Things to Do in Valletta in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
July Weather in Valletta
Is July Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak Mediterranean summer weather with virtually zero rainfall - July typically sees about 0 mm of precipitation, making it the driest month for exploring Valletta's outdoor fortifications, bastions, and harbor walks without weather interruptions
- Extended daylight hours until around 8:30pm give you roughly 14 hours of usable daylight for sightseeing, meaning you can comfortably visit Upper Barrakka Gardens for sunset views around 8pm and still have twilight for evening strolls along the waterfront
- Malta International Fireworks Festival happens in late July, with spectacular pyrotechnic displays over the Grand Harbour - you get front-row seats from Valletta's bastions without fighting Carnival-level crowds, typically drawing 15,000-20,000 spectators rather than the 50,000+ you'd see at bigger festivals
- Sea temperatures reach 25-26°C (77-79°F), making swimming at nearby Sliema beaches or taking harbor boat tours genuinely pleasant rather than the teeth-chattering experience of spring months - locals actually swim in July, which tells you everything
Considerations
- Peak tourist season means accommodation prices jump 40-60% compared to shoulder months, and you'll need to book at least 6-8 weeks ahead for decent options under 150 EUR per night - the sweet spot properties in Valletta proper fill up by early June for July dates
- Midday heat between 12pm-4pm reaches 32°C (89°F) with 70% humidity and UV index of 8, making outdoor exploration genuinely uncomfortable during these hours - the limestone streets reflect heat intensely, and there's limited shade in the grid-pattern streets
- Major attractions like St John's Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master's Palace see queue times of 45-90 minutes during peak morning hours (10am-12pm), and the crowds inside make viewing Caravaggio's Beheading of St John genuinely difficult - you're shuffling through rather than contemplating
Best Activities in July
Early Morning Fortification Walks
July's extended daylight means you can start exploring Valletta's UNESCO-listed fortifications at 6:30am when temperatures are still around 23°C (73°F) and the limestone bastions catch beautiful golden light. Walk the complete circuit from Fort St Elmo around to the Lower Barrakka Gardens before 9am, covering roughly 3 km (1.9 miles) while the city's still waking up. The fortifications are free to walk and virtually empty at this hour - you'll encounter maybe a dozen other people versus the hundreds who show up after 10am. This timing also works perfectly for photographers, as the morning light hits the honey-colored limestone at the ideal angle.
Harbor Boat Tours and Swimming Stops
With sea temperatures at 25-26°C (77-79°F), July is actually ideal for the harbor boat tours that include swimming stops at secluded coves around Valletta's peninsulas. The Grand Harbour tours typically last 2-3 hours, departing around 10am or 4pm to avoid peak heat. You'll see the fortifications from water level - which gives you a completely different perspective on their scale - and most tours stop at Rinella Bay or Kalkara Creek where you can swim in clear water away from the main beaches. The morning tours tend to have calmer water, while afternoon departures catch better light for photography.
Late Afternoon Museum Circuit
Between 4pm-7pm, when outdoor temperatures start dropping from the day's peak, Valletta's major museums become significantly more comfortable and less crowded. St John's Co-Cathedral, the National Museum of Archaeology, and Casa Rocca Piccola all have air conditioning and see about 60% fewer visitors after 4pm compared to morning hours. You can actually stand in front of Caravaggio's works without being jostled. Most museums stay open until 6pm or 7pm in July, giving you 2-3 hours of quality viewing time. The Co-Cathedral in particular is worth visiting late - the afternoon light through the windows hits the gilded baroque interior differently than morning light.
Mdina and Rabat Evening Visits
Taking a 25-minute bus ride to Mdina in late afternoon lets you experience the Silent City when day-trippers have left and temperatures have dropped to comfortable levels around 27°C (81°F). Mdina's narrow medieval streets provide natural shade, and the city takes on a completely different character after 5pm when it's mostly locals. You can walk the complete fortification walls, visit Mdina Cathedral, and explore Rabat's catacombs before having dinner at one of the restaurants with bastion views. The bus back to Valletta runs until around 11pm in July.
Sunset Harbor Dining and Fireworks Viewing
July evenings stay light until 8:30pm, making waterfront dining along Valletta's Marsamxett side particularly appealing. Restaurants along Strait Street and the Valletta Waterfront offer outdoor seating with harbor views, and you can time dinner to catch the 8pm-8:30pm sunset. If you're visiting during the Malta International Fireworks Festival (late July), the bastions around Upper Barrakka Gardens and Hastings Gardens provide free viewing positions for the pyrotechnic displays that start around 10pm. The fireworks reflect off the harbor water, creating double the visual impact.
Gozo Day Trips with Beach Time
July's calm seas make the 25-minute ferry to Gozo reliable and comfortable, and the island's beaches like Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay are significantly less crowded than Malta's main beaches. Combined tours typically include the ferry crossing, visits to the Ggantija Temples and Citadel, and 2-3 hours of beach time where the water is crystal clear and swimmable at 25°C (77°F). The island's more rural character means it feels about 2-3°C cooler than Valletta, and the coastal breezes make afternoon exploration more comfortable.
July Events & Festivals
Malta International Fireworks Festival
Late July brings this spectacular pyrotechnic competition where Malta's best fireworks manufacturers display over the Grand Harbour for three consecutive nights. Each night features different teams, with displays lasting 25-30 minutes starting around 10pm. The fireworks are launched from barges in the harbor, making Valletta's bastions and waterfront the prime viewing locations. This is a genuinely local event - not a tourist production - with families bringing picnics and claiming spots hours early. The scale is impressive, with shells reaching 200 m (656 ft) high and synchronized to music.
Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck
While the main feast happens in February, July sees smaller commemorative processions through Valletta's streets, particularly around St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and the Shipwreck Church. You'll encounter spontaneous street celebrations with brass bands and decorated streets in the neighborhoods around Merchants Street. Not a major tourist draw, but interesting if you happen to be walking through and want to see how locals celebrate their patron saints outside the main feast calendar.