Marco Crisciotti Valletta was elected the world's best city at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2025, after already winning as Europe's best city. The Maltese capital captivates with its authenticity, historical heritage, and contemporary vitality, becoming one of the planet's most desired destinations.
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The capital of Malta has claimed the most coveted title in international tourism. Valletta has been named the world’s best city at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, surpassing historic metropolises and iconic capitals. This recognition comes just days after being crowned Europe’s best city.
The travelers’ vote
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Condé Nast Traveller readers evaluate the destinations that impressed them most. This year, over 182,500 votes were collected. Valletta stood out for its combination of vibrant culture, historical heritage, and human scale. It’s not a museum city, but a place where past and present coexist without forcing.
A small but complete capital
With just over 6,000 inhabitants, Valletta is among the world’s most compact capitals. Yet within its walls, there’s everything: baroque palaces, fortifications, museums, theaters, high-end restaurants, and festivals that fill the streets every season. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site back in 1980, and the city continues to reinvent itself, especially after earning the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018, which revitalized its artistic and architectural scene.
Just minutes from the sea, Valletta blends the elegance of the Knights of St. John with Mediterranean vitality. It’s a city experienced on foot, through steep alleys and terraces overlooking the harbor, with the scent of salt and golden stone. Growing attention to restoration and urban sustainability has made the city a model for many other European destinations.
A recognition that carries weight
Being proclaimed the “world’s best city” isn’t a symbolic prize. It means attracting new investments, quality tourism, and international interest. Valletta is no longer just a destination for history enthusiasts or Mediterranean cruises, but a global destination capable of competing with London, Tokyo, and New York.
This award doesn’t change Valletta, but tells its story better. It’s a city discovered slowly, between a coffee in the square and a walk along the seaside walls. Small, yes, but with an enormous soul. For those seeking authenticity without sacrificing charm, Valletta is the answer, and you certainly don’t need a precise itinerary: just go there and let yourself be captivated.
