Best Valletta shore excursions
The top-rated independent excursion in Valletta is "Malta: Blue Lagoon, Beaches & Bays Trip by Catamaran" (4.7★ from 6,933 reviews, from $61). The biggest saving against the ship is food & tasting: $303 per person less than NCL. Prices and ratings checked November 2026.
Ranked from real traveller ratings: each tour's star rating weighted by how many reviews it has, so a 4.9 with 3,000 reviews beats a 5.0 with 25. Only tours we matched to a tour type in Valletta are included.
Top-rated independent excursions
| # | Tour | From | Rating | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta: Blue Lagoon, Beaches & Bays Trip by CatamaranCatamaran / sail & snorkel | $61 | 4.7★6,933 reviews | 5/5 |
| 2 | Valletta: 3-Hour Walking TourCity / island tour | $25 | 4.8★2,905 reviews | 3/5 |
| 3 | Valletta: Guided City Walking TourCity / island tour | $22 | 4.8★1,847 reviews | 3/5 |
| 4 | Valletta: Street Food and Culture Walking TourFood & tasting | $61 | 4.8★1,482 reviews | 5/5 |
| 5 | Valletta: Small-Group City Walking Tour of Hidden GemsCity / island tour | $22 | 4.9★1,298 reviews | 3/5 |
| 6 | Malta: Valletta-Gozo One-Way High-Speed Catamaran CrossingCatamaran / sail & snorkel | $8 | 4.6★1,062 reviews | 5/5 |
| 7 | Valletta: Maltese Food and Drink Guided Walking TourFood & tasting | $56 | 4.7★690 reviews | 5/5 |
| 8 | Valletta: Street Food Walking Tour with a LocalFood & tasting | $66 | 4.8★305 reviews | 5/5 |
| 9 | Valletta: Food Walking Tour with TastingsFood & tasting | $61 | 4.8★265 reviews | 5/5 |
| 10 | Award-Winning Valletta & Three Cities Boat Tour from SliemaCity / island tour | $16 | 4.7★136 reviews | 3/5 |
Best value against the ship
| Tour type | Line | Ship | Independent | Saving for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food & tasting | NCL | $365 | $61 | $1,214 |
| City / island tour | NCL | $197 | $22 | $700 |
| Ruins / history | NCL | $138 | $45 | $370 |
Without a tour: near the pier
- Upper Barrakka Gardens: ~10 min walk (584 m).
A lift and stairs climb from the Waterfront to the city; Mdina is about 25 minutes by road.
Questions
What is the best excursion in Valletta?
On ratings, "Malta: Blue Lagoon, Beaches & Bays Trip by Catamaran" leads with 4.7 stars from 6,933 reviews. On value, food & tasting saves the most against the ship ($303 per person).
What is the cheapest well-rated excursion in Valletta?
"Malta: Valletta-Gozo One-Way High-Speed Catamaran Crossing" from $8 per person (4.6★, 1,062 reviews).
What can you do in Valletta without booking an excursion?
Within about 20 minutes of the pier: Upper Barrakka Gardens (~10 min walk).