One of Europe’s smallest yet most beautiful capital cities, Valletta in Malta is honestly such a surprising city. If you’re planning a trip, whether for a week or just a day, let me help you with my guide to the most incredible things to do in Valletta.
A trip to Malta and Valletta in particular had long been on my list of places to visit but it wasn’t until November 2025, with two children in tow, did we finally make it to one of the smallest countries in Europe.
Now Malta is one of those islands of the Mediterranean that perhaps I initially wrote off in my younger years for being an island that perhaps attracted an older generation however certainly since around 2017 when I started this travel blog I became more and more intrigued to visit thanks to the fortress capital city of Valletta. It looked (and is!) beautiful and a really interesting place to photograph. I’m so glad that we visited when we did as, even with two children, it was relatively relaxing with stunning weather for November.
Malta is only 322 square kilometres in size, a mere speck in the stunning Mediterranean Sea and the capital, Valletta, is just tiny – 0.8 square kilometres yet is still a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is certainly Europe’s smallest capital city but with so much to do it’s no wonder tourists keep coming back. And come back they do – Valletta might only have a population of 6,000 but that swells to over a million per year from cruise ships alone! We did notice almost immediately that, even in November, it was very busy. Stray off Republic Street, the main shopping street, however and the numbers dwindle. You can easily find moments of solace in this tiny city.
From beautiful traditional Maltese townhouses with colourful wooden balconies to faded yellow limestone buildings, being surrounded by the ocean, there’s no disputing that Valletta is stunning. Beyond the beauty lies a really interesting history that you will struggle to miss; this is Knights territory and you’ll be reminded of that at every opportunity!
If you’re planning a trip to Malta and want to know the very best things to do in Valletta, whether you’re visiting for a week or just a day off a cruise ship, then you’ve come to the right place.
THINGS TO DO IN VALLETTA, MALTA
REPUBLIC STREET
Republic Street is the main central street of Valletta running all the way from Tritons’ Fountain at the city’s entrance to Fort St Elmo. Given its positioning it also means that this street is the most busiest, at times I felt that I was pulled along in a current of people only to be bumped into by people walking in the opposite direction. It was our first experience of Valletta and it nearly put us off immediately. However, I’m including it in my guide to things to do in Valletta simply because you will visit Republic Street no matter whether you intend to or not.
We start with Tritons’ Fountain, right next to the bus station so chances are that your trip to Valletta will start here (Bus 130 from Valletta Waterfront if you’re off a cruise ship and aren’t able to manage the short walk to the Barrakka Lift). Built in 1959, this fountain is dedicated to Triton, son of the God of the Sea Poseidon. This combined with St Ursula’s Street was mind-blowing for my Disney and Little Mermaid obsessed three year old!
Once you enter Valletta, you’ll immediately come by the New Parliament Building, though built in 2015 it somehow blends into its surroundings yet still manages to be strikingly modern – perhaps that is contemporary architecture and design at its finest.
Further along Republic Street you’ll find St John’s Co-Cathedral followed by Republic Square or Queen’s Square; a piazza full of bars and restaurants (and the famous Caffe Cordina), a statue of Queen Victoria, the grand National Library of Malta and the Grand Master’s Palace. This is a beautiful part of Valletta.
ST JOHN’S CO-CATHEDRAL
One of the best things to do in Valletta and something you’ll find on every Valletta itinerary and guide is to visit St John’s Co-Cathedral. This is one of Malta’s most popular sites despite being, relatively at least, unassuming from the front.
Initially I hadn’t realised that this building was the cathedral at all. It wasn’t until I stepped inside that I really began to appreciate just how beautiful it is and why it is considered one of the best things to do in Valletta.
The cathedral was built by the Knights of St John in the 1570’s and is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the whole of Europe apparently. Well, once you step inside, and cast your eyes upwards, you’ll be transfixed on the arched ceiling with the most beautiful paintings and decoration perhaps you’ve ever seen within a religious building like this. I enjoyed wandering around admiring all of the little details like the marble floor and the 24-carat gold leaf walls!
