Malta It is a great vacation destination. It is about a two and a half hour direct flight from Israel, it has a rich history and culture, a developed culinary tradition and of course the sea and lots of sun in the summer. Add to that very reasonable prices and you will discover a perfect destination.
Still not convinced? Then I recommend you watch this short video:
I guess after watching this video you'll want to run out and buy plane tickets (personally I highly recommend Xplorer) And now the question remains: Where should you look for a hotel in Malta?
It's good that you asked! It was precisely to answer this question that I created this article.
Where is it recommended to look for a hotel in Malta?
The short answer to this question is: It depends on what you are looking for. Now let’s move on to the slightly more detailed answer…
I have visited Malta several times for work, and in 2018 I moved there to live. What I discovered is that while Malta offers something for everyone, not every place in Malta offers the same “something.” So the most important decision for you (even before you book a hotel) will be to decide what type of vacation you prefer and from that to derive the location of your hotel.
This may sound a bit complicated, but it's really not that complicated, as you'll basically have to decide between 3 main locations: Valletta (the capital of Malta), St. Julian's, and Sliema. Each of these locations has its advantages and disadvantages, and to help you decide, here's some information about each of these locations.
Valletta – the place for culture and history lovers
If you, like me, love history, culture and architecture, then there is no doubt that Valletta is the place to look for a hotel. Valletta was built in the 16th century as a fortified city and is undoubtedly one of the most special cities in Europe. You will find a wide variety of museums, palaces and gardens alongside shops, restaurants and cafes.
Another advantage of Valletta for culture lovers is its location. Just across the bay are the three beautiful ancient cities of Sangla, Cospicua and Birgu, which can be easily reached by ferry or a gondola-like boat called the Luzzu.
If you want to go out and explore the other charming cities of Malta, such as Mdina , then you will be happy to know that Malta's central station is located near the gates of Valletta. You can get anywhere in Malta by taking the buses there. True, the buses can be a bit slow and crowded, but they are cheap (1.5 euros per trip and you can take as many buses as you want within an hour and a half of the time you buy your ticket) and will eventually get you to your destination.
Recommended hotels in Valletta
Hotel Castille
Hotel Castille is a 5-minute walk from Valletta's main square. Housed in a 16th-century building, it has all the luxuries and comforts of a modern hotel, including, of course, air-conditioned rooms. For more information.
Palazzo Ignazio
4-star hotel located about 2 km from Medasia Beach. There is a bar, jacuzzi and free Wi-Fi in the rooms. Buffet or continental breakfast, and there is also a sauna. For more information.
Osborne Hotel
A 5-star hotel with a rooftop pool and stunning views, a XNUMX-minute walk from St. John's Co-Cathedral. There is also an elegant bar and restaurant, which also has a vegetarian menu. For more information.
If History and culture of Malta Looking at you then Volta is the place for you. I recommend you go to the article Recommended hotels in Volta And choose a 17th-century palazzo to live in to complete the cultural experience.
St. Julian's – Malta's party and family capital
St. Julian's is the ultimate destination for two completely different types of travelers.
The first type are families with children Those looking for hotels with a pool, beach and various activities for the whole family. All of these and more can be found in St. Julian's. Also, all of the most popular family activities in Malta (sailing to Gozo, swimming in the Blue Lagoon, etc.) depart from St. Julian's, which is a big advantage.
The second type of person who will want to live in St. Julian's are the party people. Here you will find a very long line of pubs and nightclubs of various types (especially around Paceville Street). If you also feel like spending your money at a faster pace, you can gamble at the Dragonara Casino or the Portomaso Casino, which are also located in St. Julian's. In short, if you like non-stop action, then St. Julian's is definitely the place for you.
On second thought, there are two other types of people who would really like St. Julian's. The first type are the traditionalists, who are interested in kosher food. The reason for this is that the Chabad House is in St. Julian's, and beyond Shabbat meals, it offers kosher food every day, and it's not bad at all in its restaurant.
The last to prefer St. Julian's are people in the gaming or fintech industry, who come to the various conferences in Malta (such as SigmaShuttles depart from St. Julian's to the conference venue, as well as to the networking events that take place there in the evenings.
Recommended hotels in St. Julian's, Malta
be.HOTEL
A short walk from St. George's Bay, with a large panoramic pool and stunning views from the rooftop, there are plenty of amenities here, including a beauty salon, shops and a family entertainment center - so this is definitely an excellent hotel for families visiting Malta. For more information.
