chandelier. You can also see an exhibition about the history of the theatre.

You can visit it (with audio guide if you want), attend a concert or a theatrical performance.

If you want more info about the theatre, you can go on the official website. There, you can also book your tickets for one of the shows.

Teatru Manoel Valletta
Teatru Manoel

7. The National Museum of Archaeology

The National Museum of Archaeology is located in the Auberge de Provence. Built in 1571, at the same time as the city, it housed the Provençal-speaking knights.

The museum is quite small but very complete and well done. It gives a good idea of Malta’s history from the Neolithic period (5000 BC) up to the Tarxien phase (2500 BC). It presents a collection of objects of all kinds from prehistoric and megalithic temples discovered on the island such as pottery and statuettes.

Don’t miss the 2 most famous statuettes: “the Sleeping Lady” and the “Venus of Malta”.

Voyage Tips Advice
This visit is a must if you plan to visit the megalithic temples later, you will understand their history much better.
National Museum of Archaeology Valletta
The sleeping lady

8. National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts houses an important collection of sculptures, paintings, furniture and objects associated with the knights of the order of Malta. They practically all come from the Grand Masters Palace or one of the various knights’ auberges.

You will find notable works of Mattia Preti, a knight who also painted the frescoes on the vault of St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

Don’t miss: the section of the museum dedicate to the weapons, costumes and coats of arms of the knights!

As the museum is too old and small, it was relocated to the “Auberge d’Italie” for the “Valletta, European Capital of Culture in 2018” Event.

So you can now visit the new museum, named MUZA.

National Museum of Fine Arts Valletta
National Museum of Fine Arts Valletta

9. The Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum

The Fort St Elmo was built in 1552 by the knights to protect Valletta harbours. Historically, it’s especially known for one of the most tragic event that happened in Malta: “The Great Siege”. For more than 30 days, the turks besieged and bombed the fort. When it was captured, almost all the defenders were killed (1500 men).

A few centuries later, during World War II, it still acted as a major defensive infrastructure and was bombed by the Italian Royal Air Force.

Today, in addition of being an important memorial site for Maltese people, the Fort St Elmo hosts the National War Museum. If you’re interested in Malta’s war history, it’s the place to visit!

In the museum you can discover one of the 3 planes used to defend Malta against Italy. It’s the only one that wasn’t destroyed! You can also admire the George Cross, awarded by the English King George VI to all Maltese people for their courage.

The view over the sea from the fort is a must see.

Fort St Elmo
The Fort St Elmo

10. The Three Cities

You have seen them from the Upper Barraka Garden, it is now time to go visit the Three Cities!

To go there, take the lift down from the garden (going down is free, going back up is also free if you show your Three Cities boat ticket), cross the street and continue on the left. You will arrive on the boat departure location.

A round trip to the three Cities costs 2.80€ and takes about 10 minutes one way with the ferry. You can also opt for a traditional boat trip that lasts a little longer and is a bit more expensive.

The ferry will take you to Vittoriosa (also called Birgu in Maltese), one of the Three Cities, along with Senglea and Cospicua. They all offer magnificent views over Valletta and can easily be visited on foot.

Here are the best places to see in each city:

  • In Vittoriosa : The Fort St. Angelo, the Inquisitor’s palace, the maritime museum and the Collegiate Church of Saint Lawrence
  • In Senglea : go to one of the most beautiful viewpoint on Valletta, the Safe Heaven gardens, located at the tip of the city.
  • A Cospicua, explore its small streets as you please.

Voyage Tips Advice

To visit the 3 cities, you can also opt for a guided tour. And the little trick is that it also includes a tasting of local wines!

If you’re in a hurry, you should focus on Vittoriosia, it’s the most interesting and the closest to the boat arrival/departure point.

Three cities Malta
The three cities from Valletta

How many days to visit Valletta?

In 2 days in Valletta, you will have the time to see most of the must-see attractions I have mentioned in this article.

And if you would like to visit absolutely every points of interest, I suggest you to stay 3 days in town.

If you don’t want to change hotel during your trip to Malta, you can even stay for a longer time and spend a week in the city! Then, do day trips from Valletta to the other touristic places such as Mdina, Rabat, Blue Grotto or even take a boat to Comino.

1 day in Valletta

Here is an itinerary for a day in Valletta:

  • Visit the St. John’s Co-Cathedral
  • Take a walk and do some shopping in Republic Street and Merchant Street
  • Go to Barrakka Upper Gardens at noon
  • Lunch-break
  • Visit the Grand Master’s Palace and the armoury
  • Go to the Barrakka Lower Gardens.

2 days in Valletta

In addition to the first day presented above, you can do the following for your 2nd day in Valletta:

  • Discover the lifestyle of the Maltese aristocracy with a visit to Casa Rocca Piccola
  • Immerse yourself in the island’s tumultuous history by visiting Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
  • Lunch break
  • Visit the Three Cities in the afternoon.
Auberge de Castille Valletta
The Auberge de Castille

3 days in Valletta

If you have 3 days to visit Valletta, you can do the following, in addition to the previous days mentioned above:

  • Go to the Teatru Manoel
  • Visit the National Museum of Archaeology
  • Lunch-break
  • In the afternoon, you can for example take the ferry to Sliema, the starting point of a nice seaside walk. It is also the perfect place for shopping, with many shopping malls and boutiques.

