Home » The most photogenic spots in Valletta, Malta

The most photogenic spots in Valletta, Malta

Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by

If your are visiting Malta soon and, like me, can’t stop taking pictures. This guide is for you! Here I collected a selection of the most photogenic spots in Valletta. You will find their location, pictures and even their history.

Valletta is a city with a hundreds years of history. Encircled by its high walls and kissed by the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean sea, this city is still a very undervalued as holiday destination. Nevertheless, its unique architecture and intriguing history made me love every single second I spent there! So much I already been three times! As a historian, my heart was full of joy of at the idea of exploring a place with so much history. However, as a photographer and travel writer I can’t deny that Valletta is terribly pretty to photograph. So pretty that very corner I was passing by screamed “please photograph meee!!”. So pretty that I ended up using 2 memory cards to capture every single angle.

Getting around Valletta

Valletta is a very easy place to get around. Indeed, you don’t need anything in particular except a good pair of walking shoes. Most of the central places are car-free and easy to walk. Side streets are open to cars belonging to local residents. This means that if you are planning to rent a car you should check carefully what is the closest available parking to your accommodation.

Valletta is built over different levels. This means that, despite being a great walkable place, some areas might be tricky to get for people with mobility issues. Indeed, some internal alleys connects to each other only by staircases or certain streets are very steep to walk. I am confident there are alternative routes to reach a same destination or landmark. If you think this can be an issue for you, is better to check in advance what is the best route for you.

Getting to Valletta from the Luqa Airport

Most photogenic spots in Valletta

Bus

Reaching Valletta from the Luqa Airport is very easy. Indeed, the bus line X4 connects the airport to the Valletta bus station near the Triton Fountain. The journey usually takes around 35 mins. Buses are quite frequent but in summer they might have some delays due to the large amount of people visiting the island.

If you choose to go around by bus, the best option is to buy a Tallnja Card. This grants you unlimited travels for 7 Days. You can order this online or buy it from one of the self-service machines at the airport.

Taxi

Another, and perhaps quicker, way to get to Valletta is by taxi. I am not sure about the fare of the local taxi, but the last time we visited Valletta (June 2022) we took an Uber and it was honesty the best choice. It took less than 20 mins and we paid about less than €14 in two. To note you can’t take Uber straight in front of the terminal. Indeed, this space is accessible only by local taxi. However, if you walk al little further from the arrivals you shouldn’t have any problems.

The most photogenic places in Valletta

Map of the most photogenic places in Valletta

I had to admit it was hard to choose what places I consider the “most photogenic” in Valletta. Indeed, the city is so charming that almost every corner you will see is worth a space in your camera memory card. However, for the scope of this blog, I selected the ones I considered not only photogenic locations but also historically and architecturally significant to visit in Valletta. The map below, shows you the exact location of each place you will find in this blog. Each place can be reached on foot. Indeed, you can actually visit all of them on a day trip to Valletta.

If you are staying longer and want to discover some other fantastic locations read my 6 days itinerary to Malta.

The Grandmaster’s Palace

Probably one of my favourite places in Valletta, the Grand Master’s Palace is one of the top places to visit in the city. I feel very close to this iconic institution. Indeed, having studied the Order of St. John for long time, I have a particular affection for the story of this building. The Granmaster’s Palace is an architectural marvel. Since the XVI century, this place hosts the most important Maltese dignitaries for official and political purposes. It stands in the heart of Valletta and it’s probably one of the most significative institutions one can visit in Malta. 

A brief history of the Grandmaster’s Palace

When the Order of St. John established definitively in Malta during the early XVI century, the need of a permanent and official residence for the Grandmaster was at the top of the Order’s agenda. In the original plan, this palace should be built in the southern side of Valletta. Nevertheless, because of the existence of different buildings already in the hands of the Order in that side of the city, this was built in the current location by the architect Girolamo Cassar. The Palace (famous also with the name Magisterial Palace) had various interventions along the centuries. In 1724, the ceiling and part of the walls were enriched by frescoes. In 1740, the Grandmaster Pinto da Fonseca gave the building the current aspect. He commissioned the embellishment of the façade and also the building of the famous clock tower visible from the main streets of Valletta.

This place’s design is a real joy for the eyes! The colourful floor tiles and the incredible ceilings make the Palace not only a precious piece of history and concentrate of pure art, but also a great photogenic location.

