Sliema and St Julian’s run along the eastern coast of Malta, between Valletta to the south and the north-coast resorts to the north. The road network here is dense and one-way-laden, which makes driving slower than the distance suggests. The good news is that two of the four main approaches do not involve driving at all.
From the airport
- Bus X2 runs direct from the airport to St Julian’s and Paceville, around 45 minutes, €2.50 one way (€2 on a Tallinja card). Departures every 30 minutes from 05:30 to 23:00. The bus stops at the lower terminal level.
- Bolt is the more practical option for groups or late arrivals: €15 to €25 depending on demand and time of day. Cheaper than the fixed-price airport taxi rank, which charges €25 for the same route.
- Airport taxi rank is €25 fixed price to Sliema or St Julian’s, paid at the kiosk before the rank.
From Valletta
The Sliema-Valletta ferry is the fast option: 5 minutes, €1.50 one way, every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 22:00 (later in summer). It docks at Sliema Strand Wharf, 5 minutes’ walk from the Tower Road residential strip. The same ferry covers the return journey on the same ticket if bought as a return (€2.80).
Bus #13 from Valletta City Gate to Sliema runs every 10 to 15 minutes, takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, costs €2.50. Useful only when the ferry is suspended (occasionally in winter storms).
Driving from Valletta takes 20 minutes off-peak and up to 45 in evening rush hour, plus the cost of parking.
From the north (Mellieha, Cirkewwa, Gozo)
- Bus #X1 is the express line from Cirkewwa ferry terminal to Sliema and St Julian’s, around 90 minutes from Cirkewwa, €2.50. Stops at the airport interchange on the way.
- Driving from Mellieha to Sliema takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on time of day. The coast road via Bahar ic-Caghaq is the scenic route; the Mosta-Birkirkara inland road is 5 minutes faster but ugly.
Inside the region: walking and buses
The two towns are continuous along the seafront. From the Tigne Point peninsula in Sliema to the Spinola Bay end of St Julian’s is about 3.5 km of seafront promenade, walkable in 50 minutes at a normal pace. This is the genuinely good walk in the region; do it once at golden hour.
For shorter trips:
- Bus #225 runs along the seafront from Sliema to St Julian’s, every 15 to 20 minutes, €2.50.
- Bolt within the area is €5 to €9. Cheaper than the bus for two or more passengers.
Parking
Sliema and St Julian’s are among the hardest places in Malta to park.
- MCP Sliema Strand car park, on Tower Road near the ferry, €1.40 per hour, €15 per 24 hours. The most reliable option.
- MCP Spinola in St Julian’s, underground, €15 per day, often full on weekends.
- Street parking is theoretically possible in Sliema (free, no metered zones) but realistically you will circle for 20 minutes to find a spot. Worse in Paceville.
If you arrive with a rental car for a long stay, the practical pattern is to park it for the duration and use ferries, buses, and Bolt around Malta. Bringing it out daily is more friction than it saves.
Accessibility
The Sliema seafront promenade is wide, flat, and step-free, the most wheelchair-friendly stretch of public space in Malta. The Sliema-Valletta ferry has level boarding from the Strand Wharf. Many of the hotels along Tower Road have ramped or level entrances; the older Tigne Point area has more steps. The narrow streets behind the seafront are car-clogged and can be hard to navigate by wheelchair or with strollers; stay along the promenade where possible.