Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN:
  9781788681810
• Print ISBN:
  9781786572912

Valletta

Sights

Courses

Tours

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Around Valletta

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum & Tarxien Temples

The Three Cities

Vittoriosa

Senglea

Valletta

Pop 6445

Why Go?

Valletta is Malta’s lilliputian capital, built by the Knights of St John on a peninsula that’s only 1km by 600m. Its founder decreed that it should be ‘a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, and it retains its 16th-century elegance. It may be small, but it’s packed full of sights; when Unesco named Valletta a World Heritage site, it described it as ‘one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world’.

The Renzo Piano–designed City Gate, Parliament Building and Opera House have changed the cityscape and galvanised it into life. These sights, along with Valletta’s status as European Capital of Culture for 2018, have seen the city reborn, with new museums, restored golden-stone fortresses, and new hotels, bars and restaurants in 16th-century mansions. Valletta’s outskirts are also worth a visit. Take the beautiful ferry trip to the Three Cities or visit the astounding prehistoric Hal Saflieni Hypogeum.

When to Go

AApril, May, June, September and October are the balmiest months, with lower prices, sunshine and fewer crowds. During June, high-profile dance music events are held around the city.

AThe Malta Fireworks Festival dominates the last week of April in a spectacular and colourful fashion, and in June, there’s the Film Festival and Għanafest, which celebrates traditional music.

ASummer is hot and lively, with the Malta Arts and Jazz festivals to look forward to in July.

ALook out also for the Notte Bianca in October, when Valletta stays up particularly late.

Best Places to Eat

ANoni

AAdesso

ARubino

ANenu the Artisan Baker

ASotto

Best Places to Drink

AYard 32

ACafe Society

ACru

AWild Honey

ABridge Bar

Valletta Highlights

1 Parliament Building Enjoying the angles of Renzo Piano’s spectacular architectural statement.

2 Upper Barrakka Gardens Checking out the stunning view that puts the ‘grand’ in Grand Harbour.

3 St John’s Co-Cathedral Discovering the glories of the magnificent church of the Knights.

4 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Visiting this extraordinary unde...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to Malta & Gozo
• Malta & Gozo’s Top 10
• Need to Know
• What’s New
• If You Like…
• Month by Month
• Itineraries
• Accommodation
• Getting Around Malta & Gozo
• Activities
• Eat & Drink Like a Local
• Travel with Children
• Regions at a Glance
• Valletta
• Sliema, St Julian’s & Paceville
• Northern Malta
• Central Malta
• Southern Malta
• Gozo & Comino
• Malta & Gozo Today
• History
• The Maltese Way of Life
• 5000 Years of Architecture
• Directory A–Z
• Transport
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writer