A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Valletta vs. Antwerp for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Valletta or Antwerp?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Valletta and Antwerp can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Valletta

Valletta is a cultural, waterfront, and historic town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Antwerp

Antwerp is a genuine, cultural, and historical port city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Valletta and Antwerp: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Valletta or Antwerp?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Antwerp. Although Valletta and Antwerp are both popular with visitors, Antwerp has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Antwerp is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Valletta is known for its museums, food, beaches, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Valletta is more touristy than Antwerp and is popular for its ancient fortifications, Baroque palaces, and beautiful gardens. Antwerp is popular for its historic train station, festive chocolate shops, decadent waffle stands, and down-to-earth old town. It is also home to Antwerpen-Centraal.

How is Valletta different from Antwerp?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Valletta are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Antwerp can be an interesting and educational experience. The city has a number of cathedrals, museums, and art galleries that are fun to explore. The history and culture of the town is best experienced by wandering the streets and soaking up the architecture.

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

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Valletta has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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).

Antwerp is becoming an appealing option for foodies. People with a sweet tooth will enjoy the chocolates and biscuits that make this city famous. You'll also find plenty of fries and casual dining options to choose from. Local favorites include mussels and fish and chips, and of course, you must try the beer!

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for Nightlife?

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

Antwerp has a large number of nightlife venues. With its large student population and young vibe, you'll find an active nightlife scene around town. Many of the the clubs and bars are concentrated in the docklands, but you'll also find places to hang out everywhere around town.

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 Valletta or Antwerp Better for Beaches?

Valletta is a town with a few options for the beache. However, Antwerp is not a beach destination.

You can check out the beach in Valletta. 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.

Antwerp is not a beach destination.

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for its Old Town?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its old town. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

With a famous historical old-town, Valletta offers plenty to see. 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.

Many visitors go to Antwerp to see the historical old town. The old city has a long running history and many unique spots to explore. At the heart of the old town is Grote Markt, which is surrounded by beautiful buildings and cobblestone streets. There are a diversity of restaurants including local cuisines, Italian restaurants, and a number of different ethnic food. You'll also find local chocolate shops, waffle vendors, and ice cream.

Is the Shopping Better in Valletta or Antwerp?

Antwerp is terrific for its shopping areas. Also, Valletta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Antwerp specifically to go shopping. The city has become known for its fashion scene. The main shopping street is Meir, which is where you'll find a variety of European fashion chains. It's also fun to buy chocolates, art, or other souvenirs around town. You'll find both locals and tourists perusing the main shopping areas around town.

Valletta is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for Families?

Both Valletta and Antwerp are good to visit with kids.

Valletta is a family-friendly town. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Antwerp. Favorite kid-friendly activities around town include taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel, going to the local zoo, or exploring the indoor play area Plopsa Station. Kids will also enjoy exploring the underground canals or taking a boat ride. Chocolate lovers will have fun checking out the many chocolate shops around town.

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for Couples?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

For those traveling as a couple, Valletta has plenty to offer. 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.

Antwerp is a good town for couples to visit. The city has a wonderful café culture with great restaurants and beautiful neighborhoods to explore. There are many great restaurants as well as plenty of shopping opportunities.

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valletta is well known for backpackers. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Valletta is a great town to visit for backpackers. 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Antwerp. With a handful of hostels and a variety of free activities, this is an affordable place to visit. It's often overlooked by backpackers so those that visit will be rewarded. It has a vibe of authenticity which is great for backpacker's who are a bit jaded from the tourism scene.

Is Valletta or Antwerp Better for Students?

Antwerp is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Valletta is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Antwerp. There's a good student culture and a lot of activities that give the city a fun and youthful vibe. It's a relatively big city with a lot of transportation connections, so it makes a great base for exploring other areas.

Valletta is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find good public transit in both Valletta and Antwerp.

Valletta has some public transit options. If you're not up for walking up and down the hills, there are some buses around town.

You'll find some public transit in Antwerp, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are both tram and bus lines around town. The city also has a large and impressive train station with many connections, making it a good base for exploring other areas.

Is Valletta or Antwerp a more walkable city?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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.

Antwerp is a very walkable destination. The old town can be comfortably explored on foot, particularly the area around Grote Markt.

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

Should I spend more time in Antwerp or Valletta?

How long in Valletta or Antwerp?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Valletta and Antwerp. In our opinion, Valletta has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Valletta than Antwerp. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Valletta than Antwerp 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 Valletta or Antwerp?

In Valletta, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The port city of Antwerp offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Valletta or Antwerp?

In Valletta, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Valletta has to offer.

Antwerp is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Antwerp, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Valletta or Antwerp?

Valletta is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Antwerp is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. 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.

A week in Valletta or Antwerp?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Valletta. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Valletta. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Antwerp is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This port city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Malta, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Brussels.

When comparing the travel costs between Valletta and Antwerp, we can see that Antwerp is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Valletta or Antwerp?

Antwerp has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Valletta and Antwerp, 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 Valletta or Antwerp?

Antwerp 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 Valletta or Antwerp in the Summer?

Both Antwerp and Valletta during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Antwerp for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Valletta is generally much warmer than Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 26°C (79°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Antwerp, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Valletta. In the summer, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Valletta gets 365 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 202 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets less rain in July than Antwerp. Valletta gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Antwerp in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Valletta and Antwerp. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Antwerp because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Valletta is much warmer than Antwerp in the autumn. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Antwerp fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In Valletta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Antwerp during autumn. Valletta gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Valletta usually receives around the same amount of rain as Antwerp. Valletta gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Valletta or Antwerp in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Valletta as well as Antwerp. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Antwerp this time of year.

It's quite cold in Antwerp in the winter. In the winter, Valletta is much warmer than Antwerp. Typically, the winter temperatures in Valletta in January average around 13°C (55°F), and Antwerp averages at about 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Valletta gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 47 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets more rain in January than Antwerp. Valletta gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Antwerp in the Spring?

Both Antwerp and Valletta are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Antwerp for the activities around the city.

In April, Valletta is generally much warmer than Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 16°C (61°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valletta. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Antwerp during spring. Valletta gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Valletta usually receives less rain than Antwerp. Valletta gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Antwerp and Valletta