The capital of Malta, Valletta, is a stunning historic city full of attractions, and you should definitely set aside at least one full day to explore it. In this article, I’d like to show you how I spent a beautiful day there — and the places you shouldn’t miss when visiting Valletta.

In the morning, I boarded a ferry in Sliema, and within a few minutes, I was already admiring Valletta. From the water, it looks like a stone fortress rising straight from the sea. In a way, it even reminded me of Budapest. The city was built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a population of just over 6,000 residents. Although it’s one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, its rich history and timeless atmosphere can be felt in every corner.

After arriving at the harbor, I stepped into the city’s charming narrow streets. Everywhere you look, there are small shops and colorful balconies. These typical enclosed wooden balconies are called “gallariji”, and they’ve become one of Valletta’s most recognizable symbols.

I arrived at the National Museum of Archaeology, which houses some of the most valuable archaeological treasures in the world, including the famous Sleeping Lady figurine from the Hypogeum and various Neolithic artifacts. Here, you can learn more about the history of Malta’s megalithic temples and its prehistoric culture, which dates back thousands of years.

Then I walked over to Republic Square, surrounded by historic buildings such as the National Library, the Grandmaster’s Palace, and several other important landmarks.

When it comes to churches, the most famous and beautiful one in Valletta is the St. John’s Co-Cathedral. From the outside, it looks rather modest, but once you step inside, it’s dazzling — filled with gold, marble, and intricate frescoes. Every inch of the walls and ceilings is covered in stunning details. The cathedral was built in the 16th century as a symbol of the Knights’ power and faith. Each of the eight “langues” — the national groups of the Order of St. John — had its own chapel, decorated in a distinctive style. The marble floor inside the cathedral is especially remarkable, as it covers the tombs of over 400 knights, each marked with beautifully carved coats of arms.

I continued on to another square, home to the Royal Opera House ruins. Today, it serves as an open-air theatre built within the remains of the former Royal Opera House of Valletta, which was tragically destroyed during World War II. The Maltese managed to transform this once-devastated landmark into a modern cultural venue, beautifully blending history with contemporary design.

Then I walked to the City Gate, called Bieb il-Belt in Maltese, which literally means “the gate of the city.” Over the centuries, the gate has been completely rebuilt several times — the oldest one dates back to the 16th century, while the current version was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano.

In front of it stands the Triton Fountain, built in 1959, depicting three tritons — mythical sea gods holding a large basin of water. It is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. From the bridge near the gate, there is a stunning view of the city’s defensive ditch and the old fortifications that once protected Valletta from attacks.

Valletta has two famous gardens that offer the most beautiful views of the city and the sea — the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Lower Barrakka Gardens. Each of these places has a different atmosphere, but both are perfect for relaxing. I first went to visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens feature flowers, palm trees, benches, and arches with views of the Lower Barrakka Gardens, the harbor, and the Three Cities — Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua. I took a little break here from the sun.

You can also reach the gardens by an elevator that connects the harbor with the upper part of the city — the ride takes just a few seconds, but it saves a lot of steps. This elevator was originally built in 1905, later destroyed, and reopened in 2012 in a modern steel-and-glass design.

These gardens were originally created in the 17th century as a private relaxation spot for the Knights of St. John. Every day at noon, a cannon salute takes place on one of the garden terraces. This tradition once served to welcome incoming ships, but today it is a popular tourist attraction.

I walked across the city to the other side, reaching Fort St. Elmo, which once protected the harbor from attacks. It was built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John and became a key defensive point during the Great Siege of Malta. During World War II, the fort was heavily damaged, but after years of restoration, it was transformed into a museum.

Today, the fort houses the National War Museum, one of the most fascinating places in Malta. The exhibitions cover periods from the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, through the rule of the Knights, up to World War II, when Malta was a strategic target. Visitors can see uniforms, weapons, old maps, photographs, and personal items of soldiers.

After visiting the museum, I walked back past the Lower Barrakka Gardens to the Siege Bell War Memorial. This bell commemorates all the people who died defending Malta’s freedom during World War II. Since 1992, it has been rung daily at noon.

Then I moved a bit to the Lower Barrakka Gardens. From there, there was a beautiful view of the coastal area in front of the Victoria Gate, the cruise ships, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. These gardens are much quieter and less visited than the upper gardens. In the midst of stone-built Valletta, they truly feel like an oasis of calm.

I went down to the Victory Gate. This gate was named in honor of the victory over the Ottomans during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. It once served as one of the main entrances for soldiers and merchants into the fortified city. Although it appears modest today alongside the massive city walls, in the past it was a symbol of triumph. Above the entrance, the coat of arms of the Order of St. John and a Latin inscription commemorating the bravery of the city’s defenders can be seen.

The gate is built from the typical golden limestone found in most historic buildings in Valletta. It is a beautiful example of 18th-century Baroque architecture and is now used as a passageway to the small harbor.

In this harbor, I boarded a small ferry that took me across to one of the Three Cities, Senglea. Senglea is known as Città Invicta and is a historic fortified town in the Grand Harbour of Malta, famous for its resistance against the Ottoman invasion.

It was strange that the streets in this area were completely empty. After the crowded streets of Valletta, the quietness felt quite unusual at times. I walked all the way to the tip of the peninsula to the La Guardiola Gardens. From there, there was another beautiful view back over the coastal area of Valletta.

Feeling tired, I arrived at the bus stop and took the bus back to Sliema, returning to my hotel.

As dusk began to settle, I went to a beautiful viewpoint in Sliema to capture the last rays of sunlight reflecting off the magnificent city of Valletta.

I hope this article helped you decide what to see and visit in Valletta. The next day, I went to explore Mdina, the former capital of Malta.