Valletta

October to May offers the most comfortable walking weather with fewer cruise-ship crowds; April–May and September–October are the sweet spot (mild, less humid). July–August is hot and busy with tourists and local festas. Malta is a Catholic country, so Ramadan has no effect on opening hours, but Sundays see many small shops and some sights close early or close entirely.

• St John's Co-Cathedral — a plain fortress exterior hides a gold-leaf baroque interior with two Caravaggio paintings and the inlaid marble tombstones of the Knights of Malta.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens — the best free panorama of the Grand Harbour, with the noon and evening cannon-firing ceremony at the Saluting Battery below.
• Fort St Elmo & the National War Museum — the star-shaped fort that withstood the Great Siege of 1565, now telling Malta's military history.
• Republic Street — the main pedestrian spine of the old town, lined with shops, cafés, and the former auberges of the Knights.
• Valletta Waterfront & a Grand Harbour boat tour — restored 18th-century warehouses along the water, and short harbour cruises to see the fortifications from the sea.

Families and first-timers do best staying inside the walls in a small boutique hotel or converted townhouse near Republic Street — everything is within a 10–15 minute walk and there's no need for a car. Travellers wanting a pool, beach access, or livelier nightlife often base themselves instead in Sliema or St Julian's, a short ferry or 15–20 minute bus ride away, and day-trip into Valletta. Budget stays are easiest just outside the walls in Floriana or in Sliema, with frequent buses back into the old town.

Pickpockets target the crowds on Republic Street and the buses between Valletta and Sliema/St Julian's in summer — keep bags zipped and worn in front. Streets inside the walls are steep, cobbled, and stepped in places; wear flat, comfortable shoes. Dress modestly for church visits — shoulders and knees covered is expected at St John's Co-Cathedral, and shorts/tank tops may be turned away. Most museums and some shops close on Sundays and public holidays, and hours shrink in winter — check before planning a Sunday around sights. Alcohol is served openly at nearly every café and restaurant terrace; if that matters to your family, ask before sitting down or choose a quieter side street.

2 days

Suggested plan:

1. Day 1 — Old Town Highlights: Enter through City Gate, walk Republic Street, visit St John's Co-Cathedral (mornings are quieter), lunch at a halal-friendly kebab/falafel counter near the mall, then Upper Barrakka Gardens for the noon cannon salute and Grand Harbour views; evening stroll along the Valletta Waterfront.
2. Day 2 — Forts & Harbour: Morning at Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, then Lower Barrakka Gardens; take the short ferry to Sliema for lunch and a view of the fortifications from across the water, or a harbour boat tour to see Valletta from the sea; return for a relaxed evening around Republic Street.