Worth a Detour
The Three Cities
The Knights' first home across the Grand Harbour, three fortified towns of quiet lanes, reached by ferry or a painted water taxi.
- Open
- Always
- Price
- Free; paid for the ferry and the museums
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Address
- Birgu Waterfront, BirguDirections
- Getting There
- The ferry from below the Upper Barrakka lift, about 10 minutes, or a dgħajsa water taxi.
Why Go
Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua held out against the Ottomans in 1565, before Valletta existed. In Birgu, Fort St. Angelo guards the harbor tip and the Inquisitor's Palace is nearby; from Senglea's point, a watchtower carved with an eye and an ear looks back at Valletta.
Nearby in Valletta
Go Next
1–3 of 6
Worth a Detour
Worth a DetourGozo and the Blue Lagoon
About 19 miles away
A quieter island, with Ġgantija's temples older than Stonehenge, and a bright blue swimming spot.
Guide Coming Soon
Must-SeeTaormina
Sicily
About 143 miles away
A Sicilian cliff town, with a Greek theater looking out at Etna.
Full Guide
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark The Three Cities as visited to write a review.



