Shopping

Shopping in Valletta features a selection of art and craft shops, boutiques, markets, jewellery stores, high-street fashion outlets and local souvenir shops. Republic Street is the shopping hub of Valletta but there are also a couple of other shopping venues in the city. Most shops open around 9am and close for siesta from 1pm, reopening from 4pm till 7pm.

There is a market on Sunday mornings at St James Ditch selling clothing and antiques, while the fresh produce market behind the Grand Master's Palace has great fruit, vegetables and fish for sale. Browse Monti market, as well as the Republic and Merchant street-markets, for clothes, shoes, watches and jewellery. Designer label clothing can be found at the Forni Shopping Complex and in high-street outlets on Republic Street. There is a Marks & Spencer on Strait Street.

The Silversmith's Shop on Republic Street sells gold and silver filigree jewellery, as do the jewellers on Triq Santa Lucija. A popular holiday souvenir from the island is a silver eight-pointed Maltese cross. The Waterfront has a couple of craft shops selling local pottery and glassware, and Gio Batta Delia (near the City Gate) has prints, pottery and old lace. Malta Crafts Centre also sells glassware, ceramics, jewellery and lace, and The Malta Experience has good-quality souvenirs, though you may find cheaper buys elsewhere.