Landmarks • 7–9 min
Hastings Gardens Guide
A guide to Hastings Gardens: when to go, how to use it as a calmer walking block, and how it fits into a ‘views + streets’ Valletta day.
Photo by Daniel Höhe on Unsplash.
Highlights
- ✦A calmer green pause in a stone-heavy city
- ✦Great for a breezy break and wide-angle views
- ✦Pairs well with City Gate and the upper city level
- ✦A good morning or late-afternoon walking block
At a glance
- Best for
- A gentle break from streets and museums
- Time needed
- 20–45 minutes
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon
- Pair with
- City Gate area + upper-level walks
Why Hastings Gardens is a useful Valletta stop
Valletta can feel like all stone and no pause. Hastings Gardens gives you a small green reset and a chance to breathe between walking blocks.
It’s especially helpful if you’re doing a lot of cultural interiors and want one outdoor break that isn’t a harbour terrace.
Where it fits in your itinerary
Use Hastings Gardens as a ‘buffer’ between big moments: before your first museum, after lunch, or as a short evening walk when you want calm.
Because it’s on the upper level, it’s a good option when you want to avoid repeated climbs down to the waterfront.
- Morning: short green walk before interiors
- Afternoon: a reset after Merchant Street and lunch
- Evening: a calmer alternative to nightlife streets
A simple mini-route that includes it
If you want a tidy route: start near City Gate, do your green pause at Hastings Gardens, then flow into the city core and save harbour viewpoints for later.
- City Gate → Hastings Gardens
- Republic Street loop + side streets
- Merchant Street for lunch
- Barrakka viewpoints for golden hour
Tips for enjoying it more
Bring water, choose a bench, and treat it as a pause—not a checkpoint. If it’s windy, it can feel much cooler than the inner streets.
- Use it as a ‘slow 15 minutes’
- Bring a light layer on breezy days
- Don’t rush—this is a reset stop
FAQ
Is Hastings Gardens worth visiting?
Yes if you want a calmer green pause and a quick viewpoint break from Valletta’s busy streets. It’s most valuable as a reset between other activities.