Where to sleep in Malta: tips and best places to stay

Malta, a favourite summer destination, is truly a destination for everyone, offering art and culture as well as sea and wild fun. It's actually an archipelago of several islands: the eponymous Malta, then Gozo and Comino, but it's definitely best to stay on the main island, where the capital Valletta and other popular resorts like Sliema and St Julian's are located.
Here are all our tips on where to stay in Malta.

Useful tips: the best neighbourhoods to stay in

Malta is not just one island, it is actually an archipelago of no less than 11 islands, of which the best known and most famous are Malta, Gozo and Comino. And on a trip, the advice is to stay on the main island, Malta, where the airport is also located. Gozo could be a good alternative if you stay at least a week, while Comino has no facilities on its territory.

On the main island, one of the best resorts is Sliema, suitable for more or less everyone. It is also in a great location for discovering the whole archipelago. If, on the other hand, you are travelling off-season or want to get to know Malta's history and culture, the capital Valletta is a good option. It is also a rather quiet location.

If you 're looking for sea and tranquillity, head to the northern part of Malta. Mellieha and Buġibba are really good places to enjoy the sea and relax. Mellieha, specifically, is ideal for families. These two areas are also the best for saving money.

Finally, Malta also means fun and late nights. If you' re looking for nightlife, then St. Julian's, the heart of the island's nightlife, is the best option, especially chosen by young people.

• Suggested areas tosave money: Mellieha, Buġibba

• Suggested areas forfamilies with children: Valletta, Sliema, Mellieha, Buġibba

• Suggested areas foryoung people: Sliema, St. Julian's

• Best accommodation: We have selected the best hotels, B&Bs and hostels in Malta. Check out our recommendations and book on Booking

If you are in Malta on business or as a one-day stopover to other destinations, consider sleeping near the airport. Find the best options and selected hotels on booking.com.

Malta Area Guide

Malta, a popular summer resort, is located in the Mediterranean Sea and is the smallest member state of the European Union. Located 80 km from Sicily, this archipelago covers a total area of 316 square kilometres and has more than 520,000 inhabitants.

The archipelago has several islands. The main ones are 3: Malta, Gozo and Comino, but the island of Malta, where its capital Valletta is located, is definitely the best place to stay. But that's not all, Malta is divided into 5 different regions:

• CentralRegion: i.e. the centre of the island, its capital being St John's;

• Gozo Region: and includes the islands of Gozo, Comino and Cominotto, with the capital city being Rabat. This is not a great place to stay as it is far from many attractions;

• NorthernRegion: the northern territory of Malta, the capital being St Paul's Bay. This is a good place to stay, specifically the resort of Buġibba;

• Southeastern Region: includes all the territory between Valletta and Marsa Scirocco. Valletta, the capital of Malta, is a good option if you are travelling off-season or if you mainly want to discover the country's history;

• Southern Region: with its capital Curmi, it comprises the northern part of the island.

Areas to avoid: Malta is indeed safe. Certainly, as in any destination we do not know, in the evening it is better to stay in the more touristy and illuminated areas, without moving between dark or peripheral streets. From a tourist point of view, it is better to stay in well-connected locations with all services.

Valletta

Valletta is the capital of Malta. Usually one dedicates just one or two days to the city, before moving on to discover the other parts of the country. It's certainly not one of the first recommended areas to stay, but it is a great base if you're travelling out of season and if, rather than sea and fun, you want to experience a mainly cultural trip. Indeed, some of Malta's most famous monuments, such as the Grand Master's Palace, can be found here.

Valletta is definitely recommended for those who want to experience a cultural trip, made up mainly of sightseeing and art. From here, one can also easily reach the 3 Cities (Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua) and places such as M'dina and Rabat. It is also an ideal area for families, as it is very quiet and has all the amenities.

Staying in Valletta you can get around either by car or by transport. You can rely on public transport to reach nearby locations (M'dina and Rabat are connected by bus lines 51, 52 or 53). However, the car remains one of the best means of getting around the island.

