The Busiest vs The Most Peaceful Cities in Malta

A busy or a peaceful town?

Pick your location in Malta based on your preferred pace of life 

Malta’s many cities, towns and villages range from tourist hubs to charming hamlets, and everything in between.

What’s more, each has their own unique character that offers a fresh perspective on Maltese history, traditions and lifestyle.

The places in Malta you choose for your property purchase or your holiday depend on your individual requirements and wish list. Your RE/MAX agent can guide you in narrowing down the right locations in Malta to suit your needs and budget.

Here are three of the island’s busiest towns, and three of the most peaceful, to help you make your choice. 

Busy towns in Malta

With business hubs, shopping centres and popular nightlife hotspots, life in these towns puts you at the heart of the action.

Sliema

Once a quiet fishing town, Sliema today is one of Malta’s most popular tourist destinations.

Sliema’s famous waterfront promenade stretches as far as St Julian’s and is lined with numerous restaurants offering tastes of global cuisine as well as delicious local fare. Gelaterias and coffee houses are also dotted along the front, inviting passers-by to stop for a leisurely coffee break with friends.

The town is also a favourite for shopping enthusiasts, with a huge selection of retail stores set in vast shopping malls like The Plaza and Tigné Point. There are also boutique stores featuring items by independent designers and souvenirs.

Over summer, Sliema is a popular spot to swim and sunbathe on the rocky beach. The Sliema ferries meanwhile offer a quick and affordable way to travel to the capital city of Valletta across the water.

St Julian’s

At the other end of the long coastal promenade from Sliema is St Julian’s, another busy northern town. This charming area surrounds a small bay, which also features dozens of restaurants and cafes to suit all occasions and tastes.

The Portomaso area of St Julian’s boasts high-end apartment complexes overlooking an exquisite yacht marina. Here you can also explore Paceville, the entertainment and nightlife capital of Malta, which offers a wide variety of bars, restaurants and nightclubs to inspire a great night out on the town. St Julian’s is even home to Malta’s largest cinema complex, a bowling centre and a shopping district, all set against multiple luxury hotels.

Bugibba

This picturesque coastal town is situated between neighbouring towns Qawra and St Paul’s Bay and is a hugely popular tourist resort. The many thousands of visitors to Bugibba each year come here to enjoy a memorable holiday, while staying within easy reach of Maltese cultural landmarks to explore the country further. 

Busy by both day and night, life in Bugibba includes swimming and sunbathing at the local beach clubs or strolling along the wide promenade, before partying through the night at the many bars, nightclubs, bistros, restaurants and casinos in the area.

Malta’s tranquil towns

Staying in a town can still signal peace and quiet. Characterising the island’s unique culture and long history, these areas offer a slower pace of life and a taste of Maltese tranquillity.

Mdina

Nicknamed ‘The Silent City’, Malta’s former capital city is as quiet by nature as it is by name.

The extraordinary Baroque and Norman stone architecture throughout Mdina – most constructed by the Order of the Knights of St John – has lent a classic and timeless atmosphere to this tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since no cars are allowed in Mdina – except for a small number for residents and emergency vehicles – the cobbled streets offer a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the modern world outside the ancient city gates.

Dingli

One of Malta’s most serene towns, Dingli is set on the highest point in the country along the western coast. The town’s famous cliffs offer majestic coastal landscapes that overlook breathtaking panoramic sea views across to the tiny isle of Filfla.

Peaceful picnics can also be enjoyed in Dingli’s secluded Buskett Gardens, one of Malta’s only woodland areas. You could also quietly explore the magnificent Verdala Palace nearby, the official summer residence of the President of Malta that is often open for public tours.

Birgu

While it may be classed as a city, Birgu – also known as Vittoriosa – is an ideal location in Malta to avoid the crowds.

This charming area on the Grand Harbour boasts stunning views and historic buildings with beautiful architecture. The fortified city is the oldest of The Three Cities, alongside Senglea and Cospicua, and was once the headquarters of the Knights of St John.

Today, Birgu is a boutique town full of tiny restaurants, wine bars and quaint alleyways that are the ideal place to indulge in a brief escape from daily life.

The RE/MAX takeaway

No matter your reasons for visiting or settling in Malta, your RE/MAX agent can help you find the ideal location for your needs. Get in touch today at https://remax-malta.com.