Where to stay in Malta : The best areas and hotels

From a simple room in a local’s house to a busy luxuryhotel, you will find what you are looking for in Malta. In this article, we take a look at the possibilities of where to spend the night during your trip to Malta. We recommend the best hotels, accommodations or hostels by region of the island to book and their rates. You will find what you are looking for, adapted to all budgets and all styles of vacations.

Where to stay in Malta?

Distances are short between the various sites of interest in Malta. It is possible to cross the island of Malta in length in less than 1 hour. It is therefore not necessary to change accommodation during your stay (unless you plan to spend more than one day in Gozo). So, if you are wondering for how many nights to take your accommodation in Malta, you can say, the whole duration of your stay.

Let’s have a look at the different cities and areas of Malta and Gozo to let you decide and then we will give you our personal opinion.

Best places to stay in Malta

Here is a summary of the best cities and areas to sleep in Malta:

Lodging in Valletta

Our recommendation for tour enthusiasts.

Valletta is the capital of Malta and contains many monuments and historical sites that are a must see. This city is also of human size and authentic contrary to what we are used to see in a capital. Valletta is very lively during the day with tourists and at night with its many restaurants and bars. Moreover, walking around in the evening is a real pleasure, there is a good atmosphere.

The city is very well served by public transport. There is a bus station, various ferries to Sliema, the 3 cities and even directly to Gozo. However, if you have rented a car, it will be difficult to park and even to get there due to the traffic during rush hours.

There is no beach in Valletta and prices are more expensive than on the rest of the island.

My favorite hotel in Valletta

L’Osborne Hotel is an establishment located in the fortifications of Valletta, offering air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi. It features a rooftop pool and buffet restaurant. The hotel is popular with couples for its location close to the best sights and public transport. Expect to pay around €190 for one night.

Click here to see more photos & availability of the establishment

Hotels in Valletta

Best hotels in Valletta

Summary of the best hotels in Malta ranked in order of price :

View other hotels in Valletta .

Whole-house rentals in Valletta

To view apartment rentals and other entire homes in Valletta, click here.

Lodging in Sliema

We recommend Sliema to most travelers visiting Malta.

Sliema is a very good compromise and is our recommendation for most travelers to Malta. It is a lively city between Valletta and St Julian’s where the nightlife is the most important. Sliema offers a long beach of flat stones where it is still good to settle. Perfect for walking around, seeing the architecture and discovering the many restaurants, bars and cafes. Gzira, located south of Sliema, is a favorite spot for expatriates for good reason.

Sliema is also very well served by bus, many excursions leave from Sliema. There is a ferry to Valletta, the capital.

In addition, Sliema’s accommodations are varied and the prices are generally more affordable than in Valletta.

Housing in Sliema

On this map, we have compiled the accommodation available in Sliema on the various booking platforms.

Best hotels and hostels in Sliema

Summary of the best hotels in Sliema for your budget :

View other hotels in Sliema

My favorite hotel in Sliema

The 1926 Sun Hotel & Spa in Sliema is Malta’s most Instagrammable hotel. It’s conveniently located near the beach and ferry terminal. It offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a spa with heated pool, sauna and steam room, as well as a seasonal beach club. Travelers appreciate its location and infinity pool.

Click here to see more photos & availability of the establishment

Whole house rentals in Sliema

To view Sliema’s apartment rentals and other self-catering accommodations, click here.

Lodging at St Julian’s

We recommend St Julian’s (Paceville) for young people and those who want to party.

St Julians (San Ġiljan in Maltese) is a popular spot for young people, many of whom study English here. Paceville is a district of St Julian’s known as the place to party in Malta. There are many bars, clubs, discos and nightclubs for special parties. The city has the small beach of St George’s Bay which is quickly full in summer, but always pleasant. There is also one of the beautiful bays of Malta called Spinola bay, a little before Sliema.

St Julian’s is close to Sliema so it is also well served by bus. If you want to relax and party, Sliema is the place for you.

The city has similar prices to Sliema, more affordable than Valletta.

Housing in St Julian’s

Here is the map of available housing in St Julians:

Best hotels and hostels in St Julian’s

Listed in order of price.

View other hotels in St Julian’s.

Whole house rentals in St Julian’s

To view St Julian’s apartment rentals and other entire homes, click here.

Lodging in the north of Malta, in Mellieha

We recommend Mellieha for those who want to relax in a large, quiet and affordable hotel.

