I already confessed that Valletta wasn’t a city which stole my heart, and what is worse, I can’t even explain why. Too touristy but empty at the same time, too small, bicycle unfriendly, stuffed with cars on the roads, which are already too narrow for walking. If to sum it up.

But at the same time, I can’t deny that it has its very own and very particular charm and the more you walk on the streets of Valetta, the more you actually like it. So here comes the list of the top places/things to see in Valletta (according to us!)

Check out: Malta in 5 Days: Tips and Itinerary

Valletta is not Valletta without its typical Balconies on the long wavy streets. Whenever you turn in the city, you will see them all right. An additional bonus if you can get a dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (honestly copied the name from the Wiki!)

A true hidden gem that we accidently stumbled upon. Boats, fishermen, cats and occasional visitors among locals relaxing on the chaises longues – I think this is the place I loved the most in Valetta.

It took a while to figure out where this view comes from, and I literally asked locals to find it out. So here it is, get to the Fortress Builders, and with a free entrance you can get this view all to yourself. :) From here you can also see the Fort Manoel on the island Manoel.

Or take a boat from Sliema to get the same view from the farthest perspective within 2€ price! The connection between Valletta and Sliema can be interrupted due to the weather conditions.

A spot of green freshness to spend a pause with a splendid view on the cruise liners and Three Cities just in front.

Exterior part of the palace as well as the interior one are both splendid. We didn’t visit the palace which used to be the Maltese Knights Headquarters, and current government offices, but we were happy enough to enjoy it from the outside. The inner courtyard is warm and cozy!

Considering that Valletta was (is) a fortified city, we can still see the bastions around it. And not just some sad remnants, no – huge thick walls that not every European city has seen durin its history. The bastions are always easy to find on the map as they actually influence the whole geography of the city.

The counterguard towers were particularly beautiful during the sunset.

Every door and window of Malta is “instagramable”, but this set of colorful doors just near the Sliema Ferry was there in a right moment. And no, I have no idea why this little guy is dressed as if it was winter and not May.

Malta still keeps a lot of British heritage after their long domination in the island. The architecture, telephone boxes, signs in English, the locals who call you “love” and the English Breakfast being served on the Mediterranean Island – that is confusing but cool at the same time.

So yes, have a look at the Main Guard Building, the statue of Queen Victoria on the Republic Square and all those oh-so-londonish telephone boxes.

Not exactly Valletta, but just couple of minutes by ferry to Sliema and you can enjoy a bizarre walk around Manoel Island, discovering a small domestic animals garden, a gorgeous view on Valletta (the similar view to the one in the ferry, but even closer), TOTAL absence of people and a Fort Manoel, which is inaccessible, but that’s the closest you can get. The view on Sliema is also nice, even though it is so different from Valletta.

Finally, let yourself go. Valletta is small enough to be explored till the last street, but if you want to discover the museums, palaces, cathedrals, then you’ll need much more time than that. I regret now not taking more time to walk in Valletta, let alone Malta, but hey, life’s short, the world is big.