Lascaris War Rooms
Underground command centre of the Second World War beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, with the Operation Husky museum.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Lascaris War Rooms lie about 45 metres underground, beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery in Valletta. They form a network of tunnels and chambers that served as the Combined War Headquarters of the British armed forces in Malta and opened in time for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily on 9 and 10 July 1943.
General Dwight Eisenhower, as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, launched the invasion from this site. The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force developed combined operations here. After the war the rooms were shared with NATO’s HAFMED until 1970 and remained in constant use until July 1977.
Visitors see authentic interiors and the Operation Husky Museum, which displays original weapons, uniforms, insignia and equipment, period photographs and wartime footage, and a large audiovisual presentation. The ticket includes an audio guide and entry to the Operation Husky Museum.
Highlights
- Command centre 45 metres below Valletta
- Operation Husky Museum with original weapons and uniforms
- Guided tours at 10:30 and 12:30
- Audio guide included in the ticket
Permanent exhibitions
- Lascaris War Rooms – Authentic interiors of the Combined War Headquarters from the Second World War.
- Operation Husky Museum – Original weapons, uniforms, insignia and equipment, period photographs, wartime footage and an audiovisual presentation about the invasion of Sicily.
- Operated by
- Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (Malta Heritage Trust)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €19Seniors |
| Children & teens | €7Children aged 5 to 15. |
| Seniors | €19 |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of ten or more get a reduced admission if they pre-book. |
| Families | €40Two adults and up to three children under 16. |
| Guided tour (per person aged 16 and over) | €5Children under 16 join free. Tours at 10:30 and 12:30. |
Members of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna enter free. The adult price applies from the age of 16. Buying tickets online is the cheapest option; payment on site is by card only.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €40 · Two adults and up to three children under 16. |
|---|
Family ticket for two adults and up to three children under 16.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Take a bus to Valletta, then walk to the steps in Battery Street from Castille Place and the Upper Barrakka Gardens (left of the City Gate), or enter from the bus station at the Saint James Ditch end through the Ganado Gardens.
The war rooms can also be reached through the Saluting Battery from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where tickets are sold.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi; shops sell souvenirs, gifts, jewellery and clothing. Toilets on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Schools receive discounted entry and on-site supervision. The venue is cashless. |
