Malta: Your 2 day Valletta itinerary

My post on Mdina

The island of Malta is a great destination for tourists of all types. Valletta, the capital, has a lot to offer everyone and is an excellent location for a short stay.

The city is full of fascinating history and culture, has loads of museums and churches to visit, and absolutely beautiful architecture. So much so, that it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The island’s diminutive size – covering just 121 square miles – means it’s also easy to take a day trip out from the capital.

You can go island hopping to the nearby islands of Gozo and Camino. You can also visit nearby towns and villages (Mdina, once the capital of the island and now known as the ‘Silent City’ is particularly recommended).

For kids, there’s Popeye’s Village. This is located around a bay and offers a wide range of fun activities to keep you occupied.

2 days in Valletta

If you’re only able to visit Valletta for a short time, you’ll need to know what to prioritise. Below I’ve set out a 2 day itinerary to help you make the most of your time.

For more information, including information on the history of the island, the best time to go, and day trips out of the city, see my fuller post.

This post contains affiliate links

2 days in Valletta

– Start at the city gate: You’ll find the Parliament House nearby. Both are modern structures that were designed as part of the city’s preparation for being the 2018 European City of Culture. Just outside the gate is the Triton Fountain.

– The Opera House and Auberge de Castille: The Opera House is to the side of the Parliament House and has been reconstructed as an open air theatre after suffering both fire and bomb damage. The Auberge is the now used by the Prime Minister of Malta.

– The Lady of Victories Church: Valletta has a surprisingly large number of church in a small area. Our Lady of Victories Church was the first in Valletta and is where the foundation stone was laid. Opposite is a statue of the Grand Master.

– St. George’s Square: You’ll find the Grand Master’s Palace here. This is the official residence of the President of Malta, but was once home to the Grand Master (the early rulers of Malta). Entrance to the palace includes access to the Palace Armoury.

– The War Letters: A short walk from the Grand Master’s Palace are plaques on the wall that show the letters sent to the Maltese people during the Second World War. One is from King George VI, awarding the Maltese people the George Cross; the second is from American President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

– The Upper Barrakka Gardens: These are lovely gardens in the centre of the city with patios, fountains, and a small outdoor cafe. The main draw, however, is the views out across the Grand Harbour and over to the ‘Three Cities’.

– The ‘Three Cities’: The Three Cities are fortified towns on the other side of the Grand Harbour (Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua). You can take the lift down from the Barrakka Gardens and then cross the road to the ferry terminal.

The trip takes 20 minutes and is well worth it for the views alone, even if you don’t have much time to explore the other side.

Once there, you can wander around the small medieval streets, and visit the Inquisitor’s Palace, Church of St. Lawrence, and Auberge D’Angleterre. You can also walk up to Fort St. Angelo and visit the Malta Maritime Museum.

– The Lower Barrakka Gardens: This is a small peaceful garden with fountains and sculptures and more great views of the bay. You can look out at the Great Siege Bell, a memorial that honours those who lost their lives through war between 1940 and 1943.

– Fort St.Elmo and the National War Museum: The fort, which was once used to defence the city against invasion, is another place to get amazing views of the harbour in Valletta. You can visit the National War Museum here which houses the island’s George Cross.

– St. John’s Co-Cathedral: Another must see-sight in Valletta, this 16th century cathedral is quite plain on the outside but this belies its absolutely exquisite and opulent interior. There are chapels and alcoves, paintings, frescoes and sculptures, and beautiful ceilings and floors.

To top it off, your entrance fee gives you the chance to see two Caravaggio painitings. One is famous for being the only work he signed.

– Mdina, the ‘Silent City’: The oldest city on the island and previously the capital city, a trip to Mdina is well worth it (you can get here via the hop-hop on bus from the city). It’s a unique place to wander around as it’s now virtually deserted and cars are generally not allowed inside the city.

My post on Mdina provides more information on what to see and do on a trip here.

If you have longer in Valletta…

If you have longer in Valletta, there’s lots more to do and see here.

My post gives you 20 top things during your trip. This includes places to visit if you’re on the island for longer.

Choose from island hopping, visiting another museum, having some fun at Popeye’s Village or going out to Marsoxlokk, with its beautiful Church of Our Lady of Pompeii.