Carnival in Malta is an important event on the religious calendar, and follows the traditional Catholic Carnival celebration, which literally translated means ‘Meat is allowed’. Fasting during this period is still practised relatively widely by the Maltese, with many avoiding meat and sweats and least on Wednesdays and Fridays. The five Carnival celebration days are normally held in February or early March when all out silliness takes over parts of Malta. This feast is shared by many with the main centre of attraction being the large and brightly coloured floats passing through the streets of Floriana and Valletta.

History of the Malta Carnival

The feast has been celebrated since the 15th century, though the advent of the St. John Knights in 1535 boosted its importance. Back then, Carnival celebrations were held mainly in Birgu, with pageants, games and display of skills by participating knights. Even in those days, Carnival stood for extravagance, where knights held large banquets and masquerades, oftentimes setting the scene for drunken brawls.

In the 19th century, the Malta carnival had survived through the British rule and has been handed down over the years in an unbroken tradition of almost six centuries. In the meantime, Maltese carnival has developed a wide range of events and games that became part of the carnival tradition.

Carnival celebrations  in Malta have come a long way and are still a deeply rooted feast practiced by the Maltese people to date.

How and When Carnival is celebrated in Malta today

The festivities normally includes prolific late-night parties, masked balls, grotesque mask and dress competitions, costumed revellers, marching bands and a colourful parade of large floats. The carnival festival is normally opened with a light-hearted sword dance (Parata Dance) in honour of Malta’s conquest over the Turks in 1565, true to an age-old tradition. What follows is a show of song and dance, as well as a parade of the Carnival floats.

Building Carnival floats has become a true competition with several groups from around the Maltese islands preparing, designing and constructing intricate and brightly coloured floats. Often, high power sound installations are added to these structures to ensure that the float isn’t only the most eye catching one of them all, but also makes their presence known through thumping beats, sometimes with a DJ spinning a set of turntables on the float itself.

The main Carnival celebration takes place in Malta’s capital, Valletta in the freedom square. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes, artistic dances, grotesque masks and floats. Although Valletta and Floriana set the main stage for Carnival celebrations, other localities in Malta and Gozo organise festivities of their own.

The most notable, or in some people’s eyes most notorious, celebration is the Nadur Carnival, which has grown in popularity in recent years. Held in the small village of Nadur, Gozo, this event isn’t organised by any Carnival committee and is a kind of wild celebration where mostly youths gathered, dressed up extravagantly and not particularly concerned with morals and standards, though all in good fun. Every year, the Gozo ferry has a tough time coping with the large demand of Maltese youths flocking to Nadur for what’s practically become one big street party.

Typical Malta Carnival Food

The common foods during this festivity include the Maltese carnival cake Pinjolata, a white dome-shaped cake, prepared with almonds, eggs, special seeds, cake etc and coated with beaten chocolate and meringue, decorated using cherries. Perlini are common sweets also made specifically for the carnival festivity. They are pure almonds coated in sugar of a wide range of colours.

Carnival in Malta is an important event on the religious calendar, and follows the traditional Catholic Carnival celebration, which literally translated means ‘Meat is allowed’. Fasting during this period is still practised relatively widely by the Maltese, with many avoiding meat and sweats and least on Wednesdays and Fridays. The five Carnival celebration days are normally held in February or early March when all out silliness takes over parts of Malta. This feast is shared by many with the main centre of attraction being the large and brightly coloured floats passing through the streets of Floriana and Valletta.

History of the Malta Carnival

The feast has been celebrated since the 15th century, though the advent of the St. John Knights in 1535 boosted its importance. Back then, Carnival celebrations were held mainly in Birgu, with pageants, games and display of skills by participating knights. Even in those days, Carnival stood for extravagance, where knights held large banquets and masquerades, oftentimes setting the scene for drunken brawls. Various Grand Masters attempted to sober up festivities to ensure its core Christian values were not tainted by festivities going out of hand.

In the 19th century, the Malta carnival had survived through the British rule and has been handed down over the years in an unbroken tradition of almost six centuries. In the meantime, Maltese carnival has developed a wide range of events and games that became part of the carnival tradition.

