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Visiting Valletta in December

BySunMed Guide

Visiting Valletta in December

Weather in December: Average high 16.4°C, 54.3mm rainfall.

# Valletta in December: The Honest Version

December in Valletta is genuinely pleasant if you’re the type of person who finds 28-degree heat exhausting rather than appealing. Temperatures sit around 16°C, which means you’ll want a jacket in the evenings and something waterproof in your bag at all times. That 54mm of rain sounds manageable until it actually arrives, typically in short, aggressive bursts that soak you completely before disappearing again. The upside is that everything dries fast and the light afterwards is extraordinary.

The city feels properly itself in December. The cruise ship hordes have thinned dramatically, which means you can actually walk up Merchants Street without feeling like you’re queuing for an attraction. Locals are doing their Christmas shopping, the bars have a quieter regularity to them, and you’ll occasionally feel like you’ve wandered into an actual small European capital rather than a set piece designed around your visit.

Most things stay open. The co-cathedral, the museums, the fortifications – all running normally. December sees Valletta lean into Christmas with genuine enthusiasm, lights strung across the baroque streets and a decent Christmas market near Republic Street that’s more neighbourhood event than tourist trap. It’s not overwhelming, just nice.

Is it worth visiting in December? For the right person, absolutely yes. If you want guaranteed sunshine, beach days, or that Mediterranean summer feeling, come back in June. But if you like history, architecture, excellent cheap wine, and the ability to think clearly while exploring a UNESCO city, December works beautifully. It’s particularly good for solo travellers, couples, and anyone who finds peak season travel actively unpleasant.

The one practical tip worth knowing: Valletta is tiny and very hilly, and the December wind coming off the harbour is considerably colder than the temperature suggests. Whatever you think you need in terms of layers for the evening, add one more. You’ll be eating outside at restaurants that have heaters but gaps in the awnings, and that wind finds them every time. A scarf that doubles as a wrap genuinely earns its place in your bag.

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