How to See All of Valletta’s Highlights on a One-Day Walking Tour

With a comfortable pair of shoes, a hat to protect yourself from Malta’s ever-present heat and sunshine, and a bathing suit in your pack, you can set off from the cruise port and quickly take in Valletta’s top spots, with enough time for a traditional drink and snack, and without having to rush to make the ship’s all-aboard time.

While the starting and ending point of this walking tour is the cruise port, which is very close to the city center, if you’re not traveling by cruise ship, you can pick up the tour from anywhere on the map and follow the circuit.

The map and walking tour below only offer suggestions from my first-hand experience in the city. You can adjust it to your preferences, budget, and walking abilities.

Starting your walking tour of Valletta early allows for more reasonable temperatures than if you set off later in the day. It gets hot in Malta, even in November.

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From the cruise port to the peaceful Upper Barrakka Gardens is an easy but ascending 20-minute walk. The public garden built on top of the SS Peter and Paul Bastion has benches where to rest, a lovely fountain, a small café, and a row of arches that lead to a large balcony. The balcony provides great views of the Grand Harbour and The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua) across the water. The Upper Barrakka Gardens get very busy, especially around 12 noon, when the canons located at the Saluting Battery, just one level below the balcony, are fired.

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If you want to see the time-gun, as it is known, you have two options. Get to Upper Barrakka Gardens early, find a spot on the balcony by 11:30 AM, and stay there until the canons are fired. Or pay the entrance fee of $3.15 (€3) to go down to the level of the Saluting Battery itself to see the spectacle up close. If you choose the second option, you’ll also get a short lecture by the members of the Malta Heritage Trust who run the daily event.

The Upper Barrakka Gardens is home an impressive historic outdoor steel elevator that allows you to get from the gardens to the water taxi station, and vice versa, very quickly and without putting in much effort. The ride is cheap at $1.05 (€1) and includes a return trip. From the water taxi station, you can take a small boat to The Three Cities for a very modest sum. Note that the water taxi station is at the same elevation as the cruise port, but remains about six minutes away from it on foot.

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After having experienced the deafening sound of the time-gun at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, make your way to the biggest attraction in the city: St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

It costs $15.77 (€15) to enter St. John’s Co-Cathedral, but it’s worth every penny. Inside the 16th-century edifice is an extraordinary display of baroque art and architecture, including intricate frescoes on barrel-vaulted ceilings, gilded arches, ornate marble floors, and much more that will leave you slack-jawed. The icing on the cake is the two Caravaggio paintings the cathedral houses: The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Jerome Writing.

Note that the cathedral opens at 9 AM and that getting there as early as possible will allow you to avoid the long lines and the crowds. Plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes inside.

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A couple of minutes’ walk from the cathedral is the early-19th-century Caffe Cordina whose patio takes up much of Republic Square. I recommend taking a seat inside, however, to see the elegant decor, including the vaulted ceilings, the chandelier, and the grand staircase. The place is busy, but the staff, in white shirt, tie, and waistcoat, won’t make you wait a minute more than necessary. To keep you going on your tour of the city, order a Kwareżimal, a traditional cross-shaped Maltese biscuit made of ground almonds and usually eaten during lent. A glass of Kinnie, a Maltese pop that combines orange and herbs, will give you the boost you need for the walk ahead.

Across the street from Caffe Cordina is the immense St. George Square where the newly restored Grand Master Palace, one the many palaces in Valletta, is located. While it is the seat of the Office of the President of Malta, visitors can explore 85 percent of the stunning 16th-century edifice during their visit. It costs (€12) to access the Grand Master Palace.

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Just three minutes away from the Grand Master Palace is the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which dominates the cityscape with its dome. While the basilica that was constructed on the site in the 16th century was destroyed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt into what you can see today between 1958 and 1981. The interior is grand and ornate, with tall pink columns surrounding the space, and an immense, light-filled dome above. It is free to enter.

From the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to the natural pool in St. Elmo Bay is less than 20 minutes on foot. While the natural pool consists only of a six-foot-deep stone area that fills with sea water, it’s fun to go for a dip, especially when it’s sweltering in the city. If the sea is choppy, be mindful of the waves. There’s a set of stairs to get in and out of the pool.

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From the natural pool, take a 15-minute walk all around the 16th-century Fort St Elmo located on the edge of the peninsula. The path isn’t well maintained so be mindful of where you step. Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum can be visited for $10.50 (€10) and guided visits can be booked in advance.

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The Lower Barrakka Gardens are located 10 minutes on foot from Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum. The gardens are a great place to take a rest and check out the sea view on a bench under the shade of the palm trees. Walk around and look at the various commemorative plates, statues, and monuments, including the replica of a Roman temple, in the gardens before being back on our way to the cruise port. It’s a 20 minute walk to get there.