OVERVIEW

Although Malta is one of the world’s smallest countries, it offers a tremendous amount to do and see. But the highlight of any Malta itinerary just may be its capital city of Valletta.

Founded by the Knights of St. John in 1566, Valletta emerged as a strategic stronghold against the Ottoman invasion of Malta. Valletta’s fortifications, including Fort St. Elmo, withstood the Great Siege of 1565. 

Over the centuries, it evolved as a maritime hub, while witnessing the rise and fall of various empires. Despite the destruction from various wars, Valletta’s resilience prevailed, and it attracts visitors from all over the world due to its architectural grandeur and rich history.

Valletta is the iconic walled city most often seen in Malta postcards. The limestone buildings and cobblestone streets are the trademark of city. But the charming cafes, vibrant gardens, and ornate cathedrals are really what make any one day Valletta itinerary special.

GETTING THERE

Valletta stands at the epicenter of Malta, which makes it convenient to visit. The main ways of visiting are by ferry, public bus, taxi, driving and parking outside the city walls, or by staying at one of the hotels inside the city.

There are two ferry routes servicing Valletta. One ferry operates between Sliema and the north shore of Valletta. The other service operates between the south shore of Valletta and Cospicua, in the Three Cities.

We took the ferry from Sliema to Valletta, and it was a pretty seamless experience. You can buy round trip ferry tickets on site – with cash or credit card. Our family of four was approximately €12 and the ride only took about 5-10 minutes

Driving and parking in the city itself is heavily restricted and expensive. The narrow alleys and tight corners can make navigating the streets by car very stressful and therefore is generally not recommended. If you do have a vehicle, several car parks are located only a few minutes walk outside the city walls.

Many public bus routes also provide convenient access to the city, often starting or finishing their routes right at the City Gate. One bus route actually runs along the perimeter of the city, offering different access points to Valletta from its outer rim.

GETTING AROUND

A sampling of the city’s sights is easily, and best, covered on foot. The city is very walkable and the streets are organized in a grid, so it’s not difficult to find your way around. 

However, it’s still crucial to have a paper map or one downloaded on your phone to stay properly oriented. Furthermore, many of the main attractions are scattered around Valletta, so having a basic itinerary and route in mind is advisable to avoid retracing steps and minimizing the back and forth.

One thing to be prepared for in Valletta is lots of hills and steep streets. The city is designed such that the streets slope down to the sea from the city center. So we were either ascending or descending much of the day. 

OUR ONE DAY VALLETTA ITINERARY

Ferry

Although Valletta is an extremely compact city and only about half a mile wide in any direction, it’s packed with must see attractions. So we wanted to get an early jump on our one day Valletta itinerary.

We were staying in Sliema, right on the waterfront. So the Sliema – Valletta ferry service was the most convenient way for us to visit the city. We walked to the ferry dock on the southern waterfront of Sliema. 

To our kid’s delight, the line for the ferry was directly across from a snack kiosk. So they could get their first gelato of the day while we were waiting to board. We arrived just before the scheduled departure time, but still had about a 15 minute wait to get on. 

The ferry had an upper deck and the first wave of passengers rushed for those seats. We sat indoors, but were still able to enjoy spectacular views of Marsamxett Harbour as we neared Valletta. 

Basilica Madonna tal-Karmnu and Teatru Manoel

After docking at Valletta, we climbed from the ferry port up past St. Paul’s Cathedral and took a peek into Madonna tal-Karmnu (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). This is the large domed Catholic Basilica that towers above the rest of Valletta. 

It was built in the 1950s after the original church was destroyed during World War 2. It was free to enter and we looked around at the ornate decorations, holy relics, and baroque architecture for a few minutes before moving on.

We passed Teatru Manoel, a famous performing arts venue and architectural gem built in the 18th century. There are two or three scheduled self tours of the lavishly decorated interior daily from Monday to Saturday. It costs €5 per person, which we opted to skip.

St. George’s Square

After a couple hours of wandering up and down the hilly streets, Oliver and Maddie were ready for a refreshment. We grabbed gelato number two for the day and ate it just down the street at St. George’s Square. This is a vibrant gathering area and site of the Presidential Palace. The water fountain in the center is probably a welcome reprieve from the heat in the summer.

Maddie loved perusing the stands lining the nearby streets showcasing local art, jewelry, and clothing.  There were artists twisting wire to “spell your name in under 2 minutes”, hand painted silk scarves, and tables offering hundreds of different henna tattoo designs. 

In this area we also saw visitors descending into what appeared to be a sewer. We later learned this was the Valletta Underground Tour. 

