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Voykit pocket guide · Malta
Valletta
Il-Belt Valletta
Valletta is a morning-and-evening capital: do Republic Street and the Barrakka gardens early, rest through the midday sun, and cross the harbour by ferry for the Three Cities or Sliema.
Valletta is a fortified grid on a narrow peninsula: everything worth seeing is within 1 km, but the side streets are stepped and there is little shade. The airport is about 6 km away by taxi or bus. What goes wrong is the summer sun, cruise-ship days when Republic Street is full from about 10:00, and Sunday closures. Four short areas cover a first visit; sleep here for the evenings, when the town empties out.
- Country
- Malta
- Local name
- Il-Belt Valletta
- Best months
- Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Dec
- Time zone
- Europe/Malta
- Stay
- 2 days: Republic Street and the Barrakka gardens, Fort St Elmo the next morning
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Cards and contactless work in nearly every restaurant, shop and taxi; carry €20–40 in small notes for kiosks, village bars, boat trips and church donations.
- Daily spend
- Budget €35–60 excl. bed · Mid €60–140 excl. bed · High €140+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid SIM from Epic, GO or Melita at the airport or in Valletta (passport needed).
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112
- Plugs
- 230 V; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G). Bring a UK adapter.
- Tipping
- About 5–10% in a sit-down restaurant if service is not on the bill; round up for taxis; none at counters or kiosks.
- Water
- Tap water is safe but comes largely from desalination and tastes flat or brackish; most visitors drink bottled water.
- Toilets
- Cafés, museums, the food hall and the Upper Barrakka Gardens; public toilets near City Gate (check).
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cappuccino) | €2.50–4 |
| Pastizz | €0.60–1.20 |
| Café breakfast | €6–12 |
| Sit-down lunch, per person | €10–20 |
| Dinner main course | €14–28 |
| Bottle of Cisk or local beer | €3–5 |
| Bus single (Tallinja) | €2–2.50 |
| Ferry to Sliema or the Three Cities | €2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Malta International Airport, Luqa (MLA)
- MLA to Valletta: one taxi or ride-hailing car, 15–30 minutes, with an airport bus as fallback — the risk is not the ride but a guesthouse door that locks at night.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Malta International Airport (MLA) (Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta) | Flights to Europe and beyond | Taxi 20–35 min; bus X4 or 71 about 30–45 min |
| Valletta bus terminus (Terminus tal-Belt) | All island buses, including Mdina, Sliema, Marsaxlokk | Walk 2 minutes |
| Grand Harbour ferry landing (Il-Port il-Kbir) | The Three Cities and cruise arrivals | Barrakka Lift up; steps or a steep street |
| Marsamxett ferry landing (Marsamxett) | Sliema and Gzira | A steep walk up to Republic Street |
| Cruise terminal (Valletta Waterfront) (Il-Port tal-Kruċieri) | Cruise ships | Shuttle or a 20-minute walk |
| Ċirkewwa ferry (for Gozo) (Ċirkewwa) | Gozo | Bus about 1 h 15 |
Typical fares
- MLA → Valletta, taxi or ride-hail
- €15–25, 20–35 min; more in rush hour
- MLA → Valletta, bus X4 or 71
- About €2–2.50 (check), 30–45 min
- Valletta → Sliema ferry
- About €2–3 (check), 15 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside Valletta, use the bus between areas, the ferry across the harbours and a taxi for late nights. Malta has no train or metro. The Barrakka Lift saves a climb from the harbour, and ride-hailing cars are cheap and quick.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Everything in Valletta |
| Bus (Tallinja) | About €2–2.50 single (check) | Airport, Sliema, Mdina, Marsaxlokk |
| Harbour ferry | About €2–3 (check) | Sliema, Three Cities |
| Barrakka Lift | About €1 (check) | Upper Barrakka to the harbour |
| Taxi and ride-hail | From €6 for a short ride | Late nights, bags, hills |
| Hop-on hop-off bus | About €20–25 (check) | A first-day overview |
| Rental car | From €30 a day | Beaches and Gozo |
| E-scooters | A few euros per ride | Sliema promenade |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass needed for a short stay: Valletta is walkable and most day-trips are one bus or ferry ride.
