Museums and galleries in Valletta

Museums and galleries in Valletta

1. See

   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

2. See

   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

3. Eat

   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.

4. See

   St. James Cavalier

   A fortress opposite the Auberge of Castille (today the Prime Minister's office) which was built as part of the elaborate defence systems of Valletta. Today it houses a 'Centre for Creativity', with its own theatre, cinema, music room and exhibition halls. Its twin, St. John Cavalier, is the embassy of the Knights of St. John, who are, like the Vatican, recognised by several countries as a sovereign entity.

5. See

   The National Museum of Archaeology

   Even though Malta has an impressive and unique ancient history, this museum, housed in the former Auberge de Provence in Republic Street can be rather a disappointment. The museum is partially being renovated, hopefully bringing something more worthy of its name.

   Daily 09:00-18:00 (17:00 in Jan, Feb)·€5.00

6. Do Not mapped

   Audio Guide

   To get further historical information about the numerous places of interest in Valletta it can be useful to get an audio guide. It is available in different languages from the Archeology Museum on Republic Street. You can choose independently from the 24 stops and it is not necessary to follow the given order. Stops can easily be skipped or visited in another sequence when tired or full of the new information.

7. See Not mapped

   Belfrey Tour

   takes you to a spectacular view of the cathedral from the gallery, and then up to the roof for okay views of the city. Timed tickets are available only at the cathedral; enquire when you go in.

   €5 extra

8. See

   Malta Postal Museum

   Museum run by Maltapost, including a working post office.

   Mon-Fri 10:00 - 16:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00·€5

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Valletta (CC BY-SA 4.0).