The Three Cities, Malta: Things to Do in Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua

Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta sit the Three Cities: Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. This is where the Knights of St John first made their base in Malta, where they held out during the Great Siege of 1565, and where Maltese life still feels unhurried. Here at Experiences Malta, it is the trip we recommend most to anyone who has already seen Valletta.

A Short History of the Three Cities

When the Knights of St John arrived in Malta in 1530, they settled in Birgu, a small town on a peninsula in the Grand Harbour, and strengthened Fort St Angelo at its tip. In 1565 the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the islands. The Knights and the Maltese held out from Birgu and neighbouring Senglea until the Ottomans withdrew. Birgu was renamed Vittoriosa, the victorious, and Senglea earned the title Civitas Invicta, the unconquered city.

After the siege the Knights built Valletta on the opposite shore, and it became the capital in 1571. The Three Cities stayed at the heart of Malta’s maritime life, with dockyards that served the Knights and later the British Royal Navy.

Things to Do in Birgu (Vittoriosa)

1. Explore Fort St Angelo

The fort at the tip of Birgu was the Knights’ headquarters during the Great Siege. It reopened in 2015 after a major restoration by Heritage Malta and now has an interpretation centre and some of the best views of Valletta across the water.

2. Visit the Inquisitor’s Palace

Built in the 1530s, this palace was the seat of the Roman Inquisition in Malta. Today it is a historic house museum, run by Heritage Malta, with a museum of ethnography.

3. Walk the Waterfront and the Marina

Birgu’s waterfront is lined with old naval buildings and superyachts in the marina, with views across to Senglea. It is the best place for a drink at sunset.

4. Get Lost in the Collacchio

The narrow lanes behind the main square, where the Knights once lived in their auberges, are some of the most atmospheric in Malta. Look out for door knockers, statues of saints on street corners and pots of plants on every step.

5. See St Lawrence Church

Birgu’s parish church, St Lawrence, stands on the waterfront and holds works by the Baroque painter Mattia Preti.

6. Visit the Malta at War Museum

A museum on Malta during the Second World War, including a large underground air-raid shelter you can walk through.

Things to Do in Senglea (L-Isla)

7. See the Gardjola Gardens and Watchtower

At the very tip of Senglea, the small Gardjola Gardens look straight across the Grand Harbour to Valletta. The watchtower, or vedette, is carved with an eye and an ear, a symbol of its job keeping watch over the harbour.

8. Visit the Basilica of Marija Bambina

Senglea’s parish church is dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, and its festa in September is one of the biggest in the south of Malta.

Things to Do in Cospicua (Bormla)

9. Walk the Cottonera and Santa Margherita Lines

Cospicua is ringed by two lines of fortifications built by the Knights in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are quieter than Valletta’s walls and give a real sense of the scale of Malta’s defences.

10. See the Collegiate Church of the Immaculate Conception

Cospicua’s large Baroque parish church, built in the early 18th century, overlooks Dock No. 1.

How to Get to the Three Cities From Valletta

Option	Details
Ferry	The Valletta Ferry Services boat crosses the Grand Harbour to Cospicua, a short walk from Birgu
Dgħajsa water taxi	A traditional Maltese wooden boat from the waterfront below Valletta to Birgu marina. Agree the price before you set off
Bus	Bus 1 from the Valletta terminus, about 25 minutes
Harbour cruise	See the Three Cities from the water on a Grand Harbour cruise from Sliema

The Three Cities in Half a Day: Our Route

1. Cross by ferry or dgħajsa from Valletta.
2. Fort St Angelo first, while you have energy for the ramps.
3. Wander the Collacchio and Birgu’s main square, with a coffee stop.
4. Inquisitor’s Palace or the Malta at War Museum.
5. Walk around the creek to Senglea and the Gardjola Gardens for the view of Valletta.
6. Back to Birgu waterfront for a drink or dinner as the sun sets.

Where to Eat in the Three Cities

In the mornings, do as the locals do: pastizzi and tea in a glass from a Birgu bar. More ideas in the best restaurants in Malta and our Maltese food guide.

Events in the Three Cities

• Freedom Day (31 March): a public holiday marking the departure of the British forces in 1979, with a regatta in the Grand Harbour.
• Museums by Candlelight: Heritage Malta opens its Birgu sites by candlelight on selected evenings.
• Birgufest (October): the streets of Birgu are lit with candles for a weekend of culture.
• Village festas: each of the Three Cities celebrates its patron saint with a summer festa.

See What’s On in Malta for this year’s dates.

Three Cities FAQ

What are the Three Cities in Malta?

Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea (L-Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla), three fortified towns on the Grand Harbour opposite Valletta. Birgu was the Knights of St John’s first base in Malta.

How do you get from Valletta to the Three Cities?

Take the Valletta Ferry Services boat across the Grand Harbour, a traditional dgħajsa water taxi, or bus 1 from the Valletta terminus, which takes about 25 minutes.

Are the Three Cities worth visiting?

Yes. They are quieter than Valletta, full of history and have some of the best views of the capital. Half a day is enough to see the highlights.

Which of the Three Cities is the best to visit?

Birgu has the most to see, with Fort St Angelo, the Inquisitor’s Palace and the waterfront. Add Senglea for the Gardjola Gardens view.

Keep Planning

Sources: Heritage Malta, Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo, Wanderlust: a guide to Malta’s Three Cities, MICHELIN Guide Malta.