Things to Do in Sliema and St Julian's: Promenade and Dining

Plan a seamless coastal day between Sliema and St Julian's with a flat promenade walking route, the best swimming rocks, waterfront dining, and ferry logistics.

Ekin Yalgın

May 31, 2026·6 min read

Things to Do in Sliema and St Julian's: Promenade and Dining

Many visitors get stuck in dense coastal traffic or wander aimlessly trying to figure out where Sliema ends and St Julian's begins. The good news is that the two towns are joined by one continuous seaside promenade, so structuring your day around a single logical walking route saves hours of transit time. Doing so guarantees you hit the best swimming, shopping, and dining spots without the frustration.

This stretch of coast is also one of the easiest parts of Malta to reach by ferry, which keeps you out of the worst rush-hour gridlock. Below is a practical, walk-it-yourself plan covering the route, the swimming spots, where to eat, and how to get around efficiently.

The Sliema to St Julian's Promenade Walking Route

This coastal path is the main artery connecting Malta's commercial hub directly to its dining capital. It offers a completely flat, paved surface that makes navigating between the towns effortless, and the full waterfront promenade actually runs around 7 km if you start back near Gzira. The core Sliema-to-St-Julian's section is roughly 3 km and takes most people 45 to 60 minutes at a relaxed pace.

If you are still deciding where to base yourself for easy access to this walk, where to stay in Malta breaks down which neighbourhoods suit beach days versus nightlife. For wider island logistics, see getting around Malta by public transport.

Starting at Tigne Point and The Strand

Drop off the ferry at The Strand and head east towards Tigne Point. The view of Valletta's golden bastions from the pedestrian bridge here is hard to beat. Tigne Point itself houses The Point, Malta's largest shopping mall, making it a practical stop to grab any missing travel essentials or a quick coffee before starting the walk north.

View across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta's old fortifications toward the Sliema skyline under a cloudy sky in Malta — Marsamxett Harbour separates Valletta's weathered bastions from the modern Sliema waterfront, a crossing the passenger ferry makes in minutes.

Swimming Spots Along the Sliema Coast

Do not expect soft white sand here. Sliema's shoreline is made of wide, flat limestone rocks stretching right to the edge of the deep blue water, which provides a clean base for sunbathing. You will find safe, stainless-steel ladders bolted into the rocks for easy entry straight into the sea.

Popular localised spots include Qui-Si-Sana, Fond Ghadir, and the Roman Baths, a set of rectangular rock-cut pools that offer more sheltered swimming. Bring water shoes, as the rocky edges get slippery near the tideline.

Reaching Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay

Keep walking north along the coast. The landscape shifts as the neo-gothic Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church towers over Balluta Bay, which hides a small patch of sand that appears at lower tides. Just around the corner sits Spinola Bay, a sheltered inlet packed with colourful traditional luzzu fishing boats and home to the popular waterfront LOVE monument. This area marks the official transition from Sliema's retail energy to St Julian's culinary scene.

Traveler walking a flat stone seaside promenade beside calm Mediterranean water on a sunny morning — A leisurely walk along the continuous stone promenade is the easiest way to move between the two coastal towns.

Best Places to Eat and Drink

Knowing which town does what best prevents mediocre meals. Sliema handles the daytime cafe culture, while St Julian's dominates the evening dining.

Seafront Dining in St Julian's

The innermost curve of Spinola Bay offers the highest concentration of quality seafood and Mediterranean dining on this coast. Book a table on an outdoor terrace right on the water's edge to watch the boats. The atmosphere gets busy after 7 PM, so reservations are highly advisable in the warmer summer months to secure a seafront view. Prices and menus vary widely, so check each restaurant's official channels directly before you go.

If you want to lock in a harbourside table or a guided food walk before you arrive, you can compare current options here.

Book a Malta food tour

Quick Bites and Cafes in Sliema

Sliema excels at casual cafe culture and fast, quality grab-and-go options. The small kiosks lining the promenade, locally known as gabbanas, serve espresso, fresh juices, and pastries. Grab a traditional pastizz (a flaky pea or ricotta pastry) from a local vendor and sit on a promenade bench facing the open Mediterranean.

Flaky golden Maltese pastry and espresso held on a sunlit promenade bench facing the open sea — Grabbing a flaky local pastry and an espresso from a promenade kiosk captures the relaxed daytime cafe culture here.

Evening and Nightlife: Where to Go

St Julian's caters to two very different evening crowds, separated by just a few streets.

Paceville for Late-Night Entertainment

Walk just up the hill from St Julian's to find Paceville. This compact grid of neon-lit streets holds almost all of the island's major clubs, late-night bars, and lively pubs. The volume rises significantly after 10:30 PM, attracting an energetic, younger crowd that stays out until the early morning.