Make sure you take a few moments to appreciate the Italian artist Carvaggio’s notable painting of ‘The Beheading of St John The Baptist’.
Also, you’ll have noticed that this is St John’s Co-Cathedral meaning that there are two main cathedrals in Malta – this one in Valletta sharing its duties with St Paul’s Cathedral locating in Malta’s former capital, the ‘Silent City’ of Mdina.
Tip – Given Valletta can get extremely busy, it won’t be a surprise to hear that the queue for tickets can get extremely long. I noticed a separate queue area for those with online tickets which was completely empty so, I logged onto the website, purchased a ticket and wandered straight in. It does however say on the website now I’ve had time to research that online tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance – I didn’t have any issue but if you want to guarantee entry with no significant wait time, make sure you purchase tickets in advance!
THE GRAND MASTER’S PALACE
Visiting the Grand Master’s Palace is essential for those who want to learn a little more about Malta’s history and experience some of the most beautiful interiors on the island. For over 450 years, this has been the beating heart of Malta – the home of the ruling Grand Masters of the Knights of St John. The Office of the President of Malta can now be found here though 85% of the building is now accessible to the public!
From the armoured suits of the Knights and plenty of cannons, to grand corridors and elegantly restored rooms full of historic artwork plus a beautiful courtyard, the Grand Master’s Palace is an essential place to visit in Valletta. For those with children however it might be somewhere that you decide not to visit as, certainly for us with a toddler and an under-one, it wasn’t quite what we needed to do!
CAFES IN VALLETTA
I’m at the age now that I would much prefer to hunt out the best cafes and coffees shops in a new city than perhaps indulge in far too many beers and cocktails. Certainly when travelling with toddlers, the coffee becomes much more important to keep energy levels high and, of course, it’s lovely to just appreciate a great flat white sometimes.
Now Valletta doesn’t have too many independent cafes and coffee roasters that you might expect from say Melbourne, which probably goes without saying, but I found three great cafes that I really enjoyed and I’d highly recommend for you to visit too.
Firstly, Lot61 probably has the best coffee in Valletta which they roast themselves right here in Malta. I had a flat white to takeaway and it was absolutely lovely, really smooth! I wish now I’d gone back to buy some coffee beans to bring back home!
Caffe Cordina is a Maltese institution, bringing its freshly made cakes and desserts alongside coffees and teas to Valletta since 1837. The first espresso machine on Malta came to Caffee Cordina in 1957 so you can only imagine just how quickly it won the hearts of the local residents. There are plenty of tables inside to sit and relax with a cake and your choice of hot drink (or cold or alcoholic if you’re in the mood!) though there’s plenty of seats in the plaza opposite. Our cakes of choice were the lemon meringue, a Biscoff tart (quite modern I imagine but so delicious) and a chocolate brownie for Evelyn. I was a little nervous taking two toddlers into an establishment like this but I needn’t have worried; the staff were welcoming and other customers had children too – plenty of highchairs to go around! It didn’t however feel like a creche so, if you don’t have children, don’t worry you’re not going to have your peace worried too much!
Finally, I’d recommend visiting the small yet very traditional Tal-Kafé which sits alongside the spice shop, Tal-Hwawar. I opted for a Maltese coffee as it was actually the first place I’d seen it offered – a historic brew dating back to the 18thcentury this is coffee fused with a mix of spices (chicory, cloves and aniseed). If you’re not a fan of the aniseed flavour, I would give this a miss as it’s very strong tasting. I felt almost immediately transported back 200 years or so whilst wandering the quieter streets of Valletta whilst sipping such a classic Maltese drink – mind you, it was absolutely boiling hot so you can imagine just how much I was sweating on a mild November day!
