Valletta

Go to Valletta for a compact baroque city of limestone streets, St John's Co-Cathedral and harbor views from its bastions.

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Valletta is the capital of Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean south of Sicily. The city sits on a limestone peninsula between the Grand Harbor and Marsamxett Harbor. After the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights of St John laid out its streets on a grid. Pale stone buildings line those streets, and the old walls and bastions surround the town. Inside St John's Co-Cathedral, the Knights' church, Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John hangs in the oratory.

Valletta suits a short trip built around history, architecture and harbor views. Most of the main sights sit within a walkable area, but the streets climb and drop steeply, so bring comfortable shoes. Many palaces, museums and forts charge separate entry, so decide early how many paid sites you want. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for walking outdoors, while summer is hot. Two days is enough for the main sights at an easy pace.

Valletta in five

Choose about three paid sites, then walk the restGrand Master's Palace, Fort St Elmo with the National War Museum, MUŻA and Underground Valletta each charge their own entry, and St John's Co-Cathedral sets its own ticket. Pick a few and leave time for streets and bastions.Valletta museums and tickets
Check closing dates before you fix your daysHeritage Malta has set closing days and a last-admission rule, and the Grand Master's Palace has an extra closure in late October. The rules below give the dates; check the site list for the week you travel.
Be at the Saluting Battery for the midday gunThe guns on the Grand Harbour bastion are fired daily at midday, and the Battery itself is open to visitors from 10:00 to 17:00. Arrive a few minutes early so you are not watching from the back.
Arrive by ferry from Sliema or the Three CitiesBoth harbor ferry routes land below the walls, so plan the climb into the grid and wear flat shoes. Sliema and the Three Cities each have their own landing; the base comparison covers the Sliema route.Valletta or Sliema as a base
Leave the car out of itValletta is a hilly grid built for walking, and island buses meet in the capital. If you hire a car for the rest of Malta, park at your hotel or collect it on the day you leave town.Getting around Europe

Things to do in Valletta

See all attractions in Valletta

Historic site · VallettaGrand Master's PalaceGo earlier in the day to avoid the busiest periods.

Church · VallettaSt. John's Co-CathedralArrive early to reduce the chance of encountering heavy crowds; advance tickets are recommended.

Landmark · VallettaThe Valletta WaterfrontWear comfortable shoes if you plan to continue uphill into Valletta.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to VallettaPut the places you like in Valletta on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Malta International Airport (MLA), in the south; bus, taxi or ride-hail
Getting there: Most island bus routes meet in Valletta; ferries from Sliema and the Three Cities
Getting around: On foot; a hilly grid, so flat shoes help
Best base: Inside the walls for evenings; Sliema for beaches and choice
Time needed: 1 day for highlights, 2 days with museums

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, wet spells
FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, quiet
MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Spring light
AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh18°Low15°Warm, walkable
MayClear3 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Warm, long days
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low22°Hot, busy
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Very hot
AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Hottest, busy
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Warm sea
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Warm, calmer
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Mild, rain
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low15°Mild, festive

Average daily high and low in Valletta, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jan Valletta International Baroque Festival

Right now in Valletta

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 59%
Wind: 57 km/h
Chance of rain: 95%

Vittoriosa

09:40 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today20°17°95%Monday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 95%.
Tue21°17°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed23°16°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 1%.
Thu22°18°34%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 34%.
Fri22°17°54%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 54%.
Sat22°17°19%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 19%.
Sun22°18°23%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 23%.

Updated 06:19 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Valletta

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

JanValletta International Baroque FestivalValletta

Day trips by train

Before you go to Valletta

Valletta museum ticketsPalace, fort and shelter entryBook timed entry

Hotels inside the wallsCompare the capital with the coastCheck availability

eSIM for VallettaMaps and ferry times on landingRead the guide

Insurance for VallettaSteps, heat and trip changesRead the guide

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Rules for Valletta, checked

Grand Master's Palace: adult €12; Throne Room closed until further notice; whole palace closed on 26 October 2026 (Budget Day).Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
All Heritage Malta sites close on 1 January, Good Friday and 24, 25 and 31 December. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Saluting Battery: open daily 10:00 to 17:00, guns fired at midday; closed on 15 August, Good Friday, Easter and the days around Christmas and New Year.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
St John's Co-Cathedral: open Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 16:45 with last admission at 16:00; closed on Sundays and public holidays. Adult €15, senior and student €12, children under 12 free with an adult; belfry tour €5 extra.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

All Valletta guides

ItineraryValletta in 2 days: cathedral, palace, forts and bastionsChecked Oct 3, 2026

How toValletta museums and tickets: what to book and what to skipChecked Oct 3, 2026

Head to headStay in Valletta or Sliema? Which Malta base fits your tripChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Valletta

Vittoriosa travel guide

Fort St Angelo and the Three Cities opposite

Read the guide Sliema and St Julian's

Promenade, restaurants and nightlife north of town

Read the guide Attractions that sell out

Booking windows across Europe

Read the guide All of Malta

Gozo, temples, Mdina and entry rules

Read the guide

Valletta FAQ

How many days do you need in Valletta?

One full day covers the cathedral, one palace or fort, the bastion terraces and the midday gun. Two days let you add a second museum, Underground Valletta and an unhurried evening, which is the better pace in July and August.

Is Valletta worth visiting?

Yes, for baroque streets, harbor views and compact museums, and wandering costs nothing. It is not a beach town, so pair it with a coastal base such as Sliema or St Julian's.

Is St John's Co-Cathedral worth the ticket?

If art or history is on your list, yes: Visit Malta describes it as holding the only signed Caravaggio in the world. Adults pay €15, and it is closed on Sundays and public holidays, so check the cathedral's own site for the current price and hours before you plan around it.

Should I stay in Valletta or Sliema?

Valletta for quiet evenings and sights at your door; Sliema or St Julian's for restaurants, promenade walks and more room choice. The ferry links Sliema and Valletta about every 15 minutes in day service.

What is the best time of day to see Valletta?

Mornings for museums and the cathedral, midday for the gun at the Saluting Battery, and early evening for the bastion terraces. In summer, keep indoor sites for the hottest hours.