Valletta Guided Walking Tour with Licenced Guide

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Triton Fountain

  The Tritons’ Fountain is a fountain located just before the entrance to the city of Valletta. It consists of three bronze Tritons (gods of the sea) holding up a large basin, balanced on a concentric base built out of concrete and clad in 730 tonnes of travertine slabs. The fountain is one of Malta's most important modernist landmarks.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Valletta City Gate

  The City Gate is a gate located at the entrance of Valletta. The present gate, which is the fifth one to have stood on the site, was built between 2011 and 2014 to designs of the Italian architect Renzo Piano. The first gate to the city was built in 1566.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  The New Parliament

  The Parliament House is the meeting place of the Parliament of Malta. The building was constructed between 2011 and 2015 to designs by Renzo Piano as part of the City Gate Project, which also included building a new City Gate and converting the ruins of the Royal Opera House into an open-air theatre. Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Parliament House.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 4
  Pjazza Teatru Rjal

  The Royal Opera House, also known as the Royal Theatre, was an opera house and performing arts venue in Valletta, Malta. It was designed by the English architect Edward Middleton Barry and was erected in 1866. In 1873, its interior was extensively damaged by fire but was eventually restored by 1877. The theatre received a direct hit from aerial bombing in 1942 during World War II. Prior to its destruction, it was one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in Valletta. After several abandoned plans to rebuild the theatre, the ruins were redesigned as an open-air theatre by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, and in 2013, it once again started functioning as a performance venue, called "Pjazza Teatru Rjal." Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering Royal Opera House.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 5

  The Auberge de Castille, historically known as the Auberge de Castille et Portugal, is an auberge located at Castile Place, close to Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. It sits at the highest point of Valletta and overlooks Floriana and the Grand Harbour area. Built in the Baroque style under the magistracy of Portuguese Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca in the 1740s, it replaced a 1574 building erected to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Castile, León and Portugal. Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Auberge de Castille.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 6

  Saint James Cavalier is a 16th-century cavalier that was built by the Order of St. John. It overlooks St. James' Bastion, a large obtuse-angled bastion forming part of the Valletta Land Front. It was designed by the Italian military engineer Francesco Laparelli, while its construction was overseen by his Maltese assistant Girolamo Cassar. St. James Cavalier never saw use in any military conflict, but it played a role during the Rising of the Priests in 1775. The cavalier is located in Castille Square, close to Auberge de Castille, the Central Bank of Malta, the Parliament House, the Malta Stock Exchange, and the post office at Dar Annona. The cavalier was restored as part of Malta's Millennium Project. It is now a cultural centre known as "Spazju Kreattiv" (Maltese for Creative Space). Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Saint James Cavalier.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 7
  Upper Barrakka Gardens

  A visit to the Upper Barrakka Gardens is a must; here, you can take in breathtaking views of the magnificent Grand Harbour, providing a perfect backdrop for memorable photographs. The gardens are located on the upper tier of Saints Peter and Paul Bastion, which was built in the 1560s. The bastion's lower tier contains the saluting battery. The garden's terraced arches were built in 1661 by the Italian knight Fra Flaminio Balbiani. They were originally roofed, but the ceiling was removed following the Rising of the Priests in 1775.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Republic Street, historically known as Strada Reale or Kingsway, is a principal street in the capital city of Valletta. It is about 1 kilometre long (0.6 miles) and is known for legislative, judicial, and commercial purposes. It is mostly pedestrianised. Republic Street extends from City Gate towards the granaries at Fort St. Elmo. In its downward course, the main street runs perpendicular with several other streets given Valletta's grid layout. It also encounters several buildings and squares of note, such as City Gate, Freedom Square, the Parliament of Malta, Palazzo Ferreria, Royal Opera House, the Archaeology Museum, St. John's Square, the Courts of Justice, the Casino Maltese, Republic Square, Grandmaster's Palace, St. George's Square, Spinola Palace, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Casa Rocca Piccola and others.