UPPER AND LOWER BARRAKKA GARDENS
It’s fair to say that Valletta is quite built up and there isn’t a lot of green space at all. That’s not to say Valletta isn’t beautiful but sometimes you need a little escape to nature and both the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens offer that. They aren’t big, sprawling gardens but here in the Mediterranean you get what you’re given. The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a world away from the busy city streets with towering trees, calming fountains and lush greenery everywhere you look. The Lower Barrakka Gardens are equally as beautiful, from what I’ve seen in photos anyway, with a Greek-esque temple as the centrepiece.
We visited in November 2025 and the Lower Barrakka Gardens were closed for refurbishment and, as of January 2026, construction work is ongoing! Hopefully it’s not too long before visitors to Valletta can enjoy the gardens again.
SALUTING BATTERY GUN
Whilst technically part of Upper Barrakka Gardens, this is most definitely deserves a separate entry in this guide. Every day at noon and 4pm, history comes to life with a ceremonial firing of the gun just as the Order of St John did back in the 16th century which continued up until 1956.
It can get very busy up on the balcony of the Upper Barrakka Gardens so we headed down on the battery itself, for a small fee for two adults though free for our young children, and we were able to get much closer to the action. It was still quite busy, affecting line of sight for me even whilst stood along the rope barrier.
Two cannons are fired simultaneously directly out into the Grand Harbour towards the three cities. This was something really cool to witness but I must warn you the noise is far louder than I expected and certainly shocked our little ones – perhaps we wouldn’t stand as close next time!
Cost: Adults €3 Children (5-15) €1
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ADMIRE VIEWS OF VALLETTA
There are almost no bad views of Valletta that’s for sure but sometimes it’s better to, to quote none other than Karl Pilkington, ‘live in the hole looking at the palace, than live in the palace looking at the hole.’ And, what I mean is, the best views of Valletta are actually, in my opinion, not in Valletta at all but across the harbour in Sliema. From Tigne Seafront, Valletta is at its finest; honey coloured limestone walls, the iconic dome of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Mediterranean Sea.
There are however a few spots in Valletta itself where you can still observe great views – the car park at the northern end of Triq In-Nofsinhar in particular offers a spectacular view of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the buildings surrounding it. Standing at the bottom of the steep steps of St Ursula Street is a classic Valletta photography shot (especially in golden hour shooting straight into the sun) as is just behind Victoria Gate, looking back up at the buildings that seemingly reach right into the sky.
VICTORIA GATE
Speaking of Victoria Gate, this is the only surviving historic entrance to Valletta and well worth a few minutes admiring the architecture. It was built way back in 1885 and was the most popular entrance to the city from the Grand Harbour.
WANDER THE STREETS
This is a simple one I get it but quite honestly the very best way to spend your time in Valletta is to just explore. Be a flaneur for a few hours; wander slowly, observe, discover the beauty in ordinary moments and I promise you’ll find the less known areas of Valletta that might just become your favourite.
VALLETTA WATERFRONT
From the city, take the lift down 262 feet to the harbour side and have a gentle wander past the enormous cruise ships to Valletta Waterfront. This area reminded me of the Venetian storage warehouses in Chania’s Harbour in Crete though here it’s a little more commercialised. The 19 warehouses, or Pinto Stores, along Valletta’s coastline have been beautifully restored and the promenade is now full of bars, restaurants and shops creating a lively atmosphere with views across the yacht filled marina to the Three Cities.
ST LUCIA’S STREET
St Lucia’s Street is perhaps the most photogenic street of the whole of Valletta. Let’s be honest, every corner of Valletta cries out to be photographed so calling St Lucia’s Street the most photogenic is really something. This steep stepped street is on the (almost) north/south axis (Valletta is helpfully set out in a grid system) so it offers exceptional views downhill past the bars and cafes that spill out onto the street, past the industrial exposed lighting and deep red flags to the catholic Church of St Lucia and beyond to the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.
There are plenty of great places for a drink or a bite to eat down here. At some of the bars you’ll find people just casually sat on a cushion on the steps enjoying a drink or two. I could have spent all day here, simply admiring the view and people watching, it’s a great location to just chill though lots of people stop at the top to take photos or wander down so it can get busy.
