04/27/2026
Valletta is the 2nd smallest country capital in the world based on land area (after the Vatican) and the 7th smallest based on population. The southernmost capital in Europe, Valletta was constructed in the 16th century and named after Jean Parisot de la Valette, a French nobleman who was the Grand Master of the Order of Malta of the Knights Hospitaller who defended the island against the Ottomans during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. It’s a fascinating story of 6000 defenders withstanding 40,000 Ottoman attackers during a siege that lasted almost four months. There are reminders of the Great Siege all around Valletta.
Situated in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia/Libya, Malta has the warmest average temperatures of any European country and a subtropical Mediterranean climate.
Valletta is a popular tourist destination, and flights arrive at Malta International Airport in Luqa from pretty much every major airport in Europe. There are currently no direct flights to Malta from North America, but in June, Delta will begin sending three flights per week from JFK that will run until late October. Cruise ships often come to Malta, and when I was there, a ship pulled into Grand Harbor and the center of the city quickly became congested with tourists. I was told that in August (the hottest and busiest month), there can be as many as six cruise ships at a time in the harbor. If you’re interested in visiting Malta, I would recommend not going in August, unless you enjoy being in the midst of thousands of hot, sweaty tourists.
