Fort Saint Elmo Il-Forti Sant'Iermu
Fort Saint Elmo is a star fort in Valletta, Malta, commissioned by the Knights Hospitaller in 1552. Operated by Heritage Malta, it is a Grade 1 heritage site and the 6th most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The driest months to visit are from April to September, when rainfall is between 0 mm and 17 mm. Temperatures are warmest in July and August, averaging 25 °C to 26 °C, while winter months like January, February, and March average 14 °C and see more rain. The fort is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 between April and September, and from 09:00 to 17:00 from October to March. Admission is €10 and the site is wheelchair accessible.
Visitors can reach the fort from Malta International Airport, located 7 km away, or from central Valletta, which is 1 km from the site. You can combine a visit with other nearby locations, including St John's Co-Cathedral at 0.7 km, Fort St. Angelo at 1.1 km, the Tarxien Temples at 3.7 km, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum at 3.8 km, or the Rotunda of Mosta at 8.4 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, averaging 26 °C. The wettest is December, with about 103 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Rainfall, mm | 87 | 53 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 53 | 65 | 96 | 103 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
