Tour & Activity Scams in Valletta, Malta
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Valletta — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Mykonos, Barcelona, and Krakow.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Valletta
How it works
Unofficial boat operators approach tourists along the Valletta Grand Harbour waterfront and near the ferry terminals offering cut-price trips to the Blue Grotto, Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua), or Comino. Vessels are sometimes unseaworthy, lack life jackets, and operators are uninsured. Quoted prices rise after boarding, and itineraries may be cut short or altered. In some cases tourists are dropped at unintended locations and charged extra for the return.
How it works
Individuals near popular attractions and ferry terminals sell discounted tickets to Grand Harbour tours or events that are fake or printed with wrong dates.
How it works
Horse-drawn karozzin carriages are a traditional Maltese tourist attraction, but drivers near Fort St. Elmo and Triton Fountain frequently quote an initial price then demand significantly more at the end of the ride, citing extra charges for a second passenger, luggage, a longer route, or a mandatory tip. The carriage may also deviate from the agreed route to extend the journey time. Some drivers have no official fare card and rely on the tourist being unable to dispute the final bill in a foreign country.
See all scams in Valletta
10 total warnings across all categories