Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrive in Malta, transfer to Valletta, and get your first awe-inspiring views of the city's modernized entrance and packed square.
Morning
Arrival at Malta International Airport (MLA)
Take a pre-booked taxi, airport shuttle, or the X4 bus to Valletta. The drive offers your first glimpses of the island's distinctive landscape before arriving at the city gates.
1-2 hours (transfer)
$20-35 (taxi), $3-5 (bus)
Pre-book a taxi for convenience via eCabs or Bolt app.
Lunch
Caffe Cordina
Maltese/Italian Cafe
Mid-range
Afternoon
Orientation Walk: City Gate & Triton Fountain
Stroll around the modern Renzo Piano-designed City Gate,
Parliament Building, and
Opera House ruins. Admire the grand Triton Fountain, a hub of activity. Walk along the main Republic Street to get your bearings.
2 hours
Free
Evening
Dinner with a view
Enjoy a welcoming dinner at The Harbour Club, offering impressive views of Marsamxett Harbour from its terrace.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre near Republic Street (Boutique Hotel (e.g., Palazzo Prince d'Orange or Ursulino Valletta))
Central location for easy access on your first day, with many restaurants and sights within walking distance.
For a classic Maltese snack after arrival, grab a 'pastizzi' (ricotta or pea-filled pastry) from Crystal Palace Bar (near the Triton Fountain) - it's a local institution.
Day 1 Budget: $140
Dive into Valletta's opulent core with a visit to the impressive Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master's Palace.
Morning
Explore this impressive Baroque cathedral, the crowning architectural achievement of the Knights. Marvel at Caravaggio's 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist' and the incredibly ornate, gold-gilded interior and marble-inlaid floor tombs.
2-3 hours
$15 (includes audio guide)
Book tickets online in advance to avoid long queues, in high season.
Lunch
Rubino Restaurant
Traditional Maltese
Mid-range
Afternoon
The Grand Master's Palace & State Rooms
Tour the former palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of St. John. See the magnificent State Rooms, the Palace Armoury with one of the world's largest collections of antique arms, and the elegant courtyards.
2.5 hours
$10
Check opening hours in advance as the Palace occasionally hosts official events.
Evening
Maltese wine tasting
Sample excellent local wines at Trabuxu Wine Bar, a historic vaulted wine cellar on Strait Street.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
well located to walk back to after a day of intensive sightseeing in the city's core.
Look for the small, often-missed Cathedral Museum upstairs, which houses beautiful Flemish tapestries and illuminated choir books.
Day 2 Budget: $130
Walk the mighty bastions, enjoy iconic harbor views, and witness the historic noon gun salute.
Morning
Walk the Valletta Fortifications
Take a walk along the top of the massive stone fortifications, starting from
St. John's Cavalier towards the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Enjoy outstanding views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.
1.5 hours
Free
Lunch
Rampila Restaurant
Mediterranean (Maltese fusion)
Mid-range
Afternoon
Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery
Relax in these beautiful public gardens, the highest point of the city walls. At noon, watch the traditional gun salute fired from the Saluting Battery below. Visit the battery museum to learn about its history.
2 hours
$3 (for Saluting Battery visit)
Be in the gardens by 11:55 AM to secure a good spot for the cannon firing.
Evening
Harbor cruise at sunset
Take a 90-minute traditional 'dgħajsa' (water taxi) or a scheduled harbor cruise from the Valletta Waterfront to see the fortifications glow in the evening light.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Close to the gardens and easy access to the waterfront for the evening cruise.
Use the Barrakka Lift (€1) to descend directly to the Valletta Waterfront (Lascaris Wharf) for your cruise, saving a long walk down (and back up) the hill.
Day 3 Budget: $125
Journey from Malta's ancient prehistoric past to its important role in 20th-century warfare.
Morning
National Museum of Archaeology
Housed in the elegant Auberge de Provence, this museum holds priceless artifacts from Malta's Neolithic temples, including the famous 'Sleeping Lady' figurine and intricate temple carvings.
2 hours
$5
Lunch
Piadina Cafe Caffe
Italian-style flatbreads & salads
Budget
Afternoon
The Lascaris War Rooms
Descend into a secret complex of tunnels and chambers carved deep beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens. This was the Allied headquarters for the Mediterranean during WWII, directing important operations like the invasion of Sicily.
