Where to stay in Malta ?

To stay in Malta's capital

A fortified city and historic stronghold of the famous Knights of the Order of Malta, Valletta is full of charm and very well located. With its small, well laid-out streets and numerous cultural venues, the (very small) capital is our first recommendation of where to stay in Malta on a “cultural” tour of the country.

First and foremost, the small town is home to numerous museums and monuments of great interest, including :

• the Palace of the Grand Masters, the historic seat of the Knights and now of Parliament, with its impressive armoury
• the Co-Cathedral of St. John, which shares its title with the Cathedral of Mdina, a rich Baroque monument
• the National Museum of Archaeology, home to the finest finds from the island's many prehistoric sites, which have been inhabited since time immemorial.

Wandering through the streets is also very pleasant, with charming houses and pretty buildings everywhere. Not to be missed is the Barrakka garden, especially the upper part with its view of the bay and the Three Cities. If you choose to stay overnight, you'll have no trouble organizing all these visits on foot. You can even take the ferry to Sliema to the north, but especially to the Three Cities to the southeast, which are also worth a visit for their pretty, typical streets.

If you choose to stay here, you'll benefit from a central location that gives you access to the country's other places of interest. In particular, you can reach and visit in a day:

• Mdina, the ancient medieval capital
• the beautiful sandy beaches of the north
• the fishing villages to the east
• or Gozo, the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago.

Tourist buses serve all these destinations, but it's much easier to get around by car. Count on less than 30 minutes to reach the ramparts of Mdina with your own car, and a good hour to reach thepier for Gozo, far to the north, at Cirkewwa.

Evenings are fairly quiet. When most tourists have left the area, it remains mainly an administrative capital. There are plenty of restaurants and bars, however, and they tend to be upmarket. So there's no need to worry about going out in the evening in a fairly chic atmosphere.

There are many places to stay in this historic center, but few large hotels in this ancient city. These are generally luxury accommodations, making it the most expensive place to stay in Malta. With the right budget, however, this remains for us the most typical and “classy” place to stay in Malta.

For further details, please consult our guide to choosing where to stay in Valletta.

A well-placed, less expensive alternative: Sliema

Hotel rates in the Maltese capital can be daunting, and affordable accommodation is sometimes fully booked. A good alternative for staying in a central location, enjoying the cultural sights and keeping your accommodation budget under control is the town of Sliema.

Located just to the north, and accessible in less than 10 minutes by ferry across the bay, Sliema is Malta's economic capital. Apart from its easy access to the island's attractions, it's also a charming town, with many old mansions lining its streets.

To stay in Sliema is also an ideal base for exploring the rest of the country. In fact, it's one of the main departure points for sightseeing excursions by bus or boat, which is very convenient if you don't have a car.

If you're renting a car, its central location is also very convenient. In fact, all areas of Malta are less than an hour away by car, and the ferry to the island of Gozo is only 45 minutes away.

Sliema is very active, even for the Maltese. If you choose to stay here, you'll be able to enjoy theliveliness, shops and restaurants of the area, without being 100% touristy. You'll still come across quite a few holidaymakers, especially towards the north, near Paceville, where discos and nightclubs are concentrated.

Last but not least, it's easy to find where to stay, with numerous hotels in all price ranges. Book in advance, however, to get the best rates in the accommodation of your choice.

So, with its lively, central location and less expensive accommodation, Sliema is a good choice.

Enjoy the great beaches of the north

Most of the beaches are stony or in small coves. The largest stretches of sand, and therefore the most popular seaside resorts, are to be found in the north of the island. So, for a seaside-oriented holiday, it's best to stay there.

There are plenty of places to swim. But for a good overview, here are Malta's best beaches, in descending order of popularity:

• Mellieha Bay: one of the largest, but also one of the most touristy. Although not as crowded as Saint Paul's Bay, further south and also very well-known, it is still very popular.
• Golden Bay: on the west coast, also very popular, but much wilder.
• Għajn Tuffieħa: just south of Golden Bay, again on the west coast, quite wild and smaller.

All of them are rather touristy, and you'll need to avoid peak summer times to feel comfortable, especially as some of the beaches are really small. This is part of their charm, but the tourists can quickly become too numerous.

As mentioned, the west side is wild, and accommodation is concentrated on the east. For a seaside stay, the town of Buġibbaoffers quite a few resort-type hotels , to enjoy the pool as well, and plenty of restaurants and cafés. Otherwise, you can stay in other types of accommodation in the surrounding area.

Staying at Bugibba is also worthwhile, as it's the starting point for a number of nautical excursions to the islands of Gozo and especially Comino. In a private boat or as part of a group, you can take a day trip to the beaches of these less-visited, wilder islands. The Blue Lagoon in particular, with its turquoise-blue waters, is well worth the trip, even if it does attract a lot of people.

In short, if you want to spend at least part of your holiday by the sea, choose accommodation in or near Bugibba to make the most of it.

St Julian's: accommodation near bars and clubs

Just north of Sliema, the small town of St Julian's is quite simply the place to be for party-goers and clubbers of all kinds. Indeed, most of Malta's nightclubs are concentrated in the Paceville district of St Julian's, and it would be foolish to stay away if you want to enjoy the nightlife.

There are a multitude of establishments to choose from, but among the best-known :

• Havannah Club, Malta's biggest club, sometimes with world-famous stars on the decks
• Footloose, also a big club
• in a more select atmosphere, Twenty Two, on the 22nd floor of a tower block, offers a fine view of the surrounding area
• and many more...

Most of the clubs offer free entry (Twenty Two is an exception), so it's easy to choose the place where the atmosphere appeals to you most.

