Valletta
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At a glance
- Country
- Malta
- Region
- South Eastern Region
- Population
- 6,000
- Best time to go
- April to June, September to October
- Main airport
- Malta International (MLA)
- Coordinates
- 35.90°N, 14.51°E
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Overview
Malta's tiny capital was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, laid out on a grid across a narrow peninsula between two deep harbours. Honey-coloured limestone, wooden balconies and baroque churches fill every street.
You can cross it on foot in 15 minutes, yet it is packed with history, from the knights to the Second World War. In the evenings, the steep side streets fill with wine bars and restaurant tables set on the steps.
Things to see
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Photo: Matthew Axiak, CC BY-SA 4.0 St John's Co-Cathedral
A plain exterior hides a dazzling gilded interior and Caravaggio's great painting of the beheading of St John.
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Photo: C T Johansson, CC BY-SA 4.0 Upper Barrakka Gardens
Arcaded gardens on the bastions with the finest view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.
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Photo: Karelj, Public domain Grandmaster's Palace
The former seat of the knights' leaders, with state rooms and a celebrated armoury.
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Photo: Dion Hinchcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0 Fort St Elmo
The star-shaped fort at the tip of the peninsula, home to the National War Museum.
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Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lascaris War Rooms
Underground tunnels used as a wartime command centre, below the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: FrankFlanagan, CC BY 4.0 Cross to the Three Cities
Take the ferry or a traditional dgħajsa water taxi to the fortified harbour towns of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua.
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Photo: This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov . Please credit this w, CC BY-SA 4.0 Watch the noon gun
Cannons are fired from the Saluting Battery below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, a tradition with a long history.
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Eat pastizzi
Flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, best fresh and hot from a local bakery.
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Photo: European Space Agency, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo Day trip to Gozo
Malta's greener, quieter sister island, reached by ferry from the north of Malta.
Where to stay
Valletta
Boutique hotels in old palazzos, ideal for atmosphere and evenings out.
Hotels in VallettaSliema
Bigger seafront hotels, a short ferry ride across the harbour.
Hotels in SliemaBirgu
Quieter and historic, with views back across the Grand Harbour.
Hotels in Birgu
Getting around
Valletta is walkable but hilly, with plenty of steps. Buses leave from the terminus by the City Gate, and ferries cross to Sliema and the Three Cities.
The airport is about 8 kilometres away; buses and taxis reach the city in around 20 to 30 minutes.
When to go
Spring and autumn are warm and sunny without the summer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, with village festas most weekends. Winters are mild, and Carnival in February is colourful.
Plan your trip to Valletta
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.