Find out where to stay in Malta with our detailed travel guide. Discover the best areas and neighborhoods in Malta and book your accommodation in a convenient location.
Malta is a central Mediterranean state with three islands, located south of Sicily in southern Italy. Unlike most of the other islands in this sea, Malta is a sovereign state that is one of the smallest in the world with an area of just 125 square miles.
Nevertheless, there are so many sights and treasures to see in the sunny corners of this island that you can’t realistically hope to visit them all in a single week.
Apart from the sun, sea and sand, the island is justifiably famous for being home to the great building crusaders of the Knights of St. John for 300 years. This enterprising group arrived in the 1530s and stayed until almost 1800, when Napoleon finally drove them out.
During these three centuries, the Knights built 365 historic churches on the islands (one for every day of the year), more than a dozen fortresses on the islands, three walled cities, including the new capital Valletta and the old capital Mdina, as well as numerous palaces, charming villas, traditional Maltese houses and formal gardens.
The islands are a feast for the eyes, and the beautiful wildflowers are almost as common as the architectural and artistic beauties that cover the islands.
There’s something for everyone here, from sun worshippers to night owls to nature lovers and everyone in between.
Be sure to bring your walking boots, because from cities like Valletta and the Three Cities to Mdina, Mellieha and Victoria, this is a country made for walking and exploring on foot or by bus.
In the rest of the article, we will introduce you to the different regions of Malta and show you where you can stay in Malta.
Where to stay in Malta: Best areas and places
Malta has three main areas where tourists stay and several smaller areas. The three most popular areas to stay in during a visit to Malta are Sliema/St. Julian’s/Gzira, Bugibba/St. Paul’s Bay/Qawra and Valletta/Floriana.
The good news is that all areas in Malta are safe for tourists, both men and women traveling alone or in small groups.
1. Sliema, one of the best places to stay in Malta
Sliema is the commercial capital of Malta and a great place to shop during a visit. It is also home to some of Malta’s most exclusive and expensive hotels, as is neighboring St. Julian’s to the north.
Sliema is an excellent choice for a stay in Malta for those who love a variety of fine and casual dining, as there is an abundance of both.
For backpackers looking for a hostel, Sliema is not the best place to stay in Malta, but for the upper to mid-range budget, it is a perfect choice.
From Sliema, visitors have an unobstructed view across the harbor to Valletta, whose impressive medieval walls and churches are illuminated every night.
BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN SLIEMA
- ($$$) AX The Palace 👈
- ($$) 1926 Hotel & SPA 👈
- ($) Sliema Marina Hotel👈
2. St. Julian’s, where you can enjoy the nightlife in Malta
St. Julian’s is a former colorful fishing village that has been transformed into an upscale tourist accommodation, making it a fun place to stay in Malta. The tallest building here is known as the Beckham building, where David Beckham owned the penthouse on the top floor for a long time.
Visitors will find a good sandy beach at the northern end of the city on St. George’s Bay, many high-quality four- and five-star hotels and a beautiful beach promenade that stretches all the way down to Sliema (and is the longest continuous promenade in Europe).
Two picturesque bays make up the town of St. Julians’, nestled in between and around it, and in both Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay you can still see the colorful Maltese fishing boats plying their ancient trade.
For those who crave an exciting nightlife, this is the place to stay in Malta. Neighboring Paceville is the undisputed capital of nightlife on the islands. Here there are bars and nightclubs ranging from sophisticated and trendy to downright seedy to suit all interests.
A luxury shopping center and several shopping streets offer a more leisurely form of entertainment for those who want to finish work early.
BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN ST JULIAN’S
- ($$$) Hilton Malta 👈
- ($$) be.HOTEL 👈
- ($) The District Hotel 👈
3. Valletta, the best place to stay in Malta for sightseeing
The walled fortress city is the capital of Malta and is home to over 28 historic churches, the inns of the Knights of St. John, interesting national museums and several impressive fortresses and palaces.
From the Upper Barrakka Gardens you have a fantastic view over the Grand Harbour to the three towns and the imposing Fort St. Angelo, which still dominates the harbor’s vantage points and is still owned by the Knights of St. John (and inhabited by them on the top floor of the three-story fort).
There are not that many hotel options within the city limits of Valletta, although there are some four and five star hotels within and just outside the city walls.
The charming city with one square mile is the smallest capital city in Europe for a reason and was named European Capital of Culture in 2018.
There is always something going on in the town, and it is a great place for hikers and backpackers, even if it doesn’t offer much budget accommodation for them.
There are ferries that take visitors across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities of Vittorioso and also to Sliema, the island’s business and shopping center.
BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN VALLETA
- ($$$) The Phoenicia Malta 👈
- ($$) Palais Le Brun 👈
- ($) Hotel Castille 👈
4. Il-Gżira and Msida, budget accommodation and local experiences
These two towns are much more Maltese residential areas. Gzira is immediately south of and adjacent to Sliema, but is definitely more of a working middle class town.
From here you can see the island of Manoel, a harbor island connected by a causeway with exhibitions and a late medieval fortress.
In both Gzira and Msida, there are several budget accommodation options and hotels for visitors who want to watch their budget.
