Stories of the Strange in Valletta - Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Take a walk around Valletta’s back streets and discover its strange and dirty past.
The tour begins from the Courts of Justice on Republic Street, where you’ll hear how the city’s former police station was haunted.
You’ll also see exactly where the plague of 1813 broke out, hear about the priest who poisoned his dinner party guests.
You’ll hear of the scandalous life of Grand Master Pinto, leader of the Knights of Malta, and why some Maltese thought he was a vampire.
You’ll also learn the strange reason why a knight of Malta went to the ballet but ended up being arrested.
The tour will also explain the knights’ fascination with poo and how they used it as a weapon.
You’ll learn the incredible secret hidden by a top British surgeon who lived in Malta – and how his landlord accidentally guessed it.
All this and more on the Stories of the Strange in Valletta tour.
PLEASE NOTE: The tour takes in much of the city, so it involves plenty of walking.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Valletta
We will be walking around the streets of Valletta, hearing about unusual stories from its dark past.
What‘s Included
Dark history stories from Malta's capital city
Options
Stories of the Strange in Valletta - Walking Tour
Reviews
24 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Zany tales of Valetta by an incredible guide!
G8892PSgregw,,Feb 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00These tours are entirely about the talents of the tour guide (because anyone can research & relay history), and we thought Mario was easily the BEST tour guide we have ever had! Mario is an ABSOLUTE story teller, rich in knowledge but also enthusiasm & charm! He delivered each tale in a way that was enthralling & interesting, and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this walking tour. We cannot recommend him enough :) All of the stars! Cheers & grazzi, Mario!
A different side to Valletta
JohnT4982,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An interesting slant on Valletta with quirky true stories. Very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Value for money and recommended. I will be back for other tours.
Captivating and Knowledgeable
MarikaMT1,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Five stars for Mario! He is incredibly knowledgeable and clearly has a passion for history. Rather than just reciting facts, he weaves them into fun, engaging stories that kept our whole group hooked. If you want a guide who is both an expert and a great entertainer, Mario is your guy!
Strange but wonderful Malta
R3038WWjosec,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario was an excellent guide - full of fun, energy and genuine passion for everything he's so carefully researched. Every story was full of twists and turns and he has an energy that keeps you hooked. The stories themselves are strange and wonderful and we will certainly be returning to book the other walking tours he has to offer. Thanks Mario for the tour, and special thanks for deciding to share these stories with others.
A different view of Valletta's history.
Frajagola,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Original stories that are hard to find without research. You can tell there's a lot of preparation work. Entertaining explanations. Thanks for the tour.
one of the best guided tours i ve ever been.
heliasf2021,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00one of the best tour I 've been, it through this. value for money. the length is as lonf as it should be. i would like to see more toylurs and combinations of facts and stories.
Great way to see Valletta
Tourist816489,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great time, amazing history told with style and flare. The research Mario puts into his stories makes this tour stand apart.
Stories of the Strange in Valletta
TinaM4109,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an incredible evening. This tour presents the people of the time living in and travelling to Valletta. By placing a spotlight on individuals and their circumstances, Mario weaves a rich narrative of how people lived, bringing the streets to life with his every word. Mario’s breadth and depth of knowledge is very evident. The stories he presents are not those found elsewhere, but the result of meticulous research by a man with a very obvious love for the history of Malta and its islands. Mario’s presentation of the information is totally engaging and fun. I first saw Dark Malta Tours on social media- and now attending a tour surpassed my expectations. I will be back.
A fun night in Valletta
kristinavI9023VG,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario is superb! Very knowledgeable and is an excellent story teller. It’s history in a fun way .. I highly recommend this tour
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 – An Unforgettable Journey Into Malta’s Dark & Mysterious Past
madeleinec703,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 – An Unforgettable Journey Into Malta’s Dark & Mysterious Past This tour was phenomenal. Our guide delivered one of the most captivating experiences I’ve ever had while traveling. From the very first story, he had the entire group hanging onto every single word—genuinely standing on the tips of our toes, completely absorbed. He’s one of those rare storytellers who could make even the driest subject interesting… but luckily for us, the stories were anything but boring. They were dark, strange, intriguing, and utterly fascinating. You can tell immediately how passionate he is about Malta’s hidden and haunting history. His depth of research is obvious—every tale was unique, richly detailed, and brilliantly delivered. This isn’t the kind of guide who gives you a generic script; these stories feel alive, personal, and expertly crafted. The tour itself was perfectly paced. While I could honestly listen to him talk for hours, the two-hour format was spot-on. What I loved most was how story-dense the experience was. Every few hundred meters, we stopped for another gripping tale—unlike many other tours where you might walk ages between bits of info and only hear a handful of stories in total. Here, it was story after story, each better than the last. His voice was loud, clear, and confident, making it easy to follow along even in busy or noisy locations. He truly nailed every aspect of the experience. I have nothing but praise and gratitude—especially since I was lucky enough to get a spot during a busy season. If you’re thinking about booking: don’t hesitate, just book it. And honestly, book as many of his tours as you can. Also give him a follow on Facebook/Instagram; he shares lots of short, fascinating history videos that are absolutely worth watching. I’ll 100% be coming back to Malta for another tour, and I’ll be recommending this to all my friends and family. A must-do experience!
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Operated by Dark Malta Tours