The Three Cities of Malta: What to Do and See in Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua

I’m back with another article about Malta. Valletta may be a must-see, but I can assure you that the Three Cities of Malta are just as essential! I’d even go so far as to say that when you visit Valletta, a visit to the Three Cities is practically a must. That’s exactly what I did—I simply had to see them—and I certainly wasn’t disappointed! It did make for a very full day, though. By the end, my legs and calves were definitely feeling it!

Of course, if you prefer to go at your own pace, you can easily spread it out over two days. Since I was staying on the north coast, in Saint Paul’s Bay, it was more convenient for me to visit Valletta and Malta’s Three Cities in one go. Of course, beyond the island’s towns and historical attractions, there are countless things to do and see during your vacation in Malta. We actually wrote a comprehensive article on the subject! With fine sandy beaches, turquoise waters, cliffside trails, and the fortified cities, there really is a wide variety of places to discover. As for activities, there are plenty too: snorkeling, jet-skiing, kayaking, scuba diving in Malta, and more! There are also plenty of guided excursions around the main island and nearby areas—ideal if you’d rather explore with a guide.

Simply put, Malta may be small, with a total area of just 246 km², but it has plenty of wonderful surprises in store. When you include the entire Maltese archipelago, including Comino and Gozo, the total area rises to 316 km². This small European country is clearly full of hidden treasures!

Whether you’re planning a road trip or a family vacation, you’re sure to find something that suits you. To fully appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and history of the Three Cities, consider spending a night or two in the area—it’s a great way to experience a different side of Malta.

This article is here to inspire you to visit the three cities of Malta. Even if you’re only staying on the island for a few days, trust me — they’re well worth a visit!

I’ve already given you a few reasons to visit Malta’s Three Cities, but there’s still more to say! After exploring Valletta’s streets and must-see sites, I took the ferry to Cospicua. Although Cospicua is less well known than Valletta, it is well worth discovering. The Three Cities sit directly opposite the Maltese capital, on the other side of the Grand Harbour. It would be a shame to miss out on crossing over.

They also played an important role in Malta’s history and existed long before Valletta. In fact, Birgu (Vittoriosa) is the oldest of the three cities. You sense this immediately when you see its palaces and cobbled streets, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. Thanks to its strategic location, Birgu even served as Malta’s capital before Valletta was built. It is also home to the famous Fort Saint-Ange. Cospicua (my final destination) is quieter and more residential, but its narrow streets are charming and authentic.

Cospicua links the other two cities and lies right between Vittoriosa and Senglea. Senglea’s main attraction is the view from Gardjola Gardens. From the gardens, you get a close-up view of Valletta across the water, as well as Vittoriosa, its harbor, and its fort. Unfortunately, there are quite a few yachts and boats in the harbour at Vittoriosa, which slightly obstructs the view of the city’s buildings.

These cities take you back in time and offer a better understanding of Malta’s past. History lovers will feel right at home. They also attract far fewer visitors than Valletta, so you can wander through the narrow streets and quickly settle into the slower pace.

In fact, I’d say the contrast is quite striking. After the lively atmosphere of Valletta, with all the noise you’d expect from a capital, I suddenly found myself on quieter, cleaner streets that were every bit as colorful. Then there are the beautiful views of Malta’s Grand Harbour, the capital’s vast natural harbor. I was lucky to have sunny weather in the early afternoon. Even though it clouded over later, I had already made the most of it.

Cospicua, known as Bormla in Maltese, connects the other two cities. I have to admit that it became one of my favorites of the three.

The ferry between Valletta and the Three Cities stops in Cospicua, where it drops off and picks up passengers. This small town is the least showy of the Three Cities, and perhaps that’s exactly what makes it so charming. It is so close to Vittoriosa that, at first, I found it hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

I really enjoyed wandering around, and the peaceful atmosphere struck me right away. It’s a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Valletta. There are also far fewer cars. You can wander at your own pace and stop for photos whenever you like.

Here you’ll find Malta’s famous colorful balconies, chapels, stone staircases, and pretty squares. This is where you get a glimpse of everyday life, but there are still historical details to discover if you look closely. One tip is to walk around the fortifications at the end of the day — if the weather is nice, the golden light will make it even more beautiful!

As you’ve probably gathered by now, I fell in love with Cospicua at first sight. To me, it blends the past and the present, and its narrow streets are truly beautiful and authentic — it feels like home.

As I mentioned, I crossed the Grand Harbour by ferry from Valletta to Cospicua. I had already bought my return ticket when I saw the traditional taxi boats (known as ‘dgħajsa’). At first, I regretted not choosing one. However, the sea was quite rough on the day I was there, and there weren’t many taxi boats around. Even though the crossing is short, I imagine the ride would have been fairly bumpy that day!

