Valletta Travel Guide

A first walk through Valletta

Start at City Gate, follow Republic Street and leave time for St John’s Co-Cathedral. Then turn towards Upper Barrakka Gardens for the Grand Harbour view. If you want a longer walk, continue towards Lower Barrakka Gardens rather than squeezing in another museum. These are easy places to pause, but the streets between the city centre and the water can be steep.

Keep the two sides of the peninsula straight. The Sliema ferry uses Marsamxett on one side; the Gozo passenger ferry leaves Lascaris Wharf on the Grand Harbour side. Choose the right landing before walking downhill with your bags.

Choose your base around the evenings

Inside the walls, you can walk back after dinner without catching a ferry. Floriana is useful for City Gate and the bus terminus. Sliema gives you another waterfront base, with a harbour crossing each time you visit Valletta. For a short stay, weigh that extra journey against the room price.

Ask about the stairs and where a taxi can stop if you have heavy luggage. A room near a busy evening street may be convenient for restaurants but less comfortable for an early night.

Make room for St John’s

St John’s Co-Cathedral costs €15 for a standard adult ticket. Its decorated interior and Caravaggio collection make it a worthwhile choice if you want one major paid visit. Sightseeing is normally Monday to Saturday, with final admission at 16:00; Sundays and public holidays are closed to sightseeing. Swap this visit with a walking day if your arrival falls on a closure day.

For lunch, a filled ftira or pastizzi can suit a shorter stop between visits. Have a sit-down meal when you want a longer break, rather than treating every terrace as another sightseeing stop. Look at the whole meal price before sitting down.

Buses, harbour ferries and airport travel

Airport Direct TD4 connects the airport with Valletta and costs €3 without an included pass. The bus stop still leaves a walk to your accommodation.

Use the Sliema harbour ferry for a waterfront outing and the Mdina bus guide for the inland day trip. For Gozo, the ferry comparison explains the difference between sailing from Valletta and travelling north to Ċirkewwa first. The five-day itinerary keeps the first three nights in Valletta, so Sliema and Mdina do not require extra room bookings.

Set your own daily budget

Use the figures below as adjustable spending allowances, then replace the room amount with the complete quote for your dates. Replace the sightseeing allowance with the admission tickets or paid activities you choose, counting each cost once. Add airport and intercity travel separately, and count a shared private room once before dividing its cost.