Barrakka Lift

The Barrakka Lift is a glass-fronted public elevator that links the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, Malta, to Lascaris Wharf at the water's edge of the Grand Harbour. It rises about 58 metres and was opened in 2012, replacing an earlier lift that operated on the same site from 1905 until the 1970s. The ride takes under a minute, and the glass cabin gives sweeping views across the Grand Harbour toward the Three Cities as it moves. At the top, the lift exit is beside the Upper Barrakka Gardens, a short step from the famous viewing terrace. At the bottom, it opens onto Lascaris Wharf, where the ferry to Vittoriosa and the Three Cities departs, and a short walk leads to the entrance of the Lascaris War Rooms in Lascaris Ditch. The fare is EUR 1 per ride, and the lift is free for holders of a valid harbour ferry ticket. The Barrakka Lift saves a steep climb up the bastion slope from the waterfront to the city centre, which makes it popular with visitors who arrive by ferry and with people with limited mobility. Allow about ten minutes for the ride and queueing combined. The lift operates daily through the day and into the evening, but queues build at cruise-ship departure times and in the late afternoon, so riding at mid-morning or after sunset is easier. The view from the glass cabin and the lit-up fortifications make an evening ride particularly attractive. Payment is by coin or card at the entrance, depending on the equipment in operation. Photographers should note that cabin reflections can affect pictures taken through the glass.