St Julian's at a Glance
St Julian's — or San Giljan in Maltese — is the beating heart of Malta's tourist economy. Sitting on a string of small bays just north of Sliema, it manages to pack four very different personalities into a compact area: the picture-postcard charm of Spinola Bay's fishing boats, the polished wealth of Portomaso Marina, the family-friendly calm of Balluta Bay, and the relentless noise machine of Paceville.
For visitors, St Julian's is the default base: the hotels are excellent, the restaurant density is the highest on the island, and getting to Valletta, Sliema or the northern beaches is straightforward. For people considering living here, it offers the most urban lifestyle Malta has — walkable, dense, cosmopolitan — though the weekend noise from Paceville is a genuine consideration depending on exactly where you are based.
The St Julian's dining guide covers the restaurant scene in depth. This article is the full area guide — neighbourhoods, activities, hotels, nightlife, shopping, gyms and transport.
The Four Neighbourhoods
Spinola Bay
Spinola Bay is the most photographed spot in St Julian's: a small, almost enclosed bay ringed by colourful fishing boats (luzzus) and restaurant terraces. The water is calm, the light at sunset is extraordinary, and it is genuinely one of the most beautiful urban waterfront scenes in the Mediterranean. During the day it is quiet; in the evenings it fills up with diners and people strolling between restaurants.
This is the part of St Julian's that most resembles a traditional Maltese fishing village — though the surrounding buildings are a reminder that this impression is largely preserved by luck rather than planning. The restaurants here tend to focus on atmosphere and seafood, and some offer terrace tables barely two metres from the water.
Balluta Bay
Balluta Bay sits just north of Spinola and is the most liveable part of St Julian's. The bay has a proper sandy and rocky beach, calm enough for children, with clear water that is typically awarded Blue Flag status in summer. The Balluta Square behind it — with its distinctive Art Deco-influenced building — is a pleasant open space surrounded by cafes and restaurants at street level.
This is where many of St Julian's longer-term residents and expats prefer to be based: close enough to the action, but far enough from the Paceville noise. Accommodation here is predominantly apartments and smaller boutique hotels rather than the large resort properties.
Paceville
Paceville is Malta's entertainment district, concentrated along St George's Road, High Street and the streets feeding into Bay Street Complex. By day it is unremarkable — a tangle of streets with bars, fast food outlets, tattoo parlours and kebab shops. By night, from roughly 10pm, it transforms into the loudest place on the island.
The clubs, bars and open-air venues here serve a predominantly young crowd (18–30), with significant numbers of British and other European tourists mixed with Maltese locals. Music — typically chart hits, electronic and R&B — spills out of doors until well past 4am on Friday and Saturday nights. This is not subtle nightlife. It is loud, crowded, and in places rowdy. Parts of it can feel rough after 2am.
That said, for what it is, Paceville delivers. The concentration of venues means there is always something open, and the sheer energy of the place on a busy night is hard to replicate elsewhere on the island. Just go in with realistic expectations. For a deeper look at Malta's nightlife scene, our Malta nightlife guide covers it thoroughly.
Portomaso Marina
Portomaso is St Julian's upmarket alter ego — a purpose-built marina development anchored by the Hilton Malta, the Portomaso Casino, and a ring of restaurants and bars overlooking private berths. Superyachts are a regular sight in summer. The architecture is modern and polished, and the whole complex has a manicured, almost resort-like atmosphere that sets it distinctly apart from the rest of St Julian's.
The marina walkway is open to the public and is excellent for an evening stroll — particularly looking back across the water to the illuminated apartment towers. The restaurants here tend toward Mediterranean fine dining and international cuisine, with prices to match. The casino is open most evenings and draws a mix of tourists and regulars.
Best Things to Do in St Julian's
Watch the Sunset from Spinola Bay
There is a reason every Malta travel photographer ends up at Spinola Bay at golden hour. The combination of the coloured fishing boats, the terracotta buildings and the low Mediterranean light is close to perfect. Arrive around 30 minutes before sunset and take up a position on the far side of the bay (opposite the main restaurants) for the best angle. Entry is free — just bring a camera and patience for the other photographers.
