How to Spend 2 Days in Valletta

A 2-day trip to Valletta allows you to see the best of the compact capital; you’ll have time to visit all of the UNESCO-listed historic sites and see the city from a different perspective on a cruise. Plus, you can explore more of the archipelago on a trip to the neighboring island of Gozo. Here’s how. 

Day 1: Explore the Capital

**Morning:**Start the day with a guided walking tour of Valletta’s main landmarks, which include St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the new Parliament building, the Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, and Grand Master’s Palace. Alternatively, book a hop-on hop-off bus tour and benefit from being able to set your own itinerary and pace.

**Afternoon:**Embark on an afternoon cruise to see Valletta from the water. Short sightseeing cruises pass by the Grand Harbour and the ancient fortress cities of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa, while longer excursions take you to the unspoilt island of Comino and the Blue Lagoon.

**Night:**Nighttime island tours reveal the historic cities of Valletta, Mosta, and Mdina at their most atmospheric, when landmarks are illuminated and temperatures have cooled. Most night tours include tickets to Malta 5D, a multimedia show about Maltese history and culture.

Day 2: Discover Prehistoric Sites and Gozo

**Morning:**Travel back thousands of years on a morning tour of Malta’s prehistoric sites. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta—which comprise Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum, Hagar Qim Temples, and Mnajdra Temples—are some of the oldest structures on earth, making them a must-see for history buffs.  

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon on Gozo island—a half-hour ferry ride from Cirkewwa Harbour—to explore more of the Maltese archipelago. Enjoy views of the island’s mountainous terrain from the top deck of a hop-on hop-off bus; routes cover top attractions such as Xewkija, Ggantija Temples, and Ramla Beach.

**Night:**Gozo is famed for its seafood, cheese, and wine, so definitely stick around for dinner. You’ll find plenty of excellent restaurants focused on fresh, local produce around Mgarr Harbour, which, conveniently, is where you can later catch the ferry back to Malta.