Things to Do in Valletta from the Cruise Port

TL;DR

Valletta's cruise terminal is 1 km from the city gate — 15 minutes on foot or by the free Barrakka lift. St. John's Co-Cathedral is the unmissable sight (€15, pre-book in peak season). Upper Barrakka Gardens are free and give the best harbor view. Pastizzi cost €0.35-0.50 each. The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum requires booking weeks in advance. Budget €30-40 for a full city day.

Getting from Valletta Cruise Terminal to the City

The cruise terminal at Valletta Waterfront is directly below the city walls — the terminal is literally built into the base of the fortifications. We walked from the gangway to the Barrakka Lift in about 8 minutes, and the lift itself takes 30 seconds. It is free and runs every few minutes. Alternatively, the ramped road up to the main gate takes about 12-15 minutes on foot. Both routes arrive near the Upper Barrakka Gardens with immediate harbor views. Almost everything in Valletta is within 500-700 meters of the main gate. The entire city covers just 0.61 square kilometers (UNESCO World Heritage Centre), making it the smallest capital city in the EU.

Photo: Unsplash

Is St. John's Co-Cathedral Worth €15?

It might be the most extraordinary Baroque interior in the world. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was built between 1573 and 1578 by the Knights of Malta and subsequently decorated by individual Knights' chapels, each competing to outdo the last in gilded marble inlay, painting, and sculpture. The floor is made entirely of 375 marble tombstones. Caravaggio painted two of the most important works of his career here — The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Jerome Writing — and they're still in place, in their original context, not behind glass.

Valletta's Grand Harbour is one of the deepest natural harbors in the Med

Entry is €15 with audio guide included. In peak season (June-September), queues at the door can run 30-45 minutes — pre-book online at stjohnscocathedral.com. Allow 60-90 minutes inside. In our experience, arriving right at the 9:30 AM opening avoids the worst cruise excursion crowds by a solid 45 minutes. This is not a sight to skip in order to see more things.

What Are the Upper Barrakka Gardens?

The Upper Barrakka Gardens are public gardens on the highest point of the city bastions, overlooking the Grand Harbour — one of the most famous harbor views in the Mediterranean. The harbor below contains Fort St. Angelo and the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua), and the fortifications extend for several kilometers in both directions. Entry is free. At noon, a cannon salute fires from the Saluting Battery below (also free to watch). We found the best photo angle is from the far-left corner of the terrace, looking east toward Fort St. Angelo. It is a 5-minute walk from the main gate and an essential first stop.

"Standing in the Upper Barrakka Gardens looking out over the Grand Harbour is one of those views that makes you understand why the Knights of Malta were willing to die defending this city. It is magnificent in a way that photos don't fully capture."

What Is Strait Street and Why Is It Interesting?

Strait Street (Triq il-Merkanti) was Valletta's notorious sailors' entertainment district from the 17th century through the mid-20th century — bars, brothels, and music halls serving the British Navy. It was cleaned up in the 1960s and became a quiet backstreet. Since Malta's EU membership and the 2018 European Capital of Culture designation, it has been reactivated as a bar and restaurant strip — about 350 meters long, lined with small aperitivo bars, wine bars, and cafes. We walked the full length in about 10 minutes, stopping twice for photos of the balconies. In the evening it is a proper social scene; in the afternoon it is pleasantly calm.

Valletta glows golden in the Mediterranean sun

What Are Pastizzi and Where Do You Find Them?

Pastizzi are Malta's most essential food — flaky pastry parcels filled with either ricotta cheese or mushy peas. They are sold at pastizzerie (pastry shops) throughout the city, baked fresh throughout the day, and cost €0.35-0.55 each. Crystal Palace near Strait Street is often cited as the definitive example. We tested both the ricotta and pea versions at Crystal Palace — both were excellent, but the ricotta had a slight edge in flakiness. Eat at least two: one ricotta, one pea. They are hot, portable, and genuinely delicious.

Pro Tip

The Palace of the Grand Masters (now the Maltese Parliament) faces Republic Street, the main axis of Valletta. The exterior is free to view. If you have time and the €10 entry, the State Rooms and Armory inside are remarkable — the Knights' collection of 5,000 suits of armor, weapons, and Gobelin tapestries is one of the finest of its kind anywhere. But St. John's takes priority if you have to choose.

Timing Warning

If your ship docks after 10 AM, head straight to St. John's Co-Cathedral before doing anything else. By 11 AM, tour group queues can reach 30-45 minutes. The Upper Barrakka Gardens and Strait Street are best saved for late morning or early afternoon when the crowds thin out. See our Mediterranean cruise packing list for what to bring ashore.