I also realised that there were no taxi boats waiting in Cospicua; they drop passengers off and then return to Valletta immediately. You could take a taxi boat there and come back by ferry. That is a good way to vary the experience, and it is what I would recommend. However, remember to buy your return ticket in Valletta, as you won’t be able to do so in Cospicua.

Back to those famous taxi boats. They are small boats that look a little like Venetian gondolas, though in a simpler, distinctly Maltese style. As you can imagine, there were no ferries back then, so these boats were the only way to cross (apart from swimming, of course!).

What’s more, the boat travels much more slowly than the ferry, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the journey and take photos! It adds an authentic touch to the journey—or a hint of adventure, depending on the weather. For a more traditional experience, I’d recommend giving it a try, especially when the sea is calm.

As I mentioned, most of the historical sites are in Vittoriosa, although there are a few traces in Cospicua, particularly the fortifications. What I especially loved were the narrow pedestrian streets, lined with colorful blue, green, and red balconies set against golden facades. When you’re ready for a break or something to eat, you’ll find local cafés and restaurants that are much cheaper than those in Valletta.

After visiting Valletta, I found Cospicua the perfect place to begin exploring the Three Cities, enjoy some peace and quiet, and almost lose myself in its narrow streets. I’m pretty sure you’ll love Cospicua as much as I do!

Although I knew little about Vittoriosa’s history when I visited, I immediately sensed that this was a place steeped in the past. After all, it was designated the capital of Malta by the Knights. The city existed long before the fortified city of Valletta was built. That fact alone gives you a sense of what to expect.

You can see the fort from Valletta, and it really catches the eye. Set at the far end of Vittoriosa overlooking the Grand Harbour, it has an imposing presence. Even from the outside, you can see how significant it is. I had heard about it before, but seeing it in person was really intriguing. I explored the entire site and found the €10 admission fee good value, considering the length of the visit, the amount of information provided, and the different views over the sea, Valletta, and Senglea.

I took my time exploring, and it was well worth the admission price. You can explore independently or download an English-language app to guide you. I found this helpful, as it gave me a better understanding of the fort’s history and its role in various wars. In fact, it was here that the Knights of Malta resisted the Ottomans during the Great Siege of 1565.

The visit also helps explain Malta’s strategic role in major conflicts, including the Napoleonic era and World War II. Malta may not be the first place that comes to mind when we think of these conflicts, which is precisely what I found so interesting: despite its small size, the island played an important strategic role, in part because of this fort.

In addition to its historical significance, the various viewpoints are a real highlight. I took the time to walk around the outer ramparts and enjoy the views of Valletta, Senglea and the port of Vittoriosa. There weren’t many people around either, so I was able to take my time and spend more time in some places than others.

Fort St. Angelo is fascinating to explore, both inside and out. If you have time, I highly recommend setting aside about two hours to visit!

Sticking with the theme of cultural and historical visits, the Inquisitor’s Palace is located right next to the port of Vittoriosa. You can buy a Harbour Combo Ticket, which includes a visit to Fort Saint Angelo and the Inquisitor’s Palace. It currently costs €13 for adults and €7 for children, and it offers good value if you plan to visit both sites. It’s valid for 30 days, so if you don’t want to visit both attractions on the same day, that’s not a problem.

Returning to the Inquisitor’s Palace, I saw it from the outside and it was impressive even then. Inside, the former courtrooms, the Inquisitor’s apartments, interrogation rooms, and dungeons take you on a journey through time.

If you have time and are curious to explore, I think you’ll enjoy the visit. I was a little short on time, so I had to choose between the fort and the palace. I opted for Fort St. Angelo because it covered more of Malta’s history and offered a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. I found it more immersive.

Let’s change the pace a little: Birgu has more to offer than historical sites alone. It also has a pleasant waterfront where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll. On one side, you’ll find pleasant restaurants and cafés; on the other, boats and yachts are moored in the marina. The atmosphere is completely different!

It is the kind of place where you can simply stroll and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Once again, the light at the end of the day looks beautiful when it hits the golden stone buildings. The waterfront is noticeably busier than the surrounding streets. You can tell straight away that there are more tourists! Although the boats fit in well with the scenery, I think they spoil the view of Senglea slightly.

I visited Birgu (Vittoriosa) right after Cospicua, and my tour of the cities continued on a high note. I have to admit that Birgu was my second favourite place of the day. I loved it and would gladly recommend a visit.

I had already walked almost 20 kilometres that day. After visiting Cospicua and Vittoriosa, I was not exactly eager to walk all the way from Fort Saint Angelo to Gardjola Gardens in Senglea. We checked Google Maps and found that the round trip from one end to the other would take about 40 minutes on foot. After some hesitation, we motivated ourselves by saying that, since we were already there, it would be a shame not to go to Senglea — especially since everything we had seen so far had been a pleasant surprise. So, off we went to Senglea.