GREAT PLACES TO EAT IN VALLETTA
On our first day in Valletta, we stopped at Grano on St Lucia’s Street, one of the best places for lunch in Valletta, and devoured one of their iconic sandwiches – freshly cooked bread, 6 hour slow cooked pulled pork, house slaw, applewood cheese, pickles & golden mustard BBQ sauce. Honestly, it was like heaven, washed door with a can of Cisk lager and I was very happy. The only problem was me wanting to try all of the different flavours of sandwiches, they had some incredible options including for the vegetarians out there. Even at €9, it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten! Grano is quite interesting too in that there are actually three locations all interconnected / opposite each other. Grano Pasta is technically round the corner on Merchants St offering more outdoor seating but you can still order fresh pasta here on St Lucia’s Street. Emma ordered Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli and shared with Evelyn which was equally as tasty!
There are plenty of outlets of Jeff’s Pastizzeria across Valletta which offer up the Maltese pastizzi; essentially flaky pastry parcels with a range of different fillings including curried mashed peas or local ricotta cheese. There’s not much better than cheap Maltese street food!
If you’re looking for something a little sweeter, Amorino Gelato is a great place to grab a very unique yet tasty ice cream. Each ice-cream is expertly crafted into a rose shape though you can’t admire it for too long as it’ll start dripping down your arm! The salted caramel gelato was incredible – I’m actually quite glad to see that there are locations of Amorino Gelato here in the UK too meaning it won’t be long before I can get my next fix.
ENJOY ROOFTOP DRINKS AT THE EMBASSY VALLETTA HOTEL
I can perhaps only think of a handful of rooftop bars with views as good as this – the rooftop bar and restaurant at the Embassy Valletta Hotel is practically perfect; overlooking the Valletta skyline and the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We took the children here for a few snacks and a mocktail. We actually had half an hour of relative peace as the youngest was asleep and the three year old pre-occupied. This is the place in Valletta for rooftop views there’s no doubt about that so I highly recommend coming here for a drink or two and perhaps even lunch. The swimming pool is reserved for hotel guests only…
VALLETTA FOOD MARKET
Valletta Food Market or Is-Suq Tal-Belt is a great place to visit if you fancy watching the locals pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables, grabbing some warm baked bread or for lunch thanks to the food court which caters to all – whether you fancy pizza, tacos, burgers or something Maltese, it’s all here. The building itself is absolutely beautiful too all; a 19thcentury market hall built in cast iron reminiscent of Covent Garden in London and, for me at least, Mackie Mayor in Manchester!
FORT ST ELMO / NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM
The 16th century star shaped fort of St Elmo lies at the tip of Valletta and within you can find the National War Museum which provides a great overview of Malta’s role throughout different wars including WWII – Malta lost over 29,000 buildings during the war, being one of the most bombed places during WWII and nope it wasn’t Germany! Malta received the highest honour, the George Cross, for their bravery during the bombardment.
MEMORIES OF GREAT BRITAIN
From 1800 to 1964, Malta was actually under British reign with it being a stronghold navy base in the Mediterranean. I actually think my grandad, who was in the Royal Air Force, was stationed here many years ago! The British legacy continues today with cars still driving on the left, English as an official language and red phone box and post boxes….
There are some classic photo spots across Valletta including near Victoria Gate and the Bridge Bar with the classic red telephone box. If you’re British and really missing home, don’t worry there’s a Marks and Spencers…
VISIT SLIEMA
As I mention below, we stayed at the Malta Marriott Resort & Spa in Balluta Bay (here’s my review if you’re interested) just along from Sliema which meant that we were able to spend quite a bit of time here. This coastal town is opposite Valletta to the north across Marsamxett Harbour. It’s a lot more modern, more built up here (as is a lot more of Malta than I imagined) with plenty of apartment blocks, shopping centres (including yes, a McDonalds…) but you can find some great bars, great views back to Valletta and a never-ending promenade that stretches from Sliema all the way up to St Julien’s Bay. The promenade was perfect was us when the younger one was napping in the stroller and we could just walk, and walk, or spend an hour at one of the many play parks. If you like to keep fit on holiday, join the locals and use the promenade as your running route!
