The smallest capital city in the EU and a UNESCO world heritage site, visiting Valletta, Malta on a cruise will be a highlight of your itinerary! Valletta is a wonderful city and really easy to explore on foot when coming from a cruise ship. And given that Valletta is less than 1km2, it’s easy to cover a lot of ground even on a tight schedule. Here are my top tips for visiting Valletta, Malta on a cruise!
Read More: Full Review: 10 Day NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise
1) Views Coming into Port
About an hour before docking, get yourself outside! The views as the ship pulls into Valletta are unmatched and a show that isn’t to be missed. The slow ride into the city offer spectacular 360 degree views of Valletta, the Three Cities, and the Grand Harbor. If you have a balcony, you may think you are golden. However, I’d actually recommend going out onto the top deck so you can experience views from both sides of the ship. You will get to see the beige-toned buildings and the iconic dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Set your alarm and be ready for these views!
2) It’s Easy to Get On & Off the Ship
One of the best things about visiting Valletta, Malta on a cruise is the location of the dock! It is located here, right next to the historic Valletta Waterfront and easy to get into town. On my cruise (and others that I looked at before booking), we were docked in Valletta until late in the evening. Meaning it was really easy to go out and explore the city, pop back on the ship to relax or freshen up, and then go back out for dinner or drinks. The Valletta Waterfront is next to the cruise dock and has tons of restaurants with outdoor dining. It’s the perfect place to get a little “bonus” shore time, while also staying close to the ship.
3) Take the Elevator into Town
Immediately after getting off the ship and through the terminal, you’ll be bombarded with taxi drivers and tour groups trying to sell you rides into town. “30 minute uphill walk! Get in my cab, only €20!” Just walk right by and head straight to the Barrakka Lift. It’s only about a 5 minute (flat) walk from the dock and will get you right into the center of town for only €1. Simply walk into the courtyard and purchase your lift ticket. You may have to wait in a bit of a line, but it goes pretty quickly.
The lift will take you up right into the center of the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens are beautiful and you will get spectacular views over the harbor and out to The Three Cities. From there, you’re just a couple of blocks from the heart of Valletta. As a bonus, your lift ticket is a round-trip, so at the end of the day you can take the elevator back down for free!
4) Be Prepared for Stairs!
I hope you packed your walking shoes, because Valletta is incredibly hilly! I knew to expect staircases and some up-and-downs, but this was way more than I thought! Almost every side street is a staircase, some which are pretty steep. My huffing and puffing aside, they really are incredibly beautiful and something that makes Valletta unique! Some of the streets even have al fresco dining on the stairs (check out the picture at the top of this page). The nice thing is that the staircases are usually pretty wide, so if you want to take it slow, you don’t feel like you’re holding anyone up.
5) Stick to English
The two official languages of Malta are Maltese and English. Do yourself a favor and don’t even both trying to understand Maltese. It’s a complex blend between Italian, Arabic, and English. In Valletta, we never had a problem using English and every restaurant, shop, or tourist spot had signage in English. I tried to look up a few key Maltese phrases and gave up after I looked up “please” which is jekk jogħġbok and “good morning” which is L-għodwa t-tajba. Just stick with English, lol!
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