Lisbon vs Valletta

Lisbon

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The city enjoys more sunshine than almost any other European capital, making it a year-round destination.

Valletta

Valletta has a classic Mediterranean climate — long, hot, dry summers and short, mild, rainy winters. The city sits on an exposed peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, which moderates temperatures but also means the wind can be relentless. Malta averages around 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, one of the highest totals in Europe.

Lisbon

Lisbon has reliable public transit run by Carris (buses, trams) and Metropolitano (metro). The Viva Viagem rechargeable card works across all modes and offers a 24-hour unlimited pass for €6.80. The city's hills make walking tiring but rewarding.

Walkability: The city center is walkable but extremely hilly. Comfortable shoes are essential. The flat riverside promenade from Cais do Sodre to Belem is great on foot or by rented e-scooter. Funiculars (Bica, Gloria, Lavra) help with the steepest hills.

Valletta

Valletta itself is entirely walkable — the whole peninsula is well under 1 km long and cars are largely banned inside the walls. For the rest of the island, Malta Public Transport runs an efficient and cheap bus network radiating out from the Valletta terminus just outside the City Gate. Ferries, water taxis, and taxis fill the gaps.

Walkability: Valletta itself is perfectly walkable — the whole old city fits within a 0.8 km² fortified grid. However the cross streets running down to the bastions are extremely steep and stepped in places, which is physically harder than the gentle distances suggest. Comfortable shoes with grip are essential, especially on the limestone paving.