Valletta

Agenda Bookshop

The best bookshop in Malta is definitely the one formerly known as Sapienzas on Republic Street, but can be a bit more expensive. There is another branch near The Embassy Hotel on St. Lucia Street.

Cafe Society

The only queer bar in Malta. Great drinks. Guests spill out into the street in warmer months.

Daily 12:00-01:00

Caffe Cordina

Venerable cafe, popular for lunch or for pastries & coffee in the coffee bar. Mixed reviews of the food.

Mon-Sat 08:00-19:00, Sun 08:00-16:00

Café Deux Baronnes

Expensive even by local standards, but the cafe has a relaxed atmosphere and a good view of Grand Harbour and Fort Sant'Angelo.

City Gate

Porta di terra

The fifth incarnation of the main entrance to the city was built between 2011 and 2014 to design of the Italian architect Renzo Piano. The first gate on this site was built in 1569.

Coastal Walk

You can take a spectacular walk along the sea around the outside of the city walls. If you go to the mooring place where the ferry for Sliema leaves, there is the possibility to walk over the rocks towards the tip of the peninsula and then around it coming back up into the city just next to the Malta Experience. This walk takes about 30 minutes and is done by virtually no-one. As parts of this walk go via bare rocks, it's recommended to wear proper shoes and only do it in dry weather.

Croce Bonaci Caterers

Secluded site with wery good breakfast and tremendous sandwiches. Great little café with friendly and helpful staff. Authentic Maltese food. Excellent welcome.

Farmers Market

Every Sunday there's a market in front of St. James Cavalier, with local food products and textiles.

Fish Market

Every morning, you can buy fresh fish next to the Castillan Curtains.

Fort St. Elmo

National War Museum

Built at the tip of the peninsula by the knights after the Dragut Raid of 1551. During the Great Siege of 1565 the Turks made the mistake of choosing to first take this fort, for which they had planned a week. Instead, the knights and soldiers present fought desperately for a month, buying essential time. The knights in the fort knew they were fighting to the death, and so rather than being taken off the ramparts when wounded, knights would fight on seated in chairs until they couldn't even lift their arms anymore. Today, the fort houses the National War Museum and the Police Academy. The National War Museum is mainly focussed on World Wars 1 and 2, but covers the period from the Bronze Age onwards.

Apr-Sep: daily 09:00-18:00; Oct-Mar: daily 09:00-17:00·€10

Fortifications of Valletta

The imposing defence walls and ramparts at the entrance to Valletta, built by the Knights in the late 16th century are interesting to explore.

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is a subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 BC. Thought to have been built as a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times. It is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. To ensure its conservation, the site’s microclimate is strictly regulated. For this reason, the site is open to a maximum of 80 visitors each day. Each tour is limited to ten visitors. A tour of the site starts with a brief introductory exhibition and multilingual audio-visual film focusing on the temple building peoples and the Hypogeum’s relationship to Malta’s temple sites. Booking in advance on the Heritage Malta website is strongly advised. If unable to book in advance, tickets for tours the next day at 12:00 and 16:00 are sold at the Valletta Museum of Fine Arts the day prior. They are sold at a first come, first serve basis. Depending on the season, lining up prior to the opening of the museum is a necessity for purchasing tickets. Plan on lining up anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half in advance to ensure ticket purchases.

Eight tours are conducted daily, starting on the hour from 09:00 till 16:00 (last tour)·€35 in advance (€20 for seniors 60+), €50 for "last minute" tickets, if available

Lascaris War Rooms

Underground complex which was used as the British HQ during the defence of Malta in World War II.

Mon-Sat 10:00 - 16:30, last admission 16:00·Adult (16+) €20, senior €19, family (2 adults & 3 children under 16) €35, child (5-15) €7

Legligin

A set menu of Maltese dishes. Food varies each day depending on what they buy at market. Vegetarian options. No à la carte menu. Wine pairing for €40 extra.

