St Julian’s in Malta, locally known as San Giljan, is a seaside next to Sliema. Like its neighbor it offers plenty of opportunities for dining out, shopping and partying. It is one of the best places to stay in if you want to explore Malta thanks to its location, connection to public transport and cosmopolitan vibe.
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How to Get to St Julian’s
From Valletta, there are multiple buses headed for St Julian’s. They stop in Sliema as well. This way, you can easily travel between the three Maltese cities. Buses to look out for are 15, 21 and 202-225.
They leave regularly, so that every 10-15 minutes there should be a bus leaving. However, you can check timetables online for better planning.
In Malta, you can rent a car to get around by yourself. However, people here kinda ignore signs and road rules. So you have to be an experienced and patient driver. Also, you won’t be much faster than using public buses.
More Malta tips: What to pack for your Malta trip
There can be quite the traffic at rush hours and you’ll be stuck anyway. Cross country buses leave every 30-60 minutes and tickets are affordable.
One way tickets are 1.50€ in winter and 2€ in summer. They are valid for two hours and include interchanging.
To get the best deal for a 5-7 day island getaway and lots of travel around the island, get a 7-day pass for 21€. Another great value can be had with the 12 ride ticket for 15€.
Walking between Sliema and from Spinola Bay in St Julian’s takes a little over an hour, so that’s an easy and scenic option as well.
Taxi rides from the airport to St Julian’s cost around 20€. Make sure you agree on a fixed price before getting into the taxi. It’s better to have one arranged by your hotel (which might then cost 22€) or at the Welcome booth at the airport, where you pre-pay.
There are plenty of fake or not so trustworthy taxis, so don’t just hail any off the side of the road. (Feel free to take a photo of the license plate. If they complain, they might be a tad dogy. I was told that there should be a Y in the plate as a sign of an official taxi.)
Make sure you get your luggage out before the car can drive away (i.e. don’t pay right upon arriving), as apparently that can easily happen as well.
What to do in St Julian’s
Nightlife
If you are looking for animated nightlife and want to do some bar hopping, you gotta make it to Paceville. It is THE place for a great night out in Malta.
Should you travel by yourself and want to hag out with fun people and be shown the best places (with VIP access and included first drinks), join a bar hopping tour.
Entertainment
If you love to knock out a strike and get the ball rolling, then try Eden Super Bowl. It has 20 bowling tracks, a restaurant and you can play other games as well.
For seeing the latest movies (yes, in English), head to the cinema. Eden Cinemas is a multiplex with 13 screens (and the biggest in Malta!) and Dolby 7.1 surround sound.
Despite its relatively small size, St Julians has two casinos, namely The Dragonara and Portomaso. Don’t forget to bring your ID. You gotta prove you’re over 18.
Swimming
Sliema doesn’t have sandy beaches and in St Julian’s they are currently trying to recreate sandy beach. So that’s your chance in case you don’t want to travel far but want to feel sand between your feet.
However, be aware that there are box jellyfish and man-o-wars floating in the bay. Those can be terribly painful if you touch even the slightest part.
So read the information boards on the beach in case you need to call for medical help and need to identify the creature.
A great alternative is the sandy beach in St Georges Bay. It has received the blue flag, which means it’s safe to swim.
Dining
There are plenty of spots to eat out in town. A great place for seafood restaurants and Asian cuisine can be found along St Julian’s Bay. Taste fresh mussels and clams at Barracuda Restaurant.
For a chic ambience, enter Intercontinental Malta’s restaurant the Waterbiscuit. You will feel like a million bucks in this restaurant made from glass, marble and slate. Foodies with a sweet tooth should order the pear and almond pavé with blackberry gel for a heavenly treat.
Japanese cuisine is great at Madoka Restaurant. The okonomiyaki portions are rather huge and super tasty and with a modern twist, not the classical Osaka okonomiyaki.
Delicious Italian cuisine is served at Peperoncino. The signature dish is the chicken breast on pasta with spicy sundried tomato sauce. Or give the homemade Potato Gnocchi with Porcini Mushroom and Walnut sauce a try.
Where to Stay
If you have a small budget but want to check out hotels in St Julian’s Malta, check out Spinola Hotel. Spinola Bay is incredibly pretty and you can enjoy seaside views from you hotel rooms.
These also include wifi, air conditioning, LED TV, a minibar with complimentary breakfast. On sunny days, you can take it in the outdoor courtyard. Check details here.
From be.HOTEL the beach of St George’s Bay is only 200m away and you can bask in the sun and ocean breeze on top of the hotel (11th floor) at the terrace and outdoor pool.
The hotel room interior is tastefully modern with air conditioning, wifi, HD TV and en suite bathroom. The hotel itself is located in a large shopping complex that includes shops, a bowling alley massage parlours, family entertainment and restaurants. See the hotel here.
Do you prefer independence when you travel? How about a self-catering apartment then? At Hub Apartments you get beautiful rooms with your own kitchen stocked with oven, toaster, fridge and kettle. The design is held in monochrome colours for a modern feel.
The apartment is only 1km away from Balluta Bay and St.George’s Bay. Right in the vicinity, you can treat yourself to a restaurant visit for lazy nights out. The owner runs the shop next door, in case you need to stock up on supplies. View the property here.
Your cheapest option and perfect for backpackers is Inhawi Boutique Hostel. Here, you can mingle with fellow travelers by the outdoor pool. Check in is possible until midnight at the 24h reception and you only have to walk 10 minutes to get to the beach. Secure your dorm bed now.
Tell me: Would you stop by St Julian’s for a night out in Malta?
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Ryan K Biddulph says
Good add on car rental Annemarie. I drive in most places but carefully, and think twice if locals largely ignore traffic rules. Better to find different ways around versus stressing behind the wheel.
Annemarie says
Hi Ryan, yeah, the car situation was rather… interesting. I thought people should know upfront.