This City Has Just Been Voted Europe's City Of Culture Here's Why You Should Visit

Measuring a mere 80 hectares (197 acres), with approximately 60,000 inhabitants, Malta’s Valletta is the smallest capital city of Europe. Acting as the setting to many a popular Hollywood movie, this small but beautiful archipelago has long-captured the hearts of famous filmmakers. And rightfully so – it’s got remarkable history, architecture and unique traditions, innovative art projects, fossil-studded cliffs and gorgeous, hidden coves. And those are just some of the reasons Valletta has just been awarded as 2018’s European Capital of Culture.

So why Valletta and why now?

Six years after its initial proposal to the Ministry of Culture to be considered for European Capital of Culture, the city of Valletta has successfully landed this year’s title. As set out by the European Commission, this is Valletta’s opportunity to bring a breath of fresh air to the city – through regeneration, increased tourism, raising the city’s profile internationally, and showing its inhabitants a greater appreciation of the city’s core values. As 2018’s Capital of Culture, it can celebrate the different cultures found across the European Union, and enhance the sense of unity found among them.

Regeneration of the city

Strait Street – sometimes referred to as ‘The Gut’, due to it being the hub of nightlife entertainment – has had a recent make-over, and a plethora of bars and restaurants line this buzzing part of town, waiting to be discovered. Live entertainment regularly takes place and the architecture alone, including beautiful, original façades, makes this street a piece of living history.

Celebrations and events

The streets of Valletta are packed with live entertainment, from musicians at restaurants and bars to street entertainers. Various locations across the vicinity host free events, while regular performances can also be caught in the capital’s historical buildings, such as the Manoel Theatre and the open-air Pjazza Teatru Rjal. Jazz, classical, opera and contemporary music, combined with an array of dance varieties, make Valletta the perfect destination for entertainment, sure to suit all tastes and ages.

Contemporary art

Aside for St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the original home to Caravaggio’s stunning paintings, Valletta is an art-lover’s dream and a fast-growing artistic hub. Making the most of its available spaces, new exhibitions and special art events are propping up across town, with plenty of brand-new multimedia art exhibitions held in a multitude of locations, from converted churches to old warehouses. Celebrating local contemporary artists, in addition to embracing the work of those further afield, Valletta’s art scene is booming, breathing new life into Malta’s heritage sites and historic foundations.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.