Last Updated on 28/12/2023
Are you looking for free things to do in Valletta to save money for dining and experiences? Look no further! Valletta is full of attractions that cost nothing to explore and are places you would want to include in your Valletta itinerary regardless. Check out my tips for some of the top free activities to check out in 24 hours in Malta’s charming capital city.
Free Things to do in Valletta that you must visit!
Valletta is the smallest capital city in Europe (after the Vatican City), but that’s not to say it’s not full of culture and charm; after all, it was the 2018 European Capital of Culture.
The best part about visiting the city of Valletta is that many of the attractions come at no cost to you, so exploring the Maltese capital can be done on a budget. As the city is small and walkable, you may also be pleased to know the main attractions can be seen in Valletta in a day.
As an affordable luxury travel blog, I do love sourcing unforgettable dining experiences, cocktails, rooftop bars and more, but to make my travels affordable I also like to seek out free things to do in order to keep my travel costs down. Best of both worlds if you ask me!
Enjoy your visit to Valletta on a budget with these top free things to experience:
Valletta City Gate & City Walls
Depending on which way you enter Valletta, you are likely to see the impressive City Gate. Designed by architect Francesco Laparelli, the Valletta city gate is an imposing structure and serves as an impressive point of reference for visitors.
The Victoria Gate guards the lower entrance to the city, and though this isn’t the main city gate, it is as the name suggests named after the late Queen Victoria at a time during British rule. Guarding the harbour area, which was once the busiest area of Valletta with an array of fishing merchants, traders and sailors.
In addition to these city gates, you can also explore the city walls which were built by Grand Master Jean de Valette in the 16th century. A walk along these walls will take you through narrow alleys, secret gardens and hidden stairways.
The honey-coloured Valletta city walls took me back to my time exploring Dubrovnik’s city walls, Dubrovnik is another historical European city I loved visiting. If you love exploring cities with imposing walls, York City walls are also worth visiting in the U.K.
If you are looking for a unique way to explore Valletta, the City Walls and Gate is definitely something that should be on your list. The views of the Grand Harbour from here are breathtaking!
Valletta’s Fortified Walls
For those who are interested in history, Valletta’s fortifications are well worth exploring. The city is surrounded by a number of forts, including the renowned St. Elmo’s Fort, which was designed to defend the city against naval attacks.
St. Elmo’s Fort dates back to the 16th Century and played a crucial part in defending the Maltese capital city from invasion during WWII. Inside, visitors can explore a variety of museums, which include exhibits on the culture and history of Valletta.
Exploring Valletta’s fortifications is the ideal way to get a sense of the city’s past history.
Hastings Park
Perhaps a little less well-known than other gardens (I’ll be detailing below), Hastings Park is known for being a bit more of a romantic spot where it’s not unusual to witness a proposal or two.
Head to Hastings Park for sunset and walk along the lower end of the gardens to see the golden hour sunset over the yachts in the marina.
Upper & Lower Barrakka Gardens Valletta
The Barrakka Gardens were once the private gardens of the Knights of Malta. Situated on the edge of Valletta’s fortified walls, these two gardens offer breathtaking views over the Grand Harbour and city skyline. The Lower Barrakka Gardens are home to a salute battery that is still used by the Maltese Armed Forces today (I’ll be sharing more on this further down the post), while the Upper Barrakka Gardens boast a serene atmosphere and a sunning terrace.
During our visit we watched some dancers take to the gardens, who were mesmerising to watch – check out my Malta stories on Instagram.
Taking a stroll around Upper Barrakka Gardens and enjoying a panoramic view of Grand Harbour is one of the best free things to do in Valletta. This relaxing terrace garden has magnificent views, lush greenery and plenty of benches for sitting back and taking it all in.
As well as various types of flowers, you will also see statues, including a statue of Sir Winston Churchill and one of the Siege Bell Memorial. The walls also feature inscriptions in various languages, including Maltese and English, which commemorate past events that took place here.
Saluting Battery Gun & Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Dating back to Malta’s Great Siege, the Saluting Battery at Lower Barrakka Gardens was in operation to defend the city, provide a ceremonial welcome and is still used to fire a salute every day at noon and 4pm.
It’s also the site of a Changing of the Guard Ceremony, which takes place every Monday to Saturday at 8 am. The ceremony includes an inspection parade by members of the Armed Forces and music from a military band.