Perfect for families and people who want to relax on the beaches of Malta. In Mellieha is Ghadira Bay, a large sandy beach accessible. There is more space, so you can find villas for rent and large hotels, do not expect to see a city.

As far as transportation is concerned, you will have easy access to buses, but the easiest way is tohave a car or at least a scooter to get to the points of interest.
Valletta and Sliema are about 30 minutes by car and 1 hour by bus depending on traffic, count about 25 euros for a cab. The airport is 45 minutes away.
There is also a ferry to Gozo and Comino at Cirkewwa near Mellieha so it is convenient to go there for a day.

Since you are located in a remote area, housing prices are not very high compared to the cities mentioned above.

Housing in Mellieha

Here is the map of available housing in Mellieha:

Best hotels in Mellieha

Listed in order of price.

View other hotels in Mellieha.

My favorite hotel in Mellieha

The Pergola Hotel & Spa is set in a valley in Mellieħa offering magnificent views of the church, bay and surrounding islands. The hotel offers rooms and apartments with balconies, as well as an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa and several nearby restaurants. We particularly appreciate its location compared to other hotels in Mellieha.

Click here to see more photos & availability of the establishment

Whole house rentals in Mellieha

To view Mellieha apartment, house and villa rentals, click here.

Lodging in Saint Paul’s Bay

Our recommendation for families.

Saint Paul’s Bay, also known as San Pawl il-Baħar in Maltese. This bay contains the cities of Bugibba and Qawra. It is a good place to mix relaxation by the sea, walks and outings. Indeed, there are many bars, restaurants and beautiful walks to do on the extensive esplanades. There is the National Aquarium of Malta, there are few sandy beaches, but you can go to the famous Café del mar to relax by the infinity pool.

To get around, there are buses at the Bugibba terminal. It also takes 30 minutes to get to Valletta or one hour by bus. Many excursions leave from the bay of Saint Paul towards Comino or Gozo.

Accommodation in Saint Paul’s bay

Find the map of hotels and rentals in St Paul’s bay available on the various reservation platforms.

Best hotels in Saint Paul’s Bay

View other hotels in Saint Paul’s Bay.

Whole house rentals in St Paul’s Bay

To view rentals of entire apartments and houses in St Paul’s Bay, click here.

Where to stay in Gozo?

Staying in Gozo for one or more nights depending on the length of your trip can be a good idea if you like a wilder environment. Indeed, travelers tend to skip Gozo or visit it in a day, but there are many unusual hotels and accommodations in Gozo.

Accommodation in Gozo

Click below to see a map of Gozo’s accommodation:

Best hotels in Gozo

Listed in order of price.

View other hotels in Gozo.

Whole house rentals in Gozo

To view Gozo apartment and house rentals, click here.

Accommodation in Malta to suit your needs

Cheap accommodation in Malta

For cheap accommodation in Malta, you’ll need to sleep outside the tourist zone (Sliema, St Julians, Valletta). You’ll find cheaper hotels and rentals inland and to the north of Malta. If you want to stay in the tourist part of town while paying less, you’ll have to opt for youth hostels or budget hotels.

Where to sleep in Malta as a family with children?

For families with children, we recommend staying in St Paul’s bay, close to the start of excursions, the aquarium and the sandy beach of Mellieha. You can also book accommodation in Sliema, which is very active without being too noisy. If you rent a car, you can also stay in the Mellieha area, in the north of Malta.

Where to sleep and party in Malta?

If you want to party, you’ll have to go straight to St Julian’s, near Paceville. Or Sliema, if you want to be away from the hustle and bustle but still close enough.

Where to stay in Malta without a car?

The best places to stay in Malta without a car are in Sliema, Valletta, St Julians, St Paul’s Bay or the Three Cities. In fact, these areas are very well served by public transport (buses and ferries).

Accommodation in Malta

In order to find accommodation that really suits you, Visit Malta presents the different accommodation options:

Staying in a hotel in Malta

Spread throughout Malta and Gozo, the majority of hotels are nevertheless concentrated by the sea, on the north coast of Malta.
From very economical establishments that provide rudimentary services to the comfort of luxurious five-star hotels, the offer is complete and eclectic.

The interesting cities of Malta: Valletta, Mdina and the Three Cities have few hotels, but they have a lot of character and authenticity.