Other options for your 3rd day in Valletta are:

  • A day trip to Comino island
  • Half a day in Mdina + Rabat
  • Half a day in Blue Grotto and around.
Voyage Tips Advice
If you don’t rent a car, the easiest way to move around Malta and see the best tourist attractions is to take the Hop-On Hop-off sightseeing bus. You need to book it in advance by clicking here

Where to stay in Valletta

  • Private Room : Located 300 metres away from Fort St Elmo and 700 meters from the Upper Barrakka gardens. Comfortable double room from 75€, breakfast included. Strong points: the excellent location, the hospitality and kindness of the host, the calm.
  • Grand Harbour Hôtel: Hotel with traditional architecture, located in the heart of downtown Valletta, only 100 meters away from the Upper Barraka Gardens. Standard double room from 90€ per night or view sea + Three Cities view for 110€, breakfast included. Strong points: ideal location, magnificent view, roof terrace.
  • Tano’s Boutique guesthouse: Hotel located in the center of Valletta, very close to all the best places to visit. Spacious and bright double room from 115€ per night. Strong points: the central location, the calm, the terrace on the roof for breakfast. The best value for money in town!
  • Grand Hôtel Excelsior: 5* Hotel located on the waterfront, the view is stunning! Very nice rooms starting at 170€ per night. Strong points: The swimming pool, jacuzzi, free parking, the amazing breakfast and many other things that will make your stay in Valletta truly exceptional. My favourite place to stay in Valletta!
  • Hôtel Phoenicia Malta: Luxury hotel located on City Gate square. Spacious, bright and tastefully decorated double room from 349€, breakfast at 17€. Strong points: the infinity pool with view on the port, the huge garden, the place and the free private parking. It’s simply the best hotel in Valletta, if you can afford it.
Siege Bell War Memorial Valletta
The Siege Bell War Memorial, from Lower Barrakka Gardens

Other activities to do in Malta

Are you up for more activities during your stay in Malta?

No problem: Here you will find the complete list, with many ideas that you will certainly enjoy. There is definitely something for you!

For more information about these activities and to book them, simply click on the following links:

The 4 best activities to do in Malta

It’s your first trip to Malta and you want to focus on the best activities and excursions?

In that case, I have selected for you the 4 activities and excursions you can’t miss during your trip to Malta.

So, here are my 4 favorites!

1) Going on a boat trip to Comino Blue Lagoon

2) Visiting Gozo by Quad bike or Jeep

  • Full day Quad bike tour in Gozo, with departure from Malta (transport included). Return by boat via Comino and the Blue Lagoon! Definitely one of the best activities in Malta!
  • Renting quad bikes in  Gozo: To visit Gozo, you can also rent quad bikes! You can get the best quad bikes (brand new, 450cc) by clicking here and booking them directly on Quad Bikes Gozo website. The rental include helmets, free 2nd driver and a GPS map of Gozo’s best places to visit.
  • Gozo: Jeep tour – Pick up at your hotel in Malta included. A great way to discover Gozo if you don’t want to drive!

3) Diving in Malta and Gozo

4) Jet-ski-tour around Comino (Blue Lagoon)

  • Jet Ski Tour (From Gozo) – Follow your instructor on an epic 1h tour around Comino and discover the sea caves! – Call me at +356 7920 1451 (phone or whatsapp) and I will book the activity for you!

In addition to the 4 amazing activities mentioned above, here is the complete list, with all other activities you can do in Malta:

1) The best activities in Malta (and from Malta)

Boat trips to the Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon Catamaran
Blue Lagoon – Catamaran

Visiting Gozo from Malta

Guided visits and excursions in Malta

Other activities to enjoy in Malta

Partying in Malta

If you want to take advantage of your stay in Malta to party (on your last evening or maybe even on several evenings during your stay !), you should:

  • Go on a pub crawl and make friends from all other the world – Click here!
  • Dance all night long in one of Paceville nightclubs
  • Opt for a boat party with an open bar.

Hiking tour in Malta
Hiking tour in Malta

2) The best activities in Gozo

Boat trips

Other activities / Guided tours

Nautical activities

Gozo from above
Gozo from above! 

Renting a boat in Malta

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your itinerary in Malta, you should book it with Samboat.

Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental.

So, what are you waiting for to book your boat trip in Malta? 😊

Where to eat in Valletta

  • Beati Paoli Restaurant: Located on Saint-Paul Street. Small restaurant with traditional cuisine, the dishes are copious and delicious. The staff is very friendly. Good time guaranteed!
  • Rubino: Located on Old Bakery Street. Typical home cooking with fresh and local products. The dishes are very tasty and copious. Home made desserts. One of the best place to taste local Maltese cuisine in Valletta.
  • Dimitri Cafe: Located on Saint-Paul Street. A very small restaurant with simple and local cuisine. Everything is home made, even the bread! Wide choice of well cooked fresh fish dishes. The owner is adorable and the prices more than fair. Note that the restaurant doesn’t accept credit card, you are warned!
Lower Barrakka Garden Valletta
Lower Barrakka Garden

My impression of Valletta

Compared to other European capitals, Valletta is a very small town and that’s what I love about it! It’s extremely pleasant to walk around this ancient city, full of interesting places to visit. There really are really things to discover around every corner.

I was particularly impressed by the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the interior is truly breathtaking!

The views from Upper and Lower Barrakka gardens are also amazing, and well, needless to say that a bit of greenery and shade in Malta are always welcome.

Voyage Tips Advice
Don’t try to drive into the old town, it’s a lot better to park just before, at the MCP car park. The location is perfect, and the rate is more than fair: we paid only 6€ for 7 hours. It’s only 5 minutes away from Valletta on foot.

And you, how many days are you planning to spend in Valletta? What do you plan to visit?

Valletta tourist map

Book your trip now and save money!

Malta travel Guides

You’re traveling in Malta? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Malta: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Malta are listed there.

The 20 Best Things to Do in Malta: The ultimate bucket list!

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Visit Valletta
Visit Valletta: The 10 best points of interest
Anonymous

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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