Home » Best places to visit » The Malta Experience
If you’ve decided to make Valletta one of your destinations while you are visiting Malta, a quick trip to The Malta Experience and La Sacra Infermeria (also referred to as “The Knights Hospitaller”) is a good option to start off your sightseeing exploration.
The Malta Experience is a screened film that gives you an introduction to the history of Malta and Gozo, translated into 15 languages. Having a better understanding of how Malta has evolved throughout the centuries, helps you to better understand what you’ll come across in museums and places of interest.
Maybe a history show isn’t one of the most exciting things you can think of when on holiday, but it’s a good idea if sightseeing is an important part of your trip to Malta.
In fact, The Malta Experience also includes a short tour of one of the most interesting places to visit in Valletta: La Sacra Infermeria, the Knight of Malta’s hospital – also referred to as The Knights Hospitaller.
In short, La Sacra Infermeria was the main hospital and medical facility in Malta, built in the 16th century. The building and its past use teaches us a lot about the history of the Knights and their impact on Malta and I highly recommend paying a visit.
You can do so in two ways:
You can buy tickets directly from the ticket office at the entrance, but if you plan on doing more sightseeing, consider saving on entrance fees by getting a Malta Heritage & Attraction Pass.
They give you access to dozens of Malta’s best museums and attractions. Less hassle, lower fees!
Essentially, The Malta Experience is a screened film that covers over 7,000 year history of the Maltese Islands. From early prehistoric evidence of human civilisations, to the various rulers that called Malta their home, to the various wars and conflicts that rocked the country.
Don’t worry! The show itself is all of 45 minutes long so you’ll have plenty of time to fill up your day with other exciting things that you’d like to do.
A short visit will give you an enriched understanding for all the other locations you will visit in Malta.
The people at The Malta Experience have thought of that and you get your own audio guide that is available in 15 different languages – Maltese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Danish, Japanese, Greek, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Finnish, and Polish!
Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2024!
Malta & Gozo guide book
Valletta: An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital
Take the hassle out of planning your trip to Malta and be an informed traveller!
All of The Malta Experience location is wheelchair accessible. A ramp is located at the main entrance which leads onto the external terrace by the bistro.
Lower levels may be accessed by using a lift that is located at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (opposite the site).
Access to the theatre is also possible on a wheelchair, and up to 5 wheelchairs at a time may be accommodated.
Audio guides can be connected to the seats in the front row so you don’t have to worry about missing out on that!
The Malta Experience itself is housed within what was originally La Sacra Infermeria, the hospital of the Order of the Knights of St John to care for the sick. It is also referred to as the Knights Hospitaller (referring to one of the names by which the Order was also known).
Built in 1574, the Infirmary was the most revolutionary hospital in Europe at the time, employing medical practitioners who came up with groundbreaking treatments (such as using honey to treat wounds and serving food on silver plates to prevent the spread of diseases).
The hospital could accommodate over 900 patients, and its construction in the early existence of Valletta was a logical one: One of the core functions of the Knights of St. John (also known as the Knights Hospitaller) was to provide care for the sick and injured.
Throughout the centuries La Sacra Infermeria served several other purposes, from being a medical academy to becoming a centre for entertainment during the Great War and being repurposed as a children’s theatre in more recent years.
Nowadays, the building is referred to as the Meditteranean Conference Centre.
Get my recommendations on the best day trips, boat trips, excursions and activities and book in advance!
The Malta Experience and the AR Museum (Reliving the Sacra Infermeria) are easy to find in Valletta. La Sacra Infermeria is located on the St. Elmo bastions and within walking distance from Valletta’s City Gate. The building as a whole is nowadays named the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The entrance to The Malta Experience is located across the road from the historical hospital building.
This is how to get there using different types of transport:
You can also take the South Route of the Hop-on-hop-off bus routes to get there. Get your tickets in advance here!
Here’s what other travellers had to say after they visited:
Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.
As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.
Get the best travel tips from Malta Uncovered delivered to you in bite-sized chunks by email. (Unsubscribe at any time!)
Was this article helpful? Share it with your friends!
Get the most out of your visit to Malta with Malta Uncovered guidebooks – full of local knowledge and up-to-date for 2024!