🇲🇹Malta · Places to discover
What to see in La Valette?
20 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Valletta compresses into two square kilometres what other capitals spread across dozens: the palaces of the Order of Saint John, stepped streets plunging towards the sea, a density of Maltese Baroque that even the Romans would have found excessive. Built from scratch after the Great Siege of 1565, it still functions as a fortified city where each street has a defensive logic, and the district of Vittoriosa, just across the water, deserves as much attention as the centre.
The city is at its best between March and May, but struggles badly in July and August-dry heat and cruise passengers who disembark in the morning and leave the same evening without really pausing. Two days are enough to cover it thoroughly on foot, the only sensible way to get around. Skip the packaged excursions to Mdina: take a local bus instead. It takes twenty minutes and costs two euros.
Landmarks & heritage
3 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Auberge de Castille
A baroque jewel from the 18th century designed by Girolamo Cassar, now the seat of the Prime Minister. Its sumptuous façade on Castille Square is one of the capital's most photographed sites.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Lascaris War Rooms
Underground war chambers carved into rock where Malta's defence was coordinated during the Second World War Blitz. A striking reconstruction with period mannequins and equipment.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Landmark
National Library of Malta
An 18th-century neoclassical building preserving the original charter of the Order of Saint John and exceedingly rare medieval manuscripts. The interior with its carved wooden galleries is of exceptional elegance.
Museums
2 places
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
MUŻA – National Museum of Art of Malta
The national art museum housed in a renovated Italian auberge, tracing Maltese artistic history from the Middle Ages to the present day. The building itself, with its courtyards and painted ceilings, is a work of art.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
National Museum of Archaeology of Malta
Housed in the former Auberge de Provence, this museum holds the 'Venus of Malta' and unique neolithic figurines from the temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. Essential for understanding 7,000 years of the island's history.
Religious sites
3 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Church of Our Lady of Victories
The first church built in Valletta in 1567, founded in memory of the Great Siege. Austere and contemplative, it contrasts with the baroque exuberance of the neighbouring cathedral and houses a venerated Virgin.
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Co-Cathedral of St John
Baroque masterpiece of the 16th century housing two Caravaggios, including 'The Beheading of St John the Baptist', the master's largest canvas. The marble floor inlaid with knights' tombs is itself a unique spectacle.
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Religious site
Religious site
Saint Paul Shipwrecked Church
A 17th-century Baroque church dedicated to Saint Paul's shipwreck on the island in 60 AD, the founding event of Maltese Christianity. Its twin bell tower and gilded statue of Saint Paul are iconic features of the city's skyline.
Castles & fortresses
2 places
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Castle
Fort Saint-Elme
A star-shaped fortress from the 16th century guarding the entrance to the Grand Harbour, scene of the Great Siege of 1565. The panoramic view over the three cities from the bastions is well worth the climb.
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Castle
Castle
Palace of the Grand Master
The official residence of the President of Malta since the 16th century, formerly the seat of the Grand Masters of the Order. The state rooms and armoury displaying full suits of armour are exceptional.
Parks & gardens
1 place
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Park
Hastings Gardens
Gardens on the north-western ramparts of the city, offering clear views over Floriana and the sea. Less touristy, highly appreciated by Maltese residents for evening walks and picnics.
Viewpoints
5 places
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Valletta Waterfront (Pinto Wharf)
Former 18th-century warehouses of the knights, now rehabilitated into a lively promenade at the foot of the ramparts. Spectacular views of ferries and yachts with illuminated bastions as the backdrop.
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Upper Barrakka Bastions
A suspended garden on the ramparts offering Malta's most famous panorama over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. At noon, the cannon fire from Fort Saint-Elme echoes across these gardens – an unchanging local ritual.
14Wikimedia CommonsViewpoint
Lower Barrakka Bastions
Less frequented than the upper gardens, these bastions offer a sweeping view over the Grand Harbour and the entrance to Valletta's harbour. The locals' favourite spot for sunset.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
View from Valletta Point (Fort Saint-Elmo)
The tip of the peninsula offers a 270° view over the Grand Harbour, Marsamxett Harbour and the Three Cities simultaneously. A local fishing spot at sunrise.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
View from Merchants Street
Valletta's main commercial street, whose straight perspective reveals the perfect geometry of the Renaissance city. In late afternoon, the golden light on the globigerina stone façades is unforgettable.
Activities
4 places
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Activity
Manoel Theatre
One of Europe's oldest theatres still in operation, built in 1731 by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. Its Italian-style auditorium with gilded wood hosts operas and concerts from Malta's performing arts scene – tickets often modestly priced.
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Activity
Activity
Valletta Living History (Night-time Guided Tour)
A candlelit tour of Valletta's alleyways and palaces with guides in period costumes, revealing the secrets and legends of the fortified city. An immersive experience far more vivid than standard audioguides.
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Activity
Activity
Merchant Street Daily Market
Bustling street market every morning where vendors offer local fruits, vegetables, ġbejna cheese and Mediterranean herbs. The place to feel the daily pulse of Valletta away from tourist circuits.
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Activity
Activity
Dgħajsa Crossing to the Three Cities
A traditional Maltese boat with a colourful bow that has connected Valletta to Birgu, Bormla and Isla for centuries. A five-minute journey across the water to shift the atmosphere completely and discover the Grand Harbour from its surface.