Christmas in Valletta 2026: An Evening Route from the Ferry
Christmas in Valletta starts on Wednesday 25 November, when the Valletta Cultural Agency’s Christmas in the Capital programme begins, and it runs until 31 December. The easiest way to enjoy it from Gżira is an evening trip: the ferry across from Sliema, an unhurried walk through the lit streets, dinner, and home again.
This guide sets out the route, the transport and the practical details for guests staying on the Gżira waterfront. For the wider festive season, from the Gozo nativity village to New Year’s Eve, read our festive guide to Christmas in Malta 2026.
Christmas in Valletta 2026: What Is Confirmed
The programme is listed for 25 November to 31 December 2026 around the city, with decorations, a nativity crib, the city tree, performances, street animation and family activities. In recent years the street lights have been strung along Republic Street and Merchants Street, with the crib near the entrance to St John’s Co-Cathedral and light projections in St George’s Square from early December. Locations and start dates can change from year to year, so check the programme before you go.
Fairyland Santa’s City, the ice rink and Ferris wheel attraction just outside the City Gate, has not announced its 2026 dates yet. Our guide to Christmas markets in Malta 2026 has everything we know so far.
Getting to Valletta from Gżira by Ferry or Bus
The ferry from Sliema Ferries crosses Marsamxett Harbour and drops you below the city walls, which makes it the most scenic way in. The alternative is a bus to the Valletta terminus beside Pjazza Tritoni, just outside the City Gate. Our guide to getting around Malta by bus, ferry and taxi covers both.
Tuesday 8 December and Sunday 13 December are public holidays, so expect reduced timetables on both. Daytime highs in December sit in the mid to high teens in °C and the evenings are cooler, so bring a jacket for the walk.
An Evening Route Through Christmas in Valletta
If you arrive by bus, you start at the City Gate end, where the city tree has recently stood near Freedom Square and Parliament. If you come by ferry, climb up into the city and join Republic Street. Walk down it under the lights. The street is narrow, so the decorations hang close overhead and the effect builds as you go. Turn onto Merchants Street, which is lit too, for a quieter run of shopfronts.
Continue to St George’s Square, in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace, which has been the centre of the city’s light projections in recent Decembers. The crib near the entrance to St John’s Co-Cathedral is a short step away. Go after dark, once the lights are on.
Eating and Warming Up in Valletta
Look for imbuljuta tal-qastan, the hot chestnut and cocoa drink spiced with cloves and citrus zest, and for qagħaq tal-għasel, the treacle-filled honey rings, at festive stalls and bakeries through December. Book dinner ahead, particularly at weekends and in the run-up to Christmas, as Valletta’s restaurants are small and fill quickly.
Getting Home After a Night at Christmas in Valletta
Check the last ferry and the last bus before you leave your hotel, because timetables change over the holiday weeks. A taxi booked through Bolt or eCabs is the fallback. Bayview Hotel & Spa has 24-hour reception, which helps if the evening runs late.
Where to Stay for Christmas in Valletta
Valletta View Apartments is the closest fit for this trip: sea-view apartments facing the city across the water, around five minutes from the Sliema ferry. Bayview Hotel & Spa is also around five minutes from the ferry, and its Sea Salt Spa, sauna and indoor pool are a good way to warm up after a cool evening in the city.
Programmes can change, so confirm the details before you travel, and read the history of Valletta for the story behind the streets you will be walking. For official listings and updates, see the Malta Tourism Authority.
