The Original Valletta Free Walking Tour (since 2013)
1.5 hours
English
Sat at 10AM, Wed at 5PM
Overview
Welcome to Valletta! We are Colour My Travel, and we are proud to say we were the very first to introduce the free tour concept to the Maltese islands back in 2013.
For the past 13 years, our mission has remained the same: to provide an authentic, "insider" look at our capital city that you simply won't find in a guidebook. While other tours might give you just the dates and facts, our team: Matthew, Alizea, Matteo, Giulia, and Dylan, focuses on the soul of the city. We are licensed local guides who live and breathe Maltese culture, and we want to help you fall in love with Valletta just as we have.
Why Join Our Valletta Introduction?
In just 90 minutes, we take you on a journey through 500 years of history. This isn't a dry history lecture; it’s a fun, fast-paced walk through a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Experience the "Beltin" Perspective: Discover the city through the eyes of the people who live here (the Beltin).
See the Icons & Hidden Corners: From the Grand Master’s Palace to the quiet side streets where the real stories happen.
Get Local Advice: We end at St. George’s Square, where we’ll give you our personal recommendations for the best local pastizzi, hidden wine bars, and how to navigate Malta like a pro.
Pay What You Feel
We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality history, regardless of their budget. That’s why we pioneered the "pay-what-you-feel" model in Malta. Our team, works incredibly hard to earn your tips, ensuring that every tour is engaging, informative, and most importantly fun!
Looking for a deeper dive? While this tour is the perfect "Welcome to Valletta," history buffs might prefer our Complete 3-Hour Valletta Tour, where we explore the Lower Barrakka Gardens and the outskirts of the city in much more detail.
FREE
per person
Meeting and Pickup
Where we'll go
- The new Parliament building
- The ruins of the Royal Opera House
- The Church of Our Lady of Victory
- Upper Barrakka Gardens
- The Auberge de Castille
- The Auberge d’Italie
- Palazzo Parisio
- The Castellania
- St. John’s Co-cathedral
- The Great Siege Monument
- The Law Courts
- The Grand Master’s Palace
- The Main Guard
- St. George’s Square
Itinerary is subject to change due to other events or activities taking place in Valletta that are beyond our control.
Other details
How does the Valletta Free Tour Concept work?
When you join the Valletta Free Walking tour, you do not have to worry about paying a set fee upfront. Instead, it's all about giving your guide a tip based on how much you enjoyed the experience at the end. This is a cost effective and budget friendly way of sightseeing Malta. This might sound a bit different at first, but it's actually a super cool way to explore the city of Valletta. Why? Because your guide is not getting paid by anyone else. So, they have really got to bring their A-game every single time to earn those tips. Their income changes with each tour, which means they are always motivated to make the tour awesome and keep things fresh and interesting. Basically, the tour's got to be top-notch for this whole thing to work out. So, you are likely to get a really genuine, engaging experience every time!
What is the difference between Paid and Free tours?
The difference between the Paid Valletta Walking tour and the Free Valletta Walking tour are the following:
Duration: The Free Valletta tour is a 90 minute walking tour while the Paid Valletta tour is 3 hours long. The paid Valletta Walking tour is a slow paced tour where we get to visit the upper and lower part of Valletta. During the free Valletta tour, we visit the Upper part of Valletta only.
Frequency: The Paid Valletta tour runs on a daily basis at 10AM while the free Valletta tour runs Wed at 5PM and Sat at 10AM.
Group Size: The Paid Valletta Walking tour is limited to 25 people for a more personalised experience therefore booking is strongly recommended beforehand. On the other hand, the Free Valletta tour has a capping of 40 people.
Fee: The Paid Valletta tour has a fixed fee that you need to pay for before the tour, while the Valletta free tour is donation based, and you get to give a tip to the guide at the end of the tour based on how much you liked the tour.
Why Colour my Travel Walking Tour?
Colour my Travel - Malta Walking tours have over 2000 reviews on TripAdvisor. It is an award winning of the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice award (previously known as Certificate of Excellence) for 10 years in a row.
We are proud to be the first company to introduce the Malta Free Walking tours. Our journey began with the launch of the Valletta Free Walking tour in 2013, marking the first time such a concept was brought to the Maltese islands.
Initially, this concept was met with some resistance, reflecting its unfamiliarity within the local tourism landscape. Despite these challenges, we persevered, driven by our belief in the value and potential of free and scheduled Valletta and Mdina Walking tours. Our success is evident not only in the growing popularity of our tours but also in how other companies have followed suit, replicating the innovative approach we pioneered in Malta.
All our guides for the Malta Walking Tours are local!
Cancellation Policy
If you’re unable to attend the tour, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to someone else.
Meet our Local Licensed Guides for the Free Tours
Our tours are led by local licensed guides who have been guiding in Malta and more specifically in Valletta for years.
Matthew
Drawing on my experience as a British Army veteran with operational tours in Iraq and Northern Ireland, I provide a unique, firsthand perspective on Malta’s deep military history. For the past 10 years working full time with Colour My Travel, I have combined this professional background with my lifelong passion for historical research to share the islands' rich heritage with visitors.
Giulia
As an Art History Master’s graduate and editor at Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, I bring a deep, scholarly expertise to every tour I lead with Colour My Travel. I am passionate about sharing Malta’s artistic and cultural narratives, transforming each walk into an insightful journey through the island’s rich heritage
Alizea
I have a deep appreciation for history. My real fascination is dark tourism and uncovering the stories behind the thick walls of the cities in Malta. Outside of my travels, I stay active in the performing arts and enjoy the thrill of acting.
Dylan
Dylan works as a full-time History teacher. He obtained a Masters in Maltese Studies, focusing on the role of Malta as a Prisoner of War camp in the First World War in his dissertation. Dylan has been guiding with Colour my Travel for the last seven years.
Matteo
My background in history and competitive gaming commentary ensures that my tours are both educational and highly entertaining. I bring a positive spirit to every walk, along with a serious love for fantasy writing and Star Wars.
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