- Late at night
- Buses run less often after 23:00; ride-hailing and taxis run all night.Buses run less often after 11:00 PM; ride-hailing and taxis run all night.
See and do
01St John’s Co-CathedralIl-Konkatidral ta' San Ġwann
The island’s most decorated interior and the Caravaggio; go at opening.
Hours: best At opening · Price: €15–20 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 35.8974, 14.5129
02Upper Barrakka GardensĠonna ta’ Barrakka ta’ Fuq
The best free view of the Grand Harbour and the noon gun.
Hours: best Before noon or at sunset · Price: Free · Time: 30–45 min · 35.8951, 14.5121
03Grandmaster’s PalaceIl-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru
The Knights’ palace, its armoury and its State Rooms.
Hours: best Late morning · Price: €10–12 · Time: 1 h · 35.8969, 14.5125
04National War MuseumIl-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra
Two sieges and the George Cross under one roof, with a view from the ramparts.
Hours: best Morning · Price: €10–12 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 35.8992, 14.5195
05A harbour ferry to the Three Cities
The best way to see the fortifications from the water.
Hours: best Morning or late afternoon · Price: €2–3 · Time: 2–3 h
06Casa Rocca Piccola
A quiet, guided visit to a noble family house.
Hours: best Morning · Price: €10–14 · Time: 45–60 min · 35.8985, 14.5099
07Lascaris War RoomsIl-Kmamar tal-Gwerra ta’ Lascaris
The underground command centre, cool in July.
Hours: best Hot afternoon · Price: €12–16 · Time: 1 h · 35.8948, 14.5127
08Manoel TheatreTeatru Manoel
A 1730s theatre with tours and evening shows.
Hours: best Afternoon or evening · Price: €7–10 · Time: 45 min · 35.8992, 14.5113
09Is-Suq tal-BeltIs-Suq tal-Belt
A food hall for a fast local lunch.
Hours: best Before 12:30 · Price: €8–18 · Time: 45 minHours: best Before 12:30 PM · Price: €8–18 · Time: 45 min · 35.8985, 14.5110
10A walk on the bastion walls at sunset
The stone glows gold at dusk and the town empties out.
Hours: best Sunset · Price: Free · Time: 30–45 min
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua) | Ferry from Valletta about 10 min | Half day |
| Mdina and Rabat | Bus about 30–45 min | Half day |
| Sliema and St Julian’s | Ferry or bus 20–30 min | Evening or half day |
| Marsaxlokk | Bus about 40 min | Half day |
| Gozo | Bus and ferry, about 2 h each way | Full day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastizzi and imqaret near City Gate | Pastizzi and a coffee · City Gate | €2–5 | Budget |
| Ta' Kris | Dish of the day · Melita Street | €8–12 | Budget |
| Supermarket meal deal | Sandwich, drink and snack · Any Lidl or Pavi | €4–7 | Budget |
| Is-Suq tal-Belt (Valletta Food Market) | Counter lunch · Merchants Street | €8–18 | Mid-range |
| Nenu the Artisan Baker | Maltese platter and rabbit · St Paul Street | €20–35 | Mid-range |
| Caffe Cordina | Coffee and pastry · Republic Street | €6–15 | Mid-range |
| Trabuxu wine bar | Wine and a plate · Strait Street | €15–30 | Mid-range |
| Harbour-view restaurant | Fresh fish and wine · Valletta waterfront or Floriana | €45–80 | High |
| Tasting menu restaurants | Set menu · Old Bakery Street and around | €60–120 | High |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | €25–45 dorm bed · €80–130 double | Valletta, Floriana | Hostels, guesthouses |
| mid | €120–220 | Valletta, Floriana | 3–4 star hotels and restored townhouses |
| high | €230–400 | Valletta harbour side, Floriana | 4–5 star hotels and palazzo suites |
| splurge | €400–800+ | Valletta and the Three Cities | Palazzo hotels |
Per room per night in euro, 2026 estimate; July, August and festival weekends add 30–80%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Bonġubon-joo |
| Good evening | Bonswabon-swa |
| Thank you | Grazzigrat-see |
| Please | Jekk jogħġbokyek yoj-bok |
| Cheers | Saħħasa-ha |
| Excuse me | Skużaniskoo-za-nee |
| How much? | Kemm?kem |
| Where is the bus stop? | Fejn hi l-ħanut tal-linja?fen ee l-ha-noot tal leen-ya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Churches: Shoulders and knees covered, hats off, quiet voices and no flash; some are closed during services.
