A survey has revealed which city global travellers think is the very best to visit, and it’s a short flight from the UK. Depending on who you ask, you might get a different answer as to which city in the world is the best to visit. However, it seems that many people would say this. In fact, the chosen city is the hottest European capital in October, and has plenty of history for culture vultures to sink their teeth into.
The best city in the world for tourists, according to responses gathered by esteemed tourism publication Condé Nast Traveller, is Valletta. The capital of Malta is only a three-hour flight from the UK, and journeys there can be nabbed on budget airlines for as little as £20. The survey asked tourists questions in several categories, combining responses to then come up with an overall satisfaction score for countries around the world. Valletta got an impressive 97.33 out of 100.
The travel publication recently released the results of its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Tourists were asked about a range of things, including a city’s walkability, cultural gems, nightlife, hotels and more.
Condé Nast described the “sun-soaked capital” as feeling both “ancient and fresh” at the same time. They also praised the Maltese capital for having “one of Europe’s buzziest creative scenes bubbling above foundations built by knights”.
Valletta is a small yet mighty city, with a population of just over 5,000 residents. However, it enjoys a slew of visitors every year, with some of Europe’s best weather and fascinating history.
In terms of things to do, there is plenty on offer here. The top-rated tourist attraction in Valletta is St John’s Pro Cathedral, which was built all the way back in the 1500s. b
Military and maritime history play a significant role in Valletta and Malta as a whole. Other top-rated tourist attractions where this side of the country’s identity is explored include Lascaris War Rooms, Saluting Battery and the National War Museum.
Meanwhile, tourists also enjoy exploring Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta Waterfront, Grand Master’s Palace and Barrakka Lift. In wider Malta, which is a mere 122 square miles, there is plenty more pon opffe, all very accessible from Valletta.
The best beaches in Malta include the famous Blue Lagoon, as well as Mellieha Beach, St Peter’s Pool, Romla Bay, Golden Bay, Golden Sands Beach and Armier Bay Beach.
If you are looking for good weather, then Valletta is probably the place to be. The hottest months are July and August, with highs of around 32C. However, good weather continues into the later months of the year when the UK becomes dark and cold.
In October, you can expect highs of 25C, while highs of 21C are expected throughout November. Even in January and February, temperatures get up to 16C and rarely dip below 9C.