Europe’s smallest capital city is also one of its most concentrated treasure troves of art, architecture, and history. Built by the Knights of St. John after the Great Siege of 1565, Valletta’s grid-plan streets are lined with honey-colored limestone palaces, ornate baroque churches, and flower-draped wooden balconies painted in every color imaginable. The star attraction is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, whose austere facade conceals an interior so lavishly decorated in gold, marble, and Caravaggio masterpieces that it rivals anything in Rome. Stroll along Republic Street, duck into the Upper Barrakka Gardens for harbor views, and explore narrow side streets where local life unfolds in tiny cafes and artisan workshops.

Pro tip: Head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens just before noon or 4 PM to watch the Saluting Battery fire its daily cannon blast — it is a tradition dating back centuries and one of the best free shows in Malta.