Sliema and St Julians in Malta - two coastal resorts where tourists often end up in Malta. Here are our top tips for hotels, restaurants, excursions and things to see and do. Join us in Malta - the glorious island nation in the Mediterranean!
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Why a guide to Sliema and St Julians?
In these corona times, you have to be careful about travelling, but at the same time you have more time than ever to go through old photos and blog posts. We realised that we've missed writing about several places in Malta that we've visited, so we're taking this opportunity. We've stayed in Sliema or St Julians on all three of our trips to Malta, and here are our top tips.
Sliema, Malta
The name 'Sliema' actually means peaceful, but Sliema has become a popular tourist destination and may not be as peaceful as it once was. Its seaside location and proximity to both the capital Valletta and the nightlife of St Julian's means that many tourists choose to stay here during their Maltese holiday.
St Julians in Malta
St Julians is just northwest of Sliema, and the two towns are more or less connected. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels around Spinola Bay, and in the evenings the Paceville neighbourhood is a hot spot for nightlife.
11 things to see and do in Sliema and St Julians
We start with a list of things to see and do in Sliema and St Julians. Then we continue with tips on hotels, restaurants and excursions.
1. Sunbathing and swimming on the cliffs along the coastline
Along much of the coast, from Sliema past St Julians, you can swim from the cliffs. Sometimes there are small natural 'bathtubs' and other times baseboards lead down into the water.
2. Visit Manoel Island
Manoel Island (Il-Gżira Manoel) is located between Sliema and Valletta and is connected to the mainland by a narrow stone bridge. It includes an 18th-century fort, which was used as a filming location for the movie Game of Thrones. You can also swim here if you wish.
3. Walk along the seafront promenade
The promenade follows the coast and you can walk all the way from Sliema to St Julians. You walk all the way along the coast and have beautiful views of the sea.
4. Shopping in Sliema
The first time we were in Malta (2008) we went shopping. We found a lot of interesting shops in Sliema and I still have a bikini and skirt I bought there. Check out the big mall The Point shopping mall or the smaller mall Plaza.
5. Hang out at Spinola Bay in St Julians
Spinola Bay is the innermost part of St Julian's Bay and it's often where you end up when visiting the city. Here the restaurants are right on the waterfront, and just behind them are all the hotels. Here you can also see beautiful traditional luzzu boats bobbing around.
6. Ostrich at Portimaso marina
Just north of Spinola Bay is the Portimaso marina. If you like checking out nice boats, it's nice to stroll here and look at all the sailing yachts, which shine white against the green water.
7. Visit the Old Parish Church
When visiting St Julian's, you can't miss the large church, the Old Parish Church. There has been a church on this site for hundreds of years, but the church that stands here today was started in 1961 and first used in 1968.
8. Swimming in St George Bay
Want to swim from a sandy beach in St Julians? Then head to St George Bay, located just north of Spinola Bay and Portimaso marina.
9. check out Spinola Palace
The Palace of Spinola, or Villa Spinola, is a grand and historic building in St Julian's, built in the 17th century by the knight Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola. Right next to the palace is the "Spinola Garden" where you can relax for a while.
10. Play casino
Malta is known for its casinos, and if you're ever going to visit a casino, it might just be here. St Julians is home to the Dragonara casino, which makes a powerful impression and is often considered Malta's number 1 casino.
11. Experience the nightlife in Paceville
If you want to party and nightlife, Paceville in St Julians is the place to be. Restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs abound. The first time we visited Malta, we were here every night. (Well, maybe we were tiny younger then ...)
12. Stay in Hotels in Sliema and St Julians
There are plenty of hotels in both Sliema and St Julians, in all different price ranges. The hotels are densely packed along the coast, and there are really as many as possible to choose from. We have stayed in three different hotels in this area (or actually four, but we can't remember the one we stayed in the first time), and we were very happy in all of them.
Fortina Spa Resort in Sliema - spa and views
Fortina Spa Resort in Sliema (Tigné Seafront, Tas-Sliema) is a luxury hotel with great spa facilities. There are plenty of different pools and treatments to choose from, and in some rooms you can even get your own in-room spa. From other rooms, like the one we stayed in, you have a fantastic view of the capital Valletta.
