# Upper Barrakka and the Saluting Battery gun salute

Viewpoint and battery · 1 h · All ages · Garden free · Battery €3

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/malta/valletta/things-to-do/upper-barrakka-saluting-battery · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Dónde: Valletta

It is Valletta's viewpoint: a terrace of arches hung over the Grand Harbour, with Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua right opposite. Arrive at a quarter to twelve and you will see the cannon fire.

## The gardens

Upper Barrakka is a small garden, at the top of the bastion of St Peter and St Paul, next to the Castille building, seat of the prime minister. It was the pleasure garden of the Italian knights of the Order. It has fountains, trees and benches, a gallery of stone arches and, at the end, the balcony over the harbour, with the most photographed view in Malta: the entrance to the Grand Harbour, the forts of St Angelo and Ricasoli, the dockyards and, if you are lucky, a cruise ship coming in. The garden is free and open.

From the garden itself a public lift goes down to sea level, beside the quay from which the boat to the Three Cities leaves.

## The Saluting Battery

On the terrace below is the Saluting Battery, the battery of cannon with which the Order and later the British saluted ships and marked the time. It is run by the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, an association of volunteers that has restored the cannon and fires them every day at 12:00 and 16:00. From the garden you see and hear it free; if you want to be down below, beside the uniformed gunners, the ticket to the battery costs €3 for adults and €1 for ages 5 to 15. They recommend arriving about 15 minutes before the shot.

The battery is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00; it closes on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas. They do not publish Sunday hours.

From the battery there is also the guided tour of the War H.Q. Tunnel, at 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00, for €17 per person, booked on their website or on the spot.

## How to get there

Upper Barrakka is five minutes' walk from City Gate: enter the city, turn right towards Castille and follow the signs. It is a good start to the day, because the lift to the boat leaves from here, and a good finish at sunset, when the light falls on the Three Cities.

## Consejos

### Arrive at 11:45
The balcony fills up for the midday cannon; take a place at the railing.

### Go down in the lift to the boat
From the garden to the Three Cities quay without stairs.

### Sunday, no guaranteed gun salute
The battery publishes hours for Monday to Saturday.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### What time is Valletta's gun salute?
At 12:00 and 16:00, from the Saluting Battery.

### Does it cost anything to see the gun salute?
From the Upper Barrakka garden, no. Going down to the battery costs €3 for adults and €1 for children aged 5 to 15.

### Is it open on Sundays?
The garden is. The battery publishes hours for Monday to Saturday.

### What is the War H.Q. Tunnel?
A guided tour of the tunnels under the battery, at 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00, for €17.