If you only have time for one stop in Valletta, make it the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From its arched terrace you look straight across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, with forts, bastions and boats laid out below you. It is free, it is open from early morning until late at night, and twice a day the cannons of the Saluting Battery fire right beneath your feet.
Locals come here for a quiet coffee, tourists come for the view, and almost everyone ends up taking the same photo through the arches. It never gets old.
A garden built for the Knights
The Upper Barrakka sits on top of the St Peter and St Paul Bastion, one of the highest points of Valletta’s fortifications. It was laid out in the 1600s as a private garden and exercise ground for the Italian Knights of the Order of St John, paid for by the Italian knight Fra Flaminio Balbiano.
The famous arches along the garden’s edge were originally roofed. In 1775, after a failed revolt by priests against the Order, the roof was removed, reportedly because the covered arcade had been used as a meeting place. The open arches you see today are the result. The garden opened to the public after the French period, during British rule, and it has been one of Valletta’s best-loved public spaces ever since.
What you’ll find in the garden
The view over the Grand Harbour
This is the main reason to come. From the terrace you can see Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua (the Three Cities), Fort St Angelo, the harbour entrance and the breakwater. It is one of the best places in Malta to watch cruise ships arrive or leave.
Statues and monuments
Look out for Les Gavroches, a bronze statue of three street children by the Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino, and his monument to Lord Strickland. There are also monuments to Governor Sir Thomas Maitland and Dr Joseph Zammit, plus memorial tablets to naval and military officers.
The garden itself
It is not a big garden, but it is pretty: a central fountain, flower beds, shady trees and benches, with the arcade running around two sides.
Café and toilets
There is a café inside the garden with outdoor seating, plus public toilets.
The Saluting Battery and the gun salute
Directly below the garden is the Saluting Battery, which has fired salutes and time signals over the Grand Harbour for centuries. Today it is run by the heritage foundation Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, which restored it with working replica cannons.
The guns are fired every day at 12:00 noon and 4:00pm, Monday to Saturday. There is no firing on Sundays. You can watch for free from the garden terrace above, which gets crowded a few minutes before noon, so arrive early for a good spot. If you want to stand next to the cannons, the battery itself can be visited for a small fee, with guided tours available.
The Barrakka Lift
The Barrakka Lift is a modern glass lift that connects the gardens with the waterfront below, near the ferry landing for the Three Cities. The ride takes seconds and saves a long, steep climb up the bastions. There is a small fee for adults, while children and some other groups travel free. It is the easiest way to combine the gardens with a ferry or dghajsa ride across to Birgu.
Tips for your visit
- Come for sunrise or early morning if you want the view and the arches without crowds.
- Arrive by 11:45 for the noon gun, and stand near the edge of the terrace.
- Sunset and evening are lovely too, when the Three Cities light up across the water.
- Warn little ones about the bang. The salute is loud, so small children and dogs may get a fright.
- Use the lift if you are coming from the Grand Harbour ferries or the cruise terminal area.
Opening hours and entry
Entry to the Upper Barrakka Gardens is free. The garden is normally open daily from early morning (around 7:00am) until late evening (around 10:00pm). The Saluting Battery and the Barrakka Lift have their own hours and fees. Check official sources for the latest times before you go.
How to get there
The gardens are at the top of Valletta, a five-minute walk from City Gate and the main bus terminus. Walk down Republic Street, turn right towards Castille Place, and the entrance is next to the Auberge de Castille. From the waterfront, take the Barrakka Lift up. If you are driving, park outside Valletta, for example in Floriana, rather than paying the CVA charge to drive in.
Make a day of it
- Lower Barrakka Gardens, a 10-minute walk away, for a quieter garden and a view over the harbour mouth.
- National Museum of Archaeology on Republic Street.
- Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum at the tip of the peninsula.
- A ferry to the Three Cities, which you will have been staring at all morning.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Upper Barrakka Gardens free? Yes. Entry to the garden is free. The Saluting Battery and the lift charge a small fee.
What time is the cannon fired in Valletta? At 12:00 noon and 4:00pm, Monday to Saturday. There is no firing on Sundays.
Is there a café? Yes, there is a café with seating inside the garden.
Is it accessible? The garden is mostly flat once you are inside, and the Barrakka Lift gives step-free access from the waterfront.
What is the difference between Upper and Lower Barrakka? The Upper Barrakka is bigger, busier and has the gun salute and the Three Cities view. The Lower Barrakka is smaller and quieter, with a view towards the harbour entrance.
Beautiful Malta is an independent guide. Opening hours, fees and gun salute times can change, so always check official sources before visiting.