👉 View hotels in Valletta

👉 View hotels in Senglea (The 3 Cities)

👉 View hotels in Mdina

Conversely, Bugibba or Mellieħa, large seaside resorts, concentrate the majority of the 200- to 400-room establishments found in tour operators’ brochures. Cafes, bars and restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, sports facilities, children’s activities, spa… are all available. Suitable for “relaxing” vacations, we sometimes have to deal with a frightening hubbub.

👉 View hotels in Bugibba

👉 View hotels in Mellieħa

A good alternative is to choose a hotel in St. Julian’s or Sliema with something for every budget. From these two cities, you can easily travel by bus all over the island and many establishments have private parking lots. The beautiful waterfront offers very pleasant walks all year round. Beautiful terraces and world cuisine: the restaurants and cafes of Sliema and St Julian’s allow you to eat throughout the day.

👉 View hotels in St Julian’s

👉 View hotels in Sliema

For this, we recommend without hesitation the Hotel and SPA 1926, ideally located and very pleasant.

Choosing to stay in a hotel in Marsaskala or Marsaxlokk is also a good option. More confidential, these destinations are family and less frequented. Another atmosphere of stay with a more relaxed rhythm.

👉 View hotels in Marsaskala

👉 View hotels in Marsaxlokk

For your accommodation in Gozo, you will find all categories of hotels. The largest and busiest are in Marsalforn, to the north. The quietest ones in the nice bay of Xlendi. The hotels in Victoria offer the advantage of being located in the heart of the island.

👉 View hotels in Marsalforn

👉 View hotels in Xlendi

👉 View hotels in Victoria

Staying in a guest house in Malta

Increasingly popular in Malta and Gozo, guest houses offer the spirit of a family guesthouse. It is a way of accommodation that allows you to establish relationships with the population, to discover the culture of the country and to taste the Maltese family cuisine if you take some meals there.

Because the Maltese are friendly and very helpful, the owners of the guest houses will be happy to talk to you and give you the right information and tips. Depending on the category, they are beautiful character houses or more recent constructions with 4 to 10 rooms.

Note: Staying in a guest house is a good way to practice your English

👉 See the guest houses in Malta

👉 See the guest houses in Gozo

Staying in a Youth Hostel in Malta

For those on a tight budget, youth hostels, also known as backpackers, are mainly for young people but not only. The choice is unfortunately limited in Malta. Nevertheless, there are a few, notably in Sliema, and in Mgarr (Gozo).

Another possibility is the residences intended for students and adults on a language stay, which, depending on the season, can be open to everyone.

👉 View hostels in Malta

👉 View hostels in Gozo

Accommodation in Malta

The only campsite in the archipelago is in Daħlet ix-Xmajjar, near Mellieħa. At 50 meters from the sea and 5 minutes walk from the sandy beach Armier Beach.

Located in the middle of a very beautiful wild place, poorly served by buses, it is not very frequented and does not have a shady place, difficult to sleep under the tent!

Wild camping is strictly forbidden on the whole archipelago. Nevertheless, it seems that it is tolerated, because we can sometimes see camps near the beaches during the weekend…

Staying in an apartment in Malta

With family or friends, renting an apartment is a wise and economical choice. Real estate agencies in Malta and Gozo all offer “short term” rental apartments equipped with one or more bedrooms. This formula combines comfort and independence.

Another possibility for families and groups of friends is the apartment-hotel. It combines the advantages of a hotel (use of facilities, swimming pool, games, cleaning on request, etc.) with those of an apartment.

👉 View apartments for rent in Malta

👉 View apartments for rent in Gozo

Staying in a farmhouse in Gozo

A Gozitan specialty, farmhouses are well-restored 18th century farmhouses in northwest Gozo, in the Għarb and Għasri area. Beautiful modern villas in local stone respect the ancient style with arcades and porches and also bear the same name.

The services are top-of-the-range: gardens with trees, swimming pool and spa. The rooms are often tastefully decorated. There are agencies that specialize in renting farmhouses.

Charm and calmness assured, renting a farmhouse is ideal for those who dream of vacations in the countryside while being close to the sea.

👉 See farmhouses in Malta

👉 View farmhouses for rent in Gozo

Accommodation on a boat in Malta

Even nicer and atypical, you can also sleep on a boat in Malta, often based in the port.

👉 View boats for rent in Malta

👉 See the boats for rent in Gozo