One city in Malta has earned the titled at the hottest place in Europe, but this UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with museums and galleries where travellers can keep cool and soak in the culture
Heatwave after heatwave, the title for Europe’s hottest city changes hands, but there might finally be a clear frontrunner. 101 Holidays has just named the hottest places in Europe, with one city in Malta coming out on top.
According to the travel inspiration site, Valletta is the hottest place in Europe with an average daily temperature of 22.3ºC. Coming in at a close second and third are Athens and Rome with annual average temperatures of 22ºC and 21.4ºC respectively.
Valletta is Malta’s capital city easily recognisable by its Baroque architecture and fortified walls which rise up against a Mediterranean backdrop. Valletta’s walls are jam-packed with history, fine restaurants and cultural spaces that can be explored in the sun all year round.
In fact, Valletta enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year so travellers can pack T-shirts and shorts no matter when they visit. Given that the capital is only a three-hour flight from the UK, it makes for a convenient escape for rainy and harsh British winters.
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The city was built by the famous Knights of St. John – also known as the Knights Hospitaller – who arrived in the country around 1530. While there, the Knights developed numerous palaces and churches, considered some of the finest works of architecture in the region today.
While the grid-plan of the city was built in defensive military style, it is also undeniably impressive and features an ornate baroque style. Today, Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of its most remarkable landmarks is the St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
The cathedral is adorned with beautiful frescoes and barrel-vaulted ceilings and is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Built in the 1570s, it is perhaps one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe and the most visited church in all of Malta.
Another must-visit landmark is MUZA – Maltese for ‘inspiration’ – which is the National Museum of Art. It forms part of Heritage Malta, the National Agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage.
In 2025,the President of Malta informed Heritage Malta that she would be granting her patronage to the second edition of the Malta Biennale – to be held in 2026. The Biennale will run from March 11 to May 29, 2026.
The Malta Biennale will once again take place in museums and historical sites managed by Heritage Malta, across Valletta, Birgu, Xagħra and Ċittadella in Gozo. Currently, there is an international open call for artist participation in the upcoming edition, with proposals pouring in from all over the world and already topping 100 in number.
The Biennale is just one of the many Valletta events to look forward to. The Baroque Music Festival in January and the February carnival, are also big draws for the city.
Additionally, there is an opera week in spring and on the banks of the Grand Harbour is a summer Jazz festival each year.