Valletta Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Valletta and Malta tours, the UNESCO capital and St John’s Co-Cathedral, the silent city of Mdina, the Three Cities and harbour cruises, Gozo and Comino’s Blue Lagoon, plus Maltese food tours. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Malta itinerary.
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Explore Valletta by interest
Whatever brings you to Valletta — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Valletta
The UNESCO capital of the Knights.
ExploreGozo & Comino
The Blue Lagoon and sister islands.
ExploreMdina
The atmospheric Silent City.
ExploreThree Cities & Harbour
The Grand Harbour and old towns.
ExploreMaltese food
Pastizzi, rabbit and local wine.
ExploreBlue Grotto
Sea caves and Marsaxlokk.
ExploreSt John’s Co-Cathedral
The golden Baroque cathedral.
ExploreDay trips
The best of the Maltese islands.
ExploreTop attractions in Valletta
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Valletta
The UNESCO capital of the Knights.
Blue Lagoon, Comino
Dazzling turquoise swimming.
Mdina
The atmospheric Silent City.
Gozo
Temples, citadel and cliffs.
Three Cities & Harbour
The Grand Harbour and old towns.
St John’s Co-Cathedral
The golden Baroque cathedral.
Marsaxlokk
The colourful fishing village.
Maltese food
Pastizzi, rabbit and wine.
Malta in 1 day
- 1Valletta & Co-Cathedral
- 2Barrakka Gardens
- 3Mdina Silent City
- 4Maltese dinner
Malta in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Valletta & Mdina
- 2Day 2: Gozo & Comino
- 3Blue Lagoon
- 4Harbour views
Malta in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Valletta
- 2Day 2: Gozo & Comino
- 3Day 3: Three Cities & Blue Grotto
- 4Maltese evenings
Malta with kids
- 1Blue Lagoon swim
- 2Popeye Village
- 3Mdina adventure
- 4Pastizzi treats
Boat trip awayBlue Lagoon, Comino
Dazzling turquoise swimming.
Full day awayGozo
Temples, citadel and cliffs.
30 min awayMdina
The atmospheric Silent City.
30 min awayMarsaxlokk
The colourful fishing village.
Half day awayThree Cities
The Grand Harbour old towns.
30 min awayBlue Grotto
Sea caves on the south coast.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Valletta visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) bring warm, sunny weather and swimmable seas with thinner crowds — the best times to visit.
Spring (Mar–Jun)
Warm, green and blooming, ideal for sightseeing and the islands, with the sea warming by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot, dry and busy, perfect for the Blue Lagoon and beaches; book boat trips early and seek shade midday.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea and golden light with fewer crowds — a wonderful time for swimming and exploring.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild and quiet, great for history, walking and low prices, though seas are cooler and some boat trips reduce.
Blue Lagoon season
The Blue Lagoon is busiest and best for swimming from late spring to early autumn; go early to beat the crowds and boats.
One day
Enough for Valletta and the Silent City of Mdina.
Two days
Add Gozo and the Blue Lagoon on Comino.
Three days
The sweet spot: Valletta, the islands, and the Three Cities and Blue Grotto.
Four to five days
Add beaches, the prehistoric temples and more of Gozo.
A week or more
Relax into island life with swimming, diving and slow exploring.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Blue Lagoon, forts and gelato at a gentle pace.
On foot
Valletta and Mdina are compact and best explored on foot, though Valletta is hilly with steps.
Public buses
Malta’s extensive bus network reaches most sights cheaply from Valletta, though it can be slow and busy in summer.
Ferries & boats
Ferries link Valletta, Sliema and the Three Cities, and serve Gozo and Comino; boat trips reach the Blue Lagoon and Blue Grotto.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Gozo, Comino, Mdina and the south coast, saving time on the buses.
Hop-on hop-off
Open-top sightseeing buses loop the main sights, a relaxed way to see the island in a day.
From the airport
Malta International Airport is about 20–30 minutes from Valletta by bus, taxi or transfer.
Book island trips ahead
Popular Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon boat trips sell out in summer — book ahead, especially in peak season.
Pre-book the Co-Cathedral
St John’s Co-Cathedral with its Caravaggio is a must; book ahead or arrive early to avoid queues.
Currency
Malta uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, though carry cash for buses, kiosks and small eateries.
Try the pastizzi
Don’t miss cheap, delicious pastizzi from a local bakery, and a fenkata (rabbit feast) for the full Maltese flavour.
Sun & sea protection
Malta is very sunny — bring sun protection, water and swim gear for the Blue Lagoon and beaches.
English widely spoken
English is an official language in Malta, making it easy to get around and ask for directions.
Gozo & Comino trips
Popular Blue Lagoon and Gozo boat trips sell out — book ahead.
St John’s Co-Cathedral
Pre-book timed tickets to the Caravaggio cathedral.
Mdina tours
Guided Silent City and Rabat tours fill up — reserve early.
Food tours
Small-group Maltese food tours have limited places — book ahead.
Blue Grotto trips
Weather-dependent Blue Grotto boats are busy in summer — go early.
Summer peak
July and August fill boats, beaches and tours — plan well ahead.
Valletta walks
Around €15–35 for a guided Valletta walking tour.
Gozo & Comino trips
About €35–90 for a Blue Lagoon and Gozo boat day trip.
Mdina day tours
Roughly €30–60 for a guided Mdina, Rabat and highlights tour.
Harbour cruises
About €20–40 for a Grand Harbour and Three Cities cruise.
Food tours
Around €40–70 for a guided Maltese food tour in Valletta.
How to save
Use the cheap public buses, eat pastizzi, and visit in shoulder season for lower prices.
Valletta through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm, green days before the crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The sea warms by June; great for sightseeing.
- Best for
- Hot days for the Blue Lagoon and beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Very busy; book boat trips ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea and golden light, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for swimming and islands.
- Best for
- Mild, quiet days for history and walking.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lower prices; cooler seas and fewer boats.