Msida has a beautiful marina with hundreds of sailing boats and a beautiful historic church that also overlooks the harbor. Backpackers and hostel seekers are more likely to find what they are looking for in these towns.
A good public transport network in the form of the national bus line Tallinja connects these two places with Sliema/St. Julian’s as well as with the capital Valletta, which can be seen from many parts of the coast from Gzira via the harbor.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MALTA IN IL-GAZIRA AND MSIDA
5. Mellieha, where to stay in Malta for a beach vacation
Mellieha Bay, the beach capital of Malta, is full of mid-range and upmarket hotels, all located directly on the bay and beaches. The town itself is situated on a plateau overlooking the beach far below.
Mellieha is a charming, remote settlement where just as many people live as in the capital.
Mellieha was awarded “Tourism Destination of Choice” by the European Union in 2014 and continues to be a magnet for visitors to Malta who do not want to stay in one of the island’s three overcrowded tourist centers.
With more than a dozen nationally acclaimed restaurants and pubs, it offers a good selection of dining establishments and a far tamer nightlife than St. Julian’s and its wild neighbor Paceville.
The main attraction here is the beach and the walks around the rather large and most scenic town in Malta.
Backpackers will be in their element here, as there are a number of high hills and green vistas, and they will also find inexpensive accommodation to suit their budget.
Mellieha is just not a good choice for those who crave a vibrant and wild nightlife, as it is a rather sleepy town where the bus service stops every night around 9pm.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MALTA IN MELLIEHA
- ($$$) Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands (in Golden Bay) 👈
- ($$) db Seabank Resort + Spa All Inclusive 👈
- ($$) Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa 👈
6. St. Pauls Bay, Bugibba and Qawra, accommodation in Malta for families
The northern center of nightlife in Malta is located around the three towns on St. Paul’s Bay – Bugibba, St. Paul’s Bay and Qawra.
This place is very popular with both expats and local Maltese. Here you are likely to meet British partygoers and expats as well as working Eastern Europeans and Balkan residents.
In terms of accommodation, this area has long been a magnet for budget-conscious travelers, particularly from the UK and Northern Europe.
The remnants of the fishing industry have long since disappeared here, as the area has enthusiastically embraced its vocation as a fully-fledged tourist area and vacation resort.
There are a few upscale hotels here, but most of the accommodation is definitely budget-friendly and suitable for backpackers.
The area is particularly suitable for those looking for sun, sea and alcohol in abundance in a relaxed, party-like atmosphere by the sea.
BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN ST PAULS BAY, BUGIBBA AND QAWRA
- ($$) Dolmen Hotel Malta 👈
- ($$) AX Seashells Resort 👈
- ($) The Pearl – Luxury Guest House 👈
7. Mdina and Rabat, the original capital of Malta
Mdina and Rabat were originally a single city, the original capital of Malta since at least the Roman Empire. First the Arabs and then the Knights of St. John separated Mdina from Rabat with a wide moat and a bridge over the moat from Rabat to Mdina.
From the top of Mdina’s city wall, you have a magnificent view of the countryside and the city, which makes up almost half of Malta.
The area is mainly inhabited by locals and has a very residential feel, although busloads of tourists come here almost every day on day trips from the hotels and cruise ships.
The hotels in Mdina or Rabat are rare, smaller, more personal and of higher quality.
There are definitely no hostels or backpacker accommodation here. Only 300 people live in Mdina, and many of their families’ ancestors have resided within its walls for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
There is no nightlife here, apart from some really good and expensive restaurants, as each night the towns return to their original and familiar role as traditional Maltese rural communities.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MDINA AND RABAT
- ($$$) The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux 👈
- ($) Quaint Hotel Rabat 👈
- ($) Point de vue 👈
8. Three towns: Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua
As the first headquarters of the Knights of St. John when they landed on Malta and prepared for the inevitable great Turkish siege, the Three Cities are far sleepier today than they were 500 years ago.
Accommodation here tends to be guesthouses or bed and breakfasts rather than hotels. The Maltese middle-class residential areas are very popular with the locals, as they offer sweeping views over the Grand Harbor as far as Valletta.
Another place where nightlife takes place in a single lonely bar or pub, the Three Cities are not for the wild night owls or the young at heart.
Apart from a few restaurants (and there really aren’t many), these communities offer walks along charming steep, Italian looking alleyways rather than beaches, parties, nightlife or even shopping.
During the day, when the day-trippers get off the buses from the surrounding hotels and cruise ships, the places are definitely busier than after dark, when you can have a street all to yourself.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MALTA IN THE THREE CITIES
- ($$$) Cugo Gran Macina Grand Harbour 👈
- ($) Casa Birmula Hotel 👈
- ($) Nelli’s B&B 👈
9. Marsaskala, where you can stay cheaply in Malta
Marsaskala is one of two unique coastal fishing villages that have become towns in modern-day Malta.
An important fishing fleet still plies these waters, leaving the port of Marsaskala every morning before sunrise. It returns every morning loaded with fresh fish, which it sells fresh and directly from the quay.
One or two mid-range hotels are scattered around the city, which has more guesthouses and rooms to let than hotels.