Tue-Sat 13:00 - 01:00, Sun Mon 18:00 - 01:00·Set menu €35 lunch, €45 dinner

Luciano Restaurant

Good food for reasonable prices in a charming location near cathedral - big portions. On 3rd floor of Luciano Hotel.

Malata Restaurant

If you are looking for a place in Valletta to have dinner on a terrace, then this is a nice place to go slightly later in the evening when the square in front of the Grand Master's palace is almost emptied of parked cars.

Malta Government's Crafts Centre

At Malta Government's Crafts Centre local handicrafts are presented, and while you can't buy them there, at the centre they will inform you where the individual objects can be bought.

Mon–Fri 09:00–12:30, 13:00–17:00

Manoel Theatre

Maltese: It-Teatru Manoel

'La Scala' in miniature, a very beautiful 17th-century theatre in its original state. One of the oldest active theaters in Europe, it is the place for many classical music performances but also for instance the hilarious Christmas Panto.

Meli Bookshop

Small independent bookshop with a varied selection of books, including very old books that are priced in lira.

Mon-Sat: 9 am–1 pm, 4–7 pm, Fri: 9 am–1 pm, 4–7 pm, Sat: 9am-1pm, Sun: closed

Museum Cafe

Cosy little café with very impressive interior and amazing food. It is one of the old Maltese bars as they ought to be. Great to enjoy original Maltese ftira. The owner is super nice and accommodating.

Nenu the Artisan Baker

Bakery famous for its ftira (traditional Maltese ring-formed bread). Also serves Maltese dishes and desserts.

Tue-Sat 11:45-15:30 and 18:00-23:30, Sun 11:45-16:00·ftira €12, mains €14-18

No.43

Café with fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and home made cakes. At the counter you can choose salads to eat in or take out.

Mon-Sat 08:00-17:00

Old Bakery's Pizza e Pasta

Small size pizza restaurant. Fresh ingredients for a good pizza cooked in a wood oven. The pizza is tasteful like Italian pizzas.

Palace of the Grand Masters

Now it is the President's office and the Maltese parliament. The staterooms, when accessible, are quite impressive. It also houses the Knights' armoury, which is open to visitors daily from 09:00-17:00. (However, all other parts of the palace are closed to visitors, so what you can see is limited.) At the entrance, you can receive an audio guide, which is included in the entrance fee. It provides you with further historical information about the various armoury of different eras, beginning from the medieval chain mail up to the 17th-century armour.

Jan Feb: daily 09:00-17:00; Mar-Dec: daily 10:00-18:00; (armoury sometimes closed for functions)·Adults €12, senior (60+) or youth (12-17) €10, child (6-11) €8

Parliament House

Malta Parliament building built between 2011 and 2015 at a cost of €90 million to a design by Renzo Piano. The building's design of two large stone blocks on stilts is controversial, but it has low emissions with solar panels on the roof. Public access to the building is restricted.

Pjazza Teatru Rjal

Open Air Theatre

Open theatre on the site of the former Royal Opera House which was destroyed by a bomb in 1942. The outdoor theatre was designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2013.

Rampila Restaurant and Wine bar

Rampila

Maltese-Mediterranean fusion restaurant and wine bar in the impressive bastions. You can enjoy a fine plate of fresh seafood, meat, game, pasta or risotto there or enjoy a platter and/or dips accompanied by wine from an extensive selection.

Daily 12:00-22:30

Rubino

Maltese traditional cuisine is served in this restaurant which was opened in 1906. Prior reservation recommended.

Mon 12:30 - 14:30, Tue-Fri 12:30 - 14:30 and 19:30 - 22:30, Sat 19:30 - 22:30

Scoglitti

Fish restaurant right next to the sea. They serve freshly caught fish, lobsters and oysters.

daily 12:00 - 15:00, 19:00 - 23:00

St Paul's Pro-Cathedral

Anglican cathedral built in 1844, with memorials to the World War 2 defence of Malta.

Daily 10:00 - 15:00