Sliema and St Julian's: Malta's seafront base

Why go

Sliema and St Julian's are about convenience and the sea. You can swim off the rocks in the morning, take a ten minute ferry to Valletta for the afternoon, and walk to dinner by the water in the evening. There are hotels for every budget, plenty of restaurants and good bus links to the rest of the island.

Top things to do

Walk the **Tower Road promenade**, which runs for several kilometres from **Tigné Point** to **St Julian's**, passing the old **Fond Għadir** rock pools and the little **Għar id-Dud** watchtower. Locals swim from flat rock platforms with ladders into the sea; the water is deep and clear, but take care when it is rough.

In St Julian's, **Spinola Bay** is a postcard harbour of painted fishing boats and waterfront restaurants, with the **LOVE** sculpture on the promenade. **Balluta Bay** has a striking Art Nouveau apartment building and a neo gothic church, and **St George's Bay** is the closest sandy beach, small and busy in summer.

**Manoel Island**, reached by a short bridge from Gżira, has Fort Manoel, a large Knights' fort, with views across to Valletta's skyline. **The Strand** on the Sliema waterfront is where ferries leave for Valletta and boat tours start, including harbour cruises and day trips to **Comino's Blue Lagoon**.

Nightlife

**Paceville** is Malta's party district, with clubs, bars and late night food packed into a few streets near St George's Bay. It is lively on summer weekends and popular with students and young visitors. Quieter wine bars and cocktail bars line Spinola and Balluta Bays.

Shopping

The **Point** shopping centre at Tigné and the streets around **Bisazza Street** in Sliema have high street brands. For local crafts, head instead to Valletta, Mdina or the Ta' Qali crafts village.

Food and drink

The seafront has everything from pizza and burgers to seafood restaurants and modern Maltese cooking. Look a street or two back from the promenade for better value and local cafés. Try a **ħobż biż-żejt**, bread rubbed with tomato and topped with tuna, capers and olives, as a beach snack.

Where to stay

**Sliema** suits travellers who want shops, restaurants and the Valletta ferry nearby. **St Julian's** around Spinola and Balluta Bays has character, while **Paceville** and **St George's Bay** suit nightlife lovers, but are noisy. **Gżira** and **Ta' Xbiex** are a little cheaper and calmer. Construction is common across the area, so check reviews for building work near your hotel.

Getting there and around

Buses and the airport express run from the airport to St Julian's and Sliema; taxis and ride hailing apps are widely used. The **Sliema to Valletta ferry** is the fastest way to the capital. Buses connect to Mdina, the north and the Gozo ferry at Ċirkewwa, though traffic is heavy at rush hour.

Practical tips

Summer brings jellyfish on some days, so look before you jump in. Watch your bags in Paceville late at night, and drink sensibly. Pavements are uneven in places, and roadworks are common.