Baroque palaces crowd honey-stone streets above one of the world's great natural harbours. Malta's capital packs more UNESCO heritage per square metre than almost anywhere on earth — and it's almost all walkable from the ship.
Valletta Cruise Port sits in Floriana, just outside the city walls — you can walk or take the complimentary shuttle to City Gate in minutes.
💡 Pro move: Valletta is compact and almost entirely pedestrianised. Wear comfortable shoes — the streets are steep and paved with old stone.
Cruise ships berth alongside at Valletta Cruise Port (Pinto Wharf) in the Grand Harbour area — no tendering required.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines | Pinto Wharf / Valletta Waterfront, Floriana📍 | Docked |
| Very large ships (rare overflow) | Anchorage, Grand Harbour — tender to Valletta Waterfront📍 | Tendered |
Malta is small enough to see two or three sites in a single shore day — pair Valletta's old city with the ancient temples or a harbour cruise.
Stroll the fortified Baroque capital: City Gate, Republic Street, St John's Co-Cathedral (two Caravaggio masterpieces), the Grand Master's Palace, and Upper Barrakka Gardens for postcard Grand Harbour views.
Find Valletta walking tours →Take a water taxi across the Grand Harbour to the fortified Three Cities — older than Valletta itself, packed with Knights' auberges and WWII history. Fort St Angelo is the centrepiece.
Find Three Cities tours →Malta's ancient walled hilltop capital is 30 minutes by bus or taxi. Car-free medieval streets, the Cathedral of St Paul, and sweeping views across the island make it the most atmospheric stop outside Valletta.
Find Mdina day trips →The Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples (3600–3200 BC) predate Stonehenge and the pyramids. A UNESCO site on Malta's southern cliffs — combine with a Blue Grotto boat trip nearby.
Find Malta temples tours →Motorboat trips run from Wied iż-Żurrieq on Malta's south coast into the Blue Grotto sea cave system — brilliant turquoise water and cathedral-like caverns. Best in morning light.
Find Blue Grotto tours →See Valletta's legendary fortifications from the water — Fort St Elmo, Fort Ricasoli, and the Cottonera Lines — on a 1-hour harbour cruise departing from the Valletta Waterfront.
Find Grand Harbour boat tours →Valletta's entire old city is a 20-minute walk end to end — you can cover the main sights on foot without any transport.
The classic Valletta route: enter through City Gate, walk Republic Street past the Grand Master's Palace to Fort St Elmo, then return via Merchant Street for different viewpoints. Side-step into St John's Co-Cathedral and the National Museum of Archaeology along the way.
From City Gate, descend to Upper Barrakka Gardens for Grand Harbour panoramas (and the noon cannon salute at 12:00 and 16:00, Mon–Sat), then take the Barrakka Lift down to the waterfront and stroll back to the ship along the historic Valletta Waterfront promenade.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Valletta, Malta (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F / 15°C | 53°F / 12°C | 8 | 7:11 AM | 5:11 PM |
| Feb | 60°F / 16°C | 53°F / 12°C | 6 | 6:49 AM | 5:43 PM |
| Mar | 61°F / 16°C | 54°F / 12°C | 7 | 6:12 AM | 6:09 PM |
| Apr | 65°F / 18°C | 58°F / 14°C | 3 | 6:29 AM | 7:35 PM |
| May | 71°F / 22°C | 63°F / 17°C | 3 | 5:56 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Jun | 79°F / 26°C | 70°F / 21°C | 1 | 5:45 AM | 8:19 PM |
| Jul | 85°F / 29°C | 75°F / 24°C | 0 | 5:57 AM | 8:18 PM |
| Aug | 85°F / 29°C | 77°F / 25°C | 1 | 6:20 AM | 7:51 PM |
| Sep | 81°F / 27°C | 74°F / 23°C | 4 | 6:44 AM | 7:08 PM |
| Oct | 75°F / 24°C | 68°F / 20°C | 7 | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM |
| Nov | 69°F / 21°C | 63°F / 17°C | 11 | 6:38 AM | 4:54 PM |
| Dec | 63°F / 17°C | 57°F / 14°C | 8 | 7:05 AM | 4:49 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Buses depart from Valletta Waterfront Terminus (adjacent to cruise terminal). 1-day pass covers North and South routes. Optional harbour cruise add-on available.
The city gate is only ~300m (5 min) from the terminal, making Valletta one of the most walkable cruise ports in the Mediterranean. Upper Barrakka Gardens are under 20 min on foot.
A scenic elevator connecting the Valletta Waterfront to the Upper Barrakka Gardens at city level. Quick, cheap, and offers great Grand Harbour views.
Authorized taxi booths operate at the port with fixed rates to destinations. Fares are per taxi (up to 4 passengers), not per person.
Route 130 runs from the Valletta Waterfront promenade directly to the Valletta bus terminal in the city center. Summer fare is €2.50; winter fare is €2.00.
Traditional Maltese water taxis offer a scenic 5-minute crossing to the historic Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua) — a unique cultural experience.
Upcoming cruises that call at Valletta, Malta. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.