The honey-coloured streets of Valletta, with many buildings dating back several centuries, are a sight in themselves and wherever you look there is evidence of the Knights of St John - from their auberges (inns) to their hospital, their forts, their fortifications, their cathedral and greatest of all, the Grand Master’s Palace.

There are a number of exhibitions and ‘experiences’ reinterpreting the past, but the best way to get a handle on the history of the city is to take a boat trip around Grand Harbour and a guided tour of Fort St Elmo before visiting the Grand Master’s Palace.

WWII is covered in The National War Museum and the underground Lascaris War Rooms. The National Museum of Archaeology scrapes the surface of the distant past but to delve deeper you need to travel just out of the capital, most notably to the Hypogeum at Paola.

Valletta Tourist Office
1 City Arcades
Tel: 2123 7747.
Website: www.visitmalta.com

There is also an office at the airport in the arrivals lounge (tel: 2369 6073/4) open for incoming flights. Both offices provide general tourist information and can assist with finding accommodation.