Tips for your visit

The Grandmaster’s palace tends to be very crowded during the high season. The only way to have it all for you (or with a very few people) is going right at the opening time on a weekday.  The best thing to do is first, visiting the Palace Armoury. This opens slightly earlier than the palace at 9 am and it’s usually the first step in the visit of the location. Not many people knows the Armoury opens actually before the palace.This will give you a little advantage to be ready when the actual Grandmaster’s palace open, one hour later. The Armoury is located on the others side of the Palace. This will open at 10 am and, if you have played well on timing, you will be probably the only visitor(s) for a while.

During our visit, the first tourists who after us were only a half hour later. Therefore, we had plenty of time to shoot pictures before focusing on our tour of the palace. Unfortunately for you, you will not be totally alone as a guardian will escort you all the time for security reason (in the end you are always inside a museum!). When you finish, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Pinto’s Clock. This is located on the back courtyard of the palace’s internal facade and overlook the palace since 1745.

Practical Information

The Palace Armoury and Grandmaster’s Palace are located in Merchants Street, Valletta, Malta. The ticket price are: Palace and Armoury €10. You can have up to 40% discount by purchasing a Malta Discount Card. Thanks Visit Malta for providing this for our trip.

2023 UPDATE: Please note the Grandmaster’s Palace and the Armoury are closed until further notice due to a renovation project.

The Upper Barakka Gardens

The Upper Barakka Gardens are probably one of the must visit places in Valletta. Indeed, If you want to enjoy the best view of the Grand Harbour, this is the place to be. The gardens lie on a pre-existent bastion dating back to 1560. Of this old bastion, you can still admire the lower part, where the famous Saluting Battery is located.

The initial scope of the gardens was not that of being a public place. In fact, they were created as an exercise ground for the Italian section of the Knights of Malta. The current arcade (photo above) was built at the expense of the Italian Knight Fra Flaminio Balbiani in 1661. It originally included a roof that was removed as a consequence of the rebellion known as Rising of the Priests in 1775. Indeed, it was believed the garden arcades were used as the main location for clandestine plots. The gardens were originally famous as “Bastion of St. Peter and Paul” or “Porta d’Italia” and they became open to public only in 1800 under the British rule.

Tips for visiting

The Upper Barakka Gardens are free to visit and offer one the best panoramic view from Valletta towards the Three Cities. You can expect tons of people, especially in the afternoon/night when tourists and locals gather under the arcades to enjoy the sunset or the fireworks from the harbour. Want to get a picture alone for your insta gallery? Almost impossible.

You have three options in front of you. The first is, going very early at morning (but with a complete different light). The second is, waiting for the perfect moment to get a lucky picture (it might works if you have time and patience). The last, and third option is, (the one that I actually used for my first picture) asking people ten seconds of their life to avoid passing behind you while taking your picture!

Lower Barakka Gardens

Twinning with the Upper Barakka Garden, their lower version are located just at 10 mins walk from their higher version. Both gardens are worth a visit and, despite the similarities in their architecture, (like their prominent arcade), their view is slightly different and each of them has its own unique features. Indeed, the Upper Barakka Gardens have a high frontal-view of the Three Cities and they are larger and centrally located. The Barakka Gardens are slightly out of the city centre with a more corner view, which focuses on the Great Harbour and the Siege Bell Wall Memorial. Differently from the upper version, they are a much more quiet spot. Perfect to take pictures, relax or find shade during the summer.

The Lower Barakka Gardens were built over the Bastion of St. Christophe during the 19th century. The centre of the garden features a Neoclassical monument called Monument to Sir Alexander Ball. Built in 1810, this looks like a Greek temple dedicated to Alexander Ball, a British admiral who was the first Civil Commissioner of Malta.

The Parliament House’s staircase

This isn’t the most fancy staircase you have probably seen around. However, it has an incredible eye-catching charm. In fact, the staircase of the Parliament House was one of the first things I’ve seen in when I arrived in Valletta and it immediately caught my attention. First, because I was wandering what there was at the top of the staircase. Second, because despite being a simple staircase this is probably one of the most photogenic spots of Valletta!

