Valletta, capital of Malta, has just taken top spot in Conde Nast Traveller’s ‘top cities in Europe’ listing and achieved the same ranking worldwide too. Undoubtedly a firm favourite of our European travel insurance customers, Europesure is putting it in the spotlight because, in a year that celebrates the 80th anniversary of UNESCO, this 55-hectare city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So what is it that is so special about Valletta?
Well, if you were poet, Lord Byron, you would not, at this juncture, point to its steep streets, which necessitate negotiating many steps. He found these less-than-amusing during his short sojourn.
Nowadays, these many steps remain problematic for older or less-able European travellers. But, if you are able to negotiate them, and use them to traverse the grid-system on which this city is based, you will discover many delights. Think colourful flowers tumbling from window boxes perched on Baroque buildings, glorious eye-catching balconies, painted houses in striking yellow, charming cobbled alleyways and dramatic picture angles. You may even stumble across a red English phone box!
Walks and water trips in Valletta
Taking a free walking tour can open up Valletta’s many walkways to you. Sometimes these are near-deserted – unless you find yourself in Republic Street, where you may become as tightly packed into Maltese life as a sardine. If nighttime adventures are your thing, why not opt for a ghost tour? Otherwise, the nightlife of Strait Street, or a reservation at Michelin star restaurant, Noni, might entice?
Valletta is a miniscule capital city compared to others but still managed to become European Capital of Culture in 2018, because it consistently proves that size does not matter.
There are key locations to which to head, if you want to tick the main tourism attractions off your list. First and foremost, you will probably need to get your sea legs and see how incredible Valletta appears from the water. Catch a ferry back from nearby Sliema waterfront and you will be able to snap the most amazing shots of the cityscape and skyline. The photogenic nature of what you can enjoy is not just provided by Valletta but also by what are known as The Three Cities, also crowding around the harbour and reached by water taxi. Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua are well worth visiting in this way.
The Barrakka Gardens in Valletta
The sun shines for over 300 days a year in Malta, so make the most of that by exploring some of the city’s outdoor honeypot locations. The Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens are certainly befitting of that label. This double-tiered garden is ever-popular thanks to the must-see harbour views it affords. It is also a location for sunset-bagging but also from where tourists can observe the Saluting Battery. From here, it is possible to see – and be shaken by – canons that are fired twice-daily, to commemorate the way in which Valletta traditionally welcomed vessels into the harbour, in days of yore.
Head to the Barrakka Gardens in August and you may catch the Delicata Classic Wine Festival. The Barrakka Lift from the gardens also handily takes you down to the waterfront, providing a little relief for the legs.
St John’s Co-Cathedral and Caravaggio
St John’s Co-Cathedral is another bucket-list location for tourists, thanks to being home to two famous Caravaggio paintings. These are always a draw for our Europesure Travel Insurance customers.
The number one is ‘The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist’, located in the Oratory. This is currently the centrepiece of a musical and artistic performance known as the Caravaggio Experience, set to continue into 2026. The other is St Jerome Writing.
References to St John also adorn the ceiling, where scenes from his life were incredibly depicted by Mattia Preti. It is hard not to be dazzled by the interior of this religious building, with its gold, precious artworks, tapestries and stunning marble. It is equally difficult to escape references to the Knights of Malta when in Valletta. In this cathedral, each of the eight chapels is dedication to a different division within their world. These knights exerted huge influence in Malta between 1522 and 1798, following their expulsion from Greece.
Other lovely religious buildings are the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Augustine Church, located in Old Bakery Street. At the latter, there is a much-loved statue of St Rita, who has her own feast day and procession in May. But, if it’s museums you crave, there is the National Museum of Arts, MUŻA, the Museum of Archaeology with its 5000-year-old Sleeping Lady, and Casa Rocca Piccola. This 16th century, resplendent palace is still the home of the de Piro family.
City Gate and Knights of Malta Exploration
It is worth heading to City Gate with its nearby Triton’s Fountain. City Gate is the original entrance to Valletta, remodelled by London Shard architect, Renzo Piano and taken back to 17th century dimensions. It provides a bridge feel once again and a V shape that is a nod to the V of Valletta. Piano was also responsible for the Royal Opera House, one setting for the June-time Valletta Film Festival. The modern Parliament of Malta building is another Piano creation.
Heading back to tales of Knights, you will probably want to see the Grand Masters Palace in St George’s Square, the first building constructed by the Knights of St John in Malta’s new capital city. Despite being the Office of the President of Malta, the vast majority of the building, including the Grand Master’s Study, restored State Rooms and Throne Room, as well as an armoury collection, is available for public viewing. Head here and you can see an artistic interpretation of the Great Siege of 1565.
Knights were also active at Fort St Elmo (built 1552), fiercely protecting the chapels and altars against the Ottomans. Nowadays, visitors simply relish the harbour views from the fort, whilst also taking a bit of time out to visit the first floor National War Museum.
Wartime in Malta
More interesting for many of our Europesure travel insurance customers are the Lascaris War Rooms, 150 feet below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where tunnel defences helped protect the island of Malta from German and Italian attack in World War II. Operations rooms, like the RAF fighter control room, provide clues as to what went on, whilst a highlight is the Jeep called ‘Husky’, once owned by General Eisenhower, who was based here whilst overseeing the invasion of Sicily.
Local cuisine in Valletta
Cuisine in Valletta is a tantalising fusion of Italian, North African and Mediterranean flavours. Expect to be offered aljotta (fish soup), rabbit stew (fenek) and other rabbit dishes. You may well tuck into braised lamb shanks, lampuki (fish) pie or bigilla (broad bean dip). For sweets think flaky pastries (pastizzi), honey or treacle rings (qagħaq tal-għasel)and date-filled pastries called imgaret. As in Sicily, you will also find cannoli. Sides of Maltese breads called ħobż and ftira (sourdough) may accompany abundant seafood choices. Maltese street foods, as well as everything from Vietnamese to Turkish and Mexican creations, can be found at Is-Suq tal-Belt, the city market. Home to 10 different world cuisines, its food court offers dishes to tempt all taste buds.
With the ease of making day trips to locations such as the island of Gozo, or to the former capital city of Mdina, a flying visit to Valletta can be well worth making. If you choose to do so, just remember to purchase your Europesure travel insurance ahead of your trip and secure the peace of mind that our Europesure travel insurance customers enjoy.
With single trip policies being highly affordable for those just seeking a quick break, and annual policies ideal for seasoned travellers who take a couple or more holidays a year, there is travel insurance protection to suit everyone. Want to know more about travel risks in Malta? Read our blog here.
