Sights · Our pick in Malta
Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery
The view of the Grand Harbour
About Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery
The Upper Barrakka Gardens sit on top of Valletta’s bastions, looking across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities. Below them, the Saluting Battery on Battery Street fires its guns at noon; the battery and its Malta Time-Gun Museum are run by the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (salutingbattery.com). The Barrakka Lift runs down to the waterfront and the ferry to the Three Cities.
Why it's on our list
- Grand Harbour view
- The noon gun
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery, as the crow flies.
- Domus Zamittello250 m3 min walk
- Rosselli AX Privilege300 m4 min walk
- AX The Saint John300 m4 min walk
- Iniala Harbour House300 m4 min walk
- The Phoenicia Malta450 m6 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery 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 ferries650 m8 min walk
- Sliema ferry (The Strand)Harbour ferries1.8 km22 min walk
Key sights
- St John’s Co-Cathedral300 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Fort St Angelo700 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Spinola Bay2.8 kmWalk 35 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum2.9 kmWalk 36 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Malta International Airport5.6 kmCycle 22 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Marsaxlokk6.6 kmCycle 26 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Mdina9.9 kmCycle 40 minCar or taxi 25 min
- Golden Bay16 kmCar or taxi 36 min
- Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry)20 kmCar or taxi 44 min