Walk the Portomaso Marina
The marina walkway at Portomaso is open to all and takes around 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. In the evening it is particularly attractive, with the boats lit up and the casino glowing across the water. Combine it with a drink or dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants for a very pleasant couple of hours. The Malta for couples guide rates this as one of the island's best evening options.
Swim at Balluta Bay
Balluta Bay is one of the more accessible swimming spots in the St Julian's area — a mix of sand and flat rocks, with calm and clear water. It gets busy in July and August, so arrive before 10am for a good spot. There are lidos (private beach clubs) on either side of the bay charging around €10–15 per day for a sunbed; the central section is free access from the rocks.
Try the Portomaso Casino
The Portomaso Casino is one of two proper casinos in Malta (the other being the Oracle Casino in Bugibba). It is a smart, well-run operation spread across two floors, with table games (roulette, blackjack, poker) and slots. Dress code is smart-casual; ID is required. Entry is free. You do not have to gamble — plenty of people go just for the bar and the atmosphere.
Take the Coastal Walk to Sliema
The promenade connecting St Julian's and Sliema is one of Malta's finest walks — flat, scenic, and lined with sea views the whole way. From Spinola Bay to Sliema Ferries takes around 25 minutes on foot. Do it in both directions at different times of day: the morning light on the Valletta side is beautiful, and the return leg at dusk even more so. See the Sliema restaurant guide for dining options once you arrive.
Day Trips from St Julian's
St Julian's is an excellent base for day trips. Valletta is 20 minutes by bus; Mdina around 35 minutes. The ferry to Gozo departs from Cirkewwa in the north — allow around 45 minutes by bus, then 25 minutes on the ferry. Most of Malta's main tourist sites are easily reached without a car.
Where to Stay in St Julian's
Luxury Hotels
InterContinental Malta — St George's Bay
The InterContinental is one of Malta's largest and best-appointed five-star hotels, set directly on St George's Bay with its own private beach lido. The pool complex is extensive, the rooms are large by Maltese standards, and the service is consistently rated among the island's best. It sits at the southern edge of Paceville, which means access to nightlife is easy — but so is the associated noise if your room faces in that direction.
Westin Dragonara Resort — Dragonara Peninsula
The Westin occupies its own rocky peninsula just north of Paceville, giving it a degree of separation from the nightlife noise while remaining within easy walking distance. The setting is dramatic — surrounded by sea on three sides — and the hotel has multiple pools, a casino and direct access to swimming platforms cut into the rock. The Dragonara Casino here is the older of St Julian's two casinos.
Hilton Malta — Portomaso
The Hilton at Portomaso is the most quietly positioned of the three luxury options — at the northern end of St Julian's, away from Paceville entirely. It connects directly to the marina and the casino, making it the best choice if you want the luxury experience without nightlife proximity. The rooms are modern and the marina-facing views are superb.
Mid-Range Options
The Balluta Bay area has a good range of mid-range hotels and apartment-hotels. Expect to pay €80–150/night for a well-positioned double room in a decent three-star property. Advantages: closer to the swimming beach, calmer neighbourhood, and generally better value than the resort hotels. The downside is less facilities — no pools or private beach in most cases.
Self-catering apartments in St Julian's are widely available through the usual platforms. A one-bedroom apartment in Balluta or Spinola Bay runs roughly €1,200–1,800/month for long stays. Short-term rates in summer can be considerably higher.
Best Restaurants for Atmosphere and Views
The full St Julian's dining guide covers the restaurant scene in comprehensive detail — this section focuses specifically on spots where the setting and views are part of the experience.
Browse all St Julian's restaurants on HubpyMalta's St Julian's restaurant directory — over 200 venues with ratings and categories.
Spinola Bay Waterfront
The restaurants lining Spinola Bay offer some of the most atmospheric outdoor dining in Malta. Tables on the lower terraces are literally at water level — you can watch the luzzus bobbing a few metres away. The trade-off is that these tables are in high demand in summer, so booking several days ahead is essential for prime positions. The menus tend toward Mediterranean seafood and Italian, with prices in the €35–60 per person range for a full dinner with wine.
