Sights · Our pick in Malta
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
The George Cross
About Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
Fort St Elmo stands at the tip of the Sceberras peninsula, built to hold back the Ottoman fleet, with views over both harbours. Heritage Malta’s National War Museum inside covers Malta’s military history and shows the George Cross. The First World War display is closed until further notice (heritagemalta.mt).
Why it's on our list
- The George Cross
- Views over both harbours
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, as the crow flies.
- Ursulino Valletta450 m6 min walk
- Rosselli AX Privilege700 m9 min walk
- AX The Saint John700 m9 min walk
- Iniala Harbour House700 m9 min walk
- Barceló Fortina Malta950 m12 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest ferry landing
- Valletta Waterfront (Sicily ferry)Harbour ferries1.6 km21 min walk
- Sliema ferry (The Strand)Harbour ferries1.7 km22 min walk
Key sights
- St John’s Co-Cathedral750 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Upper Barrakka Gardens1.0 kmWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Fort St Angelo1.1 kmWalk 14 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Spinola Bay2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum3.8 kmCycle 15 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Malta International Airport6.5 kmCycle 26 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Marsaxlokk7.1 kmCycle 28 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Mdina11 kmCycle 43 minCar or taxi 26 min
- Golden Bay16 kmCar or taxi 37 min
- Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry)20 kmCar or taxi 44 min