Average prices in the neighbourhood range from around €50.00 for low-cost accommodation to €300.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking

Recommended accommodations

Sliema

Sliema is one of the best areas to stay in Malta. Exactly halfway between Valletta and St Julian's, it is a residential and elegant town that also houses small churches and museums. Above all, it is the country's shopping city, thanks to its numerous shops and malls.

Given its characteristics and its residential side, Sliema is especially recommended for families and couples looking for a bit of tranquillity. Given its excellent location, it can also be a good compromise for young people, who can move to nearby St Julian's for the nightlife.

This is a strategic point for visiting the whole island: Valletta is 7 km away, St Julian's 4 km, Mellieha 20 km. Cruises to Gozo and the Blue Lagoon also depart from here. You can get around by transport, but a car is definitely the best option.

Average prices in the neighbourhood range from around €50.00 for low-cost accommodation to €300.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking

Recommended accommodations

St. Julian's

St Julian's, located just 4 km from Sliema, is the heart of Malta's nightlife. It is a well-known seaside resort, with several beaches, clubs and shops, while the heart of the nightlife is Paceville, full of discos and clubs of all kinds.

St Julian's is definitely the area recommended for younger people. In addition to young people on holiday, many English schools are also to be found here and for this reason it is also frequented and chosen by many young people for a study holiday. Absolutely not recommended, however, for families, as it is very chaotic, especially in summer.

Even if you stay here, you can get around by transport or by car. Bearing in mind, however, that a car will allow you to move around Malta without any problems, the city is well connected by transport to Sliema (lines 13, 16, 212, 222 and 225; 10 min) and Valletta (line TD13, 15 min).

Average prices in the neighbourhood range from around €40.00 for low-cost accommodation to €200.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking

Recommended accommodations

Mellieha

Mellieha, located in the north of the island, is the best area to stay if you want to experience beach life. Apart from hosting some interesting attractions to visit with the little ones, such as Popeye's Village or the Red Tower, some of Malta's most beautiful beaches can be found here.

Mellieha is therefore also a location recommended for families. It is a very quiet area with great beaches and all the amenities you will need. But not only that, it is also a good area to save money, as it is not difficult to find cheap flats and small hotels.

Finally, if you stay here, you will have to travel by car. This will give you great freedom and you can easily move between the airport and other places on the island. The area, although covered by public transport, does not guarantee frequent and punctual rides and this could create some organisational problems.

Average prices in the area range from around €50.00 for low-cost accommodation to €180.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking

Recommended accommodations

Buġibba

Another great area to stay for the sea is Buġibba, located in the beautiful St Paul's Bay, also in the northern part of the island. Here, too, you will find numerous beaches and a sea with crystal-clear water.

Just like Mellieha, Buġibba is recommended for couples and families and for those who, more generally, want to enjoy the sea and tranquillity away from the wild nightlife of St Julian's. It is also a very inexpensive area: hotels and accommodation here are much cheaper than on the rest of the island.

Finally, even if you stay here, you will have to travel by car. The area, in fact, although partly covered by public transport, does not guarantee frequent and punctual trips to other areas of the island, making it difficult to get around.

Average prices in the area range from around €40.00 for low-cost accommodation to €200.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking

Recommended accommodations

Islands of Malta where to stay: Gozo

All of the recommended resorts are on the main island of Malta, but Malta is actually an archipelago and you might want to consider other islands for your stay, such as Gozo. Keep in mind, however, that to stay here, it's best to have at least a week at your disposal and that travelling will definitely be more difficult as you'll always have to travel by ferry.

Gozo is really a very quiet island, perfect for families and those who want to enjoy a holiday of sea and relaxation with perhaps just a few cultural visits, such as to Gigantia. There is a smaller offer of accommodation than in Malta, but they have lower prices(compare accommodation on booking).

Malta accommodation price map

Booking.com