9 Things to do in Valletta in One Day [Full Itinerary]

In this post, I am going to cover off the best things to do in Valletta in one day.

We spent a wonderful day exploring after getting the ferry across from Sliema and (being the obsessive planner I am) I think we covered off all the best things to do in Valletta.

Being a small city, you don’t actually need to spend a lot of time in Valletta to appreciate what it has to offer.

If you haven’t heard a lot about the city, it’s a unique place. A UNESCO heritage site that has managed to stave off modern development thanks to its placement on a tiny peninsula, Valletta is said to be one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.

It was a fantastic trip and a highlight of our week in Malta, so I hope this Valletta itinerary helps you too.

One Day in Valletta: Quick Itinerary List

Get the Ferry to/from Sliema
The Valletta Train Tour
St John’s Co-Cathedral
St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Lower Barrakka Gardens
Lascaris War Rooms
Victoria Gate
Wander the Ancient Streets

BONUS: Where to Eat in Valletta
BONUS 2: 10 Cool Facts About Valletta

Map

Click the icon in the top left of the map to see a list of all the ‘Valletta in a day’ stop offs.

What To Do In Valletta In One Day

1) The Ferry to/from Sliema

Sliema to Valletta Ferry -> one of many things to do in Valletta in a day

Cost: €2.80 return (€0.90 for children)
Times: Every 15 mins from 0700-1900 in winter and 0700-0015 in summer
Website: valettaferryservices.com

Look, I know this technically isn’t IN Valletta, but this, due to its small size, most people don’t actually stay in Valletta itself. If you’re making a decision whether to drive or get the boat in, take my advice and get the ferry (see the schedule here)!

The journey across Maramxett Harbour is breathtaking, with Valletta beckoning you across the water, urging you to step ashore and explore within the city walls.

It is so well-preserved as a historic city, it’s so easy to imagine the millions of other people who’ve made the same journey across this water and seen exactly the same skyline as there is right now. There are no glass skyscrapers reflecting the morning rays here, just a concentration of honey coloured limestone buildings, as there have been for nearly 500 years.

The Valletta Ferry — *The ferry ride back to Sliema with the sun starting to set behind Manoel Island*

There are few cities you get to experience for the first time in this way. So often the first impression of capital cities is a soulless car park or poorly maintained train station. Stepping in the footsteps of so many before you and walking up the steep streets into the centre is an experience that will live long in the memory.

At the end of your trip, if you time it right, you’ll be heading back to Sliema with the sun setting just above Manoel Island. Make sure you get a seat on the left hand side of the boat so you have the best position for Insta-friendly snapping!

2) The Valletta Train Tour

Cost: €5
Opening Times: Mon-Sun, 1000-1700. Every hour on the hours, leaving from outside St John’s Cathedral
Website: MaltaFunTrains.com

There’s no getting around it, I can be a bit of a travel snob at times. Thankfully, I have my beautiful wife Becca to keep me in check!

Two hours in to our time in Valletta, we had seen nothing other than the inside of churches and historical buildings. On exiting St John’s Cathedral, Becca’s eyes lit up, and after a rather one-sided negotiation (never try to win an argument with a girl who has Yorkshire blood!) we were on the Valletta Tourist Train Tour.

I did my best ‘I’m not having fun’ face for as long as I could hold it, but she can see straight through me! “You’re enjoying this aren’t you, go on, admit it” she said poking me in the ribs. I let out a little smile! I really was!

Valletta Train Tour — *When we got back, I couldn’t hide the smiles any longer!*

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a tour like this, and it’s an absolutely fantastic way to see a city. I wish we’d started with it to be honest, as it allowed us to get our bearings and get to places that would take a lot longer on foot. The views from the south side over the Grand Harbour and Three Cities were absolutely stunning. The second we got off, we headed straight in that direction!

If you want a quick start to your time in Valletta that brings you the highlights of the city with a some history thrown in, then I would thoroughly recommend a tour.

