Sliema vs St Julian’s: Where to Stay in Malta’s Best-Connected Strip (2026)

Sliema and St Julian’s are the two towns most first-time visitors compare when they book Malta, and for good reason. Together they form the island’s best-connected strip: a run of seafront that holds most of the restaurants, the shopping, the swimming spots and the transport links, all within a short walk or bus ride of one another. Wherever you land here, you are central.

But they are not the same. One is calm and walkable, the other lively and late. I have hosted guests in Sliema for years, and the honest answer to which is better depends entirely on the trip you want. Here is the full comparison, with a quick verdict, an at-a-glance table, and my take on which suits families, couples, first-timers and night owls.

Sliema vs St Julian’s: the quick verdict

If you want the short version: Sliema wins for families, couples and first-timers who value a calm base, a walkable seafront and the direct ferry to Valletta. St Julian’s wins for groups and night owls who want the biggest choice of restaurants and Malta’s main nightlife on the doorstep. Neither is a bad choice, because they share the same transport and are minutes apart. It really comes down to how you like your evenings.

Where are Sliema and St Julian’s?

Both towns sit on the north-east coast of Malta, about 20 minutes from the airport, facing the capital across the water. Sliema comes first, running along the seafront opposite Valletta, with the direct ferry crossing the harbour. Follow the coast north and you reach St Julian’s, wrapped around pretty Spinola Bay, with the nightlife quarter of Paceville just up the hill. The whole strip is one continuous, walkable waterfront, which is exactly why it is the most convenient place to base a Malta trip.

Sliema vs St Julian’s at a glance

Sliema: calm, central and walkable

Sliema is the calmer of the two, and it is where I chose to restore Aster House. The long promenade is made for morning walks and evening strolls, the café terraces fill up for a coffee looking across to Valletta, and the rocky lidos are perfect for a swim on a hot day. Behind the seafront, quiet residential streets of old townhouses keep the noise down, which families and couples appreciate. Firstly it is central, secondly it is genuinely walkable, and thirdly it stays peaceful after dark.

Practically, Sliema is the easiest base in Malta. The direct ferry to Valletta is a 10 minute crossing from the seafront, buses leave for every corner of the island, and there is a large shopping centre, supermarkets and dozens of restaurants within a few minutes on foot. For anyone who does not want to hire a car, and parking here is difficult so most people do not, Sliema is the obvious answer. If you want the full island picture, my guide to where to stay in Malta sets Sliema against every other area.

My pick in Sliema: Aster House is my Art-Deco villa, lovingly restored for families and friends. Three ensuite bedrooms, sleeps up to 9, a rooftop chillout area, and 150 metres (a 2 minute walk) from the sea. From EUR 229 a night, hosted personally by me.

See the villa →

St Julian’s and Paceville: dining and nightlife

St Julian’s is the livelier neighbour. Spinola Bay, its pretty little harbour, is ringed with restaurants and is one of the best spots on the island for a waterside dinner. Up the hill, Paceville is Malta’s main nightlife district, packed with bars and clubs that run late. If being able to walk home from a big night out matters, this is your base. It suits groups of friends and couples who want to be in the thick of it, and it has the widest choice of restaurants anywhere on the island.

The trade-off is noise and pace. Near Paceville it stays busy and loud well into the small hours, which is wonderful if that is what you came for and tiring if it is not. Families with young children usually prefer to stay a little further along in Sliema and visit St Julian’s for the evening, getting the dining and the buzz without the late-night sound outside the window.

Which is better for families?

For families, I would choose Sliema almost every time. It is calmer at night, the seafront promenade is safe and easy for a stroll with a pushchair, and being able to pop back to base for a nap or a change of clothes is a real help on a hot day. A whole villa makes it even better, with separate bedrooms, a kitchen and space to spread out. My Malta with kids family guide goes into much more detail on travelling with children.

Which is better for couples, nightlife and first-timers?

• Couples: either works. St Julian’s for dinners and evenings out, Sliema for a calmer, romantic base with the ferry to explore Valletta.
• Nightlife: St Julian’s and Paceville, without question. This is where the bars and clubs are.
• First-timers: Sliema. It is the gentlest introduction to Malta, central and easy, with everything walkable and the ferry on the doorstep.
• Groups of friends: St Julian’s for the nightlife, or a shared villa in Sliema if you want space and a home base.
• No car: both are well served, but Sliema edges it thanks to the direct Valletta ferry.

Getting around from Sliema and St Julian’s

Both towns share Malta’s easiest transport. The Sliema ferry crosses to Valletta in about 10 minutes and runs frequently through the day and evening. Buses leave the seafront in both directions for the whole island, and a single ticket is about EUR 2 in summer. Between the two towns it is a flat, pleasant 25 minute walk along the water, or a few minutes on the bus. You genuinely do not need a car here, and given how hard parking is, most visitors are glad to leave the driving behind. For more on costs, see my guide to whether Malta is expensive.

A look inside Aster House

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