1.5 hours
$13
Guided tours are highly recommended and should be booked a day or two in advance.
Evening
Casual dinner on a side street
Try authentic Maltese ftira (sandwich) or pizza at 'The Loop' on St. Lucia Street, a favorite local spot.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Centrally located between the two museum sites.
Combine your War Rooms ticket with a visit to the nearby National War Museum in Fort St. Elmo for a discount; ask at the ticket desk.
Day 4 Budget: $110
Take a short ferry ride across the Grand Harbour to explore the older, quieter, and equally historic sister cities of Valletta.
Morning
Ferry to Vittoriosa & Inquisitor's Palace
Catch the regular ferry from Valletta to Vittoriosa (Birgu). Visit the Inquisitor's Palace, one of the best-preserved palaces of its kind in the world, offering a fascinating glimpse into a unique chapter of Maltese history.
3 hours (including travel)
$3.50 (ferry return) + $6 (palace)
Ferries run every 30 minutes; no need to book.
Lunch
Don Berto Restaurant in Birgu
Mediterranean
Mid-range
Afternoon
Walk the Vittoriosa Waterfront & Fort St. Angelo
Stroll along the scenic Birgu Waterfront (Collachio area) with its yacht marina. Cross the bridge to explore Fort St. Angelo, the Knights' original fortress, which offers commanding views back towards Valletta.
2.5 hours
$10 (Fort St. Angelo)
Evening
Dinner back in Valletta
Dine at 'Legligin Wine Bar & Restaurant' for a creative tasting menu of Maltese small plates in a cozy cellar setting.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Easy return by ferry and you're back in central Valletta for the evening.
For a unique perspective, take a traditional 'dgħajsa' water taxi (approx. €2) from Vittoriosa back to Valletta instead of the ferry. It's a shorter, more atmospheric ride.
Day 5 Budget: $135
Discover Malta's national art collection and explore the historically infamous, now reimportantized, Strait Street.
Morning
MUŻA (National Museum of Fine Arts - New Location)
Visit MUŻA, housed in the restored Auberge d'Italie. This innovative community-focused museum showcases Maltese art from the Renaissance to modern times in a beautiful, thematic setting.
2 hours
$5
Lunch
Casa Lapira
Maltese Home Cooking
Budget
Afternoon
Strait Street ('The Strip') Exploration
Walk down narrow Strait Street, once the notorious entertainment district for sailors. Today it's lined with trendy bars, restaurants, and jazz clubs. Look for the historic photos and plaques that tell its colorful story.
1.5 hours
Free (window shopping)
Evening
Jazz and cocktails
Experience the revived vibe of 'The Strip' with live jazz music and craft cocktails at Bridge Bar (if weather permits, it's held on the steps outside).
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
MUŻA and Strait Street are both within easy walking distance in the city center.
Visit the small, free 'Malta Postal Museum' on Strait Street for a quirky look at the island's philatelic history and to see the only known sheet of the famous 1919 '2d Malone' error stamp.
Day 6 Budget: $115
Stand at the tip of the Valletta peninsula where the Great Siege began and explore Malta's military heritage.
Morning
Fort St. Elmo & National War Museum
Explore this star-shaped fort at the very tip of Valletta, famous for its heroic defense during the 1565 Great Siege. The National War Museum inside chronicles Malta's military history from the Knights through to independence.
3 hours
$10
Check the schedule for the 'In Guardia' historical re-enactments (usually on weekends), a colorful display of 18th-century military drills.
Lunch
Nenu the Artisan Baker
Authentic Maltese (specializing in ftira and traditional dishes)
Mid-range
Afternoon
The Malta Experience & Sacra Infermeria
Watch 'The Malta Experience', a 45-minute multimedia show providing an excellent historical overview. Afterwards, visit the adjacent Sacra Infermeria (Holy Infirmary), the Knights' revolutionary hospital, one of the best in Renaissance Europe.
2.5 hours
$16 (combined ticket)
Showtimes are fixed; book your slot for 'The Malta Experience' upon arrival.
Evening
Relaxed seafood dinner
Enjoy fresh fish and pasta at 'La Giara' on Republic Street, known for its reliable quality and pleasant atmosphere.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
All today's sights are at the far end of the peninsula, but still within a 20-minute walk back to the center.
Walk out to the very end of the breakwater from Fort St. Elmo (if open) for a dramatic 360-degree view of the harbors and the open Mediterranean.
