Must-see attractions in Valletta

  • Top Choice
    St John's Co-Cathedral

    St John's Co-Cathedral, Malta's most impressive church, was designed by the architect Gerolamo Cassar. It was built between 1573 and 1578, taking over…

  • Top Choice
    Grand Master's Palace

    The stern exterior of the 16th-century Grand Master's Palace conceals a sumptuous interior. This was once the residence of the Grand Masters of the…

  • Top Choice
    National Museum of Archaeology

    The National Museum of Archaeology is housed in the impressive Auberge de Provence. Exhibits include delicate stone tools dating from 5200 BC, Phoenician…

  • Top Choice
    Upper Barrakka Gardens

    These colonnaded gardens perched high above Grand Harbour were created in the late 16th century as a relaxing haven for the Knights from the nearby…

  • Top Choice
    Fort St Elmo & National War Museum

    Guarding Marsamxett and Grand Harbours is Fort St Elmo, named after the patron saint of mariners. The fort was built by the Knights in 1552 in just four…

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    City Gate

    The Renzo Piano–designed City Gate forms part of the architect's dramatic and harmonious development. It echoes the dimensions of the original 1633…

  • Parliament Building

    Renzo Piano's breathtaking Parliament Building was completed in 2014. Its design includes two massive volumes of stone that look suspended in air, but are…

  • Saluting Battery

    The Saluting Battery is where a cannon once fired salutes to visiting naval vessels. The battery has been restored, and a cannon is fired Monday through...

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    Lascaris War Rooms

    A mechanically ventilated underground tunnel complex that lies 40m beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens, this housed Britain's top-secret command in Malta…

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    Church of St Paul's Shipwreck

    In AD 60 St Paul was shipwrecked on Malta and brought Christianity to the population. This church has a 19th-century facade, but the interior dates from…

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    Upper Barrakka Lift

    There was a lift between the Grand Harbour and the Upper Barrakka Gardens from 1905 to 1973. In 2012, this was finally replaced by the marvellous…

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    Carmelite Basilica

    Originally built in 1570 and expanded in the mid-19th century, the Carmelite Basilica (formerly known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Mt Carmel) was…

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    Valletta Contemporary

    Emblematic of Valletta's cultural development during the city's 2018 stint as a European Capital of Culture is this modern gallery with an ever-changing…

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    MUŻA

    MUŻA is a 2018 incarnation of Malta's Museum of Fine Arts, which closed in a previous location in 2016. Sited in the Auberge d'Italie, a 16th-century…

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    Manoel Theatre

    Malta's national theatre was built in 1731 and is one of the oldest theatres in Europe. The building is being slowly restored, but is still in use for…

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    Auberge de Castille

    On Pjazza Kastilja, pause to admire the facade of the Auberge de Castille, designed by the architect Andrea Belli in 1741. It adorns a 16th-century…

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    Casa Rocca Piccola

    The 16th-century palazzo Casa Rocca Piccola is the family home of the 9th Marquis de Piro, who still lives here and has opened part of the palazzo to the…

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    Malta Postal Museum

    Sandwiched between a pub and restaurants on Triq l-Arċisqof is this compact but interesting museum. Highlights of the permanent exhibition include the…

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    Malta Contemporary Art

    After a few years of exhibiting at various pop-up venues around Valletta, Malta Contemporary Art (MCA) now has its own dedicated space tucked away in a…