A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aegina vs. Valletta for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Aegina or Valletta?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aegina or Valletta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Aegina

Aegina is a vibrant, fun, and active island. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Valletta

Valletta is a cultural, waterfront, and historic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Aegina and Valletta: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Valletta?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Valletta. Although Aegina and Valletta are popular destinations, Valletta has more sights and attractions for tourists. Valletta is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Aegina attracts visitors for its nightlife, beaches, and small town charm. Aegina is more touristy than Valletta and is popular for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens. Valletta is famous for its ancient fortifications, Baroque palaces, and beautiful gardens. It is also well known for The Grand Masters Palace.

How is Aegina different from Valletta?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Valletta and Aegina. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aegina or Valletta?

Valletta is an amazing town to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Valletta on the map. With its rich culture and compact old town, there are countless museums, sights, and monuments that are worth visiting. Some options include Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and Armory, the National Museum of Archaeology, Manoel Theater, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Many visitors head to Aegina specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

Is the Food Better in Aegina or Valletta? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Valletta is an amazing town to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Valletta is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The town's culinary scene has a long history with many traditional flavors. You really must experience a meal in one of the traditional stone cellar restaurants, which often serve local meze. Head to Republic Street for a stretch of longstanding restaurants in town. Local dishes include stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), bragioli (rolled meat covered in sauce), and lampuki pie (fish pie).

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Aegina. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Nightlife?

Aegina is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Valletta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Aegina has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

Valletta has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It wasn't long ago that the town went quiet in the evenings, but recent years have brought a surge in bars and clubs around town. You'll find the liveliest nightlife in areas around Strait Street and the Valletta Waterfront. If you're looking for a true clubbing scene, you'll want to head north out of town to Paceville.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Beaches?

Aegina is a island with good options for the beach. However, Valletta is lacking in good options for its beaches.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Aegina. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Valletta is a good spot to see the beach. There aren't any beaches in town, but if you head north to St. George’s Bay you'll find some nice beaches with a variety of resorts to choose from.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for its Old Town?

Valletta is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Aegina does not have a historic old town.

Valletta offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The old town is laid out with a uniform grid and the streets are lined with hundreds of historic buildings. At the heart of old town is Republic Street, which divides the area in half and is where you'll find a large concentration of restaurants.

Aegina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Valletta?

Valletta is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Valletta. For the best shopping head to Republic Street and Merchants Street where you'll find craft shops, boutiques, and other local souvenirs. Many visitors enjoy picking up blown glass, a locally made miniature, or cactus liquor. Lace is also a common local item that you'll find around town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Aegina. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Aegina or Valletta.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Aegina. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

Valletta offers lots of family activities. This charming town has nearby beaches as well as a few museums that kids will enjoy, including a toy museum. There are also several multi-media shows that educate visitors on the area's history. Make sure you check out Malta 5D and the Malta Experience.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Couples?

Valletta is an amazing town to visit for couples. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Valletta makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town offers beautiful walks, luxury spa experiences, and evening sunset cruises that are seeped in romance. During the evening you can enjoy a cocktail hour and then dine in one of the town's many unique restaurants.

Aegina is a nice destination for couples. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valletta is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Valletta is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. The island has grown in popularity with backpackers, particularly those coming from Europe, as there are affordable flights and easy accessibility. You'll also find some nice hostels around town where you can stay on a budget.

Aegina is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Is Aegina or Valletta Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Aegina and Valletta.

You'll find some public transit in Aegina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

While Valletta offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. If you're not up for walking up and down the hills, there are some buses around town.

Is Aegina or Valletta a more walkable city?

Valletta is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Valletta on foot is easy. The town is compact and easy to walk around with many sights within a short distance of each other. There's also very little street traffic.

Aegina is somewhat walkable. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Aegina Worth Visiting? and Is Valletta Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Valletta or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Valletta?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Aegina and Valletta. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Valletta than in Aegina. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Aegina, and 1-3 days is enough time in Valletta.

Families should spend more time in Valletta than Aegina. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Valletta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Valletta than Aegina. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Valletta that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Valletta than Aegina if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Valletta.

One day in Aegina or Valletta?

The island of Aegina offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Valletta. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Aegina or Valletta?

Aegina is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this island makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Aegina, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Valletta is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Aegina or Valletta?

Aegina is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Valletta. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Aegina or Valletta?

Aegina is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This island offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the waterfront destination of Valletta. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Historical Tours in Malta, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Valletta, we can see that Valletta is more expensive. And not only is Aegina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aegina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aegina and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Valletta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valletta than you might in Aegina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aegina Expensive? and Is Valletta Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aegina or Valletta?

Aegina has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Aegina and Valletta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Aegina or Valletta?

Aegina has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Valletta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Valletta in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Valletta. Many visitors come to Aegina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year.

Aegina is around the same temperature as Valletta in the summer. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Valletta fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valletta. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aegina this time of the year. In the summer, Aegina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Valletta. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valletta receives 365 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in July than Valletta. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Valletta in the Autumn?

Both Valletta and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Aegina for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Aegina is around the same temperature as Valletta. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aegina in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Valletta averages at about 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Valletta. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aegina. Aegina usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Valletta during autumn. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Valletta receives 221 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Aegina usually receives less rain than Valletta. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aegina or Valletta in the Winter?

Both Valletta and Aegina during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Aegina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round.

In January, Aegina is generally cooler than Valletta. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 10°C (51°F), and Valletta fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the winter, Aegina often gets less sunshine than Valletta. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valletta receives 159 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in January than Valletta. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Valletta in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Valletta. The beaches and the small town charm are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Aegina is around the same temperature as Valletta in the spring. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Valletta fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Valletta this time of the year. In Aegina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aegina usually receives less sunshine than Valletta during spring. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Valletta receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Aegina usually receives less rain than Valletta. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Valletta receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Valletta and Aegina