Things to do in Valletta

Experience some of Malta's most interesting highlights in just one day on a guided group tour. Discover the medieval city of Mdina, St. Cataldus Catacombs, and Mosta Rotunda. Stroll through the San Anton Botanical Gardens, take in sea views from Dingli Cliffs, and buy glass from local craftspeople. After hotel pickup, start your tour with the ancient city of Mdina, renowned for its opulent palaces, fortifications, architecture, and ancient heritage. Stroll through the narrow streets of the island's old capital, taking in one of Europe's finest examples of an ancient walled/fortified city. Take a journey back in time, as the streets have not changed much in the last 1,000 years. Admire the magnificent palazzos and churches in the city's unique mix of medieval and Baroque styles, as well as the spectacular panoramas from the high bastion walls. Leave Mdina through the Greeks Gate. Head to St. Cataldus Catacombs, in Rabat, on the outskirts of Mdina. Discover the catacombs, which were originally a Punic burial shaft, and some of the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. See graves that are beautiful examples of canopied tombs and others hewn in the rocks. Continue to Dingli Cliffs, off the village of Dingli on Malta's western coast, the highest point of the Maltese island at around 253m above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views over the terraced fields underneath and the panorama of the vast open seas with the small uninhabited island of Filfla. After lunch, visit the San Anton Botanical Gardens, built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence: San Anton Palace, located at the perimeter of the gardens, now serving as the residence of the Maltese President. Next, stop at the Ta' Qali Craft Village, a former British Royal Air Forces wartime airfield restored into a local artisan hub. Watch local craftsmen form elaborate glass art using ancient glassblowing techniques. Get some genuine locally made mementos to remind you of your visit to Malta. End your tour with Malta's largest church, the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, commonly known as the Mosta Rotunda or Mosta Dome. Built between 1833 and the 1860s to Neoclassical designs, the present church is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Discover its dome, the third largest unsupported dome in the world. Finally, return to your hotel.

Explore the elegant capital of Malta with a licensed guide and discover masterpieces of Baroque architecture and some of the finest palaces in Europe.  Wander the narrow streets of Valletta and experience its rich history at notable sites from the days of the Knights of St. John and the Grand Master, Jean de Valette. Get a feel for the development of Malta over the centuries and discover an impressive array of buildings, designed by some of the best European architects of the era. Admire the façade of St John's Co-Cathedral, visit Piazza Regina, see the magnificent Bibliotheca Nazionale, and much more.

Experience the street food of Valletta with a local tour guide, who will bring the tastiest treats of the island to your fingertips. Learn about Malta's history and cuisine during this experience. Meet your guide at the entrance of Valletta along the New Parliament Building. After a brief introduction to the city, start your food tour experience. Taste traditional dishes like pastizzi on the way. Walk past the main landmarks such as Republic Street, Castille Square, Merchants Street, Upper Barracca Gardens, the old market. See typical bars and side streets while savoring Maltese specialties, local antipasti, Kinnie, and lager.

Explore Malta's incredible estates, history, and sights at your own pace. Take the exclusive hop-on, hop-off tours, and ride at your own convenience on the open-top double decker buses. During your tour, you can stop at any of the following major attractions in the city, on these routes: South Malta Route (Red Route) • Valletta • Tarxien • The Temples and Hypogeum • The Three Cities • Marsaxlokk Fishing Village • Ghar Dalam Museum • Blue Grotto • Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples • The Limestone Heritage • The Falconry Centre • Sliema North Malta Route (Blue Route) • Valletta • San Anton Gardens • The Crafts Village • Aviation Museum • Mosta Church • Mdina • Roman Villa • Mgarr Church • Golden Bay • Bugibba Square • Splash and Fun Water Park • Mediterraneo Marine Park • St. George’s Bay • Spinola Bay You will get free transport to the tour departure point. Transport can be organized from every hotel in Malta.