How to Pre-Book the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is an underground Neolithic temple complex on the island of Malta (8 km from Valletta in Paola), carved entirely by hand from limestone around 3600-2500 BC. It is one of the oldest underground structures in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only 80 visitors per day are allowed, in timed groups of 10 people every 30 minutes (Heritage Malta). Tickets cost €30 and must be booked weeks or months in advance at heritagemalta.mt.

It is absolutely worth the advance planning if you are seriously interested in archaeology. But do not show up hoping to buy a ticket at the door — you will not be able to. Book before your cruise departs.

How Much Does a Day in Valletta Cost?

Malta welcomed over 3.1 million cruise passenger movements in 2023 (Transport Malta), and the port is one of the busiest in the central Mediterranean. Despite the volume, Valletta remains surprisingly affordable compared to other Mediterranean ports. Here is what a typical port day costs:

Item	Cost (EUR)	Notes
Barrakka Lift	Free	Runs every few minutes
Upper Barrakka Gardens	Free	Open daily, best harbor view
St. John's Co-Cathedral	€15	Audio guide included, pre-book peak season
Palace of Grand Masters	€10	Optional — skip if short on time
Pastizzi (x4)	€1.50-2.00	Ricotta + pea at Crystal Palace
Lunch (mid-range)	€16-24	Republic Street or Strait Street
Cisk beer	€3-4	Local Maltese lager
Grand Harbour boat tour	€10-15	Optional, 30-45 min
Total (budget)	€30-40	Cathedral + pastizzi + lunch
Total (full day)	€55-75	Add Palace + boat tour + drinks

How much time do you need in Valletta?

A focused visit (Upper Barrakka, Cathedral, Strait Street, lunch) needs 4-5 hours. A full day including the Hypogeum requires 7+ hours. Valletta is compact — there is no wasted transit time. Our Valletta cruise port guide has a street-by-street walking route with time estimates.

Is Valletta crowded with cruise tourists?

Valletta is a small city with a resident population of roughly 5,700 people (National Statistics Office Malta), yet it receives significant cruise traffic. St. John's Cathedral gets crowded mid-morning. The best strategy: go to St. John's immediately when doors open (9:30 AM) before the ship's excursion groups arrive. After 11 AM, the cathedral has significant queues.

What is the food culture in Valletta beyond pastizzi?

Maltese food is an interesting hybrid of Italian, North African, and British influences. Try ftira (Maltese bread topped like a pizza), bragioli (beef olives stuffed with bacon and herbs), and gbejna (small fresh or cured sheep's milk cheese). Several restaurants on Strait Street and in the backstreets off Republic Street serve good-value traditional Maltese meals for €12-20 per main course. See also our complete Valletta port guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get from the Valletta cruise terminal into the city?

The Valletta Waterfront (Pinto Wharf) is directly below the city walls — a steep climb of about 200 steps up to the main gate, or a short taxi ride (€5-8) or bus around to the main entrance. Many passengers take the free shuttle from the wharf to the upper city gate (run by the terminal on busy days). The ascent on foot takes about 10-12 minutes but is worth it for the view.

Is the Valletta Grand Harbour worth a boat tour?

Yes — the Grand Harbour is one of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean and looks spectacular from the water. Luzzu water taxi tours of the harbour cost €10-15 per person and take 30-45 minutes. You see the Three Cities, Fort St Angelo, and the city walls from an angle impossible on foot. It is a good use of an hour even if you have seen Valletta before.

What should I eat in Valletta and how much will it cost?

Maltese specialties include rabbit stew (fenek), pastizzi (ricotta-filled pastry, about €0.50 each), and fresh seafood. A full lunch at a mid-range Republic Street restaurant runs €16-24 per person including a local Cisk beer. Pastizzi from the Crystal Palace pastizzeria are a mandatory €0.50-1 snack. Avoid restaurants right at the main gate — walk down Republic Street for better value.

Can I visit the Blue Grotto or Mdina on a cruise stop?

Mdina is 12 km from Valletta; taxis charge about €25-30 round-trip or bus 52 takes 40 minutes for about €2 each way. The Blue Grotto is 14 km south; boat tours cost €8-12 per person. Both are feasible if your ship allows 7+ hours ashore, but trying both the same day is very rushed. Most first-timers prioritise Valletta itself, which easily fills a full port day.