War HQ Tunnels

Museum in Valletta

The War HQ Tunnels lie deep beneath Valletta's Upper Barrakka Gardens, accessed via Battery Street and usually starting from the Saluting Battery ticket office. This rock-hewn complex spans about 35,000 m² and served as the Combined War Headquarters for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British Army from 1940 to 1943, coordinating Malta's defense during the Siege and early stages of Allied campaigns. Forming a key defense in World War II Malta, the tunnels offer a remarkable glimpse into the island's strategic role during the war.

Inside, visitors explore restored command rooms: the Navy Operations Room, Anti-Aircraft Gun Control, Fighter Command Rooms, and Filter Rooms where radar and air-raid data were processed. These tunnels were built to be bomb-resistant and discreet, hidden under the bastions above, allowing Malta's defense services to continue operating even during intense aerial bombardment.

The tour often includes a visit to the St. Peter & Paul Counter-Guard, a 16th-century fortification that was incorporated into the wartime tunnel complex. Through narrow corridors, period artifacts, interpretative panels, and expert guides, the experience offers a visceral sense of what it must have been like to command island-wide defenses in near-total siege conditions.

The War HQ Tunnels appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Valletta!

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