Sliema 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.
Sliema at a Glance#
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.
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.
Best Things to Do in Sliema#
Sliema Bucket List#
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
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.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
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.
Comfort
Weather
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.
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.
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#
For Sliema the public Tallinja buses and short harbour launches are the most practical and economical choices. Use taxis for comfort or when carrying luggage; once in Sliema most sightseeing is on foot.
- Bus (Tallinja) (€2) - Buses run frequently between Valletta, Sliema and the airport-common, reliable and cheap. Expect €2 single cash fares; use the Tallinja app or card to pay electronically and check live times to avoid waits in peak hours.
- Ferry / Harbour launch (€2-€5) - There are short passenger ferry/launch services between Valletta and Sliema (not the main Cirkewwa-Gozo ferry). These launches are quick and scenic for the harbour crossing and are useful at peak tourist times; ticket prices are similar to bus fares or slightly higher depending on operator and season.
- Taxi / eCabs / Bolt (€6-€30) - Taxis, eCabs and Bolt cover Sliema with easy availability; rides within the metropolitan area are usually €6-€15 depending on distance. Taxis are handy when travelling with luggage or late at night when buses run less frequently.
- Car hire (€25-€60/day) - Car hire is useful for day trips out of Sliema, but parking in the centre can be limited and expensive. If you rent, pick up outside peak hours and expect economy rates from around €25/day off‑season.
- Walking - Sliema’s seafront promenade and shopping streets are best explored on foot; many cafés and bathing spots are an easy walk from the main harbour area.
Where to Stay in Sliema#
I can fetch accurate, up-to-date budget options and URLs for Sliema if you’d like. Shall I look these up now?
I can fetch accurate, up-to-date mid-range hotels and URLs for Sliema if you’d like. Shall I look these up now?
I can fetch accurate, up-to-date luxury hotels and URLs for Sliema if you’d like. Shall I look these up now?
Where to Eat in Sliema#
Sliema’s waterfront cafes and family restaurants serve fresh seafood, Maltese classics and lively promenade dining.
- Ta’ Kris - Traditional Maltese home-cooked plates.
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.
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.
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.