You start by visiting the ancient Medieval city of Mdina, renowned for its opulent palaces and fortifications, medieval and baroque architecture, and ancient heritage. This majestic city is unquestionably one of the island's most evocative destinations. Serving as the island's capital city from antiquity till the medieval period, Mdina is truly an enchanting city! A stroll through its narrow streets, which have not changed much in the last 1000 years, is a must for anyone visiting the Maltese islands. It is undoubtedly one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled/fortified city. Explore this historic city with an experienced local guide and delve into the rich past of the city as you explore its medieval streets. Take a journey back in time admiring the magnificent palazzos and churches in the city’s unique mix of medieval and baroque styles, as well as the spectacular panoramas from the high bastion walls. Leaving Mdina through the ‘Greeks Gate’ you proceed to Dingli Cliffs, located off the village of Dingli on Malta’s western coast, at around 253 metres above sea-level. These cliffs represent the highest point of the Maltese islands. The cliffs propose a majestic sight; the views overlooking the terraced fields underneath and the panorama of the vast open seas with the uninhabited small island of Filfla on its backdrop, are truly breath-taking! Given their impressive height the cliffs can be considered as natural forts, since no attacker can approach the island from the west. Perched on the edge, marking the highest point on the Maltese islands, is a gorgeous tiny chapel built in 1646, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. The tour ends with a visit to the San Anton Botanical Gardens, located in the village of Attard. These beautiful gardens were built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence; San Anton Palace, which is located at the perimeter of the gardens and which today serves as the residence of the Maltese President. Open to the public since 1882 the gardens have several pathways surrounded by fountains and ponds which are inhabited by families of ducks, swans, peacocks, peahens and turtles and encompass a large variety of trees and flowers from around the world, including a variety of palm trees, cypress, jacarandas, araucarias and other exotic plants, some of them over three centuries old. During the whole tour knowledgeable and experienced guides will be providing you with riveting information and enhance your experience through narration and engaging storytelling.

You will meet your guide at the entrance of Valletta next to the new parliament building, in Freedom Square. Your guide will give you a brief introduction to the city and then you will begin your 2-hour tour in Valletta's historic city center. During the tour, you will discover this fortress city, learn how it all began, how the city evolved through the centuries and about the events which shaped Valletta into the city that it is today. Whether you are a first time visitor or you want to delve in deeper, our fully guided tour will not disappoint you. You will walk past the main squares of the city, Auberges of the Knights, palaces, churches and visit gardens, which offer stunning views of Malta's Grand Harbour. Apart from the cultural and historical aspect, you will also learn interesting tit-bits and behind the scene stories. Your tour will end at St. George's Square, next to the Grandmaster's Palace and the guide will help to orient you and also give you tips as to how is best to continue exploring the city on your own.

Set sail from Sliema and see some of Malta's most beautiful harbors on a boat tour. Board your boat and relax as you cruise through the two natural harbors - Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbor. En route, pass by Valetta, busy dockyards, marinas, bastions, historic forts, and much more. Listen to detailed audio commentary to uncover the history of Valletta and the Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua. Thanks to the numerous creeks around Valletta including the Sliema, Lazzaretto, Menqa, and Marsa, and the Inner basin, you can enjoy unique views of the city without the touristy crowds.

The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Birgu (Vittoriosa), and Senglea. The oldest of the Three Cities is Vittoriosa, which has existed since prior to the Middle Ages. The other two cities, Senglea and Cospicua, were both founded by the Order of the Knights of Saint John in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively. During this half day tour, you will have the opportunity to appreciate these unique historical fortified cities and admire magnificent churches, traditional piazzas, incredible fortifications, and architectural treasures found all around the Three Cities area. Pieces of living history kept alive by hundreds of years of preservation! We start with a panoramic drive past the city of Cospicua, a double fortified harbour city and the largest of the three cities, to reach the city of Vittoriosa, this glorious city has been inhabited since the time of the Phoenicians, but the current city dates back from the time of the Order of the Knights of Saint John. Vittoriosa was chosen as the capital city of Malta instead of Mdina upon the arrival of the Order in the year 1530. Enjoy a fascinating walking tour through the narrow streets of the city admiring and appreciating all the historical buildings and captivating treasures found at every twist and turn. Upon arrival at the stunning Vittoriosa waterfront, board a traditional Maltese “Frejgatina” (a small, carvel-built fishing boat) for a delightful tour of the colourful harbour creeks. The tour ends at Senglea, named after Claude De La Sengle, the Grand Master who founded the city, Senglea is also known as “Civitas Invicta” a name given to the city for managing to resist the Ottoman invasion during the Great Siege of 1565. The island on which Senglea lies was joined by a land bridge to Cospicua during the time of the Knights of St. John and as a result, it became peninsular in shape. From the Gardjola Gardens located at the tip of the peninsula enjoy a stunning 360° view of the Grand Harbour, including the impressive Fort Sant Angelo, from where the Grand Master Jean Perisot De La Valette led the defence of the island during the Great Siege of 1565. During the whole tour knowledgeable and experienced guides will be providing you with riveting information and enhance your experience through narration and engaging storytelling.