The Parliament House in Malta is one of the newest constructions of the country, dating back only to 2015. Indeed, until 1976, the Parliament met in the Tapestry Chamber of the Grandmaster’s Palace. After that, the Parliament moved to the Armoury until the opening of the new Parliament’s meeting place in 2015. The new Parliament’s house and its staircase were designed the architect Renzo Piano. The new architecture fits perfectly with the pre-existent surrounding buildings featuring the famous golden stone typical of the Maltese constructions.

Tips for photographing.

You can photograph the staircase at any moment of the day (it’s also free to do it). I have to warn you that it’s always pretty crowded and with people going up and down. However, with patience you can have a perfect moment alone in front of the camera. In this case, I preferred to shoot at mid-morning when the sun was hitting the staircase in a way that created shade on a half of the stairs.

The Bridge Bar

In the eastern side of of the city, hidden among numerous alleys and a lot of stairs, there is one of the most photogenic spots in Valletta! A building famous for its colourful red balconies and green little bridge. I would say that taking a picture here is more than natural even if you are not a photographer or instagrammer. In fact, this place seems calling tourists like a mermaid calls her sailors.

The colours of the balconies, the lovely bridge connecting two sides of the city and the flowers on the walls, make this corner a great Valletta attraction.  It’s likely you won’t be alone here. Indeed, I had to wait for a while to shot my “insta-pictures” (maybe I waited too long under the sun given that after the picture above I felt really bad and needed to rest).

Tip. Go twice.

The majority of people will probably shoot their picture and archive this place among others seen in their holidays to Malta. However, what I suggest you is to go twice! Indeed, during a different time of the day, this place has a unexpected different vibe. The second time you visit, go at night for one of the amazing Jazz Nights of the Bridge Bar! You won’t be disappointed. In fact, the music is good and drinks are affordable!  Moreover, you can enjoy the best view of Maltese fireworks from the Victoria Gate.

The St. John’s Co-Cathedral

I think that no one of the pictures I shoot and saw online can make really justice to the architectural beauty of this church! The St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of those places you have to see in person to fully admire and understand its features. I admit I felt a bit overwhelmed by the incredibly abundance of details and decorations all over the church. This is certainly something you can’t guess by just looking at the simplicity of its external Baroque facade.

The construction of the St. John’s Co-Cathedral started in 1572. However, the church completion wasn’t over before than 1577. Moreover, its initial appearance was much more sober than the one we have today today.  In fact, the current aspect took shape around the 17th century. The Grand Master, Raphael Cotoner, wished for the most important church of Malta a visual aspect equal to that shown by the churches in Rome.  Well, I guess that he would be more than satisfied now!

Tips for visiting

Visiting this church can be a little overwhelming. Especially if you don’t know where to look at. In fact, you might have the impression of being surrounded by too many things all together. Beautiful, of course, but too many! If you don’t have a guide or audio guide, my suggestion is to focus on the little things first. For example, look at the first picture of the church above on the left. Can you see the Christ in the centre of the decorated wall? Well, that’s an optical illusion. In fact, it may look as a marble statue from distance. However, the closer you get, the better you will see that is is “just” a painting. This was made by the genius of Mattia Preti.

Those creepy gravestones…

Now look at the floor (pictures above). You probably see that all around the cathedral there are a lot of tombstones. Which, it’s true, are a bit creepy with all those skeletons and sinister figures looking at you ambiguously. Are you feeling uncomfortable uh? Well, it all been studied to have exactly this effect.

In fact, visitors who look at the tombstones, have to learn that nothing is forever. All that you have in life like richness, fame and power is actually perishable in death. Indeed, this is pretty much true. Unless, you’re a historical knight with a forever-resting place visited by thousand of people every day.  Lastly, something that you should not miss inside the Co-Cathedral is the Oratory. Here you can find  The Beheading of St John the Baptist and St Jerome Writing made by Caravaggio.

Visiting Information

The St. John Co-Cathedral is open from Monday to Saturday 09:00 hrs to 16:45hrs (last admission at 16:15hrs). Sunday and public holiday closed. The entrance fee is €15 (children under 12 enter for free). You can’t buy tickets online but you have to queue and buy them at the entrance. Malta Discount Card is not valid here.

St. Ursula Street

St. Ursula Street, or in Maltese Triq-Sant’Orsla, is famous to be one of the most photogenic spots in Valletta. This because of its nice decorations and lovely colourful balconies. Nevertheless, not many people know this is also one of the oldest street of Valletta with a lot spooky stories to tell.

