Sliema Travel Guide

City City in Malta known for its coastline

Sliema’s waterfront promenade doubles as a morning jog route and afternoon cafe strip; ferries to Valletta leave from its quay, and the area’s seafood restaurants and late-night bars draw shoppers and sunbathers.

Costs

Daily tourist budget: $90-180

Seafront hotels and lively dining push prices above island average.

Safety

Generally safe, pickpocketing in crowds

Safe at night; watch belongings on busy promenades and ferries.

Best Time

Best time: April-October

Sunbathing, boat trips, and bustling cafés peak in summer.

In This Guide

Why Visit Sliema?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

22,591

Infrastructure & Convenience

Frequent buses, ferries to Valletta, English signage, many shops and cafes.

Popularity

Attracts sun-seekers, long-stay visitors, expats, and cruise-linked day-trippers.

Known For

Seafront promenade, ferry to Valletta, shopping and cafés, nightlife, hotels and apartments, sea views, boat tours, diving and watersports, Victorian-era buildings

Sliema's promenade links directly to Valletta by regular ferry service taking about 10-15 minutes.

Why Visit Sliema? #

Long stretches of waterfront and a busy seafront promenade make Sliema popular for sun, shopping and cafés. Tigné Point’s boutiques sit near traditional fish restaurants along the coast, and regular ferries to Valletta turn the town into an easy base for exploring the Grand Harbour. Local bakeries serve ftira and pastizzi between shopping breaks. Evenings bring lively bars and quiet rooftop terraces overlooking the Mediterranean.

Top Things to Do in Sliema

All Attractions ›

Royal Opera House, Valletta

Historic Valletta opera house rebuilt as cultural venue

Theater

Megalithic Temples of Malta

Prehistoric temple complex in Malta, UNESCO World Heritage

Building

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

Underground Neolithic burial chamber in Malta, exceptionally preserved

Archaeological Site

Saint John's Co-Cathedral

Baroque cathedral in Valletta with richly decorated interior

Church

Gozo

Smaller Maltese island with rural landscapes and megaliths

Island

Comino

Tiny Maltese island famed for the Blue Lagoon

Island

Malta (island)

Main Maltese island housing Valletta and historical sites

Island

Filfla

Small uninhabited rocky islet south of Malta

Mountains

Don't Miss

Sliema Promenade (The Strand) - Walk the Sliema promenade from Tower Road to Tigné Point for sea views and shops.
Tigné Point and Fort Tigné - Visit Fort Tigné and modern Tigné Point waterfront with cafés and marina access.
Ferry to Valletta from Sliema - Take the short ferry to Valletta for grand museums, harborside bastions and cafés.

Hidden Gems

Exiles Bay - Relax at Exiles Bay, a small rocky beach popular with locals for swimming.
Balluta Bay nearby - Walk to neighboring Balluta Bay for sandy shore, seafront cafés and baroque church façades.
Local rooftop cafés and terraces - Discover tucked-away rooftop cafés for coffee, views and quieter people-watching spots.

Day Trips

Valletta by ferry - Cross by ferry to Valletta and spend a day visiting Fort St. Elmo and museums.
St. Julian's and Paceville - Walk to St. Julian's for waterfront dining, bars and lively Paceville nightlife after dark.

Best Time to Visit Sliema #

Sliema is best in spring or early autumn for comfortable sea swimming, long walks and fewer tourists. Summer brings intense heat, busy promenades and lively nightlife; winters are mild but rainy.

Winter

November - March · 12 to 18°C (54 to 64°F)

Mild, rainy winters suit cultural visits and off-season pricing; some sea days remain possible but expect unsettled weather and fewer sunbathing opportunities.

Spring & Autumn

April - May & October · 17 to 24°C (63 to 75°F)

Warm, breezy and pleasant - perfect for swimming, exploring limestone villages and walking coastal promenades without the peak summer crowds or intense heat.

Summer

June - September · 24 to 33°C (75 to 91°F)

Hot, very dry summers filled with beach days, late sunsets and packed waterfronts - expect high humidity, crowded popular spots, and lively nightlife into the small hours.

Best Time to Visit Sliema #

Climate

Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 10°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (519 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

32°

Warmest Month

8°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

66 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

10° – 16°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

86 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

9.9h daylight

February

February is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

74 Very Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

10° – 16°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

57 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

10.8h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

76 Very Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

11° – 17°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

36 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.0

UV Index

High

11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.

82 Excellent

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

12° – 20°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

21 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

13.0h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

94 Ideal

Comfort

20°

Feels Like Mild

20°C

Temperature

16° – 23°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

8 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.9

UV Index

Very High

13.9h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

19° – 28°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

2 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

14.4h daylight

July

July is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

100 Ideal

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

22° – 30°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.4

UV Index

Extreme

14.1h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.

100 Ideal

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

23° – 31°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

5 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.0

UV Index

Extreme

13.3h daylight

September

September is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

92 Ideal

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 28°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

43 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

12.3h daylight

October

October is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).

84 Excellent

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

18° – 25°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

77 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

11.2h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Cool

18°C

Temperature

15° – 21°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

83 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Moderate

10.2h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (101 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

64 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

12° – 18°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

101 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

How to Get to Sliema

Sliema is easily reached from Malta International Airport (MLA) by bus or taxi; Valletta acts as the main hub for bus transfers. Public buses are the practical option for most visitors, while taxis are useful for luggage or late arrivals.

By Air

Malta International Airport (MLA): Sliema is a 20-30 minute drive from the airport. Take a Tallinja bus to Valletta (≈20-25 minutes, €2) and then a short cross‑harbour or direct bus to Sliema (10-15 minutes, €2). A taxi straight from the airport to Sliema costs around €18-€30 and takes about 25 minutes depending on traffic.

By Train & Bus

Train: Malta has no train network.

Bus: Sliema is well connected by Malta Public Transport buses from Valletta and the airport. Frequent services run along the seafront and to the ferry/boat connections; a single cash fare is €2 and journey times from Valletta are typically 10-15 minutes.

How to Get Around Sliema #

Sliema is very walkable along its seafront promenade and busy shopping streets. It’s a major bus hub with frequent services across the island, plus ferries to Valletta and boat services to other harbours; taxis and car hire are widely available. Short trips by bus or ferry are inexpensive (a few euros); expect crowds in summer along the promenade and shopping areas.

Where to Stay in Sliema #

Budget

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Mid-Range

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Luxury

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Where to Eat in Sliema #

Seafront Dining

Sliema's waterfront cafes and family restaurants serve fresh seafood, Maltese classics and lively promenade dining.

Ta' Kris - Traditional Maltese home-cooked plates.

Cafés & Patisseries

A strong café culture - pastries, gelato and relaxed sea-facing terraces are common.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Sliema's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Burger

Italian

Mediterranean

Regional

Kebab

Pasta

Chinese

Indian

Seafood

Chicken

Turkish

Coffee Shop

Sushi

Pastizzerija

Asian

Sandwich

Maltese

Steak House

Fish & Chips

Nightlife in Sliema #

Sliema offers a lively but mostly relaxed evening scene: seafront bars, wine bars and cafés dominate rather than big clubs. For late-night dancing and larger club venues, neighboring St. Julian’s (Paceville) is the primary destination.

Shopping in Sliema #

Sliema is one of Malta’s main shopping hubs: Tower Road is lined with shops, boutiques and cafés, while The Point mall offers international brands and restaurants. It’s a good spot for fashion, electronics and souvenirs, with plenty of cafés for breaks.