Valletta is one of Europe’s smallest capitals, and you can walk from one end to the other in about 30 minutes. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t packed with history and character.
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Valletta really surprised us! It was grand but it was not overwhelming. The city was built by the Knights of St. John after the Great Siege of 1565, and today, the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We spend a whole day wandering Valletta’s narrow streets, but if you really want to enjoy it to the fullest, we suggest to spend two days in the city.
In this post, we’ll list all the places we think you really shouldn’t miss when visiting. To make it easy for you, we also included a map to help you plan your visit.
How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations. You can also click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version of the map in a new tab. Click the star (favorites) next to the name of the map to save to your Google Maps.
Table of Contents
How to get to Valletta?
To explore Malta, we highly recommend to rent a car. And the car is also a valid option to get to Valletta. Just keep in mind that it is best not to enter the city center of Valletta by car. Otherwise you will have to pay a congestion charge. Therefore, it is best to park your car just outside Valletta. We wrote an in-depth blog with all the information you need for renting a car and driving in Malta.
We recommend to rent a car through Discovercars.com, with free cancellation and insurance included. Discovercars is a world leader in comparing prices and guarantees the best rates. It is our go-to rental search engine when traveling and we never had any bad experiences!
Read more: Everything you need to know about renting a car and driving in Malta
On our map, we added three parking areas right outside Valletta that we used during our time in Malta. In our blog post about getting from Valletta to the Three Cities, we added additional information about parking nearby Valletta.
The main highlights of Valletta
The Grandmaster’s Palace
This place was high on our bucket list and it did not disappoint! This massive palace, in the heart of the city, used to be the home of the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John. Later, it became the home of the British governors and today, it houses the Office of the President. Luckily for us, some parts are also open to the public as a museum.
We especially loved the hallways with some amazing paintings on the ceiling and the walls. The State Rooms and the Armoury were also very impressive. We recommend to visit this place as soon as it opens. That way, you’ll have lots of rooms entirely for yourself and you can take plenty of pictures of the grand walls, painted ceilings and shiny armory.
Practical information
Opening hours: from 10 am until 6 pm.
Entrance fee: € 12 per person. If you have a Malta discount card, you get a 50% discount.
Upper Barrakka gardens and the Saluting Battery
The Upper Barrakka gardens was one of our favorite spots in Valletta, especially during sunset. Here you get the best panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. There are beautiful archways and a peaceful garden. Every day at noon (12 am) and in the afternoon (at 4 pm), you can watch the Saluting Battery fire off a ceremonial cannon. Do expect that the gardens get extremely busy during these moments.
The Upper Barrakka Lift is also worth mentioning. This impressive lift takes you from the Grand Harbour to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the city centre in only 25 seconds. If you are arriving by boat from the Three Cities, this is the best way to get from the waterfront to the city center.
Practical information
Opening hours: Daily open from 7 am to 10 pm.
Entrance fee: There is a free entrance to the gardens. If you want to see the gun firing, then you have to pay € 3 for adults and € 1 for children.
Lower Barrakka Gardens
Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Lower Barrakka Gardens. These are a bit quieter, and they have a lovely view of the Siege Bell Memorial (a belfry in the form of a neoclassical temple) and the sea. There is a small terrace as well, where you can have a drink, so it’s the perfect place to take a break in the afternoon.
Practical information
Opening hours: Daily open from 7 am to 10 pm.
Entrance fee: The gardens are freely accessible to the public.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
To be totally honest with you, we didn’t visit this church. The main reasons why we didn’t visit this cathedral was because we think the entrance fee was quite expensive and there was a huge line of people waiting to enter the cathedral. But now, we feel a bit sorry we didn’t enter, because we heard so many great things about it. From the outside, the cathedral looks very simple, but apparently, inside it’s full of gold and marble. And after seeing the interior of some lesser known churches in Malta, like in the picture below, we can imagine the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral is breathtaking. We definitely have a reason to return to Valletta!
Practical information
Opening hours: Open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 4.45 pm.
Entrance fee: € 15 per person.
Auberge de Castille
At the highest point in Valletta, this building is one of the most beautiful buildings on the island. Inside is the office of the Prime Minister, so you can’t enter the building. But we loved the exterior!
Triton Fountain
This fountain, just outside the city gate of Valletta is a massive fountain that makes an iconic entry point into Valletta. It’s definitely amongst our favorite fountains in the world!
Some other Instagram-worthy places in Valletta
When walking in Valletta, almost every corner screams for a picture. The whole city is full of pastel balconies, golden walls, and photogenic staircases. Below, we listed a few extra spots we think deserve a special mention if you’re chasing that perfect shot (or just love pretty places):
The Parliament staircase
An amazingly photogenic place. This modern staircase next to the Parliament building creates a cool contrast between the old and new buildings in Valletta. We loved the geometry of this place and took plenty of pictures here.
The Bridge Bar
We know we had to arrive early in the morning at the Bridge Bar to take some pictures, because during the day, it can get busy here. The setting with the stone bridge, the red windows and the British telephone booth is super photogenic.
Random staircases
Another thing we loved about Valletta is how many staircases you find around every corner. Some are steep, some are wide, and most have plants, cats, or laundry adding charm. The staircase in St. Ursula Street is definitely one of the most iconic (and most photographed).
The colorful balconies
Valletta (and Malta in general) is also famous because of its traditional Maltese balconies: usually made out of wooded and painted in green, blue, or red. They all add texture to the facades of the city and are great to photograph.
Valletta may be small, but it packed with things to see and do. With this post, we wanted to help you plan your trip to Malta’s capital so you get most out of your time there. Let us know of we missed other great spots in Valletta or if you have any questions.
Read more: A 7-day travel itinerary for Malta
Happy travels!
Matthias and Mieke
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