How to Spend 1 Day in Valletta

Valletta, the UNESCO-listed Maltese capital, may be small but it’s packed with attractions. This compactness means you can see plenty in a single day; attractions encompass Baroque architecture, natural attractions, and landmarks related to the legacy of the Knights of St. John. Here are a few ways to spend one day in Valletta.

The cobbled streets of Valletta Old Town lend themselves well to wandering so a walking tour a great way to see the sights. Most tours cover landmarks such as St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Auberge de Castille, the Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, and the opulent Grand Master’s Palace. Tours by Segway follow a similar itinerary but allow you to cover more ground in less time, while hop-on hop-off bus tours have the added benefit of allowing you to set your own itinerary and disembark at only the attractions that interest you. 

The small island of Malta is surrounded by calm, clear, and easily-accessible water, making an afternoon cruise a must. You can choose between a short cruise to the Grand Harbour and Three Cities—the collective name given to the ancient fortress cities of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa— or a longer excursion to the unspoilt island of Comino and the Blue Lagoon; this option generally allows time for swimming and snorkeling, with some staying on the water until sunset.

A nighttime tour of Valletta, Mosta, and Mdina offers the opportunity to see three historic cities at their most atmospheric,. Most evening excursions include tickets to Malta 5D, a multimedia show about Maltese history and culture, and allow time to stroll through the car-free streets of Mdina, the former Maltese capital also known as the Silent City.

Alternatively, immerse yourself in traditional Maltese culture at a folklore dinner show or soak up the nightlife of Paceville and St. Julian’s by joining a bar crawl that reveals local haunts.