In addition to being used in the classic way for water and waste drainage, the underground had other important purposes. It provided a network of tunnels for the movement of troops, storage for food, and a place to protect its citizens during the bombing raids of World War 2.

Republic Street and City Gate

Republic St is the main shopping street and thoroughfare through Valletta. It dissects the city, running from the main City Gate to the fortress of St. Elmo. We accessed the street right at St. George Square. 

The entirety of Republic St. was lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, and clothing stores. Despite visiting in the shoulder season, the area was incredibly busy and there were times that we were shoulder to shoulder with the other pedestrians. The crowds lightened as we walked further from the main square towards the City Gate. 

The City Gate is the primary entryway into Valletta, and has been redesigned and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The most recent design was built in 2011 and designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Right outside the City Gate was the impressive Triton Fountain, featuring three bronze Tritons holding up a large concrete basin. 

Upper Barrakka Gardens, Victoria Gate, and St John’s Co-Cathedral

We proceeded up the 78 stairs just inside the City Gate and to the right. This brought us to the Upper Barrakka Gardens where there were cobblestone paths, ornate fountains, and various historical monuments. 

The garden was beautiful and brought some color to the otherwise bland limestone buildings of Valletta. The paths led to a series of arches framing the Three Cities across the Grand Harbor. Just below the viewpoint was the saluting battery. Altogether, this was the best view of the day.

A few narrow city streets brought us down to a series of bright red balconies and a matching phonebooth. Just below these was Victoria Gate, built in 1885. This is the original gate and has remained relatively untouched, unlike the City Gate. It was the original entrance to Valletta from Grand Harbor.

It was finally time for lunch and there were no open restaurants down by the water. We walked back up the steep streets to the city center. Here we ate a light lunch at Galea’s Kitchen, which was simple but quick, cheap, and sufficient. 

Right across from the restaurant was one of the most popular attractions in Valletta, the breathtaking and intricately designed St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The exterior is fairly ordinary, but evidently the interior showcases lavish decorations, golden frescoes, and is an amazing example of Baroque architecture. Unfortunately we were visiting on Sunday so the cathedral was closed to tourists. 

Lower Barrakka Gardens, Grand Harbour, and Fort St. Elmo

From the bustling city center we went back down toward the Grand Harbor to visit the Lower Barrakka Gardens, perched upon St. Christopher’s Bastion. This garden was more tranquil than its counterpart, but still had impressive views across the harbor. We could see the Valletta Break Water, Fort Ricasoli, and Fort St. Angelo.

The garden had a small network of stone paths, weaving around the lush vegetation. Benches were spaced along the paths, inviting visitors to sit and relax. From the viewing deck we also had a great view of the large Memorial Siege Bell. 

From here it was only a 5 minute walk to Fort St. Elmo, a fortress which played an intricate role in the Siege of Malta in the 16th century, as well as World War 2. It’s since been converted to a wartime museum. 

We didn’t tour the Fort and planned to walk back towards the center for the third gelato stop of the day.  It was a warm day, and we’d walked a lot of steps, so decided to give the kids a thrill by jumping on a horse and buggy tour.  

This tour went along the lower perimeter of the city and took about 30 minutes. The driver pointed out famous sights along the way, stopping for the occasional photo op and history lesson. We had already seen the same views from above earlier in the day, but it was a fun activity and gave a different perspective.

Return to Sliema

By the time we were dropped off back at the City Gate it was getting rather late and time to return to Sliema. It took 15 minutes to get back to the ferry dock where we only waited a few minutes before boarding.

The ferry passed by Manoel Island as the sun dipped lower in the evening sky. It was a very busy, but rewarding day in the iconic Maltese capital.

IMPRESSIONS

This one day itinerary of Valletta was a great introduction into the history, architecture, and life that existed in Malta’s capital. With a full day we were able to see some of the massive churches, appreciate local artwork, and visit beautiful gardens and fortresses.

Wandering the narrow city streets gave us a taste for what life was like in the city and was really the highlight of the day. The straightforward layout of the city made walking the city very doable, despite the constant hills of the streets.

One thing that became very obvious as our day moved forward was that we really needed to prioritize which attractions were most important to us. Not only is a one day itinerary not enough time to see everything in Valletta, but many of the attractions cost quite a bit when paying for a family of 4. Between the sights, shopping, and dining, this day could get expensive very quickly.

I would also have loved to see the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, but unfortunately we visited on a Sunday so it was closed to tourists. This is something to keep in mind when planning your visit. 

Overall I think a one day itinerary for Valletta was appropriate for us, although there were enough attractions to keep busy for another day or two. We all had a wonderful day in this amazing city, and it’s definitely a must see location on any trip to Malta.