Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Apr–Jun, late Sep–Oct; Nov–Mar mild
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Maltese and English
- From the airport
- Airport Direct bus TD4 to Valletta, 3 EUR
- Getting around
- Buses and harbour ferries
Valletta is Malta’s capital, a walled city on a peninsula between two harbours, built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is compact and walkable, and its bus terminus and harbour ferries make it an easy base for the whole island. Prices and dates below were checked on 8 October 2026; our Malta country guide covers the rest of the islands.
When is the best time to visit Valletta?
| Month | Average high / low (Luqa) | Rain | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2°C / 9.2°C | 89.0 mm | Coolest month, quiet streets and low hotel rates |
| February | 15.5°C / 9.3°C | 61.3 mm | Mild and calm |
| March | 16.7°C / 10.1°C | 40.9 mm | Spring arrives |
| April | 19.1°C / 11.9°C | 22.5 mm | Ideal walking weather |
| May | 23.3°C / 14.9°C | 6.6 mm | Warm, almost dry |
| June | 27.5°C / 18.4°C | 3.2 mm | Hot afternoons, long evenings |
| July | 30.7°C / 21.0°C | 0.4 mm | Hottest and busiest |
| August | 30.7°C / 21.8°C | 7.0 mm | Hot, humid, very busy |
| September | 28.0°C / 20.1°C | 40.4 mm | Warm sea, thinner crowds |
| October | 24.2°C / 17.1°C | 89.7 mm | Still warm, first autumn storms |
| November | 20.1°C / 13.9°C | 80.0 mm | Mild, low season starts |
| December | 16.7°C / 11.0°C | 112.3 mm | Wettest month, cribs and carols |
Figures are the Malta Meteorological Office’s 1961-1990 normals for Luqa, next to the airport, published on the WMO World Weather Information Service. Winter rain falls in short, heavy bursts on 10 to 14 days a month from October to January, and Valletta’s limestone steps get slippery, so pack shoes with grip and a light waterproof. If a beach is the point of a winter trip, our winter sun in Europe guide compares Malta with the warmer Canary Islands.
Christmas in Valletta
Valletta does not have a big Central European style Christmas market. What Visit Malta describes instead is a season of cribs (presepju), some with moving figures, in churches, chapels and homes; candlelit carol singing at St John’s Co-Cathedral; and the annual Christmas pantomime at the Manoel Theatre. Heritage Malta closes its museums and sites on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, so put the Grand Master’s Palace and Fort St Elmo on other days. If you want stalls and lights, see our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide.
Where should you stay in Valletta?
Most first-time visitors choose between the walled city and Sliema across Marsamxett Harbour. Both have the ferry between them.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Valletta (inside the walls) | Atmosphere, sights, the bus terminus and both harbour ferries | Steep stepped streets, small rooms in old palazzos, few cars or lifts |
| Sliema | Most hotel choice, seafront promenade, shopping | Built up; reach Valletta by the 3-euro ferry or bus |
| St Julian’s | Seafront restaurants and hotels | Noisy at night, further from Valletta |
| The Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua) | Quiet waterfront streets, Grand Harbour views | Fewer hotels; ferry or bus into Valletta |
For a first visit, stay inside the walls if you are happy to climb, or in Sliema if you want a flatter seafront base. In a Booking.com check on 8 October 2026, central Valletta hotels for a mid-January weekend started at around 95 euros a night for two; summer rates run much higher. Check live rates here: compare Valletta hotel prices .
How do you get to and around Valletta?
From the airport. Malta International Airport’s Airport Direct bus TD4 runs to Valletta and the Gozo fast ferry terminal, for 3 euros. TD2 and TD3 go to St Julian’s and Sliema. Malta Taxi is the official taxi service at the airport, with a fare calculator on its website.
Buses. Valletta’s bus terminus outside City Gate is the hub of the island network. Malta Public Transport charges 2.50 euros for a day-route ticket in summer and 2 euros in the winter fare season, valid for two hours with transfers, payable in cash, by contactless card or by phone. The Explore Flex card gives unlimited travel for 7 days at 27 euros; the 12-journey card costs 19 euros and can be shared.
Harbour ferries. Valletta Ferry Services runs two short crossings: Sliema to Valletta, and Valletta to the Three Cities. A day single costs 3 euros and a day return 5 euros; after 19:30 the night fare is 3.50 euros single. Boats run from early morning to the evening in winter and until late at night in summer.
What should you not miss in Valletta?