- Dress: Casual; swimwear stays at the beach and on boats.
- Tipping: About 5–10% in restaurants if service is not on the bill; round up for taxis.
- Queues: Mostly orderly, but bus stops can be crowded; let passengers get off first.
- Greeting: A handshake and “bonġu” or “hello” goes a long way.
- Traffic: Drive on the left; look right first when you cross.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people at festas or in churches; no flash in museums.
- Festas: Village festas have loud fireworks and processions; expect late noise in summer.
Red lines
- Churches, including St John's Co-Cathedral: shoulders and knees covered, no flash photography.
- Do not climb on the bastion walls or barriers.
- Tap water is safe but often brackish; most visitors drink bottled water.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed taxis at the airport and cruise terminal: use the fixed-fare kiosk, a booked car or a ride-hailing app.
- Restaurant touts on Republic Street and the harbour: check the menu price for a table before you sit.
- A pastizzi or drink “tasting” offered on the street with a price added afterwards: ask the price first.
- Boat tour touts at the harbour: book through an operator with printed prices, and check what the ticket includes.
- Overpriced bottled water and cover charges near the big sights: check the menu.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a cruise-ship day. Skip: Fort St Elmo, the Three Cities and Mdina: all need more time.
- 08:308:30 AMSt John’s Co-Cathedral at opening
- 10:0010:00 AMPalace Square and the Grandmaster’s Palace
- 12:0012:00 PMLunch at Is-Suq tal-Belt
- 14:002:00 PMUpper Barrakka Gardens and the lift
- 16:004:00 PMCoffee at Caffe Cordina
- 18:306:30 PMA walk on the bastions and dinner
2 days
The usual Valletta stay
Day 1 — Republic Street
- 08:308:30 AMSt John’s Co-Cathedral
- 10:3010:30 AMCasa Rocca Piccola
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at Ta’ Kris or Is-Suq
- 16:004:00 PMUpper Barrakka and the 16:00 gunUpper Barrakka and the 4:00 PM gun
- 19:007:00 PMWine at Trabuxu
Day 2 — Fort St Elmo and the harbour
- 09:009:00 AMNational War Museum
- 11:0011:00 AMRamparts and the harbour view
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch on Republic Street
- 15:003:00 PMFerry to the Three Cities
- 19:007:00 PMDinner at Nenu
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Malta (national tourism board): www.visitmalta.com/
- Heritage Malta (museums and sites): heritagemalta.mt/
- Wikivoyage — Valletta: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Valletta
- Wikitravel — Valletta: wikitravel.org/en/Valletta
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
VallettaIl-Belt Valletta
English is spoken everywhere; show the street name and locality on your phone.
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Il-Konkatidral ta' San ĠwannSt John's Co-Cathedral
- Ġonna ta’ Barrakka ta’ FuqUpper Barrakka Gardens
- Il-Palazz tal-Gran MastruGrandmaster's Palace
- Il-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-GwerraNational War Museum (Fort St Elmo)
- Il-Kmamar tal-Gwerra ta’ LascarisLascaris War Rooms
- Teatru ManoelManoel Theatre
- Police, ambulance, fire112
The US embassy is at Ta’ Qali National Park in Attard; the UK High Commission is in Ta’ Xbiex. Others use consulates abroad or an honorary consul. Write your own embassy’s 24-hour line below.
English is an official language and is used in shops, taxis and museums. Maltese is used on signs and among locals.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/valletta). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.