Malta · Town · Southern Harbour district · General information
Valletta
Also: Il-Belt, Il-Belt Valletta
The UNESCO World Heritage capital: baroque streets, harbour views, government, culture and a growing number of restored townhouses and boutique apartments.
Valletta was founded by the Knights of St John in 1566 after the Great Siege and is a UNESCO World Heritage city. It is Malta's administrative centre (Parliament, the courts, ministries), its cultural heart (St John's Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master's Palace, MUŻA, the Manoel Theatre) and the hub of the bus network. Residents live in restored townhouses and apartments within the bastions; the city is pedestrian-friendly and busy with visitors by day.
- Character
- Historic, cultural and lively; quiet residential streets behind busy main streets.
- History
- Founded 28 March 1566 by Grand Master Jean de Valette; inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980; European Capital of Culture 2018.
- Lifestyle
- Museums, theatre, festivals, dining; lively by day, quieter in residential streets at night.
- Amenities
- Government offices, courts, theatres, museums, cafés and restaurants, a covered market and the main bus terminus.
- Schools & education
- State primary school; secondary schools in neighbouring Floriana and Ħamrun; University of Malta Valletta campus (Old University Building).
- Healthcare
- Floriana health centre nearby; Mater Dei Hospital 15–20 minutes by road.
- Transport
- Bus terminus for all routes; ferries to Sliema and the Three Cities; park-and-ride at Floriana.
- Shopping
- Republic Street and Merchants Street shops, Is-Suq tal-Belt market hall.
- Restaurants & cafés
- Dense concentration of restaurants, wine bars and cafés, particularly around Strait Street and Merchants Street.
- Recreation
- Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, the harbour ferries, festivals and Notte Bianca.
- Beaches & coast
- No beaches; swimming at the nearby Sliema and Three Cities rocky foreshores.
- Property market (general information)
- Restored townhouses and converted palazzi; apartments in historic buildings. Valletta is within the Urban Conservation Area and renovation is regulated.
- Rental market (general information)
- Strong short-let and long-let demand; limited parking.
- Cost of living
- Dining and entertainment on the doorstep; premium property prices (general information).
- MPRP relevance
- Valletta property qualifies for the MPRP when it meets the official thresholds; many properties are above the purchase minimum.
No current listings in Valletta in the marketplace right now.
Browse all propertiesHeritage and culture
Historic Building · UNESCO World Heritage
City of Valletta (World Heritage Site)
Valletta · Founded 1566
The fortified capital built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege, inscribed as a whole on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980…
Church
St John's Co-Cathedral
Valletta · 1572–1577; baroque interior 17th century
The conventual church of the Knights of St John, with a baroque interior by Mattia Preti, inlaid marble tombstones and Caravaggio's Beheadi…
Palace
Grand Master's Palace
Valletta · 16th century onwards
Seat of the Grand Masters, later the Governor and Parliament, and today the Office of the President; the State Rooms and Palace Armoury are…
Fortification
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
Valletta · 1552; Great Siege 1565
The star fort at the tip of the Valletta peninsula that fell after a month-long assault in 1565; now houses the National War Museum coverin…
Museum
National Museum of Archaeology
Valletta · Auberge de Provence, 1571
Prehistoric collection including the Sleeping Lady and Venus of Malta, in the Auberge de Provence on Republic Street.
Museum
MUŻA — National Community Art Museum
Valletta · Auberge d'Italie
The national art collection displayed as community-focused narratives in the Auberge d'Italie.
Garden
Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery
Valletta · 1661
Public gardens on the bastions above the Grand Harbour; the Saluting Battery fires a noon gun daily.
Services in Valletta
- Valletta
Member of the Eurosystem; publishes economic projections and financial stability reports.
- Valletta
- Valletta
- Valletta
- Valletta
- Valletta
Museums · Heritage Malta
MUŻA — National Community Art Museum
Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta
- Valletta
Prehistoric artefacts from the temples including the Sleeping Lady; housed in the Auberge de Provence.
See Heritage Malta site (seasonal)
- Valletta
- Valletta
Transport · Main bus interchange
Valletta Bus Terminus
Hub of the national bus network outside City Gate; Malta Public Transport sales office nearby.
- Valletta
Transport · Harbour ferry
Valletta Ferry (Sliema and Three Cities)
Ferries from Marsamxett (to Sliema) and the Grand Harbour (to the Three Cities); payable with the tallinja card.
Festas and events
Carnival · Valletta and Nadur
Carnival (Il-Karnival)
The days before Ash Wednesday (February/March)
Floats, costumes and dance competitions in Valletta and Floriana, with Nadur in Gozo known for its spontaneous, satirical night carnival.
Festival · Valletta
Malta Jazz Festival
July
Open-air jazz concerts on the Valletta waterfront.
Cultural · Valletta
Notte Bianca
One night in early October
Valletta's museums, palaces and streets open late with performances and exhibitions.
Sport · Valletta
Rolex Middle Sea Race
October
An offshore yacht race starting and finishing in the Grand Harbour.
Sources & Verification
Verified 1 October 2026 against the sources below- Institutional
UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Malta
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List: City of Valletta (1980), Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (1980), Megalithic Temples of Malta (1980, 1992)
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: UNESCO-MTGeneral information - Legislation
Constitution of Malta (consolidated)
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Constitution of Malta, consolidated text (legislation.mt)
- Published
- 21 Sept 1964
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: MT-CONSTITUTIONGeneral information - Institutional
Heritage Malta — Sites and museums (opening hours and admission)
Heritage Malta (national agency for museums and heritage)
Individual site pages: Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra, Ġgantija, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Tarxien, Grand Master's Palace, Fort St Angelo, Fort St Elmo, National Museum of Archaeology, MUŻA, Domvs Romana
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: HERITAGE-MALTAGeneral information