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Sliema & St Julian's
Malta's modern seafront strip — promenades, rock lidos, restaurants and the island's nightlife hub.
Where to stay
This strip is where most first-time visitors sleep, and the difference between the two ends of it matters more than the map suggests.
- Sliema — The promenade, the shops, the ferry to Valletta and most of the mid-range hotels. Busy but not loud at night. The practical choice for a first trip without a car.
- Spinola Bay, St Julian's — The prettier end, with the boats and the waterfront restaurants. Walkable to the nightlife without sleeping in it.
- Paceville — The nightlife district itself. Loud until very late, young, and cheap. Excellent if that is the point of the trip and miserable if it is not.
- Gżira and Ta' Xbiex — Between Sliema and Valletta, quieter and cheaper, with the marina and a short walk or bus to either.
What to expect
This is the modern side of Malta: hotels, restaurants, cranes and a promenade that runs for kilometres.
- The promenade — You can walk from Sliema all the way round to St Julian's along the water, which is what everyone does in the evening.
- The swimming — Do not come here for sand. The coast is flat rock, cut in places into lidos with ladders into the water. It is very good swimming, but it is not a beach.
- The Valletta ferry — Under ten minutes across the harbour, and the best value transport on the island.
- Paceville — A few dense streets of bars and clubs. Everything happens after midnight.
- Shopping and eating — The widest choice on the islands, and the reason many people base here even if they spend their days elsewhere.
Getting there
- From the airport — Twenty-five to thirty minutes by taxi, or the X2 bus.
- To Valletta — The ferry, under ten minutes, running frequently through the day and evening.
- Buses — Sliema and St Julian's are the best-connected places on Malta after Valletta itself.
- To Gozo — About forty-five minutes by road to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal.
How long to stay
- As a base — Most people stay here for the whole trip and day-trip out, which works because nothing on Malta is more than about forty-five minutes away.
- A night out — Paceville only really starts after midnight.
- Half a day — Enough to walk the promenade and swim off the rocks, if you are based elsewhere.
Worth knowing before you go
- There is no sandy beach here. The sandy ones are in the north, around Mellieħa and Golden Bay.
- Paceville noise carries. If you are not there for the nightlife, book at the Spinola or Sliema end.
- The Sliema to Valletta ferry beats the bus on both time and pleasure.
- Construction is constant along this coast. Check recent reviews for what is being built next door.
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Sliema & St Julian's: frequently asked questions
Sliema or St Julian's, which is better?
Sliema for a calmer base with the ferry, the shops and easy buses. St Julian's for the restaurants around Spinola Bay and proximity to the nightlife. Paceville itself only if you want to be inside the noise.
Are there sandy beaches in Sliema?
No. The coast here is flat rock with lidos and ladders into the sea. It is good swimming but not a beach. For sand, head north to Mellieħa Bay or Golden Bay.
Where is the nightlife in Malta?
Paceville, in St Julian's. A few dense streets of bars and clubs that fill up after midnight.
How do you get from Sliema to Valletta?
The ferry, in under ten minutes. It is faster, cheaper and more pleasant than going round by bus.
Is Sliema a good base for Malta?
Yes, and it is the usual choice. It has the most hotels and restaurants, the best bus links after Valletta, and the ferry. Nothing on the island is more than about forty-five minutes away.
Is St Julian's noisy at night?
Paceville is, very. Spinola Bay a few minutes away is much calmer, and Sliema calmer still.