Valletta hotels
Grand Hotel Excelsior
A five-star on Great Siege Road — Upper Barrakka 0.2 km, ferry terminal 0.4 km — with pool, spa, private beach and guest data that is frank about aging facilities.
- 5-star (official classification)
- Floriana harbour edge
- Independent — no chain recorded
- Nearest airport MLA
Written by the TravelShifu editorial team · last checked
Desk assessmentWe have not stayed here. This verdict is built from the property’s own records and third-party guest reviews, read in full — including the complaints.
Check rates for Grand Hotel Excelsior
Ad · affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book through these links. It never changes the price you pay, and it never changes our verdict. How this works
No nightly price is quoted anywhere on this page: we hold no live rate for this property, and a rate printed into a static page is wrong within hours. These links open each partner’s own Vallettahotel search — search for “Grand Hotel Excelsior” when you land. We link to the search rather than to a deep link because no per-property deep-link parameter has been verified for these programmes, and a link that quietly lands on the wrong hotel would be worse than one extra step. Trip.com is listed first because it is the partner we work with directly; if the property is not on it, Booking.com carries the widest inventory of the three. We may earn a commission from any of them, and that does not change what this page says about the hotel.
Booking direct? +356 2125 0520 — we earn nothing from this one, and direct rates sometimes include breakfast or free cancellation that an aggregated rate does not.
Still comparing?
Open the partner’s whole Valletta list and put it next to this one.
Should you book this hotel?
The verdict
Book it for the facilities and the Barrakka walk; do not book it expecting a flawless five-star fabric — our hotel data provider’s own guest analysis names aging facilities and internet issues beside an 8.4 out of 10 supplier score.
The geography is why this hotel is here. our hotel data provider puts Upper Barrakka Gardens at 0.2 km, the National Museum of Archaeology at 0.5 km, St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster’s Palace at 0.6 km, Fort St Elmo at 0.9 km, the Valletta ferry terminal at 0.4 km and Malta International Airport at 7 km. Location scores 8.8 out of 10, with the prose calling the pin ideal and quiet relative to the centre.
The supplier rating is 8.4 out of 10 from 6,138 reviews, captured 10 December 2025. Category scores sit in a tight band: service and location 8.8, food and beverage 8.5, room quality and amenities 8.3, value 8.2, cleanliness 8.1, overall experience 8.2. Cleanliness prose says some rooms are spotless while others look aging; amenities note limited sauna access. Pros name location and friendly staff; cons name aging facilities and internet connectivity issues.
Facilities match the luxury band: fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, spa/wellness (hotel notes say spa is extra), private beach, restaurant, bar, family rooms and an airport shuttle. The hotel’s own important information flags outdoor works (February–July in the property’s own notes) and seasonal outdoor pool use (May–September). Check-in is from 03:00 PM; check-out is 12:00 PM. our hotel data provider associates MLA; no chain is recorded.
This is the only hotel of the four with a full POI distance set in our seed. Treat that as a data fact, not a claim that the others are “further” by an invented number.
Best for
- Families and couples who want pool, spa and a private beach within a short walk of Upper Barrakka
- Travellers who will use a listed airport shuttle from MLA
- Anyone who wants the luxury band on the Floriana harbour edge rather than a room inside the walls
Not for
- Guests who will not tolerate aging-facility or Wi‑Fi complaints at five-star rates — both are named in the guest highlights
- Anyone who needs the spa included; the hotel notes it is at extra cost
- Travellers who want a pure fortified-centre address with no walk from outside the gate
Verdict last reviewed . Rates, refurbishments and management change — re-check anything time-sensitive before booking.
The supplier’s overall score
Third-party guest reviews: 8.4/10 from 6,138 reviews — as of
This is an aggregate of published guest reviews from other booking sites, not a TravelShifu rating. We do not average it with anything, and we never restate it as structured data — Google’s review-snippet guidance says not to aggregate ratings from other websites, and every score we hold is somebody else’s.
