How to Spend the Perfect One day in Valletta Itinerary
Last Updated on 19th August 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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Step into Valletta, the smallest and southern-most capital in the EU and somewhere you can easily explore in a day when on a wider trip around Malta. Here’s how to spend the perfect one day in Valletta itinerary, as well as what to know before you go.
While Valletta is small, the honey-coloured streets are constantly inviting and the city has plenty of highlights to enjoy. Admire elaborate cathedrals, gaze at views of the harbour and go back in time in the many museums that detail the complex history of this tiny island nation.
Valletta dates back to the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when the Ottomans attempted to invade the island. The knights ultimately repelled the Ottomans and defended Malta, and the fortified city of Valletta was built in response to protect the island against subsequent attacks.
Roads and buildings, all with a distinctly baroque style of architecture, were quickly constructed, and to this day the capital city of Malta feels like a living museum.
So, if you have one day to spend in Valletta, here’s how to make the most out of it!
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One day in Valletta itinerary
Whether you’re in Valletta specifically on a city break or are spending a sunny holiday relaxing on the beaches of the island, here’s how to spend one day in the historic centre of Malta’s capital.
Pop into St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Malta’s churches are all magnificent, but St. John’s Co-Cathedral is definitely one of the best – if not the best. The entire interior is bedecked in gold plate that’ll glimmer as soon as you step in.
Dating back to 1573 (not long after the city of Valletta was founded), it was constructed after the Order of St John and was commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière, built in the Baroque style, as most of Valletta’s buildings were.
It’s one of the most popular attractions in the capital and entrance will cost you 15 euros – but the breathtaking glimmering golden plating on the interior and the enormous historical significance of the building makes the cost well worthwhile!
National Museum of Archaeology
If you’re interested in prehistory and Malta’s enthralling temples, check out the National Museum of Archaeology.
Situated on Republic Street, one of Valletta’s main streets, this museum details the first people who settled in Malta and the structures that they built, along with some of the mysteries surrounding why and how they built them!
The museum also has exhibits on the Phonecians and the Carthaginians, both early inhabitants of the island.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Next, head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. These relaxed gardens have a fountain at their centre and boast panoramic vistas of the Grand Harbour, where you can watch marine traffic entering and leaving the city, along with views of the Three Cities which sit on the other side of the harbour.
There’s a cafe here if you fancy grabbing a coffee, or just stand on the balcony area and watch the world go by! If you’re here close to noon, stick around for the cannon firing, which still occurs every day.
Visit The Lascaris War Rooms
The Lascaris War Rooms is a historic bunker that was used in both World War Two and the Cold War; due to Malta’s position in the Mediterranean and the fact that it was a British crown colony, it was heavily bombed in the World War Two Siege of Malta (not to be confused with the 16th century Siege of Malta) between 1940 and 1942.
Nowadays, the Lascaris War Rooms feature various exhibitions about wars that Malta’s been a part of. The war rooms are just under the Upper Barakka Gardens.
Lunch at Il-Horza Restaurant
If you want to try some Maltese classics for lunch, check out Il-Horza Restaurant, a small and friendly eatery serving dishes like squash soup, pasta and pork belly.
If you fancy a tipple with your lunch, they even serve Maltese wine here (most wine in Maltese restaurants is Italian, due to Malta being so small, so this is a rare opportunity to try the local stuff!).
As it’s a small restaurant, booking is recommended.
If you don’t fancy a sit-down meal for lunch, Falafel Street is a Lebanese takeaway that serves authentic (and delicious!) falafel wraps and pittas. A meal here costs around 6-8 euros, making it a great budget alternative.
Over the road from Falafel Street sits Amorino Gelateria, a wonderful gelato shop where they make every cone look like a work of art with elaborate ice cream-scooping techniques. This is actually a chain all over Europe but the gelato remains delicious!
Definitely save some room for one of these delectable treats! If you would prefer to learn about local food in Malta together with a local guide, then consider booking a food and drink guided walking tour like this one.
The Malta Experience
Fancy going back 7,000 years in history?
Malta has some of the most historic ruins in the world (older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza) and at the Malta Experience, you’ll time-travel through seven centuries to learn about its first people and how the country developed.
