Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta (must see)

Built on the upper level of the Saint Peter & Paul Bastion, the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and a wonderful respite from the humming city. The gardens are built on the highest point of the city walls, meaning that the terrace has one of the best views of anywhere in town.

The bastion was built in 1560, and the terraced arches of the garden were added in 1661. The original purpose of the garden was as entertainment for the knights from the Order of Saint John who were stationed in the bastion. After the French occupation, the gardens were opened to the public in the year 1800.

Around the gardens, you'll see various monuments and dedications. For example, there are memorials to Sir Winston Churchill, Thomas Maitland, and Gerald Strickland.

To get to the gardens from the ditch, you can opt to take the Barrakka Lift. The new elevator makes the trip easy. It opened in 2012, but it replaced the original lift served the same purpose from 1905 to 1973.

The Lower Barrakka Gardens provide an equally stunning view of the harbor and waterfront from a lower level. They're located farther east, closer to Fort Saint Elmo.