If you’re looking for other tours that let you see the Valletta in a day, here are a few suggestions:

3) St John’s Co-Cathedral

St John's Cathedral, Valletta -> the best things to see in Valletta in one day

Cost: €10
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 0930-1630, Sat 0930-1230, Sun Closed
Website: StJohnsCoCathedral.com

St John’s Co-Cathedral is tourist central in Valletta and rightly so.

The 16th century building looks unremarkable from the outside, but don’t be fooled, inside is one of the most ornately decorated cathedrals I’ve ever seen. The massive central structure and 9 separate chapels are almost hard to take in: with gold reflecting the light, dark blue marble columns, a hand painted ceiling depicting scenes from the life of John the Baptist and rare works of art by the famed Italian artist Caravaggio.

St John's Co-Cathedral Ceiling — *The main hall showing the incredible vaulted ceiling*

It is a truly remarkable building, with a long history.

On your way in you will be presented with an audio device which reveals the story behinds these walls. Amongst the hustle of tourists, nuns and guides it’s easy to feel hurried, but do your best to find your own space and try to take the scale and opulence in.

Now I’m not going to lie, I always find extravagant places of worship like this a bit hard to stomach. It’s an incredible spectacle, but it needs to sit in context. For me religion should be about humble gestures of kindness more than exorbitant constructions of pomp, especially when they were built at a time of great hardship in Malta.

But you’re certainly not going to feel let down by a visit here, so head in and form your own opinion.

The Beheading of John the Baptist

In a side chapel is house the iconic work of art ‘The Beheading of St John The Baptist’ by Michelangelo Caravaggio.

Famed for the unique contrast of light within his paintings, this work was both his largest and the only one he signed. His signature can be found in the blood coming from the next of St John.

Now this was incredible. A huge piece of art which was as notable for the darkness on it as it was for the colour, it was worth the entry alone.

4) St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral

Cost: Free (but with a suggested donation to the ‘Save the Cathedral‘ fund)
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 0930-1630, Sat 0930-1230, Sun Closed
Website: AnglicanMalta.org

St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral is the building that dominates the Valletta skyline and is central in all the classic photos of the city. With a bell tower and spire that rise over 60 metres, it stands out as an iconic and historic element of the ancient city’s silhouette.

Valletta Skyline - St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral

The church was commissioned by Queen Adelaide is 1838 when she found there was no main place of Anglican worship on Malta.

She commissioned William Scamp, who had worked on the restoration of Windsor Castle, 1844. The Cathedral is designated a ‘Pro-Cathedral’, because it’s actually a church, but has been given Cathedral status.

5) Upper Barrakka Gardens

Cost: Free
Opening Times: Daily 0700-2200. Be there for the cannon firings at 1200 and 1600

The Upper Barrakka gardens date back to 1661 when they were built as private gardens for the Knights of St John. The view is one of the best in Valletta, looking down over the Grand Harbour (the deepest natural harbour in the Mediterranean) and the ‘Three Cities’ of Senglea, Virroriosa and Kalkara.

View from Upper Barrakka Gardens — *View over the Grand Harbour and Three Cities from Upper Barrakka Gardens*

Every day at 1200 and 1600 cannons are fired from the Saluting Battery just below the gardens. The guns were originally there to protect Malta’s precious harbour from invading fleets, but then became a way for Ship’s Masters to sync their chronographs.

If you want to learn more about the history check out this fantastic article at BaldHiker.com.

???? Book a Valletta Walking Tour for Under €20 Here

6) Lower Barrakka Gardens

Cost: Free
Opening Times: Daily 0700-2200

The Lower Barrakka Gardens overlook the mouth of the Grand Harbour, a perfect place to kick back in the sun and watch ships make their way out into the Mediterranean. They are about a 15 minute walk from the Upper Barrakka gardens with a walk down St Ursula Street, or you can use the unusual outdoors Barrakka Lift, which serves as an alternative for people wishing to find a quick route between central Valletta and the harbour.

