Valletta

The 1661 tiered garden above the Grand Harbour is Valletta's most famous viewpoint, with a colonnaded loggia and panoramic views over the Three Cities. Dogs on leash are welcome at no charge; the free lift from Lascaris Wharf carries dogs up the 40-metre drop in summer.

Built on top of the St John and St Michael bastions, Hastings Gardens runs the length of Valletta's landward wall facing Marsamxett Harbour, Manoel Island and Sliema. Mature trees provide rare shade and this is the quietest large green space in the city for a sunset dog walk.

The 15-minute ferry to Senglea drops you into a quieter, residential pocket of historic Malta with quaysides, fishing boats and the iconic Gardjola watchtower. Dogs travel free on the ferry (outdoor deck, leash) and are welcome along the entire Senglea-Vittoriosa-Cospicua waterfront.

The 1577 cathedral is one of the great baroque interiors of Europe, but admits only certified assistance dogs inside. The exterior square is leash-friendly and worth a sunset photo stop; assign one person to enter while the other waits with the dog on the shaded north side.

The former medieval capital, 13 km west, sits on a hilltop with sweeping views and pedestrianised stone alleys where dogs on leash are welcome throughout. Bus 51 from Valletta takes 35 minutes; the best dog-walking window is after 18:00 when the day-trippers leave.

Eight 19th-century guns fired daily at noon and 16:00 from a terrace below Upper Barrakka, perpetuating a 500-year tradition. Dogs on leash welcome on the terrace; sound-sensitive dogs should stay on the upper Barrakka level where the report is dampened.