The Changing of the Guard Ceremony is free to watch and you can expect to see well-dressed servicemen march in formation with their weapons. If this is something you would like to see, it’s worthwhile arriving 15 minutes earlier to have a good view and to witness the whole experience.
If like me, you’re jumpy and the last thing you want to watch is a gun being fired, be sure to avoid the area around the Barrakka gardens at noon or 4pm as you may be in for a fright!
I’d say the saluting gun times are a great opportunity to enjoy a drink or nab a table to dine whilst the crowds are watching the gun being fired!
St. George’s Square
This famous square was once the parade ground of Valletta’s soldiers and is now the largest square in Valletta. It’s a great place to take photos of St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the surrounding buildings and also features some statues dedicated to important figures from Maltese history.
Of course, it’s also a great place to pass some time with some people watching too!
St John’s Co-Cathedral & Armoury Museum
Located in the heart of Valletta, this ornate Baroque cathedral was built by the Knights of Malta in the 16th Century making St John’s Co-Cathedral a must-see site for any visitor to the city. But, why is it called a Co-Cathedral you may be wondering? Well, it turns out that this gem of a building was once the conventual church of the Order of St John and, as such, was co-cathedral to the Archbishop of Malta. St John’s shares this lofty title with St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina.
Whilst free to admire from the outside, entrance inside St-John’s Co-Cathedral costs 15 euros per person, unless you visit during Mass, which is free to enter, but you will have to stand at the back of the cathedral.
The interior is decorated with beautiful frescoes, tapestries and sculptures which are worth admiring, including Caravaggio’s masterpiece, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a number of artwork pieces by renowned artist Mattia Preti and the ceiling fresco which took many years to complete. One of the most impressive features however is said to be the floor made of inlaid marble, which contains the tombs of many knights.
The Cathedral also features a museum which houses an impressive collection of armour and weaponry from Malta’s history, once used by the Knights of Malta. The Armoury Museum is free to enter and offers visitors a chance to view historic weapons that were used in battles dating back centuries ago.
Overall, the Co-Cathedral and Armoury Museum are a great place to spend some time in Valletta and learn more about Malta’s fascinating history.
Valletta Grand Harbour Waterfront
The Valletta Waterfront is where you can enjoy a stunning view of Grand Harbour, watch ferries come in and out, and take a stroll along the waterfront promenade.
The Valletta Waterfront also has a number of attractions such as the Malta Maritime Museum, the Lascaris War Rooms and plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars.
In addition to this, you can also explore some of the city’s impressive fortifications (that I mentioned at the start of this post), which played an important role in defending against invaders throughout history.
Pjazza John de Valette
Dedicated to the Grand Master Valette (with a statue of the Maltese hero), who proposed the building of the capital, Pjazza John de Valette is where you can admire the Baroque-style building facades and enjoy some people-watching in the centre of this bustling square.
Triton Fountain Valletta
The magnificent Triton Fountain is the largest fountain in Valletta and it stands proudly in one of the city’s main squares, Republic Street.
At 11 metres tall, this impressive fountain features a number of sculptures all around it – from gods to mermaids and mythical creatures. It was designed by Italian architect Girolamo Cassar and made of Maltese limestone.
Triton Fountain certainly is one of the best photo spots in Valletta, but the real question is…does it look better in the day or at night?!! You decide!
British Red Phone Box in Valletta
Upon visiting Malta, I was actually quite shocked to find little pieces of home, such as traditional British red phone boxes, Marks & Spencer, and even Matalan stores! They’re not needed, but the red phone box on Battery Street makes for a great Valletta photo spot.
For an extra photo opportunity, stand on the corner of Republic Street opposite the red phone box and look up at the wooden balconies above, paying close attention to the intricate stonework of the baroque statue’s tongue.
Shopping in Valletta
If you can’t resist going shopping on your travels (like me), then you’ll be pleased to know there are a variety of local and well-known shops in Valletta to browse during your visit.
High-street brands Pull & Bear, Next, Superdry and most randomly Matalan, which also has a shop in Sliema and is a UK shop that I don’t think I’ve seen internationally before.
Browse the market
As well as high street stores, you will also find some unique items on the market stalls dotted around the streets of Valletta, where you can purchase handmade jewellery, artwork as well as Maltese souvenirs.
Streets of Valletta
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it goes without saying, Valletta’s streets are well worth seeing on their own.
