Sliema and St Julian’s are where most Malta travellers actually sleep, and for good reason — between them they have 150+ hotels, every restaurant in the country in walking distance, the Sliema-Valletta ferry for sightseeing, and the Coast Road bus connections to everywhere else. The catch is that “Sliema and St Julian’s” is really four neighbourhoods stitched together, each with a very different sleeping experience: the Sliema seafront, inland Sliema (Tigné, Townsquare), St Julian’s Spinola Bay, and Paceville. Pick the wrong one and you’ll be 100m from a 04:00 nightclub bouncer when you wanted to be 100m from a quiet cafe.
This guide breaks down where to stay by sub-area and traveller type, with the hotels worth booking at each tier. For wider area context see where to stay in Malta.
For Valletta hotels see best hotels in Valletta, for Mdina/Gozo see best boutique hotels in Mdina & Gozo.
Some links below are affiliate links — they don’t change your price, and they help keep this guide running.
The four sub-areas#
| Sub-area | Vibe |
|---|---|
| Sliema seafront (Tower Road) | Walkable promenade, restaurants, cafes, shops, ferry — the most practical base |
| Inland Sliema (Tigné, Townsquare, near MCP) | Quieter residential, cheaper, walking distance to seafront |
| St Julian’s / Spinola Bay | Slightly more upscale, restaurants around the bay, marina, easy walk to Sliema |
| Paceville | The nightclub strip — avoid unless you’re 19 and want to party |
Should you stay in Sliema or St Julian’s?#
A quick decision tree:
| Profile | Stay in |
|---|---|
| Couples, first-time Malta visitors | Sliema seafront |
| Beach-and-pool families | Sliema or St Julian’s, near a hotel pool |
| Budget travellers | Inland Sliema |
| Foodies | Spinola Bay (St Julian’s) for the restaurant cluster |
| Young 20-something party crowd | St Julian’s near Paceville (not in it) |
| Anyone over 30 wanting sleep | Sliema, well away from Paceville |
| Cruise-ship overnighters | Valletta instead — see best hotels in Valletta |
The most common mistake: booking the cheapest Paceville hotel for the location and then realising at 03:00 that the location is the problem.
What it costs#
| Tier | Per night, low season | Per night, summer |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €20–35 | €30–45 |
| Budget 3-star | €70–110 | €130–200 |
| Mid-range 4-star | €120–180 | €200–290 |
| Upscale 4-star | €180–250 | €290–420 |
| Luxury 5-star | €250–400 | €450–800 |
City tax (€5/night, age 18+) is on top. Most rates exclude breakfast (€12–22pp). For wider trip costs see Malta travel costs.
Luxury picks (€350+/night)#
The Westin Dragonara Resort, St Julian’s#
The flagship resort in St Julian’s — 340 rooms, on its own peninsula with two outdoor pools, private rocky beach access, casino, multiple restaurants. Big-resort feel, family-friendly, the most “American resort hotel” experience in Malta. Rates €350–700.
Pick this if: you want a self-contained resort with everything on site (kids’ club, pools, beaches, restaurants) and you don’t mind being slightly outside the Sliema walking-everywhere zone.
Hilton Malta, St Julian’s#
Big seafront property in Portomaso marina, multiple pools, full beach club, marina view, walkable to Sliema. Slightly more business-traveller than the Westin but with the same resort feel. Rates €280–550.
Le Méridien St Julian’s#
Renovated mid-2020s, rooftop pool, sea-view rooms, walking distance to Spinola Bay. Smaller than the Westin/Hilton but more design-led. Rates €260–450.
Browse Le Méridien St Julian’s →
InterContinental Malta, St Julian’s#
Big-resort 5-star with rooftop infinity pool, multiple restaurants, kids’ club. Rates €260–500.
Browse InterContinental Malta →
AX The Palace, Sliema#
Sliema’s mid-luxury landmark — rooftop infinity pool, spa, multiple restaurants, walking distance to seafront and ferry. Rates €230–420.
Pick this if: you want a Sliema base (rather than St Julian’s) with proper 5-star service.
Upscale 4-star (€180–280/night)#
The Victoria Hotel, Sliema#
A long-running mid-luxury 4-star that punches above its star rating. Rooftop pool, spa, central Sliema location, family-run feel. Rates €170–290.
The Palace Hotel, Sliema#
Slightly less polished than AX The Palace (different operator) but solid mid-upscale. Rates €160–270.
Browse The Palace Hotel Sliema →
Hotel Juliani, St Julian’s / Spinola Bay#
Boutique-style hotel right on Spinola Bay, walking distance to Zest, Tarragon, and the bay restaurants. Rates €170–290.
Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort, St George’s Bay#
A bit further out (St George’s Bay rather than Spinola), but with direct sandy beach access and pool complex. Rates €170–290.
