Valletta is one of the best places to visit in Malta and a popular cruise ship destination. Not only is it the capital of the gorgeous island nation of Malta, but its history also dates back to the 1500s. If you only have one day in Valletta, these are some of the best things to do. For those that have more time, make sure to check out this Malta itinerary.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Valletta here.
Disclaimer: Special thanks to the Malta Tourism Board for hosting me at several attractions on my trip to Malta! As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
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History of Valletta
Although the history of Malta dates back to 5900 BC, Valletta was not established until the 1500s by the Order of St. John. The city fell for a time to the Ottomans, but the order won it back with the help of the Sicilians. In the 1570s, the main area was completed, and it became the capital city.
During the 1700s, the French took control and kicked out the Order. After a time, the British then expelled the French. During British rule, many buildings were added or improved in Valletta.
Later, it became the capital of Malta once the country gained independence. It is also the Southernmost Capital in Europe. In 1980, Valletta became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
How to Get to Valletta
Malta has one airport: Malta International Airport. You can typically get many flights to Malta from the United States and all over Europe. We flew here from Jordan using Ryanair for $50/person and then onwards to Madrid afterward.
I’ve seen flights from Los Angeles to Malta for around $500-$600 per person. You can also book flights to wherever is cheapest in Europe and grab cheap flights to Malta from there.
How to Get from the Airport to Valletta
You have several options on how to get from the Airport to Valletta: Bus, Taxi, or Rental Car.
We opted to take a taxi for 17€ because we did not want to deal with the bus due to luggage. It is about a 15-minute drive from the airport to Valletta.
The bus seemed pretty straightforward. There are bus lines that run all over the island. From the airport, hop on the 73, 71, or X4 lines. This should cost you 1.50€ a person depending on the time of day.
Transportation in Valletta
Valletta is a very walkable city. There is no need to rent a car or take any transportation for one day in Valletta unless you want to head to places outside of the city walls.
Where to Stay in Valletta
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Malta hotels here!
We opted to stay in Valletta at The Cumberland Hotel. I recommend staying in Valletta for your first time in Malta if you want to explore various parts of the island and have a lot of restaurants really close by. You can also check out these hotels.
- Hilton Malta
- DoubleTree Malta
- Malta Marriott Resort & Spa
- The Westin Dragonara Resort
- Hyatt Regency Malta
- Hyatt Centric Malta
- Intercontinental Malta
Language and Currency in Malta
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Many people also speak Italian. We never had a problem communicating with anyone in English.
The National currency in Malta is the Euro (€) as they are part of the European Union.
Things to do in Valletta
There is no shortage of things to do during one day in Valletta. It makes for an easy place to explore in Malta, especially when hopping off of a cruise ship.
View the Auberge de Castille
Cost: Free
The Auberge de Castille was once an inn in the 1500s for the knights. Present-day, it sits on the highest point in Valletta, and it is where the Prime Mister works. Visitors like to take photos on the steps with the cannons as it is a pretty impressive building.
Ride the Barrakka Lift
Cost: 1€
If coming from the cruise port, you will want to take the Barrakka Lift up from the port area. This is an easy way to get up and down from the port if you do not want to climb stairs. From there, you can also catch a boat over to the Three Cities: Birgu, Singles, and Cospicua. It is an easy way to get up to the main part of town during your one day in Valletta.
Coffee Circus Lisboa
Cost: €
Hours: Tues-Sat: 8am-10pm, Sun: 8am-8:30pm
Grab a coffee or some drinks from Coffee Circus Lisboa. They have some simple cocktails and a buy one, get one free happy hour. Sitting on the street and drinking a spritz is one of the best things to do in Valletta.
Ride on a Dghajsa
Cost: 2€
If you want to get out on the water, opt to ride on a Dghajsa over to the three cities and back. A Dghajsa is a Maltese gondola-shaped boat. These were typically used by ferry sailors and seamen. It is a set price per person, and they constantly run throughout the day. You will not want to miss taking a ride on these during your one day in Valletta.
Grab a meal Grana
Cost: €€
Hours: Sun-Tues, Thurs-Sat: 6pm-10:30pm, Wed: 12:30pm-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm
Grana is an Italian restaurant attached to the Cumberland Hotel. Make sure to try one of their many spritz drinks! Aperol and Limoncello are my favorite. They also have some delicious pasta options thus making it one of the best things to do in Valletta.
