Valletta tours and tickets
Valletta's one hard booking is the Hypogeum, which sells out months ahead. St John's Co-Cathedral is bought online in peak months, and boat trips to Comino and Gozo fill in July and August. The palace, the fortress and the war rooms take tickets at the door. A Heritage Malta pass covers many sites. Mdina and Marsaxlokk are easy by bus.
Book these first
- The Hypogeum
- 2 to 4 months ahead. Only a small number of visitors are admitted each day, and summer slots go first.
- Boat trips to Comino and Gozo
- A week ahead in July and August. Small boats and day tours fill early in high season, and the Blue Lagoon is crowded by mid-morning.
- Dinner at the better restaurants
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in season. Valletta has few tables for the number of visitors, and the best ones fill on weekends.
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Churches and palaces
St John's Co-Cathedral
A baroque cathedral with a floor of marble tombs, painted ceilings and two Caravaggio paintings, including the Beheading of Saint John. Tickets include an audio guide. It is closed on Sundays.
Which to pick. Buy online in peak months and go at opening. The audio guide is included and enough.
A day or two ahead in peak monthsVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGrand Master's Palace
The seat of the Maltese president and a palace of the knights, with the State Rooms, tapestries and an armoury. Visits depend on whether Parliament is sitting. Tickets are sold at the door.
Which to pick. Check the opening days and times. Buy at the door, and visit the armoury as well.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCasa Rocca Piccola
A noble family's home in Republic Street, with rooms, a garden and an air raid shelter. Guided tours run at set times, and the family sometimes meets visitors.
Which to pick. Join the guided tour in the morning, since it is the calmest time. Book a day ahead in busy months.
A day ahead in busy monthsVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Monuments and landmarks
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
A star fort at the tip of the peninsula, with a museum of Malta's wartime story. Tickets are sold at the door, and the fort has a view of both harbors.
Which to pick. Go on a dry morning. Buy at the door, and check for re-enactments on certain days.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorLascaris War Rooms
Tunnels under the Upper Barrakka Gardens, used as the command center for the siege of Malta and the invasion of Sicily. Guided tours run through the day.
Which to pick. Take a guided tour, and book a day ahead in summer. It is a good wet-day plan.
A day ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorHypogeum of Ħal Saflieni
A prehistoric underground temple complex carved from rock, a UNESCO site. Visitors are limited to a few per day in small groups, with timed entry. Tickets are sold through Heritage Malta.
Which to pick. Book as soon as you know your dates. If it is sold out, visit the Tarxien temples instead.
2 to 4 months aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Grand Harbour cruise
A boat trip around the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett, with views of the bastions and the Three Cities. Trips last about 90 minutes. Traditional dghajsa boats cross to the Three Cities.
Which to pick. Take an afternoon cruise for the light on the walls. Buy tickets at the pier or from the stands.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorComino and the Blue Lagoon boat
A day trip by boat to the Blue Lagoon, with swim stops and sometimes a stop at caves. Crowds are heavy in July and August, and the water is clearest in the morning.
Which to pick. Book a morning boat, and avoid weekends in summer. Bring a hat, water and a towel.
A week ahead in July and AugustOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Mdina and Rabat
A walled medieval hill town called the Silent City, and the catacombs in Rabat next door. The bus takes about 40 minutes. Tours cover Mdina and the Domus Romana.
Which to pick. Go by bus and visit Mdina in the morning. Add the catacombs in Rabat if you like.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGozo
Malta's quieter sister island, with Victoria's Citadel, Ġgantija temples, the Ramla beach and Dwejra. The ferry takes 25 minutes from Ċirkewwa, and a day trip is possible.
Which to pick. Go for a full day by ferry and hire a car or take a tour. Book the ferry only if traveling with a car.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorMarsaxlokk
A fishing village with colorful boats and a Sunday market, about 40 minutes by bus. It has seafood restaurants along the waterfront.
Which to pick. Go on a Sunday morning for the market. Book a lunch table ahead on weekends.
A day ahead for lunchOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Valletta
- Heritage Malta Multi-Site PassA pass that gives entry to many state-run museums and sites over a set number of days, including the Grand Master's Palace and Fort St Elmo. It pays off with four or more sites. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Valletta
Do I need to book the Hypogeum?
Yes, months ahead. Only a few visitors enter each day, so it sells out for summer. Book as soon as your dates are set.
Is St John's Co-Cathedral closed on Sundays?
Yes, it is closed to visitors on Sundays, when it holds services. Plan your visit for another day and buy online in peak months.
Is Gozo a day trip from Valletta?
Yes, but it is a long one. The ferry plus the bus to the ferry takes up to two hours each way. Stay a night if you want to see more.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth the crowds?
The water is lovely but it is packed in summer. Go on a morning boat or in the shoulder season, and book ahead in July and August.
How does the Heritage Malta pass work?
You buy it for a set number of days and enter participating sites without further tickets. Some sites, such as the Hypogeum, still need a timed booking.
What can wait until I arrive?
Fort St Elmo, the Grand Master's Palace, harbor cruises and Mdina can be done on the day. Book the Hypogeum, boats to Comino and any Friday dinner ahead.