Portomaso Marina Dining
The restaurants around Portomaso cater to a smarter crowd and price accordingly. The view across the marina to the yachts, especially in the evening, is genuinely special. Expect contemporary Mediterranean cooking, good wine lists and professional service. Budget €50–80+ per person for a proper dinner. Worth it for a special occasion.
St George's Bay Hotel Restaurants
The large hotels — particularly the InterContinental — have restaurants with elevated views over the bay. Non-guests are welcome at most. These tend to be buffet-heavy international menus at the lower end and more interesting signature restaurants at the top; quality varies considerably. The main advantage is the vista and the professional service.
For casual eating, the streets behind Paceville have a dense cluster of pizza, burger and kebab spots at €8–15 per person. Late-night options here run until 4–5am on weekends.
Paceville Nightlife — An Honest Assessment
Malta's nightlife scene is covered in full in the Malta nightlife guide, but since Paceville is so central to St Julian's, it deserves honest coverage here.
What Paceville is Like
Paceville is the kind of nightlife district that exists in every Mediterranean beach country: concentrated, functional, and not particularly glamorous. It serves its purpose extremely well if you are 18–30, enjoy club music at high volume, and want to spend the night moving between venues with friends. It serves that purpose poorly if you are expecting anything sophisticated.
The main strip along St George's Road and Bay Street picks up from around 9pm with bars and pre-club drinking. Clubs typically open at midnight and hit their peak between 1am and 3am. On Friday and Saturday in summer (June–September), the streets are genuinely packed. The crowd is overwhelmingly young; a significant proportion are British and Irish tourists on short breaks, mixed with Maltese locals and expat residents.
Noise and Practical Realities
The noise is significant. Club music and crowd noise carries well into the surrounding streets and reaches much of the Balluta and Spinola Bay areas on busy nights. If you are in St Julian's on a summer weekend and your accommodation is within 500 metres of Bay Street, you will hear it until at least 3am — possibly 4am.
Security in Paceville has improved considerably in recent years following coverage in the Times of Malta about incidents in the area. Most venues now have professional door staff. That said, the combination of alcohol, large crowds and the 2–4am window means incidents do occur. Travel smart: keep valuables secure, do not leave drinks unattended, and use official taxis or ride-hail apps rather than unlicensed drivers at the end of the night.
Best Venues
Specific venue recommendations date quickly given the high turnover in Paceville. The Bay Street complex is a useful anchor — it houses multiple bars and clubs under one roof and is generally well-managed. For live music, check listings in advance as local bands and international DJs rotate regularly. The official Visit Malta page for St Julian's lists current events.
Shopping and Gyms
Shopping
St Julian's is not primarily a shopping destination — that role belongs to Sliema's The Point mall, a 20-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride away. Within St Julian's itself, the shopping options are mostly small independent boutiques, souvenir shops and convenience stores. Bay Street Complex has a handful of retail units on its lower floors.
For serious shopping, head to The Point in Sliema (Malta's largest mall, a 20-minute walk from Spinola Bay along the coastal path) or the Arkadia superstore in Valletta Road for supermarket shopping.
Gyms and Fitness
St Julian's has a good selection of gyms for a town of its size, reflecting the large number of health-conscious young professionals and digital nomads in the area. Several international gym chains operate here, along with independent studios. Day passes are typically available for €10–15. The hotel gyms at the InterContinental and Hilton Malta are well-equipped and occasionally available to non-guests for a fee.
Yoga studios and pilates classes are also well represented — check local social media groups (the St Julian's expat community is active on Facebook) for current studio recommendations, as these change more rapidly than gyms.
Getting There and Getting Around
From Malta Airport
Malta International Airport is in Luqa, roughly 15km south of St Julian's. Options:
- Bus: Routes X2 and 13 connect the airport to St Julian's directly. Journey time around 40–55 minutes. Cost: approximately €2 with a Tallinja card, €3 single without. Buses run frequently during daylight hours, less so after 10pm.
- Taxi / ride-hail: Around €20–25, 25–35 minutes depending on traffic. The eCabs and Bolt apps work well in Malta and are generally more reliable than hailing from the rank.
