The capital of Malta has won the most coveted title in international tourism. Valletta has been nominated best city in the world at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, beating historic metropolises and iconic capitals. A recognition that comes a few days after his coronation as best city in Europe.
Travellers’ vote
Every year, hundreds of thousands of readers of Condé Nast Traveller they judge the destinations that most impressed them. This year, over 182,500 votes were collected. Valletta has excelled in its combination of living culture, historical heritage and human dimension. It is not a museum city, but a place where the past and the present coexist without forcing.
A small but complete capital
With just over 6,000 inhabitants, Valletta is among the most compact capitals in the world. Yet within its walls there is everything: baroque palaces, fortifications, museums, theaters, high-level restaurants, festivals that fill the streets every season. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site as early as 1980, and the city continues to reinvent itself, especially after the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018, which relaunched the artistic and architectural scene.
Just minutes from the sea, Valletta mixes the elegance of the Knights of St. John with Mediterranean vitality. It is a city that can be experienced on foot, among steep alleys and terraces overlooking the port, with the scent of salt and golden stone. The growing focus on urban restoration and sustainability has made the city a model for many other European destinations.
A recognition that weighs
Being proclaimed “best city in the world” is not a symbolic award. It means attracting new investments, quality tourism and international interest. Valletta is no longer just a destination for history buffs or Mediterranean cruises, but rather a global destination, capable of competing with London, Tokyo and New York.
This award does not change Valletta, but tells it better. It is a city that is discovered slowly, between a café in the square and a walk along the walls overlooking the sea. Small, yes, but with a huge soul. For those looking for authenticity without giving up charm, Valletta is the answer, and you certainly don’t need a precise itinerary: just go there and let yourself be conquered.
