Valletta in 2 Days: City Streets, Forts and Harbour Views

Enter through Renzo Piano’s gateway, with the parliament building beside it, and follow Republic Street into the city. Breakfast here puts you close to the cathedral before the larger visitor groups arrive.

Choose this museum for Malta’s prehistoric temples and their carved figures. It is a useful alternative to the palace interior on a history-heavy first day, rather than an extra museum to squeeze in between both.

Make the marble floor, gilded chapels and Caravaggio paintings the first day’s main visit. Visitor opening is Monday to Saturday, so put it on Saturday for a normal weekend; it is closed to sightseeing on Sundays.

Continue along Republic Street to St George’s Square for the palace and its armoury. Choose the interior if the Knights’ history interests you; otherwise, the square makes a natural stop before lunch and the harbour gardens.

The underground operations rooms explain Malta’s role in the Second World War. Choose this as an alternative to the archaeology museum or palace, especially if wartime history is your main interest; it sits just below the Barracca gardens.

Follow Republic Street towards this lived-in noble house, known for its furnished rooms and underground shelters. A house tour is an alternative for a weekday or Saturday; on Sunday keep this part of the route as a street walk.

Walk through the northern lanes to Old Theatre Street and the small Baroque theatre. Regular visitor tours run Monday to Saturday, so Sunday is an exterior stop; a performance or tour makes a good replacement for another interior on Saturday.

Head east to the gardens above the harbour entrance. The terrace and neighbouring Siege Bell area give a different view from Upper Barracca, and make a quiet break before the fort.

Spend the afternoon at Fort St Elmo, whose ticket includes the National War Museum. The exhibitions cover the island’s military history and the fort overlooks the harbour entrance. Afternoon also avoids the Sunday-morning In Guardia show on dates when it runs.

Finish along the western bastions for views towards Marsamxett Harbour and Sliema. Walk back through the city for dinner; the gardens offer a quieter ending than returning to the busiest stretch of Republic Street.

Cross the harbour to Birgu for the fort and the lanes of Vittoriosa. This makes a separate half-day outing, with a different view back towards Valletta; replace a city museum afternoon rather than adding it after a full day at St Elmo.

Use the gate as the start of a separate trip to Mdina’s walled streets, with neighbouring Rabat for lunch or another visit. Travel from Valletta by bus or taxi; this is a half-day or longer away from the harbour route.

Take the Barracca lift down for a walk towards the old harbour warehouses and a meal by the water. This is an easy extension to the first afternoon, although the waterfront is busier when cruise ships are in port.