I’ve been here once before. Since then it appears Valletta has gotten a makeover, or at least the entrance to it. The city gate has been replaced, by a modernist structure, which I really like. Same goes for the new Parliament building. So cool! They do clash with the rest of the city, which is mostly Baroque, and very beautiful, but I don’t care 😀 Valletta feels big and small at the same time. It’s just a little more than half a square kilometre, placed on the tip of a peninsula squeezed in between two big and busy harbours, Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour, with the star fort, Fort Saint Elmo, at the very end. If you follow the main street only, it is quite quickly done, but if you venture outside the pedestrian thoroughfare, and off into the plenty of small, narrow, and highly hilly, streets and alleyways, you’ll get another perspective, and a lot more interesting one. A perfect place for wandering aimlessly. Majestic buildings right around the corners. Superb views of the Grand Harbour and Three Cities. Cafes, restaurants, and bars scattered all over, not as many shops as I recalled. And the colorful balconies – gorgeous!! Vibrant hues against the sandy colour of the limestone buildings. Ended my visit at the top of the city wall. Excellent for enjoying the sunset!
PS! Two things I didn’t do. 1) Fort Saint Elmo. Didn’t look too interesting from the outside, so decided not to head inside. Also located at the far end of the peninsula, so will it warrant the walk? 2) The moat. Appeared nice, quiet, and neat. Should have gone down.
The bus terminal is more or less right outside the city gate. Getting to and from Valletta, and around the island in general, on the local bus(es), are pretty straightforward. There are many routes to choose from, so just make sure you get on the correct, and quickest, one. Tip: buy a tallinja card, to top up in line with your needs, and find your way around with the journey planner.
More on Valletta and Malta Island.
City wall
Fort Saint Elmo
Grand Harbour
GRAND MASTER’S PALACE (heritagemalta.mt/explore/grandmasters-palace-and-palace-state-rooms)
The Presidential Office, and previously also the Parliament building. I visited the first time I was in Malta. The only thing I remember is walking down a hallway lined with suits of armor, realising how bored I was… State rooms and armoury are usually open to the public, but now temporarily closed for renovation.
