‘Both ancient and fresh!’ Valletta named one of the world’s five best cities

Valletta was named among the five best cities in the world in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards for the second consecutive year. 

While the Maltese capital was crowned the best city in last year’s awards, it had to settle for fifth place this year, with Bangkok finishing in first place, Paris in second, Istanbul in third, and Rome in fourth.

Making up the rest of the top ten are Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and Amsterdam. 

The annual Readers' Choice Awards are based on votes from Condé Nast Traveller readers, who rate their favourite destinations and travel experiences around the world.

In its description of Valletta, Condé Nast Traveller said the Maltese capital “feels simultaneously ancient and fresh, with one of Europe’s buzziest creative scenes bubbling above foundations built by knights”. 

“Wake from a slumber in hotels carved into 500-year-old palazzos and wander honey-coloured alleys after morning espresso, easing into the day as church bells ring out to the sea,” it said.

“We’ve long noted how Malta is reinventing what Mediterranean cool looks like, bolstered by autumns that mirror summers in the continent’s north.”