Carnival celebrations  in Malta have come a long way and are still a deeply rooted feast practiced by the Maltese people to date.

How and When Carnival is celebrated in Malta today

The festivity normally includes prolific late-night parties, masked balls, grotesque mask and dress competitions, costumed revellers, marching bands and a colourful parade of large floats. The carnival festival is normally opened with a light-hearted sword dance (Parata Dance) in honour of Malta’s conquest over the Turks in 1565, true to an age-old tradition. What follows is a show of song and dance, as well as a parade of the Carnival floats.

Building Carnival floats has become a true competition with several groups from around the Maltese islands preparing, designing and constructing intricate and brightly coloured floats. Often, high power sound installations are added to these structures to ensure that the float isn’t only the most eye catching one of them all, but also makes their presence known through thumping beats, sometimes with a DJ spinning a set of turntables on the float itself.

The main Carnival celebration takes place in Malta’s capital, Valletta in the freedom square. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes, artistic dances, grotesque masks and floats. Although Valletta and Floriana set the main stage for Carnival celebrations, other localities in Malta and Gozo organise festivities of their own.

The most notable, or in some people’s eyes most notorious, celebration is the Nadur Carnival, which has grown in popularity in recent years. Held in the small village of Nadur, Gozo, this event isn’t organised by any Carnival committee and is a kind of wild celebration where mostly youths gathered, dressed up extravagantly and not particularly concerned with morals and standards, though all in good fun. Every year, the Gozo ferry has a tough time coping with the large demand of Maltese youths flocking to Nadur for what’s practically become one big street party.

Typical Malta Carnival Food

The common foods during this festivity include the Maltese carnival cake Pinjolata, a white dome-shaped cake, prepared with almonds, eggs, special seeds, cake etc and coated with beaten chocolate and meringue, decorated using cherries. Perlini are common sweets also made specifically for the carnival festivity. They are pure almonds coated in sugar of a wide range of colours.

A typical Malta bus in its present day livery

Maltese buses are well known abroad, loved by tourists for the antique types of single decker buses driving around the islands. With the majority of the fleet classified as antique, tourists often marvel at the fact that these vehicles are still in operating condition, whereas the Maltese bemoan their very existence. Being the only mode of public transport on the islands currently, with a network of bus routes reaching most remote villages, many Maltese depend on the bus service on a daily basis.

Malta buses are really something truly unique. Mainly of British manufacture, with marques such as Bedford, AEC, Leyland and Ford, a large number of these buses date back from the 1970s and 1960s, with a few examples from the 1950s.

Love them or hate them, the brightly-coloured Maltese bus has a long history, though a not so very bright future with upcoming public transport reforms.

Malta Public Transport

Buses are the main mode of transport in Malta, and at present a little over 500 buses are in operation. Besides running on scheduled routes, the buses also offer direct and night services, private trips and school transport. Public transport is cheap, relatively efficient though not very popular among the local population, mainly due to outdated route planning (resulting in unncessarily long trips requiring multiple routes to get from one locality to another), outdated and slow buses and sometimes unreliable service (particularly towards the last trips of a day, in more remote areas).

Most tourists, however, consider riding one of these old buses as a true experience and the Malta bus is probably one of the most popularly photographed objects on the Maltese islands.

While Malta’s Public transport buses are yellow in color with an orange horizontal stripe, Gozo buses are grey colored with a red horizontal stripe. The vast majority of the buses start and end their trips at the main terminus in Valletta with a few operating on circular routes. On Gozo, its capital Victoria serves as the main bus terminus of the island.  In various Malta villages and towns, the bus terminus is normally found near or on the main square.

The buses reach every corner of Malta with an average bus trip length being 20 to 30 minutes. The longest trip takes approximately 50 minutes.

History of Malta Buses

Before buses were even visible on Malta roads, the main mode of transport was by Rail (with a single line stretching from Valletta to Rabat and Mdina on the Eastern side of Malta), cabs, and horse-driven lorries. Primitive buses began operating in 1905 and this had a negative effect on the Malta Railway as buses became more popular. In the early 1920s, bus manufacturing took center stage on the Malta Island. In the late 1920s, buses operated on public transport roads and there was great competition between operators.

