The capital of Malta, Valletta, has been named the world’s most beautiful capital by Condé Nast Traveller magazine. The city has topped the Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 list, beating out travel giants such as Paris, Athens and Lisbon. More than 182,000 readers voted for the cities’ culture, cuisine and hospitality.
With a score of 97.33 out of 100, Valletta is not only the top destination in Europe, but also the world’s best city for tourists. Malta’s Minister for Tourism, Ian Borg, said: “This award reflects the deep appreciation of tourists for our cultural heritage and the hospitality of the Maltese people.”
The city, which is less than a square kilometre in size, resembles an open-air museum with its Baroque palaces, ancient fortress walls, churches and narrow streets. Valletta was founded by the Knights of Malta in the 16th century and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
The capital of Malta is also famous for several films that were filmed there, including “Gladiator,” “Troy,” and “Game of Thrones.”