The labyrinth of alleyways leading to the main roads offers some of the best photo spots in Valletta, and with this in mind, it is well worth meandering around the city at your own pace to uncover these hidden gems.
Free Valletta Walking Tour
If the thought of navigating Google Maps to explore Valletta fills you with dread, you can of course book a free walking tour of Valletta to see some of the city’s best sites with a guide.
National Library of Malta
Located on the bustling Pjazza Regina, around the corner from St John’s Co-Cathedral, there’s no doubt all visitors to Valletta have captured a picture of The National Library, even if they did not venture inside.
This stunning building is a reference library, rather than one in which you can borrow books, and houses many old manuscripts, including those bequeathed from the original order of St John, as well as an early edition of Nostradamus dating back to 1566.
The National Library is free to visit before it closes daily at 13.15 pm.
Cheap Things to Do in Valletta
As well as free things to do in Valletta, there are also a variety of cheap things to do to keep your costs down in the Maltese capital.
Valletta Ghost Tour Outdoor Escape Game
Explore the streets of Valletta whilst uncovering dark secrets and the history of the city. This intriguing self-guided ghost tour starts at City Gate, follows a series of puzzles and lasts around 1.5 hours.
Book this Valletta ghost tour outdoor escape game for under £10.
Manoel Theatre Valletta
This incredible 18th-century theatre is one of the oldest in Europe and is the home of Valletta’s opera house. It’s a great place to take pictures and admire its beautiful Baroque architecture. Whilst strictly speaking it is not free to enter, entry is priced at 5 euros a person, which is totally worth it to see the stunning opera house.
Valletta Iconic Attractions Self-Guided Audio Tour
Do you want to explore all the best sites in Valletta at your own pace, whilst also learning about the culture and history of the city? Why not use this self-guided mobile walking tour audio app, which is the ideal introduction to Valletta and comes in a variety of languages.
Fort St Elmo National War Museum
Spanning seven sections, The National War Museum uncovers over 7,000 years of Maltese military history from the Bronze Age to Malta joining the EU. There are also some interactive exhibitions, where you can explore the bunkers and gun emplacements used to defend the city from German aerial bombardment, as well as a display of the medals bestowed in recognition of bravery during the war.
Adult tickets are priced at 10 euros per person, and children over 6 tickets are priced at 5.50 euros each.
Valletta Self-Guided Highlights & Scavenger Hunt
Is there a more exciting way to uncover hidden gems in Valletta than by embarking on a scavenger hunt, deciphering riddles and clues about Valletta’s most famous attractions?!
Don’t miss a Valletta Scavenger Hunt for under 10 euros per person!
Three Cities Harbour Tour
The Three Cities are a trio of teeny-tiny cities located just across the water from Valletta, named Il-Birgu, L-Isla and Bormla, but confusingly are also named Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua.
Whilst you can simply cross the water to one of the three cities for as little as 2 euros per person or take the bus to The Three Cities for 1.50 euros, I highly recommend paying a few euros more for a Three Cities Harbour Tour on a traditional dghajsa water taxi. But, what is a dghajsa water taxi I hear you ask?!
Malta’s traditional water taxis’ known as “Id-Dghajsa tal-Pass” are iconic small wooden boats (not too dissimilar from Venice gondolas) that have been a form of Maltese transport for centuries. The Three Cities Harbour Tour will take you on a scenic tour around the three cities, before dropping you at your chosen city to explore.
We chose to explore Birgu (otherwise known as Vittoriosa), the largest of the three cities and thoroughly enjoyed taking in the beautiful scenery on the boat before checking out the city itself.
Three Cities Walking Tour
Once you’ve arrived at The Three Cities, you can explore at your own pace for free.
However, if you’re short of time or want to discover the Maltese Three Cities with an experienced guide talking you through the history and best sites, you can do this Three Cities Walking Tour for £12.91 per person.
Valletta on a Budget
Valletta is an incredible city with plenty of free things to do, from magnificent gardens, historical sites, fortifications and more, don’t miss visiting this beautiful Mediterranean capital.
Whether you’re visiting for 24 hours or staying longer, there is lots to see and do to fill your Valletta itinerary. I hope you enjoyed reading this post, if you did, please do share with others using the share buttons below!
Check out my other Valletta posts featuring places to eat, photo spots and more below!
Jaz
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