Browse Corinthia Beach Resort →
Mid-range 4-star (€120–180/night)#
Plaza Regency Hotel, Sliema#
Solid 4-star on the Sliema seafront, rooftop pool with sea view, fair pricing, walkable to the Valletta ferry. Rates €110–200.
Holiday Inn Express Malta, Sliema#
Reliable mid-range, clean modern rooms, breakfast included, walkable Sliema. Rates €100–180.
Browse Holiday Inn Express Sliema →
Solana Hotel, Sliema#
Boutique mid-range Sliema, smaller than the resort hotels, central. Rates €110–190.
Cavalieri Art Hotel, St Julian’s#
Mid-range with a sea-view location and decent pool. Rates €110–200.
Budget (€60–110/night)#
Days Inn Sliema#
Reliable budget 3-star, basic but fine, well-located inland Sliema. Rates €60–120.
Whitehall Mansions, Sliema#
Apartment-style budget, self-catering kitchens, good for families and longer stays. Rates €70–130.
Self-catering apartments (Sliema seafront and inland)#
Sliema has hundreds of small apartments on Booking. €60–120/night for a 1-bed in shoulder season, €100–180 in summer. Good value for couples, families, or weekly stays.
Hostels#
Hostel 94, Sliema#
Sliema’s most-recommended hostel — dorms and private rooms, common areas, good vibe. Rates €20–35 dorm, €60–90 private.
Two Pillows Boutique Hostel, St Julian’s#
Modern hostel near Spinola, mix of dorm and private. Rates €25–45 dorm, €70–110 private.
Marco Polo Hostel, Sliema#
Long-running, mix of dorm and private, social common areas. Rates €22–38 dorm.
Family-friendly picks specifically#
For travellers with kids see Malta with kids for the wider plan. The Sliema/St Julian’s family-friendly hotel picks:
- Westin Dragonara Resort — kids’ club, multiple pools, private beach
- Hilton Malta — pool complex, sandy beach access at Portomaso
- Corinthia Beach Resort, St George’s Bay — sandy beach, pool complex, family rooms
- Whitehall Mansions Sliema — self-catering apartment style, kitchens for kid food
- Solana Hotel Sliema — small boutique, walkable, good for older kids
Skip Paceville hotels for families regardless of price.
Where to absolutely avoid in Paceville#
Paceville is the nightclub strip — Triq Santa Rita, Triq San Gorg, Triq Wilga. Loud until 04:00 in summer, broken glass on the streets at 06:00, drunk crowds. Some budget hotels and hostels in Paceville advertise as “Sliema/St Julian’s” but they’re functionally separate.
The streets to avoid:
- Triq Santa Rita
- Triq San Gorg (St George’s Road, the main drag)
- Triq Wilga (Wilga Street)
- Triq il-Knisja (the back streets between)
Anywhere within 200m of those streets will be loud at night. This includes some hotels marketed as “St Julian’s” — check the address before booking.
When to book#
| Period | Lead time |
|---|---|
| July–August (peak) | 8–12 weeks for seafront-facing rooms |
| April–June, September–October | 3–6 weeks |
| November–March | 1–2 weeks usually fine |
| Christmas / New Year | 6+ weeks |
| Carnival weekend (Feb) | 4 weeks |
For seasonal pricing context see best time to visit Malta.
What’s near each Sliema/St Julian’s hotel#
A 5–10 minute walk from a Sliema seafront hotel:
- The Sliema Ferry to Valletta (8 minutes, €1.50)
- Tower Road promenade (the seafront walk all the way to St Julian’s)
- Tigné Point shopping centre + supermarket
- Sliema’s main bus stops (X1 to airport, 222 to Ċirkewwa for Gozo)
- Bolt and eCabs pickup zones (everywhere)
A 5–10 minute walk from a Spinola Bay (St Julian’s) hotel:
- The Spinola Bay restaurant cluster (Zest, Tarragon, Raffael, Marina)
- The Sliema seafront promenade (north end, walkable to Sliema in 15 min)
- Paceville (10-minute walk south — useful as a one-off, problematic if you booked next door)
Insider tips#
- Book a sea-view room facing northeast. You get sunrise over Tigné Point and Valletta lit up after dark.
- Hotel pools in Sliema/St Julian’s are mostly rooftop or small-deck. None are large family-resort scale unless you book the Westin Dragonara, Hilton or Corinthia Beach Resort.
- The Sliema seafront promenade gets busy after 18:00 in summer. Locals walking dogs, joggers, families with kids. It’s a good thing — the area feels genuinely lived-in.
- Beach access from Sliema is rocky/limestone. For sand, ferry to Mellieħa Bay or Golden Bay (45 min one way).
- The Tigné Point Townsquare area has a Spar supermarket for self-catering breakfasts and beach picnics.
