Updated in September 2026, this Grand Master’s Palace guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Grand Master’s Palace is a palace and museum with a 450-year history in St George’s Square, Valletta, Malta. As of September 2026, the Throne Room is closed until further notice, and the State Rooms close early on set dates.
The Grand Master’s Palace quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily, with seasonal timetables published by Heritage Malta. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The State Rooms close until 1:30 pm on set dates. |
| Ticket prices | Adults €12. Youths (12 to 17) €10. Seniors (60+) €10. Children (6 to 11) €8. Infants (1 to 5) free. |
| Address | Grand Master’s Palace, St George’s Square, Valletta, Malta |
| Transport or parking | Closest bus stop is 5 minutes on foot. The MCP Car Park is next to the Valletta bus terminus. |
| Typical time needed | Around 1.5 to 2 hours. |
The Grand Master’s Palace opening hours
The Grand Master’s Palace is open daily, with exact hours changing by season. From April to October, the Grand Master’s Palace is open from 10 am to 6 pm. From November to February, it’s 9 am to 5 pm.
Heritage Malta lists the following closures for 2026 and 2027:
- All Heritage Malta sites are closed on 1 January, Good Friday, and 24, 25 and 31 December.
- The State Rooms are closed until 1:30 pm on 28 October, 18 November and 2 December 2026. Only the Armoury is open on those mornings.
- The State Rooms are closed all day on 26 October 2026 for Budget Day. The Armoury stays open all day.
- The State Rooms are closed until 1:30 pm on Wednesdays 27 January, 24 February, 17 March, 14 April, 26 May and 16 June 2027.
- The Throne Room is closed to the public until further notice.
State functions can also close the Palace on rare occasions. Heritage Malta announces these on its social media pages.
The Grand Master’s Palace ticket prices
Ticket prices are €12 for adults and €8 for children aged 6 to 11. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026.
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (18+) | €12 |
| Youths (12 to 17) | €10 |
| Senior citizens (60+) | €10 |
| Children (6 to 11) | €8 |
| Infants (1 to 5) | Free |
| Heritage Malta Members | Free |
| Heritage Malta Passport holders | Free |
- Tickets are valid for 30 days after purchase. Book online or buy at the ticket kiosk.
- The Palace accepts card payments only at the site.
- The Priority Pass costs €12 to €18 by visitor type and gives access to the priority lane at the entrance.
- Showing an admission ticket at the shop gives 15% off the official guidebook.
The Grand Master’s Palace is included in the Heritage Malta Multisite Pass. The pass costs €30 to €60 by ticket type and is valid for 30 days from first use. It is not valid for the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum or Valletta Underground. Pass listings also include the National Museum of Archaeology, MUŻA, Fort St Elmo with the National War Museum, and the Inquisitor’s Palace.
How to get to the Grand Master’s Palace
The main entrance is on St George’s Square, at the second door on the right in the middle of Republic Street. It is a few minutes’ walk from City Gate, where Valletta’s main bus terminus is.
Heritage Malta says the closest bus stop is 5 minutes on foot, and its page links to the Malta Public Transport trip planner. Inside Valletta, taxis, Electric City Cabs, Hop On Hop Off buses and Fun Trains also run.
Parking at the Grand Master’s Palace
Heritage Malta points drivers to parking areas just outside Valletta, such as the MCP Car Park next to the bus terminus. Transport Malta also runs a Park and Ride service from Floriana. It has over 750 spaces and a regular shuttle to Valletta.
How long to spend at the Grand Master’s Palace
A visit generally takes 1.5 hours to two hours. The route passes through the Visitors’ Centre, the Prince Alfred Courtyard, the Armoury and the State Rooms. Allow time for security screening at the entrance and for using the lockers. Visitors can rest on benches in the Armoury and along the Piano Nobile corridors.
Accessibility at the Grand Master’s Palace
Heritage Malta rates the Palace as partially accessible, because some areas cannot be fully accessed by visitors with mobility impairments. Two lifts run from the Prince Alfred Courtyard, one to the Piano Nobile and one to the Armoury. Staff or security personnel help visitors use them.
