The Maltese capital, Valletta, has been crowned the best place to live in Europe by Condé Nast Traveller magazine for 2025. But is life in this sunny Mediterranean gem really like a postcard – or does it come at a price (hint: it does, and it’s a real one)?
Valletta is a city as small as a stick of butter – just a mile long and with fewer than 6,000 inhabitants. But in this tiny giant, nestled between two picturesque bays and entirely under UNESCO protection, beats the heart of history, architecture and Mediterranean ease.
If you are one of those who love city break weekends, but the thought of traffic jams and the hustle and bustle of the city gives you a headache – Valletta is perfect for you. It really is all happening here. on foot. From cappuccino to the cathedral, from the museum to the sea – everything is within a ten-minute walk. Car? What kind of car? If you've missed out on fitness, the only hill you'll have to conquer is perhaps a flight of stairs to the apartment.
Life on the sunny side of Europe
With almost 300 sunny days per year, Valletta quietly holds the crown of the most smiling city in Europe. Average winter temperatures of around 12°C and summer temperatures that easily climb above 30°C create conditions in which it is not difficult to get up in the morning. Especially when you are greeted with a view of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea while having your coffee.
With all that sunshine comes safety: according to Numbeo, Valletta has a high score for climate (97.44) and solid safety (63.76), putting it high on the radar of digital nomads. Why call in to Zoom meetings from an apartment overlooking a parking lot when you can do it from a terrace overlooking the sea?
Valletta: Life is literally here on the street
If you’re curious about the real lifestyle in Valletta – let the local guides tell you: “People here really live outside. Everything happens on the street, by the sea, among the people.” Sound like a fairy tale? It is a bit. Days start with a chat over coffee, continue with an aimless walk through the cobblestone streets and often end at a local restaurant with fresh seafood delicacies.
Valletta is like a living museum and an outdoor living room. The mix of baroque churches, art galleries and street music makes you feel like a tourist and a local at the same time – and that's after just a few days.
But wait… How much?
Of course, every fairy tale has its price. And in Valletta, it comes with a price. Rents for one-bedroom apartments in the center reach even 1100 euros per month – which is almost as much as the average salary in some parts of Europe. Luxury comes at a price. Especially when it comes to the luxury of living without cars, with a croissant in hand and the sun in your hair.
Conclusion: Would you live in a postcard?
Valletta is not for everyone. If you are used to living in a big city, with more lanes, more noise and more stress – you might be overwhelmed by the silence of the alleys and the slow pace. But if you dream of a life where the day greets you with the smell of the sea, where history breathes from every wall and where every evening is a potential date with romance – then Valletta might be your little European paradise. 300 sunny days a year come at a price.
Sun, history, sea – and of course, 1,100 euros for 40 square meters.
Yes, living in the best city in Europe is like a glass of Maltese wine: pleasant, sunny, but not entirely free.
