Malta at War Museum: planning a visit to Birgu

Malta at War Museum sits at Couvre Porte Gate on the approach into Birgu. The museum is housed in the gate, which it describes as the original walled entrance to Vittoriosa.

Use the address Couvre Porte, BRG 1810, Vittoriosa (Birgu), Malta when planning your route. If you’re travelling by bus from Valletta, buses 2 and 3 serve the area from the main station, and the stop is just outside Couvre Porte Gate; alight there.

From Valletta, another option is the harbour ferry from Lascaris Quay to Vittoriosa. The ferry runs every 15 minutes, and the museum is a 10-minute walk from the ferry stop. By car, follow the major roads to Cottonera and Vittoriosa, then follow the directional signs.

To reach the museum from Marsaskala, plan your journey to Birgu and then use the museum’s address at Couvre Porte Gate as your destination. The museum’s stated public-transport instructions begin in Valletta: buses 2 and 3 from the main station stop outside the gate, while the ferry route crosses from Lascaris Quay to Vittoriosa.

If you’re staying at Cerviola Hotel in Marsaskala, this museum gives you a wartime-history stop to plan into a Birgu outing. The available route details here cover the connections from Valletta rather than a direct Marsaskala-to-Birgu service.

The museum combines underground air-raid shelters with Malta’s wartime story. Its War H.Q. complex opened in 1940 as the underground Combined War Headquarters and included the Fighter Sector Operations Room, used during the Battle for Malta of 1940–1943.

After the war, NATO used the complex until 1977 to track Soviet submarine movements in the Mediterranean. Free audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Dutch, Maltese and Danish, as well as Chinese and Japanese.

Allow at least one hour for the visit; queues can affect how long it takes. You may stay during opening hours on the date of your booking, and a ticket is valid for one day with same-day re-entry.

Admission is €14 for adults aged 16 and over, €12 for seniors, and €7 for children aged 5–15. A family ticket for two adults and three children under 16 costs €28; members enter free.

Visitors aged 60 and over qualify for the concession rate and may be asked to show identification proving their date of birth. Groups of 10 or more can book in advance for reduced admission.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 09:30 to 17:30, with last admission at 17:00. It is closed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check the official site before you go.

On-site tickets are card-only. Free lockers are available, but large bags and backpacks are not permitted inside. Photography is allowed in most areas, without flash in the galleries; tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted unless arranged in advance.

Parts of the War Rooms are not pushchair-friendly because of restricted space. Pushchairs can be left in the lobby, and baby-changing facilities are available. The museum lists fully accessible toilets. Expect different surfaces and levels, steps of varying widths and heights, and low-light areas; wear suitable footwear and take care on stairs.

Pair the museum with another stop in Birgu if you have time after the visit. The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu is another museum option for a day focused on the city’s history.

If your plans also include the capital, the Valletta Cruise Port guide covers getting there from Marsaskala. The ferry connection between Valletta and Vittoriosa can also help you plan the museum as part of a route linking both sides of the harbour.

How long should you allow for Malta at War Museum?

The museum recommends allowing at least one hour. Queues can affect the length of your visit.

Can you re-enter the museum on the same day?

Yes. Admission tickets are valid for one day and allow same-day re-entry during opening hours on the booking date.

Can you bring a pushchair into the War Rooms?

Some areas are not pushchair-friendly because of restricted space. You can leave a pushchair in the lobby, and baby-changing facilities are available.

Are audio guides available?

Yes. Free audio guides are offered in multiple languages, including English, Maltese, French, Italian and Chinese.