Alexandra Hotel
Right in the centre of St Julian's, the Alexandra Hotel (3 stars) offers quick and easy access to Paceville, where all the restaurants, bars and clubs are. If you're into gambling, the casino is less than a 10-minute walk away. There's a rooftop pool, bar and great views. For more information.
Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel
A hotel located right on the beach, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, and a rooftop pool. All rooms are air-conditioned and have balconies, a minibar and a TV. There is also an indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi and gym. Less than a kilometer from the casino, for gambling enthusiasts, and located in the heart of the bustling Paceville area. For more information.
If you consider yourself part of one of the groups I mentioned earlier, St. Julian's is undoubtedly the place to look for a hotel. If you are interested in more recommendations, you are welcome to visit the article Recommended hotels in St. Julian's.
Sliema – Enjoy the best of both worlds
If you're having a hard time deciding, and you're both a culture enthusiast and a party animal who wants a relaxing vacation by the pool, Salima is the place for you.
The town of Sliema, where I lived, is halfway between St. Julian's and Valletta. The hotels there are mostly very modern and have pools and spas, so you can definitely have an excellent vacation there. There are not bad restaurants here - and lots of them.
The best part is that it's easy to get anywhere from Sliema. You can get to Valletta by bus or by ferry, which takes about 5 minutes to cross the bay. You can get to St. Julian's by bus or even on foot (it's about a 20-minute walk along the beach).
Recommended hotels in Sliema
AX The Palace
If you're looking to go all out with your vacation, try AX The Palace – a five-star hotel with a rooftop spa and an amazing pool overlooking the sea. Spacious, air-conditioned rooms, two restaurants (Asian and Mediterranean) and a stunning view. For more information.
Hotel George
A very cute 3-star hotel with air-conditioned rooms and free Wi-Fi. The non-smoking hotel is a 4-minute walk from Fond Ghadir Beach, and not far from other beaches such as Qui-Si-Sana and Exiles Beach. For more information.
Marea Boutique Hotels
An eco-friendly hotel that is more of a guesthouse than a hotel, really. It is about a 10-minute walk from Fond Ghadir Beach. The units here are air-conditioned, and there is a continental breakfast, although most guests will be happy to know that there is also a kitchenette, which includes a microwave. For more information.
Prices in Sliema can sometimes be even cheaper than in St. Julian's, which adds a few more points of merit to the option of taking a hotel in this town. So if all of this has convinced you to live there, you are welcome to enter the article Recommended hotels in Sliema.
2 more places to live in Malta
So far I have reviewed for you the main places where a large part of the tourists usually live. However, there are two other places that are quite popular among tourists. Since I have not lived in these places, I will only write about them briefly and perhaps in the future I will dedicate an entire article to them.
Saint Paul's Bay
This is a favorite area for many traveling families because it offers a belly-to-back vacation, similar to St. Julian's but is slightly cheaper. In my opinion, the place has two disadvantages. The first is the fact that the area is pretty dead in any season that is not summer (unlike Malta, for example, where there is something to do in all seasons of the year). The second disadvantage is the location in the north of Malta, relatively far from the most interesting places in Malta (Valletta, Mdina, etc.).
If these shortcomings don't bother you, you are welcome to enterLink this And choose a hotel for you.
Gozo
Gozo is a lovely island that I have only visited once, and even then only for a few hours. None of this stopped me from falling in love with it and wanting to spend a nice weekend there. When I do, I will write about hotels on this island and give you recommendations. Until then, if you have decided to live on the island of Gozo, you are welcome to enter Link to this And choose a hotel for yourself (and if you did this and enjoyed the hotel, you are welcome to write to me and tell me about your experience).
You found a hotel in Malta and now you're looking for something to do?
Excellent! There are quite a few attractions and activities to do and the selection can be a bit confusing. Luckily for you, I have already done the work for you and collected the most worthwhile attractions, which you can read about in the article. What to do in Malta.
January in Malta recommend?
It might be a little cold and rainy, but I don't think it's bad at all. The big advantage would be the affordable prices and the lack of tourists.
The articles are very interesting.
We are planning to travel in the second half of September.
Seems appropriate. Do the tours continue after the season ends?