Historic Malta: Knights, the Three Cities & the Silent City of Mdina
Long before the beach resorts, Malta was the island fortress of the Knights of St John. Trace their story through Baroque Valletta, cruise the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities and lose yourself in medieval Mdina — with the best-rated history tours to book for each.
At a glance
- 1Walk Valletta with the Knights of St John
- 2St John's Co-Cathedral & Caravaggio
- 3Grand Harbour cruise to the Three Cities
- 4Medieval Mdina & Rabat catacombs
Valletta: capital of the Knights
Built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, Valletta is a fortified Baroque capital packed into a walkable grid. Guided walks weave past the Grandmaster's Palace, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and St John's Co-Cathedral, whose gilded interior hides two Caravaggio masterpieces. History-themed and dark-knights tours add the intrigue, duels and scandals behind the honey-coloured facades.
The Three Cities and the Grand Harbour
Across the Grand Harbour lie the Three Cities — Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua — the Knights' original home, older and quieter than Valletta. The classic way to see them is a harbour cruise that glides beneath the bastions past superyachts and dghajsa water-taxis, often paired with a guided walk through Vittoriosa's waterfront and the Inquisitor's Palace. Some trips add a Maltese wine tasting.
Mdina, the Silent City
Inland, medieval Mdina crowns a hilltop as the Silent City, its walls enclosing a maze of noble palazzos, hushed alleys and a cathedral said to stand where St Paul met Malta's Roman governor. Tours usually combine Mdina with neighbouring Rabat, its St Paul's Catacombs and grottos, and many run atmospheric evening walks that lean into the town's legends, sieges and ghost stories.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Valletta — prices per person.