  Admission ticket free
• 8

  Republic Square is a piazza in Valletta. The square was originally called Piazza Tesoreria or Piazza dei Cavallieri since the treasury of the Order of Saint John was located in the square. After a statue of Queen Victoria was installed in the square in the 19th century, it became known as Queen's Square or Piazza Regina. Although its official name is Republic Square, it is still commonly referred to as Piazza Regina.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9

  Described as the heart of the capital, St. George’s Square is Valletta’s largest and most prominent square. Dating back to the 17th century, it has witnessed some of the most notable events in the island’s history, including royal visits, victory celebrations, and even the presentation of the George Cross in 1942.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Grand Master's Palace

  The Grandmaster's Palace, officially known as The Palace, was built between the 16th and 18th centuries as the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798, and was also known as the Magisterial Palace. When the knights were expelled by Napoleonic France, it became the National Palace. During the period of British rule beginning in 1800, it was the Governor's Palace. The Palace currently houses the Office of the President of Malta. Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Grandmaster's Palace.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 11
  St. John's Co-Cathedral

  During the tour, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some free time (approximately 30-40 minutes) or partake in a guided visit to the magnificent co-cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist (optional visit—admission ticket to be paid on location). Constructed by the Order of the Knights of St. John shortly after the Great Siege of 1565 and completed in 1577, this cathedral is undeniably one of the most awe-inspiring religious sites in the world, renowned for its riches, adorned interiors, stunning artwork, and intricate design. One of the most remarkable features of the cathedral is the impressive marble floor, which is composed of nearly 400 tombstones of knights and officers of the Order. Amongst other valuable artworks, the cathedral also houses 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist' by renowned artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, which is regarded as one of his greatest masterpieces and is the only work signed by the painter.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• (Pass by)

  Merchant's Street is located in the historic city centre of Valletta. Merchant's Street goes through the heart of the city, exhibiting a vast array of old and new shops, markets, and palaces.

  Admission ticket free
• 12
  Auberge d'Italie

  The Auberge d'Italie was built in various stages in the late 16th century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Italy, and it originally had a Mannerist design by Girolamo Cassar and several other architects. The building continued to be modified throughout the course of the 17th century, with the last major renovation being carried out in the 1680s during the magistracy of Gregorio Carafa, giving the building a Baroque character. It is now converted to host the National Museum of Fine Arts, also known as MUŻA. Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Auberge d'Italie or visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 13
  National War Museum - Fort St Elmo

  Fort Saint Elmo stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort Tigné and Fort Ricasoli. It is best known for its role in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Since 1975, part of the fort has housed the National War Museum. Please note that our visit will be external only, and we will not be entering the Fort or visiting the National War Museum.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 14
  The Malta Experience

  Before concluding your enriching experience, at the last stop on our itinerary, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy an engaging audio-visual show about the history of Malta (optional visit—admission ticket to be paid on location). This educational, informative, and entertaining presentation delves into the tumultuous history of this small island nation, which has triumphed over immense challenges to thrive and flourish. The audio-visual show at the end of the tour is an optional experience, allowing guests to choose whether or not to join in. If you wish to skip the audio-visual show, you can conclude your tour without attending. The audio-visual show is generally done at the end of the tour at the Malta Experience theatre; however, the provider reserves the right to change the time and venue for the audio-visual show without prior notice.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• Valletta (Pass by)

  The order of the visits and the itinerary are subject to change without prior notice, depending on weather conditions, restrictions, unforeseen circumstances, or other operational constraints.

  Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The meeting point is in front of the Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta (near the main staircase entrance of the hotel).
• The meeting time is at 9:30 AM. Please make sure to arrive at the meeting point in time; we always recommend arriving 5-10 minutes before the activity's start time.
• The guide will have a list of all participants and will ask all guests waiting in front of the Phoenicia Hotel for their names.

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