Get a taste of the unique island of Malta on a bus tour and boat tour. Discover over 7,000 years of history as you drive past heritage sites, popular attractions, and beautiful natural landscapes.  Running during the summer months of the year (May onwards), the hop-on hop-off route starts from Bugibba, passing through Qawra and St Julian's and on to Malta’s capital city Valletta. You'll then make your way south where you will be able to experience and visit historic temples and sights along the way. Following your stop at the Blue Grotto, the tour heads back up north and inland stopping at Roman sites and points of interest and then back to Bugibba via Golden Bay on the North-West coast. With over 30 stops and 50 points of interest along the route, discover this Maltese Island like never before. Experience key sights including the Mosta Church and Dome; Ta’Qali Craft Village; and Rabat with many Roman Sites such as the restored Roman Villa, St Agatha’s Catacombs, and the medieval town of Mdina. Enjoy the famous 'Three Cities' and the Tarxien Temples believed to be built around 3000 BC. Marsaxlokk is a traditional and picturesque fishing village that is sure to delight you. Take the opportunity to visit the beautiful Blue Grotto. You will discover plenty of things to do on this island tour. Plus you can combine your hop-on-hop-off tour with a harbor cruise. North Route Stops:• Bugibba (Topaz Hotel / Gillieru Hotel)• Bugibba Jetty (Seatrips Outlet) • Bugibba Centre (Opposite HSBC) • Bugibba (Santana Hotel)• Malta National Aquarium• Qawra Palace Hotel• Qawra Seafront• Bellavista Hotel, Qawra • Mediterraneo Marine Park• ITS Roundabout (Radisson & Corinthia Hotels) • St George's Bay, St Julians (City Sightseeing Route Stage) • Westin Dragonara, St Julians• Hilton Roundabout, St Julians• Spinola Bay, St Julians• Balluta Bay (Opp Balluta Church) • Sliema Seafront (Opposite Preluna Hotel) • Sliema Ferries (City Sightseeing Route Stage & Stop For Harbour Cruise) • Opposite Bayview Hotel (CitySightseeing Outlet) • Valletta - City Center• Valletta Waterfront Terminus (Change For South Route) • San Anton Gardens • Ta Qali - Aviation Museum• Mosta Church • Mdina Main Gate • Rabat - Domus Romana • Golden Bay South Route Stops: • ITS Roundabout • St Georges Bay, St Julians (CSS Route Stage) • Westin Dragonara, St Julians • Hilton, St Julians• Spinola Bay,St Julians• Balluta Bay (Opp Balluta Church)• Sliema Seafront (Opposite Preluna Hotel)• Sliema Ferries (City Sightseeing Route Stage and Stop For Harbour Cruise) Opposite Bayview Hotel • Valletta City Center• Valletta Waterfront Terminus (Change For North Route) • Tarxien Temples• Vittoriosa Waterfront • Marsaxlokk - Fishing Village • Pretty Bay (Birzebbugia)• Blue Grotto • Hagar Qim Temples and Mnajdra Temples  • Valletta City Center• Valletta - Malta Experience, Knights Hospital War Museum, and Fort St Elmo• Valletta Waterfront Terminus (Change For North Route)

This cruise has the simple aim of giving you the maximum amount of time to enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Comino's Blue Lagoon. When you want to relax, snacks, beverages and air-conditioning are available aboard the boat, or get some air on the upper deck. The boat leaves the Sliema ferry dock at 10:30 AM and returns at 5:30 PM, which gives you 7 hours to enjoy the sun and sea however you want. Savor a light sandwich lunch. The Blue Lagoon, between the small island of Comino and smaller islet of Cominotto, is a basin of clear, turquoise water with a white sandy bottom and abundant marine life. It's great for swimming and photos, but even better for snorkeling. Equipment is available onboard.