Vittoriosa
Vittoriosa (Birgu) is the harbor town where the Knights of St John were based before they built Valletta, and it sits a few minutes by ferry across the Grand Harbour.
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Vittoriosa, also called Birgu, is one of the Three Cities on a peninsula across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, the capital of Malta. The Knights of St John based themselves here from 1530 until they moved to Valletta in the 1560s. The town held out during the Great Siege of 1565, and its narrow, steep streets are lined with stone houses, churches and views over the harbor.
Fort St Angelo stands on the point at the tip of the peninsula, and the Inquisitor's Palace was home to the representative of the Inquisition. The ferry from Valletta is the quickest way across, and the crossing takes only a few minutes. Plan a half day for the main sights, and expect steps and uneven stone paths. Spring and autumn are milder for walking the streets and fortifications.
Vittoriosa in five
- Cross by ferry, not the bus loopValletta Ferry Services runs to the Three Cities landing at Cospicua about every 15 minutes in day service, from 06:30. On Sundays and public holidays service starts at 09:00. Check the stop name, then walk on to Vittoriosa.Valletta travel guide
- Give Fort St Angelo two hoursAdult entry is €10, and Heritage Malta recommends about two hours. Access to the upper fort is only by steps, so allow for that if anyone in your group has limited mobility.
- Pair the fort with the Inquisitor's PalaceThe palace on Main Gate Street is a historic house museum and the national ethnography museum, at €6 for adults. Together with the fort it fills a relaxed half day without a rush.
- Do not plan on the Maritime MuseumHeritage Malta lists the Malta Maritime Museum in the old naval bakery on the waterfront as temporarily closed for renovation. Check the Heritage Malta site before you build it into the day.
- Come back after dark on a clear eveningValletta's skyline faces you across the water, and the waterfront is a calmer place for dinner than the capital. Check the last ferry back before you sit down.Valletta or Sliema as a base
Things to do in Vittoriosa
See all attractions in Vittoriosa
Need to know
- Airport
- Malta International Airport (MLA), in the south; taxi or bus
- Getting there
- Ferry from Valletta to Cospicua, water taxi or bus
- Getting around
- On foot; the old center is compact
- Best base
- A half-day trip from Valletta, or a quiet night in Birgu
- Time needed
- Half day for the fort and palace; a full day with a second city
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, wet spellsJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet spells
- FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh16°Low14°Spring, quietMarchClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh18°Low15°Warm, walkableAprilClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, walkable
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Warm, long daysMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low22°Hot, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Very hotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°HottestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Warm eveningsSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm evenings
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Warm, calmerOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low18°Mild, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low15°Mild, festiveDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, festive
Average daily high and low in Birgu, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Vittoriosa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 64%
- Wind
- 57 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Sliema
02:34 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°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 10:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JanValletta International Baroque FestivalValletta, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Vallettashort ferry back across the harborThe capital's cathedral, palace and bastions, visible from Birgu's waterfront.Read the guide
- Southern Maltaby bus or carĦal Tarxien, Marsaxlokk's harbor and the Hypogeum, all south of the harbor.Read the guide
- Mdinaby bus or carA walled city in the middle of the island, best saved for a separate day.Read the guide
Before you go to Vittoriosa
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Rules for Vittoriosa, checked
- Fort St Angelo: adult €10, youths and seniors €6. The upper fort is reached only by steps; Heritage Malta recommends about a two-hour visit.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Inquisitor's Palace, Main Gate Street: adult €6, youths and seniors €4.50, children aged 6 to 11 €3.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Malta Maritime Museum, Birgu waterfront: listed by Heritage Malta as temporarily closed for renovation.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Vittoriosa
The capital opposite, with ferries every day
Read the guideValletta museums and ticketsPair a Valletta day with the fort
Read the guideValletta in 2 daysA route that can include the Three Cities
Read the guideSouthern MaltaĦal Tarxien, the Hypogeum and Marsaxlokk
Read the guideValletta or Sliema?Base choices, including the harbor
Read the guideAll of MaltaGozo, temples, Mdina and entry rules
Read the guideVittoriosa FAQ
Is Vittoriosa worth visiting?
Yes if you like forts, quiet lanes and harbor views without crowds. It is a good contrast to Valletta, and the two together make a full day.
How long do you need in Vittoriosa?
About half a day covers Fort St Angelo, the Inquisitor's Palace and the waterfront. Heritage Malta suggests about two hours for the fort alone.
How do you get from Valletta to Vittoriosa?
Take the Valletta Ferry Services boat to the Three Cities landing at Cospicua, or a water taxi, then walk on. Day departures run about every 15 minutes.
Vittoriosa or Birgu: which name is right?
Both. Birgu is the older and local name, and Vittoriosa means the victorious one, a title linked to the 1565 siege. Signs use both.
Is Vittoriosa a good place to stay?
It suits travelers who want a quiet old-town night near the water and do not need nightlife. Beach-goers and restaurant lovers do better in Sliema or St Julian's.