The city of lights calendar of eVents MarCH 30 – 01
April Easter
aPril 13
George Cross Commemoration
13 & 14
Malta International Ground Fireworks
15 – 01 May Malta International Music Festival How to get tHere
21, 27 & 30
Malta is served by regular airlines, with a few low-cost carriers including Ryanair, Wizz Air and Vueling connecting to this former British enclave. Malta’s only airport is near the town of Luqa, around 6km from Valletta, which is easy to get to by bus. Valletta has good bus and boat connections to the seaside resort of Sliema, which is very popular with tourists.
May
City walks The peninsula Valletta is built on is only a few kilometres long, making the city easy and rewarding to explore on foot. Travellers looking for a well-appointed place to stay adore the Palazzo Consiglia, which is just a short, scenic walk from the city harbours. History Valletta played a vital part in the Allied defences during World War Two and remnants of this time are scattered throughout the city. The War HQ Tunnel is an underground path that was built in 1940 but was astonishingly kept secret until 2016. Visitors interested in travelling further back in time can book a hotel overlooking St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Knights’ Church. As the capital of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes, Saint John’s co-cathedral is where the highestranking Knights of the Order are buried.
4–6
Malta International Fireworks Valletta Green Festival
JUNe Isle of MTV 01 – 16
Malta Arts Festival
08 – 17
Valletta Film Festival
28 – 01 July
Music Week
29 – 14 July
Malta International Arts Festival
JUly 13 – 22
Pope Joan
20 – 22
Malta International Jazz Festival
21
Joseph Calleja Concert
aUgUst 02 – 05
Wine Festival
13 – 15
Santa Marija
23 – 25
Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival
sePteMBer 08
Great Siege
21
Independence Day & Guard of Honour
23 & 24
Malta International Air Show
28
Science in the city
Every inch of the cathedrals interior is covered in dazzling baroque gold, paint and coloured marble. The unique floor is covered in no fewer than 374 marble tombstones.
oCtoBer 06
Notte Bianca
21
Rolex Middle Sea Race
Don’t miss Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist in the oratory. Visit as a tourist then return for Mass or a concert to see it in candlelit glory.
07 – 10
Malta Classic
13 & 14
Malta Military Tatoo
Food
16 – 25
Maltese food is a mouth-watering mix of Mediterranean cuisines and they love their seafood. The Marsaxlokk fish market is where chefs from all over Valletta go to select the freshest catch of the day for their menus.
deCeMBer
NoVeMBer
15
Ziguzajg Closing of Valletta 18
25