Hotels in Valletta

Valletta: Baroque Capital on the Grand Harbour

Valletta, founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, is one of Europe's smallest capital cities — just 0.8 sq km on a peninsula between Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. Its 16th-century street grid holds over 320 monuments, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1980 and the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018. The St John's Co-Cathedral, completed in 1577, houses Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608) — one of the largest paintings the artist ever produced.

Where to Stay in Valletta

Hotels cluster along Republic Street, the main pedestrian spine, and around Strait Street, the former sailors' quarter now lined with jazz bars and wine bistros. The Upper Barrakka Gardens district offers harbour views from the city's highest point. Properties range from converted palazzos in Merchants Street to boutique guesthouses near the Malta Experience audiovisual centre.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Malta International Airport sits 5 km south; the X4 express bus reaches Valletta in roughly 25 minutes.
• Getting around: The city is fully walkable; the historic grid covers about 1 km end to end.
• Climate: Summers exceed 30 °C; spring and autumn offer cooler conditions for sightseeing.
• Entry: Malta uses the euro and is part of the Schengen Area.