The town sits on two bays, Marsaskala Bay and St Thomas Bay, both of which have a long and pleasant promenade, making Marsaskala very popular with backpackers and beachgoers.
For a town with a population of less than 15,000, the fishing port has three nightclubs scattered around the town, a number of Irish and English pubs for late night drinking and dozens of good, nationally renowned restaurants.
In the summer, the population increases by about 50 per cent, as both foreigners and locals come to spend weeks, months or the whole summer in Marsaskala.
Between the town’s two beaches, promenades, restaurants and nightlife, there is even a 500-year-old knight’s castle that still faithfully watches over the now tranquil Mediterranean.
Marsaskala has something for every interest and taste, except, of course, for upmarket, expensive or large hotels, of which there are surprisingly (and refreshingly) none.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MARSASKALA
- ($) Cerviola Hotel 👈
- ($) Sensi Hotel 👈
- ($) C’est La Vie Guesthouse 👈
10. Marsaxlokk, where you can stay in a fishing village in Malta
Marsaxlokk is another fishing village with authentic coastal charm that still resembles the fishing port that is the mainstay of the local economy. The inhabitants of this village, located far to the south, are predominantly Maltese.
Day trippers visit the twice-weekly market, the famous fish restaurants along the beach promenade and the colorful traditional Maltese fishing fleet with its small and some larger boats strolling by the sea.
There are practically no hotels here, and Marsaxlokk has this in common with its southern neighbor Marsascala.
Guest houses and room rentals cover the low demand for accommodation for visitors in the lower to medium price segment.
The south continues to be a paradise for backpackers, who will find some of the most beautiful unspoiled natural scenery on the island, and many of them will seek out the interesting local attractions such as St. Peter’s Pool and the Blue Grotto in Zurrieq.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MALTA IN MARSAXLOKK
- ($) South Wind Guesthouse 👈
- ($) Dun Gorg Guest House 👈
- ($) Fisherman’s Cove Guesthouse 👈
11. Gozo, a great place to relax and forget about time
Gozo is unique in this island state. Malta’s sister island has been aptly described as “the land that time forgot”. A donkey pulling a vegetable cart to Victoria, the capital, is just as likely here as hordes of people relentlessly combing the island.
Although Gozo is only a quarter of the size of neighboring Malta, it has only around a fifteenth of the population of its larger neighbor.
This means that visitors can backpack or drive to their heart’s content, enjoying sparsely populated beaches, secluded green hills, deserted cliffs and the fortress town of Victoria in the heart of the island.
There are places in Gozo where you can even enjoy a piece of countryside all to yourself – a rarity in this most densely populated country in Europe.
The range of accommodation on the small island of Malta extends from guest houses and farms for rent to four- and five-star hotels in the middle and upper classes, which are mainly located in the popular seaside resorts such as Marsalforn or the deliberately centrally located capital Victoria.
The island is a great place to unwind and even lose track of time. For those looking for exciting night-time activities or extensive shopping, Gozo may not be the best choice for a stay in Malta.
If you’re looking for a secluded beach, a cozy, family-run restaurant or the winding streets of Victoria town punctuated by rolling green hills, you can live like a local for a change and take a relaxed approach to your vacation.
THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN MALTA ON GOZO
- ($$$) Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz 👈
- ($$) Cornucopia Hotel 👈
- ($) Murella Living 👈
Websites that I use to book my trips
- 👉 Agoda is my favourite site for booking hotels and unique stays.
- 👉 GetYourGuide is my top pick for booking tours and activities worldwide.
Frequently asked questions:
What are the best areas of Malta to stay in to see the sights?
Valletta, the capital of the walled fortress city, is a good choice for a sightseeing tour with its numerous historic churches, the inns of the Knights of St. John and the impressive fortresses and palaces.
Where should I stay on a beach vacation in Malta?
Mellieha Bay is known as the beach capital of Malta and offers a range of mid to upmarket hotels, all located directly on the bay and beaches.
What is special about Malta compared to other Mediterranean destinations?
Malta is a sovereign state and one of the smallest in the world. Nevertheless, it is packed with sights and treasures that make it a popular tourist destination.
What places are there in Malta where you can enjoy a piece of the countryside on your own?
There are places on Gozo where you can find a piece of countryside all to yourself, which is a rarity in this densely populated European country.
What types of accommodation are available in Malta?
Accommodation options in Malta range from guest houses and farms to more luxurious accommodation such as hotels.
How many historic churches are there in Valletta?
There are over 28 historic churches in Valletta.
What interesting national museums are there in Valletta?
Valletta is known for its national museums, which offer an insight into the history and culture of Malta.
What are the St. John’s inns in Valletta?
The Knights of St. John Inns are an important historical landmark in Valletta, showing the rich history of the Knights’ presence in Malta.
What impressive fortresses and palaces are there in Valletta?
Valletta is home to several impressive fortresses and palaces, including the Grandmaster’s Palace and Fort St. Elmo.
What is the history of the Order of St. John in Malta?
The Knights of St. John came to Malta in the 1530s and stayed until almost 1800, during which time they erected numerous buildings and contributed to the development of the island.
