Best Things to Do in Valletta, Malta
If you are planning on visiting the beautiful country of Malta and don’t wanna miss out on any of the best things to do in the capital city of Valletta, you have come to the right place. I recently visited Valletta and even though it was not a destination I had much expectations about, it really surprised me.
This city is so beautiful that I’m sure you will fall in love with it just like I did. It’s full of great things to see and do, so let’s get to it!
⛴️ Take the ferry between Valletta and Sliema
You might think it’s weird to start this list with a ferry ride but I can guarantee you that this is the best thing to do when you’re just starting off your trip to Valletta.
The short ferry ride connecting Sliema and Valletta provides people not only with transportation between shores but also with amazing views of the capital city of Malta. Go up to the top deck and you will not be disappointed by the views you will get on this ride!
Views on the ferry from Sliema to Valletta
⛪ Visit St John’s Co-Cathedral
This majestic cathedral built by the Order of St John more than 400 years ago definitely needs to be on your Valletta itinerary, especially if you like History and architecture.
The Cathedral that you can visit now is an exquisite building and it is even considered one of the best examples of high Barroque architecture in Europe, but that wasn’t always the case. For the first century of this Cathedral’s existence, its interior looked nothing like it does now, as it was decorated in a very modest way.
It was only later, during the 17th century, that orders were made to make this Cathedral so well-decorated that it would even rival the ones in Rome. Fast forward some centuries and this is one of the most beautiful churches in the whole continent.
The interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral
There is also something else that makes this Cathedral a must visit in Valletta: works by Caravaggio.
I had no idea about this when I visited so it was such a great surprise to get to see really impressive works of art like The Beheading of St John the Baptist, which is considered one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces.
If you want to learn more about his work, you are in luck! Inside the Cathedral, there are exhibitions about his paintings and even a short movie about his life that is really interesting.
Museum about Caravaggio’s work and life, at Saint John’s Co-Cathedral
⚔️ Visit the Grandmaster Palace
This beautiful Palace in central Valletta dates back to the 16th century it currently houses the Office of the President of Malta. It’s called The Grandmaster’s Palace because it was initially built to be the Palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St John, which is why it’s a very important historical building to visit in Valletta. It was one of the first buildings to even be built in Valletta, so it has seen quite a bit of the History of Malta.
Several sections of the Palace are open to the public and the beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings make it such a beautiful place to explore.
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☕ Take a coffee break In Valletta’s most beautiful cafe
Travelling is fun but so much sightseeing can be tiring. If you are looking for a good place to take a break in Valletta, I have the perfect option for you.
Caffe Cordina is known by many as the most beautiful cafe in the city and it is easy to see why. This iconic cafe was established in 1837 and it is covered with lavish decorations and paintings on the walls. They produce their own pastries and traditional sweets and you can have delicious meals there as well. I had a burger and it did not disappoint!
The beautiful interior of Caffe Cordina in Valletta
📍 Visit a Palace from the 16th century
There is a special building that you definitely don’t wanna miss in Valletta. It’s called Casa Rocca Piccola and it’s one of the most beautiful buildings in the Maltese capital.
This Palace in Valletta’s city center was built in 1580 and it was one of the first noble houses to exist there. It was originally called ‘Casa del Giardino’ and there is a very interesting reason behind it! “Casa del Giardino” means “The Garden House” in Italian and this Palace was named like that because it was one of only a few houses in Valletta that were allowed to have a garden.
This magnificent Palace from the 16th Century is now open to the public and most of its 50 beautiful rooms are possible to visit.
Perhaps even more special than the beautifully decorated rooms, this Palace has a very unique thing to show its visitors: a network of tunnels. Those tunnels were used to protect hundreds of people during the many bombings that Malta suffered during WWII. People would take shelter there and hope for peace while praying for protection, so you can still see crosses they have drawn on the walls while desperately waiting for better times.
🔥 Listen to a cannon being fired from the Upper Barrakka Gardens
If you are looking for an exciting activity to include in your Valletta sightseeing, the Upper Barrakka Gardens have something perfect to offer. Every day at noon, several cannons are fired on a military salute. Crowds gather there to watch it, so make sure you are there well ahead of time if you want to get a good spot.
Even if you don’t make it on time to that event at noon, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are still worth a visit! They were built as exercise grounds and gardens for the Knights of St John in 1661 are located at Valletta’s highest point, so you will have privileged views of the Three Cities from there.
🌅 Enjoy the view from the Lower Barrakka Gardens
If you want to get amazing views of the Three Cities from Valletta but don’t want to face the crowds that often gather at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, the Lower Barrakka Gardens are the perfect alternative for you.
From there, you can enjoy beautiful views across the water in a peaceful garden environment where both locals and tourists often take a break from the busy streets of Malta’s capital.
Views from the Lower Barrakka Gardens
🛥️ Take a water taxi to the Three Cities
These traditional wooden boats are known as the dgħajsa tal-pass and they offer one of the most unique experiences you can have in Valletta!
During the 17th century, they were used mainly to fulfill Valletta’s needs of transportation. The city was becoming such a busy place that these boats were essential to bring people across the water to the Three Cities. Now they are mostly a fun way to see unique views of the capital and experiencing a boat ride in such a traditional type of transportation.
Each water taxi is painted and decorated to fit its owner, so each of them is unique. Choose one that catches your attention and I am sure you will be welcomed by a friendly Maltese wanting to show you the best water views of the city!
👙 Take a relaxing day to swim in Malta’s turquoise waters
If you think that you have to go to the famous Blue Lagoon to experience the beautiful crystaline waters that Malta has to offer, you are so mistaken! Just outside of Valletta’s busy city center, you can find amazing swimming spots to spend a whole day enjoying the Mediterranean.
Take the ferry from Valletta to Sliema and you will be in a great area to find spots like that. There is a famous beach there, called Balluta Bay Beach, but I would not recommend that one. It is beautiful to get a view of the Knisja tal-Karmnu Church but several locals told me that the beach is known for being polluted, so it is not necessarily safe to swim there.
Instead, walk along the coast until you find Fond Għadir Beach. That area and the stretch you walk on until you get there, is full of great swimming spots.
You can even find a very quirky place called Roman Baths, consisting of saltwater pools where you can take a dip. But be careful because the paths around them and the stairs into the water are very slippery, so definitely take water shoes if you have some.
📣 REMEMBER: sandy beaches in Malta are rare and the ones of the Fond Għadir Beach area are not sandy. Instead, you will find ladders to go in the water and there are rocks where you can leave your stuff and suntan.
Balluta Bay Beach and some better alternatives
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best things to do in Valletta and that you have an amazing trip to Malta. It is such a beautiful and fascinating country that truly deserves a visit.
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