Chalet Hotels in Sliema - simple with good location
Chalet Hotel in Sliema (117 Tower Road) is a relatively simple hotel, for those who want a slightly cheaper option. The rooms are ok, but don't offer any specialities. The small breakfast offers the essentials including fruit and some sweets. Good location and friendly staff made us feel satisfied.
Le Meridien in St Julians - pools and luxury
Le Meridien in St Julians (39 Main Street, Balluta Bay) is a large 5-star hotel with a spa and large pools, including a lovely rooftop pool. The location is excellent, and if you're lucky you can get a balcony facing the sea. You can also look forward to a large buffet breakfast with everything including smoothies, freshly squeezed juice and omelettes to order.
13. Eat in restaurants in Sliema and St Julians
In both Sliema and St Julians, restaurants are plentiful. You'll find everything from exclusive fine dining to sushi places, pizzerias and cafes serving salads and sandwiches. One sandwich we found in many places that became a favourite for us was a tuna, onion, olive and caper sandwich. We even started making these at home after travelling to Malta! We can also recommend two really good restaurants.
Chophouse Restaurant in Sliema
The Chophouse restaurant (Tigne Point, Censu Xerri) is considered the best meat restaurant in Malta, so this place is heaven for all meat lovers. We ordered rib eye and duck respectively, which were served with a variety of accompaniments such as potato wedges, grilled vegetables and parmesan salad. Very tasty!
The Terrace Restaurant in Sliema
At The Terrace restaurant in Sliema, you have a great view of the water and the capital Valletta on the other side. They also serve really good food! Here we ordered mussel soup and fish cakes for starters and local fish, served in parcels, for the main course.
Getting around the area
Want to get around the area? You can actually walk between Sliema and St Julians. Expect half an hour's walk, on lovely coastal footpaths.
Buses also operate in the area. You can easily check bus routes and times at Malta Public Transports. Sliema and Valetta can also be reached by ferry.
Excursions from Sliema and St Julians
With Sliema or St Julian's as a starting point, it is of course natural to visit the capital Valletta, which is a beautiful and interesting city. Other exciting places to visit include the ancient capital of Mdina, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, the cosy village of Dingli and the archaeological site of Hagar Qim.
If you like nature and local food, you should definitely consider a visit to Malta's beautiful sister island of Gozo. On Gozo you can enjoy things like kayaking, mountain biking and scuba diving. You can also visit farms to buy locally produced products such as olive oil and goat cheese.
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Have you visited Sliema or St Julians?
Have you been to Sliema or St Julians? What are your experiences?
Facts about Sliema
- Country: Malta
- Residents: More than 22 000 (2019)
- Name: Also called Tas-Sliema. "Sliema" means calm, but the town, along with St Julian's, has developed into a relatively busy tourist resort.
Facts about St Julians
- Country: Malta
- Residents: More than 13 000 (2019)
- Name: San Ġiljan in Maltese. The city is named after its patron saint Saint Julian, who is also known as Julianus Hospitator and Julianus the Poor.
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Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
After reading your latest posts, I'm completely sick of the longing to return to Malta! I also have several posts left to write about Malta, including a draft about Sliema and St Julians. Let's see if it will be ready at some point... 🙂 🙂
19 January 2021 - 8:24
Helena says:
We too! Really like Malta! 🙂 Will be interesting to see your post sometime in the future!!!
19 January 2021 - 18:14
Ann says:
Oh we've talked for so many years about going to Malta to see more of the history of St John, but it never seems to be the right time 🙂 .
19 January 2021 - 8:43
Helena says:
Then you have something to look forward to! 🙂
19 January 2021 - 18:14
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
Interesting about Malta. I've never been there.
There seems to be a lot of interesting things to see and the food looks interesting too.
Take care!
19 January 2021 - 10:48
Helena says:
Malta is really worth a visit! And yes, we have had good food there!
19 January 2021 - 18:21
BP says:
Actually, not much has changed since we visited Malta in the late 1990s I think it was. We stayed in a decent apartment hotel in Sliema. Close to the ferry over to Valletta and St Juliens and Paceville, which was as busy then as it seems to be now.
19 January 2021 - 19:28
Lena - good for the soul says:
After these posts, I am even more keen to visit Malta. Thanks for the tips!
Hug Lena
20 January 2021 - 6:32