Valletta walking tour & city guide
A Baroque fortress capital above the Grand Harbour.
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Valletta, Malta's capital, was built by the Knights of St John after they fought off the Ottoman Great Siege of 1565. Packed onto a narrow peninsula and ringed by massive walls, it is one of the smallest capitals in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with steep streets of limestone houses and colorful wooden balconies.
Republic Street and St John's Co-Cathedral
Republic Street runs the length of the city from the City Gate, redesigned by Renzo Piano, to Fort St Elmo at the tip of the peninsula. Along the way are the Grandmaster's Palace, the old seat of the Knights, and St John's Co-Cathedral.
Behind the cathedral's plain facade lies one of the most lavish Baroque interiors in Europe, its floor covered with marble tombstones of knights. Its oratory holds Caravaggio's 'Beheading of Saint John the Baptist', his largest painting and the only one he signed.
Gardens and the Grand Harbour
The Upper Barrakka Gardens look across the Grand Harbour to the fortified Three Cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. Every day at noon and 4 p.m., the cannons of the Saluting Battery below the gardens are fired.
Traditional wooden boats called dgħajsa ferry passengers across the harbor to Birgu, and a ferry from the Marsamxett side runs to Sliema.
Practical tips
Valletta is small and walkable, but its streets are steep, with stepped lanes running down to the sea on both sides. Buses from the City Gate terminus reach every part of the island. Summers are hot and busy; spring and autumn are warm and more relaxed.
Top sights in Valletta
- 1
St John's Co-Cathedral
A dazzling Baroque interior with a Caravaggio.
- 2
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Views over the Grand Harbour and the Saluting Battery.
- 3
Grandmaster's Palace
The former palace of the Knights of St John.
- 4
Republic Street
The main street from the City Gate to Fort St Elmo.
- 5
Fort St Elmo
A star-shaped fort and the National War Museum.
- 6
The Three Cities
Fortified towns across the harbor, reached by boat.
Food markets & where to eat in Valletta
Merchants Street
Cafés, pastizzi shops and a morning street market.
Is-Suq tal-Belt
Valletta's restored 19th-century market hall, now a food hall.
Strait Street
A narrow lane of bars and restaurants.
Food to try in Valletta
Pastizzi
Flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas.
Rabbit stew
Fenek, Malta's national dish.
Ftira
A ring-shaped bread filled with tuna, capers and tomatoes.
Kinnie
A bittersweet Maltese soft drink made with orange and herbs.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Valletta
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in VallettaCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Valletta.
- eSIM for MaltaStay online from the moment you land.
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