Hardly any cruise port is as spectacularly located beneath a historic old town as Valletta. This 7-km panoramic loop, which we carefully developed over several days on site, combines fortress walls, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and sea views into one of the most impressive harbor runs in the Mediterranean. The running route takes you from the harbor to the Lower Barrakka Gardens, on to Fort St. Elmo, through the narrow streets of the old town, and to the Upper Barrakka Gardens with views of the Three Cities and the cruise port, before returning to the ship from there.
The route starts at the harbor, then leads along the promenade and then via a roundabout up through the city gate to the Lower Barrakka Gardens. From there, it continues towards Fort St. Elmo and along the north side of the city, offering a view of Fort Manoel and the opposite coast.
The route then leads through the alleys of the old town and passes several central points with multiple changes of direction, including St. John's Co-Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Grand Master's Palace. The route eventually leads to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which offer an impressive view of the coast and the harbor. Afterward, you go through the city gate to the Triton Fountain and across the bus terminal area back to the harbor.
Valletta's old town is absolutely worth seeing and a must for every cruiser. Since the highlights in the city are relatively compact, a “sightseeing” run in Valletta is perfectly suited and highly recommended.
If it's your first time in Valletta, you should definitely explore the old town in depth. It's also worth booking a guided walking tour in addition to a private run to learn even more about the city. If you've been to Valletta before or are content with viewing the buildings from the outside, you could also take a bus in the morning for our 11-km coastal run from Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk. This way, you can explore not only the capital but also Malta's beautiful coasts. A more active excursion can be found with a SUP tour around Fort Manoel. In this area, you also have a great view of Valletta.
The running route starts in the immediate vicinity of the cruise port.
You can either follow the route directly via the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app like Komoot. We recommend navigation via the GPX file, as it is significantly more precise and you receive clear guidance via GPS while running. After saving the GPX file in your app, you can usually use the map offline. We recommend testing the navigation in airplane mode without active Wi-Fi beforehand to ensure it works even without an internet connection.
Tip: For safety, it is still useful to have internet while on the go. If your mobile provider in Malta offers no or only expensive data roaming, a global data plan that works in many countries is suitable for cruises – for example, from eSIM.sm (advertisement).
The route partly runs along roads, but mostly on sidewalks. Overall, it can therefore be classified as safe.
Especially for runs in the afternoon, plan enough buffer time. If time is short, you should check if you can shorten the route or if returning on the same route is faster. For emergencies, it is also advisable to save the ship's phone number in advance. You should also have apps like Uber or Bolt on your phone and be familiar with their use. In Malta, Uber and Bolt work very well.
There is a public restroom at the bus terminal. We are not aware of any water dispensers along the route. However, there are many opportunities to buy something to drink.
The route runs on asphalt and paved paths, so normal running shoes are perfectly sufficient. We also recommend bringing sun protection (ad), enough water, and a cell phone or running watch for navigation, depending on the weather. In addition, a payment method is useful, although in Malta you can usually pay by card or smartphone.