- Most Sliema/St Julian’s hotels do not have parking included. If you’re driving, confirm — most charge €10–20/day.
- The X-buses to the airport (X1, X2) all stop at multiple points along the Sliema seafront. Pick the one nearest your hotel.
Common mistakes#
- Booking the cheapest Paceville hotel. Loud, drunk, broken glass. Pay the extra €20–40/night for Sliema or St Julian’s proper.
- Booking inland Sliema for a sea-view experience. Inland Sliema is fine for budget but you don’t see the water. If sea view matters, book Tower Road or Tigné Point.
- Skipping the seafront entirely “to save money.” Inland 200m is fine; inland 600m is a different experience.
- Assuming “St Julian’s” = “Spinola Bay”. Some St Julian’s listings are actually in Paceville. Check the street address.
- Booking a “5-star resort” without checking pool size. Many Sliema/St Julian’s “5-star” hotels have small rooftop plunge pools, not full resort pools. Westin Dragonara, Hilton, Corinthia Beach Resort have proper pool complexes.
- Not booking a parking spot if driving. Sliema parking is brutal in summer. Pre-book through your hotel.
- Booking 7 nights without checking ferry hours. The Sliema-Valletta ferry runs from ~07:00 to ~22:30. After hours, you take a Bolt (€8–10).
How a Sliema/St Julian’s stay fits a wider Malta trip#
For most first-timers, Sliema is the right base for 4–5 nights of a 5–7 day trip:
- 3-day trip: all 3 nights in Sliema or Valletta — pick your style
- 5-day trip: 4 nights Sliema + 1 night Gozo, or 2 Valletta + 3 Sliema
- 7-day trip: 4 nights Sliema + 3 nights Gozo (or split 3-2-2 across Valletta, Sliema, Gozo)
For day-by-day flow see 3 days in Malta, 5 days Malta + Gozo, and 7 days in Malta. For the wider area picture see where to stay in Malta.
FAQ#
Where should I stay in Sliema?#
The Sliema seafront / Tower Road is the most practical for first-timers — walkable promenade, ferry to Valletta, restaurants, cafes. Inland Sliema (Tigné, Townsquare) is cheaper and quieter for budget travellers. Avoid Paceville at all costs unless you’re 21 and partying.
Is Sliema or St Julian’s better?#
Sliema for practicality (more cafes, ferry, walkable, less nightlife). St Julian’s for restaurants (Spinola Bay has the best dinner cluster). Paceville within St Julian’s is the nightclub strip — different planet, avoid.
Where to stay in Sliema with kids?#
Westin Dragonara Resort (St Julian’s, kids’ club + pools + private beach), Hilton Malta (pool complex), Corinthia Beach Resort, St George’s Bay (sandy beach), or Whitehall Mansions Sliema (self-catering apartment). Avoid Paceville. See Malta with kids for the wider plan.
What’s the best 5-star hotel in Sliema?#
AX The Palace is Sliema’s headline 5-star — rooftop infinity pool, spa, central. Westin Dragonara and Hilton are technically in St Julian’s but are the bigger luxury resort options.
Is there a sandy beach near Sliema?#
No, not directly. Sliema’s “beach” is flat limestone with concrete ladders into deep water. For sand, take bus 222 to Mellieħa Bay (~45 minutes) or bus 47 to Golden Bay (~50 minutes). Some St Julian’s hotels (Hilton Portomaso, Corinthia Beach Resort) have small sandy patches.
Can I walk from Sliema to St Julian’s?#
Yes — the Tower Road / Spinola seafront promenade is 20–25 minutes’ walk, scenic, mostly flat. Many travellers walk to St Julian’s for dinner and Bolt back at night.
How do I get from Sliema to Valletta?#
The Sliema-Valletta ferry is the fastest — €1.50 single, 8 minutes, runs every 30 minutes from ~07:00 to ~22:30. After hours, Bolt or eCabs is €5–8.
How much does a Sliema hotel cost?#
€100–180/night for a mid-range 4-star in shoulder season; €200–350 in summer. Budget 3-stars run €70–110 / €130–200. Luxury 5-stars €250–400 / €450–800. Add €5/night city tax.
When should I book a Sliema hotel?#
8–12 weeks ahead for July–August seafront-facing rooms, 3–6 weeks for shoulder season, 1–2 weeks for winter. Christmas/New Year and Carnival weekend need 4–6 weeks even off-season.
Are Sliema and St Julian’s safe?#
Yes — Malta is one of the safest European destinations. The exception is Paceville at 02:00 on a Saturday night, where drunk-tourist incidents are common but rarely violent. Stay clear of Paceville and Sliema/St Julian’s are very safe.
Last verified: April 2026. Hotel rates, availability and amenities change — confirm with the operator before booking. Note: Booking.com aid=XXXXXXX placeholders need replacing with the real affiliate ID before this post goes live.
