Where to stay in Malta
Twenty-seven kilometers from north to south: here, no base is far from another, and travel time settles nothing. The noise level, though, does. Nathantat, who spent a week there, sums it up: Sliema is the only town that truly has energy.
From the lively seafront to a village in Gozo, here are four possible bases. The starting price hovers around $106* a night, climbing higher in the summer and up north. Plan on having activities lined up for your days too: the same member warns that you run through the island pretty quickly.
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The island of Malta is very small, you can see it all pretty quickly, and if you are not interested in the church and its history, the only fun things to do are the beaches and the diving spots. (Still beautiful, though)
How many nights in each area?
Driving from one end of the country to the other takes an hour, so a single base works for the main island. Gozo, however, deserves an overnight stay rather than a rushed day trip.
- Weekend, 3 nights: Everything is centered around Valletta, from walking through historic neighborhoods to taking a traditional boat across to the Three Cities or catching a ferry over to Sliema for dinner.
- One week: 4 nights in Sliema or the north depending on whether you are after nightlife or swimming, then 3 in Gozo. This split prevents that boxed-in feeling that Nathantat warns about.
- Beach trip, 7 nights: Based entirely in Mellieħa, within easy reach of the sandy beaches and the Comino ferry.
- Tight budget: Sliema, around $106* a night, with buses and ferries making it easy to get around without renting a car.
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Malta
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Sliema and San Ġiljan East seafront
nightlife and a social atmosphere
These two neighboring towns share a continuous waterfront promenade and host the island's primary nightlife scene. Paceville, on the northern edge of San Ġiljan, packs in the clubs, while Balluta Bay and its square maintain a more relaxed pace. Ferries for Valletta depart from here every thirty minutes. The trade-off is immediate: high-rises, concrete, and late-night noise, particularly during the summer.
I spent 7 days in Sliema with 6 friends at the superb Jones hostel. It is THE (only?) city in Malta that is actually lively. There is a really great vibe in this town near the capital, Valletta
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
ME by Meliá Malta Luxury
Modern spot right in the heart of San Ġiljan, just minutes from St George's Bay. Solid comfort for getting some sleep despite the buzzing neighborhood.
The Victoria Hotel Mid-range
A reliable standby in Sliema, set back from the promenade and its noise. A smart compromise for walking back after dinner without sleeping above a bar.
St. Julian's Bay Hotel Budget
Overlooking Balluta Bay, straightforward and well-located. The practical choice when your budget matters more than the view and the carpeting.
Pros
- The only true nightlife hub across the entire archipelago
- A pedestrian ferry to Valletta every half hour
- Restaurants, shops, and bus connections spanning the whole island
Cons
- Late-night noise, especially around Paceville
- Dense and tall urban planning with little distinct character
Valletta and the Three Cities Grand Harbor
for the stone, museums, and quiet after 10 PM
Measuring one kilometer by six hundred meters, built all at once by the Knights, twenty minutes of walking gets you from one rampart to the other. St John's Co-Cathedral, the Auberge de Castille, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens are all walkable, and the Three Cities are a five-minute boat ride across the harbor. In the evening, the town clears out and falls silent. The downside: few accessible beaches and practically zero nightlife.
Where to stay in this area
Luciano Valletta Boutique Luxury
Right next to the co-cathedral, two hundred fifty metres from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Step outside the door and you are already standing in front of what you came to see.
La Falconeria Hotel Mid-range
A converted 17th-century palace in the upper part of town. The right balance between historic stone character and a room that simply works.
Pros
- All major heritage sites within walking distance
- Restored townhouses, often on the smaller side
- Genuine quiet returns the moment the cruise passengers leave
Cons
- No beach right on site, plus steep stair-step streets
- Very few choices for late-night dinners or going out
Mellieħa and the north Northern tip
for beaches and families
The north of the island holds the real sandy stretches, including Mellieħa Bay, the largest on the island. The Sweethaven Village film set from Popeye and the Ghadira Nature Reserve easily fill a day. The ferry terminal at Ċirkewwa for Gozo and Comino is ten minutes away. The tradeoff is that it gets quiet to the point of being empty off-season, and renting a car becomes useful.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa Luxury
Perched on the village hillside with a spa and pools, one kilometre from the largest beach in Malta. A straightforward pick for a comfortable beach vacation without a car.
Solana Hotel Mid-range
Right in the center of Mellieħa, featuring a rooftop pool overlooking the bay. Convenient for walking out to dinner in the village instead of staying put at the hotel.
Paradise Bay Resort Mid-range
At the far northern tip, featuring its own cove right next to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal. The logical pick if Gozo and Comino are on your itinerary.
Pros
- The largest sandy beaches in the archipelago
- The Gozo ferry and the Comino boat are ten minutes away
- Family-friendly hotels equipped with pools
Cons
- Very quiet off-season, and a long bus ride from Valletta
- The village sits high up, so getting to the beach means walking down and climbing back up
Gozo, around Victoria Northern island
for a different, slower, and more rural pace
A twenty-five-minute ferry ride shifts the entire tempo of the place, trading city streets for golden stone villages, terraced fields, and hidden coves. Victoria and its citadel anchor the center of the island, the Ġgantija temple in Xagħra ranks among the oldest structures on earth, and Marsalforn or Xlendi line the waterfront with seafood spots. The downside is that everything closes early, and catching the last ferry dictates any late nights coming from mainland Malta.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Battistini Boutique Living and Spa Luxury
A character home with a spa in Victoria right below the citadel, offering top-tier comfort without leaving the center.
The Duke Boutique Hotel Mid-range
Right in the center of Victoria by the Villa Rundle Gardens, placing you within easy reach of island buses without needing a rental car.
Hotel Ben Marsalforn, Affiliated by Meliá Budget
A three-star hotel with a pool and free bikes right on Marsalforn Bay, ideal for divers and those exploring the northern coves.
Pros
- A slower rural pace that the main island lost years ago
- Prehistoric sites and uncrowded coves
- Restored village houses, often featuring a private pool
Cons
- The ferry dictates the daily rhythm, and the final crossing leaves early
- Almost everything stays closed after dark outside Marsalforn and Xlendi
Our tips for booking the right place
- Buses go everywhere, just not fast: The transit network covers the entire country from Valletta and Sliema for just a few euros a day, but it routes through the center and doubles travel times. Renting a car only makes sense in the northern part and on Gozo, where bus frequencies drop off.
- The last ferry dictates your evening: Between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr, crossings become infrequent at night. Staying on Gozo while planning to dine in mainland Malta, or vice versa, means an expensive taxi ride or a missed night out. Sticking to one base per island is the simplest rule.
- Book early for summer and village feasts: In the middle of summer, northern rates jump by half. Village festas between June and September fill up nearby rooms and keep the nights loud. Seek them out if you want the atmosphere, or avoid them if you need sleep.
- Staying right in Paceville without planning to party: this is the club district, and the noise goes until dawn all season long.
- Booking near the airport in Luqa or Gudja: there is nothing to do there, and the capital is only twenty minutes away by bus. Book a night there before an early morning flight and nothing more.
- Plan on skipping Comino for overnight stays: the island has only one hotel and is easily seen in half a day, lagoon included. People visit by boat, nobody sleeps there.
FAQ: where to stay in Malta
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