The doors close, the harbour drops away and the walls of Valletta rise on the other side of the glass. In a few seconds the Upper Barrakka Lift carries passengers from sea level to the city’s finest viewpoint, and the pause at the top is usually longer than the ride.
A short ride with a long view
The lift is almost 60 metres high. It carries visitors and residents up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, offering views of the old fortifications and the Mediterranean on the way. It is also the quickest way to get into the city from the Grand Harbour. The ride takes less than half a minute.
The cabin holds 21 passengers, and the lift can move about 800 people an hour. The structure is surrounded by an aluminium mesh and grating, which shelters passengers from the sun while allowing them to enjoy the views of the old Maltese capital and the sea.
The architects and the opening
The lift was designed by a group of architects from the bureau Architecture Project. It opened to the public on 15 December 2012 and quickly became a popular spot in Valletta. The authorities decided in 2010 that a new lift was needed to attract tourists to the city, and construction took two years.
The architects paid close attention to passenger comfort. The mesh protects against sunlight and heat, which matters on an exposed facade in summer, and the glass lets the view become part of the ride.
The first lift
This was not Valletta’s first big lift. A predecessor was built in 1905 by the company responsible for the city’s tram service. The original had two cabins with a capacity of twelve passengers each, and it ran until it was closed in 1973. The structure was abandoned and then dismantled in 1983.
The idea made sense then and makes sense now: Valletta stands on a high ridge above the harbour, and the walk up from the water is steep. A lift links the docks and ferries below with the city above.
Using it with the ferry
The ticket for the lift can be combined with one for a ferry crossing of the Grand Harbour. That means a day in the Three Cities can end with a boat trip across the water and a lift ride up to Valletta. Arriving by water is a better introduction to the city than arriving by road, because you see the fortifications as the Knights’ ships would have seen them.
If you prefer to walk, there are stairs near the lift. The climb is steep and tiring in warm weather, so most visitors choose the lift.
At the top
The upper station opens near the Upper Barrakka Gardens, one of the best-known viewpoints in Malta, with a wide view over the Grand Harbour. The Saluting Battery lies at the foot of the gardens, and the noon and afternoon gun firings can be seen from here. The Lascaris War Rooms are also close.
Plan the ride to arrive just before the noon gun if you can. The firing, the view and the lift fit together as a short sequence that many visitors count among the highlights of the city.
Why a lift matters in Valletta
Valletta was laid out in the 16th century on a narrow peninsula between two harbours, and its streets are cut by steep steps and slopes. For a modern visitor with a pushchair, a suitcase or tired legs, the difference between a lift and a hill is large. The 2012 lift made the Grand Harbour side of the city easier to reach and tied the waterfront more closely to the centre.
It also changed how the view is read. Before, most visitors saw the harbour from the gardens above. Now many arrive from below, and the rise of the bastions as the lift climbs gives a clear sense of how high the fortifications stand above the water.
Practical points
The lift is useful for people with limited mobility, pushchairs or luggage. Expect warm air in the cabin in summer, since the mesh shades it but does not cool it. Queues are usually short outside the peak midday hours. Check current tickets and operating details on the day, since arrangements can change.
Bring a camera for the ride, but do not lean on the glass. The best photographs are taken from the gardens at the top, not from the cabin itself.
Making the most of it
Start at the waterfront, enjoy a coffee beside the harbour, ride up, and spend an hour in the gardens. From there it is a short walk to the Grandmaster’s Palace and the main streets of Valletta. Going down at the end of the day, with the harbour spread out below, is a pleasant way to finish.