- St John’s Co-Cathedral. The Knights’ church, with a gilded Baroque interior and Caravaggio’s “The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” in the oratory. Check the current ticket price and dress rules on the cathedral’s official site before you go.
- Grand Master’s Palace. The Knights’ former seat; an adult ticket costs 12 euros. Heritage Malta lists the Throne Room as closed indefinitely, and the State Rooms close on some mornings.
- Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum. At the tip of the peninsula, covering Malta’s sieges and its Second World War story; 10 euros for adults.
- Upper Barrakka Gardens. Free, with the classic view over the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities.
- The Three Cities by ferry. Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua are a 3-euro crossing away and far quieter than Valletta.
- Manoel Theatre. Valletta’s historic theatre and the home of Malta’s Christmas pantomime.
What day trips can you take from Valletta?
- Mdina and Rabat. Malta’s walled former capital on a hill in the centre of the island, more than 4,000 years in the making according to Visit Malta, with St Paul’s Grotto in neighbouring Rabat.
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Paola. An underground prehistoric burial complex: 35 euros for adults, 10 people at a time, no photos and no children under six.
- Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. Megalithic temples on the south coast cliffs, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing; 10 euros for adults.
- Blue Grotto. Boats leave from Wied iż-Żurrieq near Qrendi for the sea caves; in rough winter seas they may not sail.
- Marsaxlokk. A fishing village of painted luzzu boats on the south-east coast.
- Gozo. Take a bus to Ċirkewwa, then Gozo Channel’s 25-minute ferry to Mġarr (4.65 euros return for foot passengers, paid on the way back). Ġgantija’s Neolithic temples cost 10 euros.
What goes wrong in Valletta?
- Expecting a beach holiday in winter. January averages 15.2°C; pack for walking, not swimming.
- Turning up without a Hypogeum ticket. Tickets sell out, and last-minute tickets, when any are left, cost 50 euros.
- Booking a hotel up several flights of steps with heavy luggage. Ask about stairs and lifts before you book in the old city.
- Hitting the Heritage Malta closures. Sites close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
How many days do you need in Valletta?
Two days covers Valletta itself. Three to four days lets you add the Three Cities, Mdina and Rabat, the Hypogeum and the southern temples, and a fifth day goes to Gozo. Malta is in the Schengen area and uses the euro: see our Schengen 90/180 rule and EES and ETIAS guides for the border rules.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Valletta?
April to June and late September to October are the most comfortable months, with average highs of about 19 to 28°C at Luqa according to the Malta Meteorological Office. November to March is Valletta’s mild low season: December to February averages about 15 to 17°C by day, which is good weather for walking the city, though December is the wettest month at 112.3 mm.
Where should I stay in Valletta?
Stay inside Valletta’s walls for atmosphere, the bus terminus and the harbour ferries on your doorstep, but expect steep streets and few lifts. Sliema has more hotels, a seafront promenade and a ferry into Valletta for 3 euros. St Julian’s suits a beach-and-restaurants stay but is noisy at night, and the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour are quieter and linked to Valletta by ferry.
How do I get from Malta airport to Valletta?
Take the Airport Direct bus TD4 from Malta International Airport to Valletta, which costs 3 euros, or use a Malta Public Transport Explore Flex card, which covers Airport Direct routes. Malta Taxi is the official taxi service and has a fare calculator on its website. TD2 and TD3 serve St Julian’s and Sliema.
Is Valletta worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you want a mild city break rather than a beach. Luqa averages a 15.2°C high in January, Visit Malta puts mid-winter sunshine at around 5 to 6 hours a day, and the museums and streets are quiet. In December, Malta’s Christmas is about cribs, carols at St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Manoel Theatre pantomime. Heritage Malta sites close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
How much does the Hypogeum cost?
An adult ticket for the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola costs 35 euros, and youths and seniors pay 20 euros. Heritage Malta lets in only 10 people at a time, so tickets sell out and should be booked early; last-minute tickets cost 50 euros when any are left. Children under six are not admitted and photography is not allowed.
How many days do you need in Valletta?
Two days covers Valletta itself, and three to four days lets you add the Three Cities by ferry, Mdina and Rabat, the Hypogeum and the southern temples. Add a day for Gozo, which Gozo Channel reaches in about 25 minutes from Ċirkewwa for 4.65 euros return as a foot passenger.
Start planning your Valletta trip
Book the room first for spring and October, when Valletta’s small hotels fill; in winter, flights and rooms are at their cheapest, so a short-notice break works.
Find cheap flights to Malta | Compare Valletta hotel prices
More ideas: where to go in November, where to go in December and our Cyprus guide for another mild winter island.
