Valletta Shore Excursion: Private Tour with Driver & Guide

See Malta's landmarks without arranging transport or timing around the ship

A private shore excursion in Valletta and beyond, with your own driver and English-speaking guide picking you up from the cruise port and returning you on time. You'll visit the Grand Master's Palace, the Mosta Dome, Marsaxlokk's fishing village, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking Grand Harbour, with free time built in to explore on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mosta Domepassing by
2. Grand Master's Palace50m · entry included
3. Upper Barrakka Gardens10m

Malta private sightseeing tour

• Visit Marsaxlokk fishing village
• See the Mosta Dome from outside
• Tour the Grand Master's Palace
• Enjoy views at Upper Barrakka Gardens
• Free time to shop and explore

The experience

You arrive in port with a few hours to spare, and the last thing you want is to navigate Malta's buses or hunt for a taxi that gets you back before your ship leaves. This tour handles the logistics: your driver meets you at the port, and you spend the next five hours seeing the island's main draws without worrying about schedules or finding your way back. The route moves through Valletta's dense streets and out to the quieter villages and churches that define Malta, stopping long enough at each place to actually look around.

Marsaxlokk comes first: a working fishing village where the luzzus (traditional painted boats) bob in the harbor and locals mend nets by hand. You get free time to walk the small open-air market, photograph the boats, and move at your own pace. From there you head inland to the Mosta Dome, an imposing church built entirely by voluntary labor and donations. The scale is hard to grasp until you're inside: it's taller internally than the Pantheon in Rome and wider in diameter than St. Paul's Cathedral in London. A bomb fell through the dome during World War II and failed to detonate: a fact that hangs over the space.

The Grand Master's Palace in Valletta comes next. Completed in 1574 and designed by Girolamo Cassar, it now houses the President's offices and is filled with 16th and 17th century paintings, frescoes, and suits of armor. Your guide walks you through the main rooms and explains the building's role in Malta's history. The tour ends at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where you stand above Grand Harbour (one of the world's largest and deepest natural harbors), and look across to the Three Cities on the far side. There's time here to sit, take photos, or simply absorb the view before your driver takes you back to the ship.

What’s included

• Private vehicle and driver for the full five hours.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• pickup and drop-off at your cruise port.
• Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee so you're protected if your ship is delayed.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by A.von Brockdorff Services Ltd.

Is this one for you?Five hours is long enough to see four major sites and still have breathing room at each one, but short enough to fit inside a port day without cutting it close on the ship's re-boarding time. If your layover is shorter than four hours or you want to explore on your own without a guide, a different option might suit you better.

Traveler reviews

4.50★★★★★★★★★★

22 verified traveler reviews

5 ★15

4 ★4

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour pick me up from the cruise port?

Your driver meets you at the port at a time arranged when you book, coordinated with your ship's disembarkation and re-boarding schedule. You'll provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at checkout so the tour operator can time the pickup to your arrival.

How long is the whole tour and will I have time to shop or eat?

The tour runs five hours total. Built into that time are stops where you have free time to wander (at Marsaxlokk's market and village, and at the Upper Barrakka Gardens), so you can browse, take photos, or grab a bite if you want. The pace is set by the stops, not by rushing between them.

What is the Mosta Dome and why is it worth seeing?

The Mosta Dome is a massive church built entirely by donations and volunteer labor, and it holds the distinction of being the third largest church in the world. Internally it's taller than the Pantheon in Rome and wider in diameter than St. Paul's Cathedral in London. A WWII bomb fell through the dome while the church was full but never exploded, an event that's part of the building's story.

Will I actually get inside the Grand Master's Palace or just see it from outside?

You go inside the Grand Master's Palace with your guide. The building is open to visitors and houses the President's offices, along with 16th and 17th century paintings, frescoes, and suits of armor that your guide will point out and explain.

Do I need to wear anything special or follow any rules during the tour?

You'll need to wear a face mask while in the transport vehicle and when visiting museums. Wear comfortable walking shoes since you'll be moving through Valletta's streets and around the various sites. The tour involves a moderate amount of walking, so a reasonable level of fitness helps.