We enjoyed burgers from The Legend, Matcha lattes and Melonpan at Kyoto Japanese Bakery and smooth coffee from COFFEE & Strangers.
VISIT THE THREE CITIES
Directly across the Grand Harbour, on two separate peninsulas and one behind, lie the Three Cities – Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. These three cities are actually older than Valletta; the Knights of Saint John lived here initially. Birgu is the most popular of the three with easy trips across the harbour available on board a ferry or on a traditional Maltese rowing boat – a Dghajsa.
We didn’t get chance to visit unfortunately, only admiring from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, I really didn’t want to risk two children on one of the traditional boats and we had plenty to see already. From research, it’s clear that the Three Cities are far quieter than Valletta and have plenty of pretty streets, churches, cafes and shops to keep you entertained.
DAY TRIP TO MDINA
Last but by no means least is, if you have time, to take a day trip to the historic capital of Malta, Mdina. Known as the ‘Silent City’, this is a tiny fortified city, full of quiet alleyways, the stunning St Paul’s Cathedral, colourful doors and a few great shops, restaurants and an ice cream shop. You’re likely to have heard this already but some of the locations from Game of Thrones’ Kings Landing were filmed right here.
We visited quite early in the morning, around 10am, and let me tell you this was anything but the ‘Silent City’. It was extremely busy with guided tours and tourists, of which we were four of course, everywhere. We were able to find some quiet spots for a few moments to appreciate just what life might have been like high up on the hill in the middle of Malta. We didn’t last long maybe 2 hours at best before jumping in a taxi back to the peace of our rooftop pool. It still is however one of the most essential things to do here in Malta.
From Valletta, you can catch the number 51/52/53 bus which only takes around 15-30 minutes. We opted for a taxi though which took around half an hour but was absolutely worth it for convenience when travelling with children.
IS VALLETTA CHILD FRIENDLY?
Now I imagine the first thing you wanted to ask me when you read the introduction was whether or not I thought Valletta was child friendly and whether it was really suitable to be taking a three year old and a nine month old… Well the first thing that helped was that we actually stayed outside of Valletta itself in Balluta Bay whereby accommodation is a more spacious and just generally a lot easier to keep children entertained thanks to the promenade, little beach and plenty of play parks! We actually stayed at the Malta Marriott Resort & Spa which was perfect for us; after exploring throughout the day we retired to our hotel’s rooftop pool (yes, even in November – we’re British remember) and had chance to play before our evening meal.
Anyway, back to Valletta. Getting around was easy enough, we jumped in taxis via the Bolt app (make sure you have data wherever you travel with an e-sim – I use Holafly and it makes life just so much easier!) and wandered around Valletta with a combination of a stroller for our nine month old whilst our three year old walked or the stroller for our three year old and a baby carrier for our nine month old. Yes there are a lot of steps in Valletta but it’s easy enough to find alternative routes that are pram friendly (though the paths can be very narrow in places) or we made our three year old walk and carried the stroller and the little one!
We really didn’t find spending time in Valletta difficult with children nor did we experience unfriendliness either. I had read a few articles before travelling that Malta wasn’t perhaps the most child friendly destination but everywhere we visited had highchairs available and were welcoming!
So, if you’re in two minds about travelling with little ones, I definitely wouldn’t let anything put you off though perhaps think about staying in a hotel outside of Valletta and spend days travelling in. We always felt a lot more relaxed after a day exploring when we returned to the wider promenades along the coastline of Sliema and Balluta Bay.
With all that said, I honestly want to hop on a plane and get straight back to Valletta. I really enjoyed our five night trip to Malta and Valletta really was one of the best European capitals that I’ve visited. If you have any thoughts at all on the guide or have any questions at all, feel free to drop me a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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