Day 7 Budget: $140
Explore Valletta's rich ecclesiastical heritage beyond the Co-Cathedral, discovering quieter churches and hidden alleys.
Morning
St. Paul's Shipwreck Church
Visit this important church dedicated to Malta's patron saint. It houses beautiful artifacts including a relic of the saint's wrist bone, a magnificent wooden statue used in festivals, and a impressive painted ceiling.
1 hour
Small donation appreciated
Visit outside of mass times (usually mornings) for easier viewing.
Lunch
Tal-Petut Restaurant
Creative Maltese (set menus)
Mid-range
Afternoon
Carmelite Basilica & Quiet Alleyways
Admire the grand dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Then, wander the grid of side streets like Old Bakery Street and Old Theatre Street, away from the main thoroughfares, to discover quaint shops, antique door knockers, and peaceful squares.
2 hours
Free
Evening
Opera or performance
Check the schedule at the Manoel Theatre, one of Europe's oldest working theatres, for an opera, play, or concert in a Baroque gem.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
well positioned for exploring the city's internal streets and attending an evening performance.
Look for the small, hidden St. James Cavalier ditch gardens and the nearby 'Siege Bell Memorial' for a moment of quiet reflection with a view.
Day 8 Budget: $120
Experience local market life and explore the regenerated historic wharf with its colorful baroque buildings.
Morning
Merchant Street Market (Is-Suq tal-Belt)
Visit the beautifully restored 19th-century covered market. Browse fresh local produce, artisan foods, and handicrafts on the ground floor, and enjoy the food court upstairs offering a variety of cuisines.
1.5 hours
Free to browse
Go in the morning when it's liveliest, on Saturdays.
Lunch
Food stall lunch at Is-Suq tal-Belt
Varied (Maltese, sushi, burgers, etc.)
Budget
Afternoon
Valletta Waterfront (Pinto Wharf)
Walk down to the waterfront, a row of 18th-century baroque warehouses painted in different pastel shades. Now housing restaurants, cafes, and shops, it's a pleasant place for a stroll. Visit the Malta Maritime Museum located here.
2 hours
$5 (Maritime Museum)
Evening
Dinner on the Waterfront
Choose from one of the many restaurants on the Waterfront, such as 'Il-Pirata' for seafood, and enjoy the view of the yachts and fortifications.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
The market and waterfront are at opposite ends of the city but easily walkable from a central base.
For a less crowded alternative to the Barrakka Lift, walk down (or up) the Lascaris Steps near the waterfront for great photo opportunities of the harbor.
Day 9 Budget: $125
Explore the elegant, planned suburb of Floriana, with its grandiose churches, public gardens, and monumental granaries.
Morning
St. Publius Church & The Argotti Gardens
Walk through Valletta's City Gate into Floriana. Visit the colossal dome of St. Publius Parish Church. Then, find the tranquil Argotti Botanical Gardens, a hidden oasis with a rich collection of succulents and Mediterranean plants.
2.5 hours
Small donation for gardens
Lunch
La Vecchia Taranto
Italian
Mid-range
Afternoon
The Maglio Gardens & Granaries
Stroll through the Maglio Gardens, a former knights' exercise ground. See the unique 'Fosos' - a huge, circular open space with underground grain silos (granaries) that once supplied the city, a marvel of 18th-century engineering.
1.5 hours
Free
Evening
Local 'Kantina' experience
Have a casual dinner and a pint of Cisk lager at 'The King's Own Band Club' in Valletta, a typical Maltese social club (*kazzin*).
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Floriana is immediately adjacent, allowing you to easily walk back into Valletta for the evening.
If visiting in summer, check if there are any open-air concerts or events held in the Granaries (Fosos) - a spectacular setting.
Day 10 Budget: $110
Dedicate a day to Valletta's creative and literary side, visiting unique workshops and historic libraries.
Morning
Visit Artisan Workshops
Seek out local craftspeople in their studios. Visit the Mdina Glass showroom for beautiful glassware, 'The Phoenicia' for handmade Maltese lace, or 'Camilo's' for traditional silver filigree (għannejja).
2 hours
Free to browse
Lunch
Zero Sei Trattoria Romana
Roman Italian
Mid-range
Afternoon
National Library of Malta & Bibliotheca
Visit the magnificent National Library (Bibliotheca) in Republic Square. This historic library holds a priceless collection of archives of the Order of St. John and rare manuscripts. The building itself is a neoclassical masterpiece.