The 45-minute show leads all the way up to the present day, detailing how the country became the prosperous nation it is today!
Explore Fort St Elmo
A star-shaped fort that dates back to 1552, Fort St Elmo was originally constructed to defend the city against the Ottomans, being in a strategic location right at the entrance of the Grand Harbour.
It was adapted in the 17th and 18th centuries and was an important strategic location in World War Two, as it was the island’s first victim of aerial bombardment.
It now encompasses the National War Museum, which details thousands of years of Maltese Military history.
Take a boat to the three cities
Once you’ve explored Fort St Elmo, head to the southeastern part of the peninsula where you can take a traditional boat – called a dghajsa – across the harbour to the Three Cities area.
The Three Cities are Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua – Vittoriosa dates back to the Middle Ages. With enigmatic winding streets, the three cities are a photographer’s dream.
There are plenty of churches to check out – unlike the co-cathedral, these are generally free to enter – and the Malta Maritime Museum is also located here.
Dinner at Don Berto
Finish your day in Valetta with a hearty dinner at Don Berto!
Boasting incredible views over the waterfront, the portions at this restaurant are enormous; dishes include sumptuous plates of pasta and hearty joints of meat.
The dessert menu is also extensive, with cheesecake, profiteroles and sorbet – whatever you fancy, you’ll find plenty to savour here!
Pubs and bars in Valletta
If you want to enjoy a few drinks after the sun goes down, there’s a variety of pubs and bars in Valletta, including Alchemy which is a chilled-out bar, La Bottega which boasts two-for-one cocktails during happy hour and The Capitol City Bar.
Where to stay in Valletta
If you’re looking for somewhere luxurious to stay in Valletta, check out The Phonecia Hotel. This is an uber-luxury hotel – it’s where Queen Elizabeth II spent most of her honeymoon!
The bedrooms are huge, with comfortable beds, huge windows and bathrooms with roll-top baths. There’s a spa on-site, along with a swimming pool and a huge terrace where you can enjoy morning coffee and evening drinks! Check prices and availability here.
You could also opt to stay in nearby Silema. Pebbles Boutique Aparthotel is located on the coastline of Silema and encompasses gorgeous self-contained studios with comfortable, super king-sized beds and fully-equipped kitchens with spacious balconies. There’s even a rooftop with a jacuzzi. Check prices and availability here.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly place to stay, Grand Harbour Hotel is a short walk from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and all of Valletta’s best attractions and boasts simple but well-furnished rooms with comfy beds and en-suite bathrooms. Check prices and availability here.
Getting to and around Valletta
Valletta is well-connected to the rest of Malta via various modes of transportation. Most towns have buses to Valletta, and you can easily access the capital from the airport.
The streets of central Valletta aren’t big enough for buses, so the bus terminal in Valetta is located at the Triton Fountain, a short walk from the city centre.
You can also access Valletta by boat – Valletta Ferry Services operate regular ferries between Valletta and the Three Cities (Cospicua, Senglea, and Vittoriosa) across the Grand Harbour – or you can take a traditional dghajsa boat for an extra cultural experience! There is also a ferry service that connects Valletta to Sliema.
The taxi app Bolt works well in Malta – in Valletta and surrounding areas, taxis usually arrive in a few minutes after they’re ordered.
Once you’re in Valletta, the best way to explore the city is on foot, thanks to its compact size and the fact that most of the streets are narrow and one-way!
Are you ready to explore Valletta?
Delightfully compact, Valletta is one of the few cities in Europe that you can extensively and thoroughly explore in just one day. One day in Valletta will help you experience the city’s history, admire its architecture and enjoy epic views over the harbour.
Of course, there’s plenty more to do on the island – Malta’s renowned for gastronomy, nature, hiking and diving – but spending 24 hours in Valletta will give you a dose of culture and a slice of traditional Maltese life!
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That’s a very rhetoric itinerary for spending the day in Valletta, not to say the free promotion of diners and pubs who have been contributing to a lot of problematic aspects in the life of the residents. Valletta has been highly gentrified when it got the ECOC title and the beauty of the city has been drained out in the past twenty years. If you want to seek the beauty of the city, do visit the landmarks but seek to meet the few remaining residential spots.