In the gardens you’ll find the Roman-esque monument to the first British Governor of Malta, Alexander Ball and the Siege Bell which serves as a reminder of the time Malta spent under fire during World War Two.

7) Lascaris War Rooms

COST: Adults €12, Senior/Students €10, U16 €5
Opening Times: Mon-Sun 1000-1700
Website: LascarisWarRooms.com

Malta played a major part in the Second World War and is the only country in the world to have been awarded the George Cross to recognise ‘the heroism and devotion of its people’.

The Lascaris War are a secret underground bunker that was dug out in 1940 by the British and used in 1943 by General Eisenhower and his Supreme Commanders as their advance Allied HQ for Operation Husky – the Invasion of Sicily.

Now they have been refurbished and form the Lascaris Was Rooms. Whilst there is not much to see here, it is more than made up for by the passionate and enthusiastic guides who really bring the place to life.

They are 150 feet below the Upper Barrakka Gardens and are accessed near the garden’s entrance.

8) Victoria Gate

Cost: Free
Opening Times: 24 hours

If you decided to drop down the lift on your way between the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens you are likely to find Victoria Gate on the way.

It is the only gate within the fortifications of Valletta to have survived, and is the main entranceway from the harbour into the city. It was built in the 19th Century, a long time after the city walls, but was designed to blend in perfectly with them.

9) Wander the Streets

Yeah, it’s a bit obvious, but give yourself some time to not really do a lot at all!

Valletta is a beautiful labyrinth of well-preserved streets, so many of which look out to the sea at the end.

Make sure you look up as often as you can to take in the stunning architecture and balconies.

???? Book a Valletta Walking Tour for Under €20 Here

And when your done, grab yourself a glass of wine, sit down in one of the many squares and watch the world go by until the sunset ferry arrives.

Where To Eat In Valletta

Somehow we managed to make it through the whole day in Valletta with only a small cafe stop off!

If you’re looking for great places to eat, I’ve pulled a few articles from the internet to help you plan and added the best of them to the map at the top of this post.

*Photo Property of WinesandRestaurantsofMalta.com*

If you’ve got the time to walk a bit further, then heading over to the Valletta waterfront on the far side of the peninsula to Sliema is a great choice.

Built around restored 250-year-old warehouses, the waterfront looks out over the Grand Harbour and is the entry point for many of the cruise ships that come to Malta.

There are restaurants to cater for every need, from Mediterranean to Cantonese and the obligatory Hard Rock Cafe!

10 Facts About Valletta

I thought I’d finish up by sharing some interesting facts about Valletta

A Place To Preserve

The entire city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 thanks to being one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. Being on a small peninsula has preserved its integrity and stopped more modern building work taking place.

Not Many People

It has the lowest population of any European capital city (excluding the city states).

Third Time Lucky

It is the third capital city that Malta has had with Mdina and Vittoriosa also having had stints.

Down South

Valletta is the most southerly capital city in Europe.

A Tale of Two…. Harbours

It is flanked by two harbours, the largest of which is the ‘Grand Harbour’. This is the deepest natural harbour in the Mediterranean.

On Screen

It is a popular film set having appeared in World War Z, Murder on the Orient Express, Captain Philips and the TV Series Game of Thrones.

Smaller Than a Royal’s Park

Valletta is on a tiny peninsula that is only 1km long by 600m wide. You could fit it into Hyde Park…. Twice!

A Famous Painting

St John’s Cathedral in Valletta hosts the only signed painting by Caravaggio and the largest example of his work.

A Pioneer of Urban Design

The city lays claim to being the first ever ‘planned’ city in Europe. It was sketched out in 1565 and built in just 15 years!

There’s a Reason Your Legs Are Tired

Valletta was the brainchild of Jean Parisot de Valette.

He decided a city needed to be both strong and cultured. The roads were built really steep to ensure enemy knights in heavy armour would struggle to make it to the centre. He also wanted a city of culture and a ‘city built by gentleman for gentleman’. Unfortunately he never saw his vision completed as he died in 1568.