Malta Postal Museum

About the museum

The Malta Postal Museum was inaugurated on 17 June 2016 by the President of Malta and opened to visitors on 20 June 2016. It is housed in a restored townhouse in Archbishop Street in Valletta, close to the Grand Master’s Palace, and was set up by MaltaPost, the national postal operator, with EU support. Malta’s postal service goes back to the 16th century, when the island’s position called for reliable communication in times of war and peace.

The museum is spread over four floors and tells the story of the post through objects, stories and interactive displays. Visitors see a postman’s bicycle used in Malta, an English pillar box, a diorama of a 1950s post office built partly from original counters, and a complete collection of Maltese stamps from the first stamp, the Halfpenny Yellow of 1860, onwards. Letters from the time before the Order, the Knights, the British period and the two world wars illustrate how the post shaped Malta’s history, and models include a mail bus for Gozo and the ship Gleneagles that carried mail between Malta and Gozo.

The building also contains a children’s area in which children can play postman, galleries for temporary exhibitions, a museum shop, a service for personalised stamps and a working post office.

Highlights

• Complete Maltese stamp collection from the Halfpenny Yellow of 1860
• Diorama of a 1950s post office with original counters
• Letters from the time of the Knights to the two world wars
• Models of the Gozo mail bus and the mail ship Gleneagles
• Children’s area where children can play postman

Permanent exhibition

• The history of the post in Malta – Stamp collections from 1860 onwards, letters from the Order of St John to the world wars, a 1950s post office diorama and models of mail transport.

Founded

2016

Operated by

MaltaPost

Admission & discounts

Personalised stamps can be produced at the museum for an extra fee. Prices as published in 2018.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Both stairs and a lift connect the floors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

A dedicated children’s area on the upper floor lets children play postman, watch an educational film and design their own stamps.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with specially designed merchandise and a working MaltaPost post office in the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The galleries and a rooftop terrace can be hired for talks, screenings, workshops and small events.

Plan your visit