The Tour of Valletta – Malta's Capital City
A guided walk through the city built by the Knights, with its main streets, squares and harbour viewpoints. The best choice if Valletta itself is what you came for.
from €50 See availability
Malta's capital city
Valletta Tours and Things to Do
Valletta is a walled city built by the Order of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes and dense enough to fill a full day. Below are the tours that go there, followed by what to see and how to plan your visit.
Valletta tours you can book today
Three ways to see the capital: on foot with a guide, from the water, or after dark. Prices are per adult and shown live from each tour's own page.
Traditional 2 Harbours Day Cruise
Our most booked trip. A traditional boat around the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett, which is the only way to see Valletta's bastions from below.
from €20 See availability
The Dark Side of Valletta
An evening walk through the stories the daytime tour leaves out. Suits travellers who have already seen the city by day.
from €27 See availability
What to see in Valletta
Choose two or three of these rather than trying to cover everything. Entry to museums and churches is arranged separately unless your tour says otherwise.
Views and wartime memory
The Grand Harbour from the bastions
The eastern bastions look straight across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities and the breakwater. The Siege Bell War Memorial stands here, recalling the convoys and the bombing Malta lived through in the Second World War. It is a short walk from the city centre and costs nothing to visit.
Go early or late in the day: there is little shade along the bastion walk.
See the Valletta walking tour
Architecture of the Knights
Castille Place and the auberges
The Order housed its knights in auberges according to their language group. Auberge de Castille is the grandest survivor and today holds the Office of the Prime Minister, so it is seen from outside only. The square around it is one of the highest points in the city.
The Upper Barrakka Gardens are next door and give the classic harbour view.
Explore the guided tour
The harbour side of the city
Valletta from the water
A harbour cruise leaves from Sliema and rounds both harbours, passing the creeks of the Three Cities and returning along Valletta's sea walls. It shows you the scale of the fortifications in a way no walking route can, and it is the cheapest tour we sell.
Bring sun protection; the deck is mostly open.
View the harbour cruise
Valletta after dark
City Gate and the evening city
The modern City Gate and the Triton Fountain mark the entrance to the city, and the streets behind them stay busy into the evening. Valletta changes character once the day visitors leave, which is what the evening tour is built around.
Evening tours are guided in English only; check the meeting point in your confirmation.
See the evening tourPlanning your visit to Valletta
The city is compact but steep. A little planning saves a lot of walking.
Getting there
Most bus routes on Malta pass through the terminus outside City Gate, and a ferry crosses from Sliema. Our guided tours include road transport from the main hotel areas; check the pickup arrangements in your booking confirmation.
Expect steps
Valletta is built on a ridge and several streets are stepped. If steps are a problem, say so when you book: the flatter route along Republic Street and Merchants Street covers most of the centre.
Check what is included
Museum and cathedral admission is usually not part of a walking tour price. Compare the guiding language, the walking distance and any entry fees before choosing, and read the cancellation terms.
Sundays and public holidays
Shops and some attractions keep shorter hours, while churches may be closed to visitors during services. Opening times change through the year, so check the official page for anything you particularly want to see.
Valletta questions
How long do you need in Valletta?
Half a day covers the main streets, a harbour viewpoint and one museum or church. A full day lets you add a second indoor visit and a proper lunch without rushing. Our guided walking tour is built around a single visit rather than a complete survey of the city.
Is a guided tour of Valletta worth it?
It helps if you want the history of the Knights, the Great Siege and the wartime years explained on the spot. If you would rather wander, the city is easy to navigate alone and a harbour cruise adds the view you cannot get on foot.
Can you visit Valletta and the Three Cities on the same day?
Yes. They face each other across the Grand Harbour and a harbour cruise sees both. Doing both on land in one day is possible but tight; many travellers prefer a morning in Valletta and the Three Cities on a separate visit.
Is Valletta suitable for children?
Generally yes, with the usual caveats: steps, limited shade and stone pavements. Our harbour cruise has a reduced child price and is often the easiest option with younger children.
Do I need to book in advance?
Guided tours run on set dates and can fill up, so booking ahead is safer in the high season. Each tour page shows the dates that are currently open.
Keep exploring Malta
Other places within easy reach of the capital.