What guests actually say
Guest sentiment at Grand Hotel Excelsior
Synthesised from published guest reviews, last run 10 December 2025. Scores are our reading of recurring themes, not an average of star ratings.
Every score and every phrase in this section is the guest analysis from our hotel data provider for Grand Hotel Excelsior, captured on 2025-12-10. TravelShifu did not compute these numbers, average them, or edit the wording.
- Overall Experience8.2 / 10Good
Overall a very pleasant stay with some minor inconveniences.
- Location8.8 / 10Excellent
The hotel's location is ideal, close to Valetta's center and quiet.
- Cleanliness8.1 / 10Good
Room was spotlessly clean, but some rooms are noted as aging and not as well-maintained.
- Service8.8 / 10Excellent
Staff were friendly, welcoming, and provided excellent service.
- Room Quality8.3 / 10Good
Rooms are spacious and well-furnished; however, some facilities were noted to be aging.
- Amenities8.3 / 10Good
Decent amenities offered, though access to sauna was limited.
- Value for Money8.2 / 10Good
Fair pricing for the luxury experience provided.
- Food and Beverage8.5 / 10Excellent
Excellent breakfast offerings and overall dining experience.
Praised consistently
- Great location
- Friendly staff
Complained about consistently
- Aging facilities
- Internet connectivity issues
Grand Hotel Excelsior in photos
Supplied by the property through our hotel data provider and served from its own CDN.
What the property says about itself
The supplier’s own copy, reproduced unedited. It is marketing — the verdict above is ours.
Stunning Seafront Views:
Located just outside Valletta's historic entrance, Grand Hotel Excelsior offers breathtaking views of Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island.
Luxurious Amenities:
Guests can enjoy free access to a gym, large outdoor and indoor pools, beautifully landscaped gardens, a private beach, and a rejuvenating spa. The rooms seamlessly blend classic and modern design, equipped with air conditioning, LCD TVs, and most with a balcony or terrace.
Gourmet Dining and Entertainment:
Indulge in a culinary journey at the hotel's 3 restaurants and 5 bars, offering a diverse range of international cuisine. Don't miss the chance to savor seafood and vegetarian specialties while admiring panoramic sea views from the poolside bar.
Experience the epitome of luxury and relaxation at Grand Hotel Excelsior - book your stay now to create unforgettable memories.
Facilities
99 facilities as listed by the property. Shown in full rather than filtered: the same list is what the structured data on this page claims, so trimming it here would make the markup say more than the page does.
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Garden
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
- Cycling
- Airport shuttle
- Safety deposit box
- Bar
- Fax/photocopying
- Tour desk
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Ironing service
- Meeting/banquet facilities
- Car hire
- Sauna
- Dry cleaning
- Breakfast in the room
- Diving
- Massage services
- Windsurfing
- Packed lunches
- Snorkelling
- Spa/wellness center
- Barber/beauty shop
- Currency exchange
- Babysitting/child services
- Non-smoking throughout
- Outdoor pool
- Sun terrace
- Daily housekeeping
- Designated smoking area
- Airport shuttle (additional charge)
- Shared lounge/TV area
- Board games/puzzles
- Concierge service
- Special diet menus - on request
- Wheelchair accessible
- Outdoor pool - seasonal
- Snack bar
- Indoor pool
- Toilet with grab rails
- Private beach area
- Evening entertainment
- Lower bathroom sink
- Outdoor furniture
- Sun loungers or beach chairs
- Airport drop off
- Airport pick up
- Coffee Shop on site
- Spa/wellness center services
- Kids' pool
- Steam room
- Beauty Services
- Fitness/spa locker rooms
- Manicure
- Pedicure
- Hair Salon Services
- Beach
- Shuttle service
- Staff adhere to local safety protocols
- Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
- Guest rooms disinfected between stays
- Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
- Physical distancing rules followed
- Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
- Cashless payment available
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kit available
- Sanitized tableware & silverware
- Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
- Smoke alarms
- Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
- Physical distancing in dining areas
- Food delivered to guest room
- CCTV outside property
- CCTV in common areas
- Process in place to check health of guests
- Access to health care professionals
- Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
- Face masks for guests available
- 24-hour security
- Delivered food - securely covered
- Tour/class on local culture
- Live music/performance
- Themed dinner nights
Where it is, and what is near it
Address
Great Siege RoadValletta FRN1810
Malta
+356 2125 0520
Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from
- 03:00 PM
- Check-out by
- 12:00 PM
Nearest points of interest
Straight-line distances from our hotel data provider, closest first. A walking route is usually a little longer than the number here.