Fully accessible toilets and nappy changing facilities are in the courtyard. Service dogs are welcome. The Palace also offers indoor and outdoor seating, lockers, a gift shop, and food and drinks. Heritage Malta publishes a full access statement.
What to see at the Grand Master’s Palace
The Visitors’ Centre has five halls with panels, projections and audio-visual shows. They explain how the Palace changed over the centuries. The Knights of St John built it as the first building in the new capital.
The Palace Armoury stands in its original hall, the former Parliament Chamber. It holds armour suits belonging to Grand Masters Alof de Wignacourt and Jean de Valette. It also holds Ottoman armour and weapons, and a selection of artillery pieces.
The State Rooms are on the Piano Nobile. They include the Grand Master’s Study or Sitting Room, the Pages’ Room and the Ambassadors’ Room. The access statement also lists a bedroom and a chapel. The Throne Room is currently closed.
The State Rooms hold Matteo Perez d’Aleccio’s paintings of the Great Siege of 1565. They also have late 18th-century Baroque ceiling paintings with illusionistic effects.
The restored Palace shows the rediscovered Uccelliera and the Piano Nobile corridors. Visitors can now reach over 85% of the building’s footprint.
The Palace later served as the Governor’s Palace under British rule. It hosted Malta’s first constitutional parliament in 1921. Today it is the seat of the Office of the President of Malta.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Check the State Rooms closure dates before you go, because on some mornings only the Armoury is open. |
| Crowds | Heritage Malta describes the Palace as its most visited site, with around 300,000 visitors a year. |
| Layout | The route runs from the Visitors’ Centre to the Prince Alfred Courtyard, then by lift or staircase to the Armoury and the Piano Nobile. |
| Entry process | Bags and belongings go through a security scanner, and visitors should tell staff about pacemakers, hip or knee replacements or pregnancy. |
| On-site logistics | Bags are not allowed inside, so use the lockers, except for medical and maternity bags. |
Frequently asked questions about the Grand Master’s Palace
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Grand Master’s Palace suitable for children? | Yes. Children aged 6 to 11 pay €8, and infants aged 1 to 5 enter free. The courtyard has nappy changing facilities. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Grand Master’s Palace? | Heritage Malta sells tickets online and at the site’s ticket kiosk. It does not state that advance booking is required. |
| Is the Grand Master’s Palace open on Sundays? | Yes. Heritage Malta describes the Palace as open daily, subject to the published timetables and closures. |
| Are bags allowed at the Grand Master’s Palace? | No. Bags are not allowed inside, but lockers are available. Medical and maternity bags are the only exceptions. |
| Can you visit the Throne Room at the Grand Master’s Palace? | No. The Throne Room is closed to the public until further notice. |
Things to do near the Grand Master’s Palace
- Casa Rocca Piccola: A privately owned noble palace and museum on Republic Street, with guided tours and Second World War shelters.
- National Museum of Archaeology: A museum in the Auberge de Provence, with prehistoric objects including the Sleeping Lady.
- MUŻA: The national community art museum in the Auberge d’Italie, with works from the 15th to the 21st century.
- St John’s Co-Cathedral: The Valletta church of the Order of St John, by the same architect, Girolamo Cassar, who worked on the Palace.
- Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum: Heritage Malta says the section on the early Knights and the Great Siege reopened on 1 August, while the World War One display stays closed.
Alternative attractions
All five are in Malta and within a 2.5-hour drive of Valletta.
- Inquisitor’s Palace: A historic house museum in Birgu that is also the national ethnography museum.
- Fort St Angelo: A Heritage Malta fortress above Birgu harbour.
- Palazzo Falson: A historic house museum in Mdina, with parts dating to the 13th century.
- Palazzo Parisio and Gardens: A palazzo with walled gardens in Naxxar.
- San Anton Gardens: Formal gardens in Attard around the palace that is the President’s residence.
More Malta travel
Other Malta travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Marvel at the unsupported dome at the Mosta Rotunda in Malta.
- A practical guide to visiting the Malta National Aquarium at Qawra Point.
- Guides to Malta’s ancient sites: The Mnajdra Temples and Hagar Qim.
- Guides to the top sights in Mdina: St Paul’s Cathedral and Palazzo Falson.
- Malta’s Museum of Natural History: Updated visitor guide for this Mdina favourite.
