Where to Stay in Malta: Best Areas For Your Travel Preferences

Malta may be small, but where you stay in Malta can still completely shape your visit. Because the island is compact and easy to get around, you really don’t need to change accommodation locations during your trip. But surprisingly, each area of the island has a different feel. Whether you’re seeking a historic city stay, a quieter harbor neighborhood, or a beach-focused hub, Malta has it all to offer.

This guide breaks down where to stay in Malta based on the kind of trip you want to have. For each area, I’ve included accommodation recommendations to help with your planning.

Where to Stay in Malta: An Overview

Before getting into specific areas to stay in Malta, it helps to remember just how small Malta is. The entire island is only about 316 square kilometers (122 square miles), which means you’re never very far from anything else. In practical terms, you can cross the island from north to south in about an hour, depending on traffic.

Because of its small size, where you stay in Malta is less about logistics and more about the kind of experience you want.

If you don’t rent a car and plan to rely on buses, taxis, or ferries, there are some central bases that make things much easier (especially Valletta and Sliema). These tend to give you the best access to transport links and day-to-day convenience.

If you do rent a car, you have more flexibility and can choose a base by atmosphere preference, whether that’s a historic city, a quieter waterfront area, or a beach resort-focused stay in the north of the island.

And of course, in addition to the areas I highlight in this guide, there are still other areas to consider, such as Mdina/Rabat for a truly center island location, with amazing history at your doorstep, or the island’s southern end (such as Marsaskala or Marsaxlokk) for fishing villages and beautiful swimming coves.

One other thing to consider related to Malta’s size is timing. If you’re only in Malta for less than a week, I’d generally recommend staying in one base, somewhere in the center of the island. But if you have more than a week, splitting your stay between two areas can give you a nice contrast, and save you from driving back and forth as you visit different sites.

Valletta (Best Overall for First-Time Visitors Without a Car)

If it’s your first time in Malta and you’re not renting a car, Valletta is often the best place to start. It’s the capital, but it feels more like a compact historic city than a large urban center you might expect in a country’s capital.

In Valletta, walking is often easier than driving (through, don’t sleep on its hills). Shops, restaurants, and bus lines are only minutes out your door, and the entire experience feels layered with history, architecture, and breathtaking views over the water to the north, east, and south.

Valletta is where you’ll find some of Malta’s best museums, cultural sites, and restaurants, all within a very small area. It’s one of the most practical bases if you don’t want to rent a car, because public transport connections are nearby and ferries connect you easily to other parts of the island as well as Gozo.

One thing to be aware of is cruise ship traffic. During summer especially, Valletta can feel busy since cruise ships dock in the harbor, but early mornings and evenings are usually much quieter and more atmospheric once cruise travelers have left. If you’re curious whether cruise ships will be present during your stay, you can check here.

Where to Stay in Valletta:

• The Phoenicia Malta (5-star; just outside Valletta’s walls; one of the nicest hotels in Malta)
• The Gomerino Hotel (4-star; rooftop pool with views over the Grand Harbor)
• Casa Asti (3-star; steps from Upper Barrakka gardens)

The Three Cities (Best for an Authentic, Local Feel)

Across the harbor from Valletta are the Three Cities – Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua. This area feels noticeably more local than Valletta, while just a quick ferry ride away. It has the same historic character as Valletta, but with fewer crowds and a slower, more lived-in feel of day-to-day life.

This is where I stayed on my first visit to Malta, and where my grandpa grew up (Cospicua, to be exact). Whether you choose Cospicua, Birgu, or Senglea, you’ll have incredible views of the harbor and easy access via a short ferry ride across the harbor. It’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion.

In this corner of Malta, you’ll notice small grocery stores, residential streets, and a quieter pace of life. It feels like you’re seeing Malta beyond the visitor-heavy areas. Still, there are plenty of eateries, especially along the waterfront.

You don’t need a car for a stay in the Three Cities, but I do think it makes for an easier stay. Ferries and buses (and taxis) make it possible to get around, but having a car can give you more flexibility if you plan to explore further without relying on transportation schedules. Plus, since this is a less touristed area, street parking is relatively easy to find.

Where to Stay in the Three Cities:

• Cugo Gran Macina (5-star, Senglea; rooftop pool with sweeping harbor views)
• IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina Malta (4-star, Birgu; beautifully restored with an impressive military history)
• Casa Birmula Boutique Hotel (3.5-star, Cospicua; 17th-century building with convenient ferry access)

Sliema (Best for Convenience and Easy Access)

Sliema is one of the most practical places to stay in Malta, especially if you plan to visit different areas of the island and want to stay in one central location, with plentiful restaurants and shopping.