Right beside Paceville sits St George's Bay, the only proper Blue Flag sandy beach in the Sliema and St Julian's area, which is handy for a swim before a night out.

Relaxed Evenings Along the Marina

For a quieter, more upscale evening, head down to the Portomaso Marina area. Surrounded by luxury yachts and the Portomaso Business Tower, Malta's tallest building, the bars here focus on craft cocktails and premium wines. The vibe is relaxed and sophisticated, insulated from the loud clubbing scene a few blocks away.

Upscale waterfront marina at dusk with yachts and glowing cocktail bars reflected on calm water — A quieter upscale evening unfolds around the marina, where craft cocktail bars sit beside luxury yachts and glowing lights.

How to Get Around (Transport Tips)

Logistics dictate the success of your day here. Relying solely on road transport during peak hours often wastes time.

Taking the Sliema to Valletta Ferry

The Valletta to Sliema ferry cuts straight across Marsamxett Harbour, avoiding the buses that crawl along the marina in rush hour. The crossing takes about 10 minutes and boats run roughly every 30 minutes through the day. A standard daytime ticket costs €3.00 one way and €5.00 return, with cheaper child fares and a slightly higher night tariff.

It is the most scenic and efficient commute into the capital. For the full crossing detail, the Malta and Gozo ferry covers timetables, fares, and the night tariff.

Find Valletta day trips

Public Buses and Walking Distances

Buses run frequently along the main coastal road on routes 13, 14, and 16, with a single daytime fare of €2.00 that includes free transfers within a 2-hour window. They fill up quickly in peak season and sometimes bypass stops entirely, so walking remains the most reliable method for short hops between Sliema and St Julian's. The flat, paved terrain easily accommodates strollers, wheelchairs, and comfortable walking shoes. If you plan wider exploring, weigh up the trade-offs in our renting a car in Malta guide.

Small passenger ferry crossing a calm harbour toward a distant golden fortified city skyline by day — The short ferry hop across the harbour is the most scenic and efficient way to skip the rush-hour road traffic.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Walking the core promenade from Tigne Point in Sliema to Spinola Bay in St Julian's takes about 45 to 60 minutes at a leisurely pace. The route spans roughly 3 kilometres along a flat, paved coastal path. It is often the most reliable way to travel between the two towns during peak traffic hours.

Sliema's shoreline is made of wide, flat limestone rocks fitted with stainless-steel ladders that drop straight into deep water. Popular spots include Qui-Si-Sana, Fond Ghadir, and the rock-cut Roman Baths, which offer more sheltered swimming. Bring water shoes, as the rocky edges can be slippery near the waterline.

A standard daytime ticket costs €3.00 for a single journey and €5.00 for a return, with reduced child fares and a slightly higher night tariff. The crossing takes about 10 minutes across Marsamxett Harbour. Holders of a personalised tallinja card can travel free, since the ferry is integrated with the public transport network.

St George's Bay in St Julian's is the only proper Blue Flag sandy beach in the area, located right beside Paceville with water sports operators and bars. Balluta Bay has a much smaller stretch of sand that appears depending on the tide. The rest of the coastline is flat limestone rock used for sunbathing and ladder entry.

The innermost curve of Spinola Bay has the highest concentration of waterfront seafood and Mediterranean restaurants. Tables directly on the outdoor terraces usually need advance reservations in summer due to high demand. Plenty of casual options and quick bites also sit slightly further back along the main street, and you should check each venue's official channels for current prices.

Paceville is the main nightlife hub, a compact grid of streets just up the hill from the bays. It holds most of the island's clubs, late-night bars, and pubs, with activity peaking after 10:30 PM. Travellers who prefer a quieter evening tend to choose the cocktail bars around Portomaso Marina instead.

Buses run frequently along the coastal road on routes such as 13, 14, and 16, with a single fare of €2.00 that includes free transfers within two hours. During peak summer months they fill up quickly and sometimes bypass intermediate promenade stops. For the short distance between the two towns, walking is usually faster and more dependable.

Late afternoon or early evening offers the most comfortable conditions, letting you avoid the intense midday heat. This timing also lets you catch golden hour as the light hits the traditional fishing boats in Spinola Bay. The path is well lit after dark, so evening strolls are safe and popular.

One full day is enough to walk the promenade end to end, swim at a couple of spots, and have dinner by the water. Add a second day if you want to combine beach time at St George's Bay with a night out in Paceville. Many visitors base themselves here for several nights and use it as a hub for day trips around the island.

Yes. Daytime buses on routes 13, 14, and 16 connect the two towns, and ride-hailing apps and taxis are widely available. That said, the road hugs the coast and clogs up in peak hours, so the flat promenade walk is frequently quicker over the short distance. E-scooters are another popular option along the path.

Published in

Malta