Eat Dinner at Guze Bistro
Cost: €€
Hours: Tues-Fri: 12:30pm-2:30pm, 6pm-9:30pm, Sat, Mon: 6pm-9:30pm (closed Sundays)
Guze Bistro is one of the best places to eat during one day in Valletta. This Michelin Guide restaurant has a rotating menu, but it typically serves some Maltese dishes. Make sure to try the sheep cheese as an appetizer.
Lower Barrakka Gardens
Cost: Free
The Lower Barrakka Gardens are a bit smaller than the Upper Gardens and it has more monuments within the park. It also often hosts special events and is a nice place to relax for a while. You can spend some time relaxing here and enjoying the gardens.
MUZA
Cost: €10
Hours: 10am-6pm
MUZA, or the National Museum of Art, is one of the main art museums on the island. The collection is mainly Maltese art with some other European art thrown in there as well. Plan to spend an hour or so at the museum.
National Museum of Archaeology
Cost: €5
Hours: 9am-7pm
The National Museum of Archaeology is a must-visit stop during one day in Valletta for history and art lovers. The museum contains an assortment of Prehistoric, Bronze Age, and Phoenician artifacts. Visitors can spend about an hour or so visiting the two floors of the museum.
Visit the Palace Armoury
Cost: €6
Hours: 9am-5pm
The Palace Armoury is attached to the Presidential Palace. It contains a wide collection of arms and is the world’s largest collection of armoury that is still housed in its original building. There are various armored suits and weapons from Medieval times. The museum is not huge but will take about 30 minutes to go through. You can also opt to book a guided tour.
Grab Pasta at Pastaus
Cost: €€
Hours: 12pm-11pm
Pastaus is another delicious place to eat during one day in Valletta. It is an awesome Italian place where you can create your own pasta dish. First, you will want to pick out what shape and type of pasta you would like. Then, you can choose what kind of sauce to have. It makes for the perfect meal after spending the day on the water.
Take a Picture in a London Style Phone Booth
Cost: Free
Valletta used to be run by the British, so there are still some British influences around the old town. Back in the 1800s, these red British phone booths popped up all around the island. Grabbing a picture in one of these is one of the fun and unique things to do in Valletta.
Browse the Shops on Republic Street
Cost: Free
Republic Street is one of the main streets in Valletta. Here, you will find a ton of different shops with souvenirs, clothes, and more! Spend some time wandering the area and checking out the local goods.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Cost: €15
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat: 9:30am-12:30pm
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is the main Roman-Catholic cathedral in Valletta. It was built in the 1500s by the Order of St. John. The Co-Cathedral is mostly known for its Baroque-style interior. Visit towards the end of the day to avoid the crowds.
Wander St. George’s Square
Cost: Free
St. George’s Square is the main square in Valletta. The Presidential Palace is located here, along with several other government buildings. Many events and ceremonies take place in this square. You can even check out the live webcam here.
Grab Drinks at Tadaam
Cost: €
Hours: 10am-3pm, 4pm-8pm
Tadaam is the perfect place to grab a drink and try out some of the local wines and liquors. They offer a ton of wines and alcoholic beverages from around the world. They also offer a daily happy hour with buy one get one drinks.
Tour Underground Valletta
Cost: €15
Hours: Mon, Wed, Sun: 10am-1pm
Three days a week, visitors can descend into underground Valletta, the original streets of this capital city. Originally used for troops and underground storage, many people moved underground during the World War 2 era.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Cost: Free
The Upper Barrakka Gardens is a public garden near the city gate in Valletta. It offers a gorgeous view of the three cities and the Grand Harbor. This area was originally used as an area for the knights to hang out. From the Upper Gardens, you can also see the cannon salute every day at noon.
Walk through the City Gate
The city gate is the official entrance to Valletta. Outside of these gates is where you can catch buses to all other parts of the island. The present gate is the fifth one to stand on the site and was built in 2011.
Grab a Gin and Tonic at Yard 32 Gin Bar
Cost: €
Hours: Wed-Sun: 6pm-late
Gin lovers will want to stop at the Yard 32 Gin and Tapas Bar for drinks. This bar is known for having a huge assortment of gins and tonics that they pair together. They also have over 50 different kinds of tapas.
There are so many fun things to do during one day in Valletta. If you have more time, opt to spend several days exploring the country. You can also pair a visit to Valletta with a visit to Southern France, Madrid, or Italy.