- Car hire: Generally not recommended if you are basing yourself in St Julian's — parking is very limited and expensive, and public transport covers all the main tourist destinations adequately.
From Valletta
Buses 14, 15 and 16 connect Valletta bus terminus to St Julian's frequently throughout the day. Journey time around 20–25 minutes. Walking is not practical (too far and no coastal route), but the bus connection is fast enough that it rarely feels like a barrier.
Walking from Sliema
Sliema and St Julian's are directly adjacent. The coastal promenade walk from Sliema Ferries to Spinola Bay takes around 20–25 minutes on flat ground. It is one of the nicest walks in Malta and a genuine pleasure at sunrise or sunset. No bus is needed for most journeys between the two areas — just walk.
Within St Julian's
St Julian's itself is compact and very walkable. From Balluta Bay to Portomaso takes around 15 minutes on foot; from Spinola Bay to Paceville around 10 minutes. The main complication is the limited pavement space on some of the busier streets, particularly around St George's Road in Paceville. Driving within St Julian's is best avoided — the streets are narrow and parking is genuinely difficult.
Living in St Julian's
For expats and digital nomads, St Julian's is Malta's most urban neighbourhood by some margin. The combination of walkability, restaurant density, English-language dominance (practically everyone speaks English), and easy transport links makes it the default choice for new arrivals.
The practical upsides: everything is within walking distance, the nightlife (if you want it) is on your doorstep, and you can reasonably function without a car. Coworking spaces have proliferated in recent years alongside the iGaming and tech sector growth.
The downsides to weigh carefully: noise (Paceville on weekends; traffic year-round), rent prices (among Malta's highest — a one-bedroom apartment in a decent building runs €1,200–2,000/month), and a certain transience to the neighbourhood that comes with high tourist footfall. The streets around Paceville can feel tired and unglamorous in daylight.
Families with children tend to prefer quieter options elsewhere on the island — Sliema for urban living with less noise, or the quieter towns in the south and centre for more space. That said, the school options near St Julian's (several international schools operate in the area) and the beach access at Balluta Bay mean some families do settle here successfully.
For a broader picture of living in Malta, the Sliema guide covers the neighbouring area that many find a better long-term base.
Explore St Julian's Restaurants on HubpyMalta
Need Help Deciding?
Ask AI AssistantTake This Guide With You
Get our printable St Julian's neighbourhood map with sunset spots, swimming beaches and transport stops marked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Julian's good for families?
St Julian's is fine for families during the day — Balluta Bay has calm, clear water for swimming, and Spinola Bay is pleasant for a stroll. However, the Paceville district becomes very loud and rowdy from 10pm onwards, so families are better placed in quieter parts of St Julian's or in Sliema nearby.
What is Paceville like?
Paceville is Malta's main nightlife district, concentrated around St George's Road and Bay Street. It has dozens of bars and clubs, gets very crowded from around midnight, and can be noisy and rowdy until 4–5am on weekends. The crowd skews young (18–30). It is best approached with realistic expectations: fun and energetic, but not glamorous.
How do I get to St Julian's from the airport?
From Malta International Airport, take bus X2 or bus 13 directly to St Julian's (approximately 40–55 minutes, around €2 with a Tallinja card). A taxi or ride-hail costs roughly €20–25 and takes 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.
Is Portomaso worth visiting?
Portomaso is one of Malta's smartest addresses — a purpose-built marina development with a casino, several excellent restaurants, and the Hilton Malta. The marina walkway is open to the public and makes for a pleasant evening stroll, even if you are not staying there.
Where should I stay in St Julian's?
For luxury, the InterContinental Malta in St George's Bay and the Westin Dragonara Resort on its own peninsula are the top options. The Hilton Malta at Portomaso is also excellent. Mid-range travellers have good options in Balluta Bay and along St George's Road, with easier access to the beach and less noise than central Paceville.
Is St Julian's walkable from Sliema?
Yes — Sliema and St Julian's are adjacent, connected by a flat coastal promenade. The walk from Sliema Ferries to Spinola Bay takes around 20–25 minutes on foot and is one of the nicest evening strolls in Malta.