1.5 hours
Free
Access to the main reading hall may require prior arrangement for non-researchers, but the entrance hall and exhibitions are open.
Evening
Backstage tour & dinner
Take a guided backstage tour of the Manoel Theatre (if available), followed by dinner at 'Risette' on South Street, known for its modern Mediterranean cuisine.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
All locations are within the compact city center, perfect for a day of leisurely exploration.
For book lovers, hunt down the second-hand bookshop 'Storie Diverse' on Strait Street for a quirky selection of local and international titles.
Day 11 Budget: $130
Take another ferry to explore Senglea, one of the Three Cities, known for its beautiful gardjola and quiet residential charm.
Morning
Ferry to Senglea & Gardjola Gardens
Take the ferry from Valletta to Senglea. Walk to the very tip of the peninsula to the Gardjola Gardens, a small sentry post with sculpted eyes and ears symbolizing vigilance. Enjoy one of the best views of Valletta's skyline across the water.
2.5 hours (including travel)
$3.50 (ferry return)
Lunch
Piccolo Padre
Seafood
Mid-range
Afternoon
Senglea Parish Church & Waterfront Promenade
Visit the ornate Senglea Parish Church (Basilica of the Nativity of Mary). Then, take a leisurely walk along the Senglea Waterfront, a peaceful promenade lined with traditional Maltese boats (*luzzus*) and offering constant views of the mighty fortifications.
2 hours
Free (church donation)
Evening
Wine bar dinner
Return to Valletta and enjoy a dinner of sharing plates at '67 Kapitali', a cozy wine bar on Old Bakery Street.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Easy ferry connection back from Senglea, maintaining your central Valletta base.
Look for the famous 'Eye of Osiris' (or 'Eyes of Horus') carved on the Gardjola watchtower – an ancient symbol of protection.
Day 12 Budget: $125
Visit a noble palace still lived in today, and take time for last-minute discoveries and souvenir shopping.
Morning
Casa Rocca Piccola
Tour this 16th-century palace, still the home of a Maltese noble family. It has an intimate look at aristocratic life across the centuries, with period furniture, family portraits, a charming courtyard, and a fascinating WWII air-raid shelter in the basement.
1.5 hours
$9.50
Guided tours are included in the entrance fee and run regularly.
Lunch
Guze Bistro
Maltese/French
Mid-range
Afternoon
Last-minute exploration & shopping
Revisit a favorite spot, find that perfect souvenir (consider local honey, sea salt, wine, or filigree jewelry), or explore any museums or churches you may have missed. The streets around Merchants Street are great for shopping.
3 hours
Variable
Evening
Farewell fine dining
Splurge on a memorable final dinner at 'Under Grain', the innovative restaurant located in the impressive vaults beneath
St. John's Cavalier.
Where to Stay Tonight
Valletta City Centre (Same boutique hotel)
Ideal for a final relaxed day of revisiting favorite areas and easy packing for departure.
For unique, high-quality souvenirs, visit 'The Phoenicia' for Maltese lace or 'Ta' Marija' on Republic Street for local food products like sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and prickly pear jam.
Day 13 Budget: $160
Enjoy a final morning stroll and impressive harbor view before transferring to the airport.
Morning
Lower Barrakka Gardens & Siege Bell Memorial
Take a final peaceful walk to the Lower Barrakka Gardens. Enjoy the view of the Grand Harbour and the poignant Siege Bell Memorial. It's a perfect, reflective spot to say goodbye to Valletta.
1 hour
Free
Lunch
Quick lunch near your hotel
Cafe fare
Budget
Afternoon
Transfer to Malta International Airport (MLA)
Check out of your accommodation and take a pre-arranged taxi, shuttle, or bus to the airport for your departure flight.
1-2 hours (transfer)
$20-35 (taxi), $3-5 (bus)
Schedule your taxi pickup 3 hours before your flight departure time.
Evening
Departure
Flight home.
Where to Stay Tonight
N/A (Departure) (N/A)
N/A
If you have extra time before your airport transfer, leave your luggage at your hotel and have a final coffee at 'Caffe Cordina' or a drink at the Phoenicia Hotel's elegant Palm Court Lounge.
Day 14 Budget: $60