On the whole, the clubs have a young crowd (25 at the most), but there are also plenty of less electric pubs and bars in the area.

Beyond the nightlife, St Julian's isn't really that interesting. However, it does have a nice little beach. What's more, Sliema and even Valletta are just a half-hour bus ride away. The area is also central: if you rent a car, you'll have easy access to other tourist attractions.

Of course, if you're looking for peace and quiet, don't bother!

Mdina and the surrounding area: stay in a historic setting

Mdina is the historic capital of Malta, dethroned by Valletta when it was founded by the Knights of the Order. A little isolated in the center of the island, perched on its fortified hill, the town offers a magnificent, peaceful setting. It's a must-see on any cultural trip to Malta, even if it's neither necessary nor practical to stay here.

Places not to be missed in this medieval and Renaissance city include

• the typically Baroque cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, with its austere façade and richly decorated interior
• several palaces, including Palazzo Falzon and Palazzo de Piro
• a stroll along the ramparts, through the streets, and in the city's gardens, laid out at the foot of the ramparts

You can also visit Rabat, the ancient suburb of the city, said to have been visited by Saint Paul himself. Here you can see ancient Christian catacombs and the Domus Romana, a Roman ruin converted into a small museum.

It's not necessarily necessary to stay overnight, as the visit can be completed in a day. The surrounding area is not really worth a visit. However, it is possible to spend a night here, for example, to enjoy the peace and quiet and get away from the hustle and bustle of the east side. In fact, there are a number of accommodations available.

However, Mdina's isolated position is not ideal, so you'll have to rely on your car to reach other tourist attractions. And don't count on the nightlife either: you'll be disappointed!

To stay on the other islands: Gozo and Comino

Most travelers take advantage of their stay in Malta to visit the archipelago's secondary island: Gozo. Situated just to the north, it is easily reached by ferry, and is well worth spending at least a day on. To get the most out of the island, it's worth choosing to stay for a night or two.

Gozo has a number of cultural points of interest:

• Victoria (or Rabbat in Maltese), with its citadel offering a view of the surrounding area and housing a number of small museums and the cathedral
• the site of the Giants, Ggantija, megalithic ruins of worldwide interest, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• the Ta'Pinu basilica, a little out of the way, also worth a visit.

Above all, the island offers a wide range of short “nature” hikes, of which the following are the best-known:

• the bay of Dwejra, on the eastern side of the island, with its beautiful cliffs and rocks
• the cliffs of Ta'Cenc, famous for their sunsets
• the salt marshes of Marsalforn

Finally, the beaches, while not as accessible or as large as in Malta, are also less touristy.

These sites are scattered all over the island, and you'll need transport to get from one to another. If you choose to stay on Malta, the best way is to drive from your accommodation and take the car ferry from Cirkewwa in the north. This will take you to Gozo in just 30 minutes, allowing you to visit as much or as little of the island as you like.

Public transport also serves the sights well, but you'll be dependent on its pace. In this case, it may be worth extending your stay on Gozo by choosing to stay overnight.

There is obviously less accommodation in Gozo than in Malta. However, if you plan ahead, you'll easily find a place to stay within your budget. For more information on where to stay on the island, please consult our guide to where to stay in Gozo.

Finally, we must mention the smaller island of Comino, which is much smaller but very popular with tourists. We don't recommend staying there: there are very few offers and the island is easy to reach from Gozo or Malta. It's a must-see for its Blue Lagoon and can be visited on foot, but avoid peak times to avoid being swamped by tourists.

Lodging in the heart of the historic charm and calm of the 3 cities

To the southwest of Valletta, on the other side of the bay, you'll find the 3 towns of Birgu (or Vittorosia), Senglea and Cospicua. Very old and a little out of the way, they're a good choice for a quiet place to stay in Malta.

These three small towns were the first port of call for the Knights of Malta when they arrived, so there are many old buildings to be found here. Even without staying overnight, they are among Malta's most culturally rich towns. You can wander through the pretty little streets, climb the many staircases and discover, in particular :

• Vittorosia, the most beautiful: Fort St. Angelo, which dominates the surrounding area, and the Inquisitor's Palace.
• Cospicua, the largest: the waterfront, marked by Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
• Senglea, the oldest: the small Gardijola garden, with its superb view.

It's easy to get there by bus or ferry from the capital, as it is by car: however, to reach other parts of the island by public transport, you'll often have to go back via the capital. So it's not necessarily a very practical place to stay if you want to visit the 4 corners of Malta without a car.

These are 3 small, very residential towns, so the accommodation on offer is limited. In particular, there are no resorts, which would be out of place in these historic sites. Nor are there many restaurants.

However, it's possible to find what you're looking for, without all the options offered in more touristy areas like Sliema. In fact, it's these quiet evenings that make this area such a good place to stay. You can really enjoy a residential atmosphere, away from the main tourist areas, while staying in charming historic surroundings.

Can we stay in other parts of Malta?

The areas we have described above cover most of the island as far as accommodation is concerned. Of course, you may visit other parts of Malta, but we don't necessarily recommend staying there.

Among these places to visit, we must mention :

• on the west coast, the pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk, home to many brightly-colored luzzus, the traditional Maltese boat. A very pleasant spot, not to be missed.
• the cliffs of Dingli, to the south-west, where you can enjoy the view and stroll around.

Over and above their tourist appeal, To stay here has its drawbacks:

• firstly, these places are often out of the way, or even difficult to get to
• secondly, nightlife is non-existent and eating out can be complicated
• finally, and logically, accommodation is scarce.

So there's not much point in staying there, unless you have a particular constraint, or you're looking for a good hotel deal.