The Blue Dolphin House

The most famous one is probably the one regarding the abandoned Blue Dolphin House. According to locals, this place is deserted for a long time now. Long before the British governed Malta. The legend narrates that two British soldiers, during a walk at late night, met a beautiful woman who asked them to take her at home. In fact, she forgot the keys of her house inside and needed their help to force the door.

The two soldiers helped her to regain access to the house and left the woman safe at her place. The following day, they had to return because one of the two forgot his cigarette case inside the woman’s house. Nevertheless, instead of the house they found only a derelict place. After asking around, the neighbourhood informed the soldiers that the house was actually abandoned for ages. However, a mysterious light was spotted during the night. Creepy isn’t it???

Tip

Valletta is an old city full of ghost stories. If you are passionate about the topic, there are many Ghost Tours running at night. These can be booked directly from the main squares of your hotel. If you want to give this a look online there are many here too.

Castille Place

This area of Valletta is historically famous for being the residential place of the Knights of Castille, Leon and Portugal. Indeed, these were in charge of the defence of St. Barbara Bastion in the city. Located in the same place, the main attraction is the famous Auberge de Castille. A beautiful palace of which original construction date back to 1570. 

The current building was renovated in Baroque style in 1740. Now, is the Office house of the Prime Minister of Malta. The building is famous for being one of the finest architectural works of the country. Unfortunately, Auberge de Castille is not open to the public but you can always admire the facade. If you go around Valletta, you will probably pass through this square a few times. I admit I really liked this place at dusk when the fountain was enlightened and looked like a magical feature.

The Triton Fountain

Most photogenic spots in Valletta

You can find Triton Fountain just before the City Gate of Valletta. This is probably one of the fist landmarks you will see when you arrive in the city. Moreover, if you will use the public transport, you will probably see it more than once in a day as the bus station is just a few steps away.

most photogenic spots in Valletta
Most photogenic spots in Valletta – Triton Fountain

The fountain dates back to 1952-59 and designed by the sculptor Vincent Apap. The design is inspired by the Turtle fountain in Rome. Nevertheless, the choice of the Triton symbolised the long-lasting relationship of Malta with the sea. The fountain was fully restored in 2018. Before its renovation, a controversial proposal aimed to relocate this symbol of Valletta away from its current position (closer to the city of Floriana). Luckily, the project was rejected and the fountain is still in its prominent position, welcoming the new tourists before their access to Valletta.

Where to eat in Valletta

Choosing a place where to have lunch in Valletta is not difficult. Every corner has some nice places where to rest in company of good food. However, if you want to save a bit of money but still want to have a great Maltese typical lunch, I warmly recommend you The Museum Café. This little café is located in Melita Street and serves probably the best ftira you can find in the city.

The place is usually full with locals, which I always intend as a sign of quality/non touristic food. The only issue with Museum Café is that it is small, very small. So small that there are no more than 6 tables inside and people queue outside to taste one of their delicious dishes. There is no booking system and you have to count on luck to dine there or have the patience to wait for a free table! We were quite lucky to find a space immediately but, after that, no more tables were available for the next 30 mins! So good luck!

Where to stay in Valletta

For our stay in Valletta we chose Palais le Brun. This is a lovely hotel boutique with a marvellous view of the Valletta landscape. Palais le Brun is an authentic sixteenth-century Baroque building that belonged to the Knight Claude LeBrun. Le Brun family was famous for silverware and mint coinage. In 2018, the palace was converted into a luxury hotel.

Plan your visit

The Most photogenic spots in Valletta – Planner

Valletta is the perfect city to be explored on foot. Grand squares are surrounded by little colourful alleys and hundreds of secret corners. Therefore, what I can suggest you is wake up early, wear your most comfy shoes and go explore! Save the picture above to have an handy list of all the places you can check off!

Need more inspiration? Read the articles below for your trip to Malta

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most photogenic spots in Valletta
most photogenic spots in Valletta
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2 Comments

  1. Shirl
    April 27, 2023 / 6:44 pm

    Excellent, just what’s needed for a visit to Malta

    • Laura
      Author
      May 4, 2023 / 6:07 pm

      Thanks for reading!

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