Things to Do in Valletta in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Valletta
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + The moment the 4 PM tender pulls away, the cruise crowds evaporate. Suddenly those honey-coloured bastions are yours alone, glowing ochre as the sun drops at 16:45.
- + Strait Street's Christmas lights turn the narrow alley into the city's finest open-air bar crawl. Locals perch on limestone steps, cradling hot toddies laced with local honey rum.
- + October's peak pricing collapses by 30-40% – suddenly a harbour-view room in a converted 17th-century palazzo costs less than a weekend in London, no kidney required.
- + December's 70% humidity keeps the limestone streets from that summer chalkiness. Instead of dust, the air carries sea salt and wood smoke drifting from restaurant hearths.
- − Every few days, three-hour Atlantic storms sweep through – chairs skitter across harbour restaurants while sideways rain soaks your jeans to the bone.
- − Watch out: Casa Rocca Piccola and the National Museum of Archaeology's upper floors close for restoration throughout December, often without notice.
- − Heavy rain cancels the Upper Barrakka Gardens' noon cannon – frustrating when you've timed your visit for the Saluting Battery's daily blast.
Year-Round Climate
How December compares to the rest of the year
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December's glass-smooth water lets these traditional painted fishing boats slice through like blades. The harbour's Christmas lights shimmer on the surface as you slip under Fort St. Angelo's breakwater, where the Knights' cannon emplacements catch the last 4 PM light. Cold enough for a jumper, warm enough to stay topside the full 45-minute circuit.
The noon cannon fires daily except during torrential rain. December's low sun makes the smoke ring linger against the Three Cities' limestone walls for ten full seconds. Arrive at 11:45 to claim the eastern balustrade – locals lean here to watch pigeons scatter and dghajsa pilots salute the salute.
Valletta's wooden chalets pour honey-soaked imbuljuta tal-qastan that steams in cool air. The market stretches from Republic Square to St. George's Square, where a 12-meter tree blocks the Triton Fountain view while buskers play Maltese carols on traditional zafżafa flutes. December evenings hover around 14°C (57°F) – good for mulled wine wandering.
Europe's third-oldest working theatre opens for intimate backstage tours during December's opera off-season. Stand on the 1731 stage where the Knights' orchestra performed, then climb rickety wooden stairs to the box where Napoleon allegedly watched shows. December air carries beeswax polish and centuries-old velvet.
December evenings draw rabbit stew vendors near the Siege Bell Memorial – steam from massive cauldrons mingles with sea fog rolling up Marsamxett Harbour. Pastizzi shops stay open past midnight, serving ricotta parcels that scorch fingers straight from the oven. The Strait Street to fish market walk takes exactly 22 minutes at December pace – perfect digestion time between snacks.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The baroque cathedral hosts candlelit concerts where acoustics transform a 12-piece ensemble into full orchestra sound. December programmes mix Maltese composers with Bach, serving mulled wine in cloisters afterward. Arrive 30 minutes early for seats beneath Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
Throughout December, locals craft elaborate presepji using traditional Maltese limestone and terracotta figurines. The finest displays pack Three Cities churches – competing villages add mechanical figures and running water features. Senglea parish usually wins with a 10-meter scene including a working windmill.
Essential Tips
What to pack, insider knowledge and common pitfalls