Tower Road
SwimmingThe seafront promenade, with rock swimming below.
Sliema town guide
Things To Do In Sliema
Across the harbour from Valletta: a seafront promenade, rock swimming, the ferry to the capital and the boats to Comino. The most practical base in Malta, next door to St Julian's.
7
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 4,036 reviews
10 min
By ferry to Valletta
€0
Rock swimming
€25
Seven days of buses
The base, with the best view of Valletta
Sliema was a fishing village until the British era, when it became a resort for the island's wealthy. Today it is Malta's busiest shopping and seaside town, a dense strip of apartment blocks and hotels along a long seafront promenade, with Valletta's skyline across the water.
It is not beautiful, but it is convenient. The ferry to Valletta takes ten minutes, the boat trips to Comino and Gozo leave from its waterfront, buses go everywhere, and St Julian's, with Paceville's nightlife, is a walk along the coast.
Most of Malta's hostels are in Sliema and St Julian's, and it makes the easiest base for a week on the islands.
Where to stay
Sliema runs straight into Gżira and St Julian's along the coast. Stay near the seafront or the ferry.
The Strand
FerriesThe waterfront facing Valletta, with the ferry and boat trips.
Gżira
ValueNext to Sliema, facing Manoel Island. Cheaper and quieter.
St Julian's
NightlifeSpinola Bay and the bars, a walk along the coast.
Paceville
ClubsThe club strip, loud every night in summer.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Sliema
Walk the promenade along Tower Road, the long seafront from the Sliema Ferries to St Julian's. The rocky shore below it is where people swim, from flat rock shelves and ladders into clear water.
Take the ferry from the Strand to Valletta for the best view of the capital's bastions and dome from the water. Boat trips leave from the same waterfront for Comino's Blue Lagoon, Gozo and harbour cruises.
Walk on to St Julian's: Balluta Bay, Spinola Bay with its fishing boats, and the lively streets beyond. Manoel Island, across from Gżira, has an eighteenth-century star fort.
Fond Għadir and the rock pools near Exiles are the best spots for swimming in Sliema itself.
Free things
Free things to do in Sliema
The promenade and the rock swimming are free, and they are why people stay here.
The view of Valletta from the Strand, especially at sunset, is free.
The walk along the coast to St Julian's and Spinola Bay costs nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Sliema
Sliema has every kind of restaurant, from pastizzerias to seafront grills. Pastizzi, the flaky ricotta or pea pastries, cost well under a euro and are the cheapest breakfast.
Ftira sandwiches, stuffed with tuna, capers and tomatoes, are the lunch. The seafront restaurants charge for the view; the streets behind the front are cheaper.
Supermarkets and hostel kitchens are the budget option for dinner.
Nightlife
Going out in Sliema
Sliema has bars along the seafront. The real nightlife is in Paceville, in St Julian's, a fifteen-minute walk away: a few streets of clubs and bars with a very young crowd, busy every night in summer and full of language-school students.
For something more relaxed, Spinola Bay has bars on the water and Valletta has wine bars on Strait Street.
A beer is €3 to €5, less in Paceville with drinks offers.
Getting around
Getting around Sliema
The Sliema Ferries terminal on the Strand is a major bus stop, with buses around the island. A single bus ticket costs €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer, valid for two hours. The Explore card gives seven days of unlimited travel for €25.
The harbour ferry to Valletta takes about ten minutes and is faster than the bus.
Boat trips to Comino and Gozo leave from the Strand. For the Gozo Channel ferry, take the bus to Ċirkewwa.
The airport is about twenty to thirty minutes away by bus or taxi.
Costs
What Sliema costs
Sliema and St Julian's have most of Malta's hostels. Dorms start around €16 outside summer and climb considerably in July and August, when language students fill the island.
A careful day is €45 to €60. The costs that add up are boat trips, diving and nights out.
The rock swimming and the promenade are free, and buses and ferries are cheap.
Safety
Staying safe in Sliema
Sliema is safe. Paceville, next door, has the usual late-night problems of a club strip: fights, drunkenness and occasional drink spiking. Watch your drink and your friends.
On the rocks, the sea can be rough and the shelves slippery; do not swim when red flags are up or waves are breaking. Watch for sea urchins.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Sliema
Boats leave from the Sliema waterfront for the best of Malta's coast.
Comino and the Blue Lagoon
Turquoise water in a bay between Comino and Cominotto. Beautiful and very crowded; go early or late.
Valletta
The fortress capital.
Gozo
The second island, greener and slower.
Mdina
The Silent City on its hill.
Golden Bay
A sandy beach on the north-west coast.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The summer is one long series of festas.
2–3 October
Puerto Flamenco
Puerto Flamenco brings the vibrant spirit of Andalusia to Malta with a fresh show featuring top flamenco artists from Seville. The performance includes dancers,…
2 October
Puerto Flamenco
Puerto Flamenco brings the fire and soul of Andalusia to Sliema for the third consecutive year. The event is led by the Seville-based company…
17 October
The Rock Troupers: A Tribute to The Beatles
The Rock Troupers Malta brings The Beatles catalogue to life at Teatru Salesjan, performed with a full string orchestra backing vocalists including Moira Stafrace,…
21 October
MaracuJazz Quartet
A Colombian Latin jazz quartet brings a vibrant mix of jazz improvisation and traditional rhythms like cumbia, salsa, and bossa nova. The MaracuJazz Quartet…
24 October
DJUN
The TS Rock Series presents DJUN, a band known for their expansive soundscapes and powerful live presence. Their music balances intensity with atmosphere, creating…
30–31 October
The Panto of the Opera
Christine races to save Valletta's Royal Opera House from mysterious chaos while uncovering the secret behind a masked figure in this Halloween-themed panto twist…
11 November
Cutajar, Bezzina, D'Ugo, & Briffa Quartet
Four of Malta's finest jazz musicians come together for an evening blending American Songbook standards with original compositions. The quartet offers a fresh and…
11 November
Cutajar, Bezzina, D'Ugo & Briffa Quartet
Four of Malta's finest jazz voices come together for an evening of American Songbook standards and original compositions. The performance blends tradition with fresh…
Hostels
Where to stay in Sliema
Sliema and St Julian's have most of Malta's hostels, within walking distance of each other. These are the top-rated right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to October for swimming. July and August are hot and crowded.
Jan
Mild, sea too cold
Feb
Carnival
Mar
Warming
Apr
Swimming for the brave
May
The best month
Jun
Festa season starts
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Santa Marija
Sep
Warmest sea
Oct
Superb
Nov
Sea still swimmable
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The sea stays above 20°C from June to November.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes buses and ferries. Boat trips and diving cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Sliema travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Sliema a good base in Malta?
Yes. It has most of the hostels, a ferry to Valletta, boat trips to Comino and buses everywhere.
Is there a beach in Sliema?
Not a sandy one. People swim from the rocks along the promenade. The sandy beaches are in the north.
How do I get to Valletta?
The ferry from the Strand takes about ten minutes.
Is Paceville safe?
It is a club strip with a very young crowd and the usual late-night problems. Watch your drink.
How do I get to the Blue Lagoon?
Boat trips leave from the Sliema waterfront. It is very crowded in the middle of the day.
How much are the buses?
€2 in winter and €2.50 in summer for a two-hour ticket, or €25 for seven days.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June, September and October.
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