| Place | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Barrakka Gardens | Park | 200 m |
| Valletta Ferry Terminal (Sliema/Three Cities ferries) | transit | 400 m |
| National Museum of Archaeology (Auberge de Provence) | Museum | 500 m |
| St. John's Co-Cathedral | Place of worship | 600 m |
| Grandmaster's Palace | Landmark | 600 m |
| Manoel Theatre | Entertainment | 600 m |
| Fort St. Elmo / National War Museum | Museum | 900 m |
| Fort St. Angelo (Birgu/Vittoriosa) | Landmark | 1.2 km |
| Malta International Airport (Luqa) | Airport | 7 km |
Where to stay in Valletta — all 4 properties and the areas they sit in · Valletta hotels — this page
Conditions worth reading before you book
The property’s own notice, reproduced unedited. Deposits, card rules and pet charges live here.
Head to head
Grand Hotel Excelsior vs Osborne Hotel
Floriana harbour-edge five-star with pools and a private beach against a three-star on South Street inside the walls — facilities and Barrakka distance, or a fortified-centre pin with stronger breakfast scores.
The other Valletta hotels we cover
Osborne Hotel
3-star · Valletta centre
A three-star on 50 South Street inside the walls — stronger guest scores than the five-star on several categories, with breakfast and staff as the clear praise.
Grand Harbour Hotel
2-star · Grand Harbour edge
A two-star on 47 Battery Street — harbour views and strong service scores, with cleaning standards and building-work noise as the honest downside.
Hotel Castille
3-star · Valletta centre
A three-star on St Paul’s Street at Castille Square — excellent location and staff scores, with cleanliness and room quality that undercut the 8 out of 10 headline.
Grand Hotel Excelsior — common questions
- Is Grand Hotel Excelsior worth five-star money?
- Only if the pools, spa, private beach and Barrakka-side pin are what you are buying. The supplier score is 8.4 out of 10 from 6,138 reviews as of 10 December 2025, and the same our hotel data provider analysis flags aging facilities and internet connectivity issues. Read the category detail, not just the headline.
- How close is it to Valletta’s main sights?
- our hotel data provider records Upper Barrakka Gardens at 0.2 km, the Archaeology museum at 0.5 km, St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster’s Palace at 0.6 km, and Fort St Elmo at 0.9 km. The ferry terminal is 0.4 km; the airport is 7 km.
- What time is check-in and check-out at Grand Hotel Excelsior?
- Check-in is from 03:00 PM and check-out is by 12:00 PM. These are the property's own published times as published by the property to our hotel data provider. Luggage storage is listed among the facilities.
- What is near Grand Hotel Excelsior?
- Our hotel data provider records Upper Barrakka Gardens at 200 m, Valletta Ferry Terminal (Sliema/Three Cities ferries) at 400 m, National Museum of Archaeology (Auberge de Provence) at 500 m. Distances are straight-line from the property, so a walking route is usually a little longer.
- Which airport is nearest to Grand Hotel Excelsior?
- The supplier records MLA as the served airport for this property. That is the airport code our hotel data provider associates with the hotel, not a measured distance — check the route for your own arrival time before you rely on it.