We started at Fort St. Angelo, followed the Vittoriosa waterfront toward Cospicua, and then crossed over to Senglea. To help you picture the setting, we were now on the opposite side of the water from Vittoriosa. As soon as we crossed over, it felt like entering a completely different world. The yachts and large boats along Vittoriosa’s quays felt far away. Here, there are mostly traditional painted boats, with very few others (mostly fishing boats).

Once again, the yachts and boats on the other side prevent us from enjoying the view of Vittoriosa’s buildings and Fort St. Angelo fully. By the time we reached the end, we were relieved to see that the walk was nearly over. All we have to do is climb about thirty steps to reach the Gardjola Gardens. We were slightly surprised to find that the gardens did not appear particularly well maintained. However, the view of Valletta and its Grand Harbour is magnificent. This is one of the closest viewpoints over Valletta from Malta’s Three Cities. It is also the closest and most beautiful view of Fort St. Angelo and the Vittoriosa waterfront.

An iconic watchtower stands at the end of the gardens, a striking reminder of Malta’s military past. In the end, the visit was well worth the effort.

For a change of scenery, we decided to head back along the main street running parallel to the waterfront and visit the Church of Our Lady of Victory. The narrow streets here are different from those in Vittoriosa and Cospicua, and the atmosphere is different too. The buildings look older and are not always well maintained. Some streets are even dirty, which is disappointing. The advantage is that there are very few tourists, so it’s quiet.

Overall, I did not find Senglea’s narrow streets particularly appealing. I recommend spending more time in Vittoriosa and Cospicua instead.

After crossing Senglea, you will arrive at the charming Church of Our Lady of Victory. This small church marks the entrance to and exit from the town. It has a golden facade and a small bell tower, which are both typical features of Maltese religious buildings. Unfortunately, when I visited, the church was closed. This happens fairly often in Malta. Catholicism and religious heritage are deeply important here, and limited opening hours can help protect these buildings from vandalism. Some buildings are only open at certain times, or even just during Mass. It was a shame, because judging by the exterior, I imagine the inside is just as beautiful. Even though I wasn’t able to go inside, it’s still a lovely monument in Senglea. Depending on the day and time you visit, you might be luckier than me and be able to go inside!

You’ve probably gathered by now that Senglea was the city I liked least. In fact, for the rest of my stay, I spoke to other tourists who hadn’t been motivated to visit Senglea either. I would mainly recommend going for the excellent view from Gardjola Gardens, without setting aside too much time for the rest.

As usual, here are all my practical tips for visiting Malta’s Three Cities. I hope that at this point in the article, I’ve made you want to go!

Vittoriosa (Birgu) – On the Waterfront

• Don Berto: With its view over Birgu’s harbour, right by the sea, this restaurant offers an incredible panorama of the Grand Harbour. You’ll come across it almost as soon as you step off the ferry. You might think this area is full of tourist-trap eateries (I admit, that’s what I thought at first), but there are still some worthwhile places here—and Don Berto is one of them. It’s a family-style restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes such as pasta, grilled meats, and freshly caught seafood! What more could you want? From what I’ve heard, the food is excellent and the atmosphere is just right.

Cospicua (Bormla) – In the Colourful Lanes

• San Giorgio Restaurant: As you might guess from the name, this is an Italian restaurant. It’s nestled in a quiet alley in Cospicua. The chef is Roman, so you can expect outstanding pasta and homemade tiramisu. Reviews are consistently positive: the dishes are delicious and made with fresh ingredients. It’s also a favourite among locals.
• Café Rouge: Also in Cospicua, this café-restaurant offers a wide variety of Mediterranean cuisine, so you’ll have plenty of choices! They also serve cocktails and excellent wines. The highlight is the outdoor terrace. It’s perfect for resting after your visits and all that walking, while enjoying the sunshine!

Senglea (L-Isla) – View of the Harbour

• Enchanté Restaurant: Now we head to Senglea. Right on the water’s edge, this restaurant is renowned for its fresh seafood dishes! You can sit on the terrace to take in the setting, with views of the marina and Valletta. I imagine it is even better at sunset—just saying!

Before sharing some of the best places to stay in Malta’s Three Cities, keep in mind that Valletta is just across the water and is an equally convenient base. In the capital, you’ll have even more lodging options. If you’d like even more choices, I invite you to read our article on where to stay in Malta.

Here are a few upscale options:

• Grand Hotel Excelsior: Located at the entrance to Valletta, this 5-star resort offers a panoramic view of the sea and the Grand Harbour. Amenities include private beach, pools, and a spa! It is a well-regarded property and a convenient option for a comfortable stay.
• BOCO Boutique Hotel: Housed in an elegant townhouse in the quiet lanes of Cospicua, this hotel boasts refined décor, a warm atmosphere, and, above all, stunning views of Valletta and the sea. A lovely setting for a comfortable stay.
• Senglea Suites: A stylish option in Senglea for an upscale stay. You’ll be just a stone’s throw from Valletta while enjoying peace and quiet. From your room, you can admire an expansive view of the harbor. Its strong point: a blend of authenticity and high-quality service.