Sliema is a modern coastal town, and the most densely populated place on Malta. It has a long waterfront promenade, and a wide range of hotels and apartments to choose from for your stay.

One of Sliema’s biggest advantages is connectivity. You can take a ferry directly to Valletta in just a few minutes, and buses make it easy to reach other parts of the island. Stay

Sliema doesn’t have the same historic feel as Valletta or the Three Cities, but it makes up for it in convenience and modern amenities.

While Valletta and Sliema are both great, central locations for visitors without a car, you should choose Sliema if you want a central location with more modern comforts (and beautiful views of Valletta across the harbor).

Where to Stay in Sliema:

• Verdi Gzira Promenade (4-star; located along the strand with multiple pools, several services)
• Courtyard Marriott Sliema (4-star; seafront location, rooftop pool, centrally located)

Just north of Sliema, you might consider St. Julian’s. I’d personally recommend Sliema over St. Julian’s, but if you’re looking for a more energetic, youthful vibe (with plenty of nightlife to go with it), you might consider St. Julian’s or Paceville. If so, check out The Westin Dragonara Resort (5-star; private beaches and waterfront pools with a full resort-like experience).

Mellieha & Golden Bay (Best for Beaches)

If beaches are a priority on your Malta visit, the northern part of Malta is where you’ll want to look.

While you’re never very far from the water anywhere on Malta, much of the island is rocky. If you want a traditional beach experience with sandy shores, the northern end of the island is your spot. This includes Mellieha and nearby bays such as Golden Bay.

Golden Bay especially has more of a resort feel compared to central Malta, and things are generally quieter and more spread out in all of the northern part of the island (though this is always shifting with ongoing construction all over the island).

Without a doubt, this is the area of Malta you’ll want to base in if your trip is focused on swimming, relaxing, and spending time by the water. As a bonus, you’ll be closer to ferry and boat services to the Blue Lagoon and Gozo, for additional water-based day trips.

Having a car can be helpful here, but it’s still possible to manage without one depending on where you stay and how much you plan to move around.

Where to Stay in Mellieha & Golden Bay:

• Radisson Blu Resort & Spa (5-star; on Golden Bay, for beautiful sandy beach days right out your door)
• Lure Hotel & Spa (4-star; adults only; located in Mellieha town, walkable to shops and eateries)

Gozo (Best for a Slower Island Escape)

This is a bit of a wildcard, since Gozo isn’t on Malta island, but rather, it’s Malta’s sister island to the north. Still, Gozo is worth considering for your visit to Malta, especially if you’re visiting for more than a week, or if you’re seeking a slower place alogether.

Although Gozo seems like it’s quickly developing, it still feels like a different rhythm entirely from Malta island. And while quieter corners are getting tougher to find on Malta, they’re fairly easy to come by on Gozo.

Gozo overall is quieter, greener, and more rural than Malta island, with small villages, dramatic coastal cliffs, and a slower pace of life altogether.

It’s the kind of place where you can really slow down and structure your days differently.

Most visitors to Gozo stay in or around Victoria, or smaller coastal locales depending on whether they want convenience or scenery.

If this is your first visit to Malta and you’re staying less than a week, I wouldn’t recommend staying on Gozo (instead, take a day trip). But staying in Gozo works really well if you’re staying a bit longer, or if you’ve visited Malta before and want something more restful.

Where to Stay on Gozo:

• Casa Gemelli Boutique Guesthouse(3-star, Victoria; centrally located in town, at the foot of the Citadel)
• Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (5-star, San Lawrenz; resort with multiple pools and restaurants, expansive gardens)
• Blu Waters Boutique Hotel (3-star, Xlendi; sea view balconies, steps from the water and coastal walks)

Closing Thoughts: Where to Stay in Malta

With Malta being such a small island country, trust that no matter where you choose to stay, you should be able to see many other areas of the country, especially if you’re visiting Malta for more than a few days.

Still, Valletta and Sliema are my picks if you don’t have a rental car and it’s your first visit to Malta. Choose Valletta if you love history and culture immersion, or pick Sliema if you’re looking for modern conveniences with beautiful coastal views. If you want something quieter but still close to the action, the Three Cities offer a more local, lived-in alternative just across the harbor. For a beach-focused trip, staying in the northern part of Malta, with its beautiful sandy beaches. And finally, if you like the idea of visiting Malta but want to venture a bit off the regular tourist path, consider a stay on nearby Gozo.