Valletta has quite a few football (soccer) teams of national fame, though they tend to do poorly in competition against larger European nations with bigger sports followings. Valletta FC, formerly Valletta United, is probably the best team in the country, and has played against other European clubs since 1963.

Valletta is a great town for those who want to participate in sports themselves, as the city is located on a peninsula between two harbors, close to some of Malta’s finest beaches. Thanks to its southern locale, the waters remain warm enough to swim in almost year-round. The closest places for good sunbathing are the Sliema beaches along St. Julian’s coastline, which have seaside restaurants, snack vendors and souvenir shops. For diving, try exploring the HMS Maori, a sunken wreck at Dockyard Creek. The water is fairly shallow (about 15 meters at the most), so the site is suitable for beginners. There is another wreck, the Carolita Barge, off the coast of the Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbor. This ship lies about 20 meters below the surface. For other water sports, use the Marsamxett Harbor as a home base for your sailboat, yacht or motorboat, as Grand Harbour is used more for commercial craft.