For good value:

• Dock 1 Boutique Hotel: Just a few steps from the ferry to Valletta, this modern boutique hotel offers well-appointed rooms. They’re refined, and some even have a terrace overlooking the fortified city. It makes a convenient base for exploring the Three Cities of Malta on foot!
• Grand Harbour Hotel: Right in the heart of Valletta, this hotel has a particularly convenient location. You’ll have sweeping views of the harbour and the Three Cities of Malta in the distance. The panorama is one of the hotel’s main draws. Plus, it’s perfect for exploring Valletta on foot, and to reach the Three Cities you simply cross over or hop on a bus.
• Casa Cara: A charming apartment in the historic Collachio quarter of Vittoriosa. It’s clearly ideal for your stay in Malta—authentic and peaceful, yet close to the Valletta ferry, along with lovely views.

For a more affordable stay, here are a few budget-friendly options:

• The Florian Boutique Guesthouse by Zzzing: In Cospicua, this modern, cozy guesthouse blends local character with modern comforts. Plus, you’ll be just minutes on foot from the Mediterranean Sea and the Valletta ferry. You’ll feel right at home—and at a very reasonable price!
• Valletta Central Suites: In the heart of Valletta’s historic center, this apartment offers everything you need. It features a balcony, kitchenette, and lounge area, all with air conditioning. It makes a practical base for your trip to Malta. You can also check the map below to pinpoint your location and find the accommodations you like.

Getting to Malta’s Three Cities is straightforward. Of course, you first need to fly into Luqa Airport, within easy reach of Valletta and the Three Cities. There are regular flights from France and many other European cities. Depending on the season, low-cost carriers such as Ryanair often provide affordable options. If you want to know everything about the best time to go to Malta, I invite you to read our dedicated article. You’ll learn all about Malta’s Mediterranean climate, the best times for budget travel, last-minute deals, and more.

Once you’re in Malta, the Three Cities are easy to reach, whether you’re staying in Valletta, in the cities themselves, or elsewhere. As for me, my hotel was in Saint Paul’s Bay, in the northeast of the Maltese island. I rented a car through the Discover Cars comparison site. I found some good deals and was able to choose the exact type of rental car I wanted.

I picked it up at Malta Airport as soon as I arrived so I could travel around the island and visit Gozo later in the trip. I drove to Valletta, which took about 35 minutes. Although Valletta is small, it is still a busy capital. As tourists, we were only allowed to park in spaces marked with white lines. When I visited, finding a space proved impossible. That may depend on the day, though, so your experience could be different. The best option is to find a car park managed by an attendant, which costs €4 per day (payable in cash). For a full day, I found that very reasonable.

Once in Valletta, you’ll have several options to reach the Three Cities:

• Take the ferry from Valletta to the Three Cities: this is the option I chose. It’s convenient, fast, and inexpensive. At the time of my visit, it cost €1.50 each way, or €3 round-trip for adults. The seven-minute crossing went by so quickly that I barely noticed it. In any case, enjoy all the viewpoints over the Grand Harbour and the ports of Vittoriosa and Senglea.
• Take a dgħajsa, the famous Maltese traditional boat: for a more traditional, slower crossing, it is worth considering. Generally, you’ll pay €3 or €4 per trip. It’s slightly more expensive than the ferry, but still very affordable.
• Take the bus: there are three bus lines that depart from Valletta or even from Malta Airport. It’s easy to remember, since they are lines 1, 2, and 3. With the bus, you won’t have a view of the Grand Harbour, but it’s up to you.
• Go by car: if you have a rental car and you’ve already visited Valletta, you can drive to the Three Cities without difficulty. You’ll easily find parking. I would simply avoid rush hour for a more relaxed journey. For more info on transport and car rental, we’ve prepared an article on how to get around in Malta.

That brings this article on the Three Cities of Malta to a close. As you’ve seen, there are plenty of sights and things to do in Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. Despite being right next to each other, each city has something different to offer. Personally, I really liked Cospicua and Vittoriosa!

The Three Cities offer a different side of Malta from its crystal-clear turquoise lagoons (such as the Blue Lagoon and the Crystal Lagoon in Comino), water sports, beautiful beaches and secluded coves, ideal for swimming and relaxing, not to mention the cliffs, caves and picturesque villages.

The Three Cities reveal Malta’s historical side through ancient monuments, fortresses, and bastions.

See you soon for more ideas to help you plan your trip to Malta and discover its must-see attractions!

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to explore the beautiful Maltese archipelago and share all the beauty of its islands with you. A little piece of paradise not to be missed!

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