3 Days in The World’s Best City – A Curated Journey Through Valletta
February 27, 2026
Location: Valletta, Malta
Hotel: The Phoenicia Malta
For discerning luxury travellers, Valletta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recently named the ‘Best City in the World’ in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards – offers a perfect three-day Mediterranean getaway.
Golden limestone streets, baroque façades and harbour views unfold within minutes, complete with storied history, vibrant cuisine and sunny skies.
At the gate of the world’s best city stands The Phoenicia Malta. This historic five-star landmark hotel boasts exceptional service detailed with cultural authenticity, over seven acres of private landscaped gardens, a distinct luxury wellness offering and award-winning signature experiences – all just a short walk from this unique EU capital.
Day 1 – A Cultured Arrival
Arrive at The Phoenicia Malta via private transfer and settle into one of 132 rooms and suites overlooking either the harbour or the hotel’s vast private gardens, framed by limestone bastions and Mediterranean light.
Mere steps from the hotel’s decadent Art Deco-style lobby, Valletta begins immediately with the restored Triton Fountain. Start at the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and across to the Three Cities.
Wander down the main pedestrian walkway towards St John’s Co-Cathedral, where gilded vaults and marble floor tombs serve as backdrop to the Caravaggio masterpiece, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
Continue towards the Grand Master’s Palace, in which the State Rooms, armoury collection and intricate frescoes share the legacy of the Knights of St John – Valletta’s original 16th-century architects. While on Pjazza San Gorg (St George’s Square) walk in the footsteps of countless Hollywood movies for which Valletta was a high-profile filming location, including World War Z and Jurassic World Dominion.
Return to the hotel for its signature afternoon tea in Palm Court Lounge – a refined pause of handmade patisserie, gourmet sandwiches and loose-leaf blends. As evening falls, dine at Contessa, where Southern Mediterranean flavours pair with exquisite wines, sprawling garden views and the bespoke flair of five-star service.
Day 2 – The Harbour and the Hidden City
After a sumptuous breakfast in Contessa, cross the harbour with a traditional dgħajsa boat ride to Birgu to discover a rare perspective of Valletta’s fortifications as they rise from the water.
Back in Valletta, explore Casa Rocca Piccola – still home to a Maltese noble family – or descend into the wartime tunnels beneath the city streets with a specialist guide who brings Malta’s resilience into sharp focus. As the EU’s smallest capital, Valletta’s scale invites discovery on foot, revealing layers of history without haste.
Late afternoon is reserved for luxury wellness and restoration at Phoenicia Spa & Wellness – a spa built into the city’s original 16th century bastions. A bespoke KORRES ritual or innovative treatment, plus time in the Himalayan salt room and indoor pool, unite to create a calm that soothes the intensity of the world beyond.
Then, watch the layered colours of a Maltese sunset turn into a shimmering night sky reflected in the harbour, while sipping a signature cocktail, vintage wine or rare Scotch whisky in the quiet grandeur of The Club Bar.
Day 3 – Gardens and Reflection
Begin the day with a stroll through The Phoenicia Malta’s lush, landscaped gardens – a rare green expanse so close to a European capital. A private yoga session and garden breakfast offer an unhurried start.
The last morning explores Valletta’s independent galleries, artisan shops and café-lined squares, discovering the many local artists and designers who continue Malta’s craft traditions. In winter, festive markets gather near the City Gate; in summer, harbour sunsets linger long into the evening, best encountered from the hotel’s infinity pool.
To experience Valletta with a stay at The Phoenicia Malta is to enjoy the city with both immersion and retreat – access to its history, culture and harbour, paired with the rare luxury of space, privacy and discretion.
Here, the world’s best city begins.
About The Phoenicia Malta
A luxury hotel that has hosted royalty and celebrities such as Queen Elizabeth II and Brad Pitt, featuring an infinity pool with harbour and city views, an award-winning spa and Mediterranean dining at Contessa.