In 1930 the fleet of buses in Malta counted 385 licensed route buses, several of these owned by the bus drivers themselves. With a high number of operating buses, competition was so fierce that buses were often overloaded and speeding became a regular occurrence, with drivers trying to complete more trips. However, in 1931, the Traffic Control Board was formed bringing in great discipline and regulation in the bus industry. New routes were introduced, with a formalised trip schedule, making the service increasingly efficient and organised.

With more regular and secure income, bus owners now began upgrading their buses to make them more attractive to the public. Since then, customization and decoration of Malta buses became a tradition. Buses were well maintained, kept clean and painted in various colours, depending on their designated route(s).

The 1970 reforms in Malta led to the centralization of bus operations with the formation of the Public Transport Association. The association had the mandate of day-to-day bus operation management.

In 2003, the government launched a scheme in which around 100 buses were scrapped and replaced by modern imported line buses from China. The government lowered the rates for bus tour services and traditional Malta buses were mainly in use. In December 2008, a major proposed streamlining of the ownership and operation of Malta buses was declared and a reform is expected in 2011, in which all of the antique buses will be replaced.

The future: Arriva comes to Malta

Arriva, the leading European train and bus operator is set to take over the Maltese bus service in 2011, after it was the preferred bidder to operate bus services in Gozo and Malta in a government tender. The future plans of Arriva involve replacement of the majority of Malta’s outdated bus fleet. Arriva’s plans to introduce both new and refurbished Euro V rated buses, to improve the comfort of passengers and reduce environmental hazards brought forth by the transport industry.

Although bein retired from service, a  number of the older models will be preserved by local organisations such as Heritage Malta, for display in a transport museum.

If you want to ride on one of the antique Maltese buses in regular service, better catch one of them while you can! They’re expected to be taken out of service in July 2011.

For more information on current bus maps, routes and time tables and other Malta bus related info visit http://www.maltabybus.com/.

At the heart of Vittoriosa, Malta, the Inquisitor’s Palace still stands magnificently; a notorious reminder of a thankfully bygone era. As with other historical locations, the Inquisitor’s Palace with its imposing, albeit distinctly aloof façade is undoubtedly the stuff of legends; the kind our forefathers intricately woven in their storytelling and where the boundary between fact and fiction was constantly blurred. Shrouded in mystery – whoever passed though its door was sworn to secrecy – it fuelled the imagination of the masses, at a time when the Church still ruled supreme and ignorance was rife.

The Roman Inquisition, also known as the Holy Office, originated in 1542, at a time when the Catholic Church all over Europe was in crisis due to the increasingly popular Protestant doctrines. Established by Pope Paul III, its sole purpose was to quell the dissidents of these ‘modern heretical’ teachings. The Inquisition guarded the Catholics against any kind of heretical practice, defection to the Islamic faith, perusal of prohibited literature and any suggestion of witchcraft or sorcery. When established in Malta in 1562, the Holy Office vested the then Bishop Domenico Cubelles (1540- 1566) with the powers of Inquisitor, endowing him with the dual role of both Bishop and Inquisitor.

Officially established in 1574, the Inquisition failed drastically to reconcile the strained relations between the Knights and the Bishop of Malta, which at the time were far from cordial. Instead, it ignited even more conflict by creating the third power, vying ruthlessly for ultimate control over the islands. The Inquisition reigned over the islands for more than two centuries (1574 – 1798) with 62 Inquisitors, all Italian, leaving their indelible mark upon the country and its natives. Apparently, the Holy Office in Malta served a good number of its Inquisitors as a means of advancement in their ecclesiastical career, Twenty-seven became cardinals, and two of them were even elected Popes: Fabio Chigi , Inquisitor from 1634-1639 became Pope Alexander VII (1655-67), while Antonio Pignatelli, Inquisitor from 1646-1649 was elected as Pope Innocent XII in 1691 until his death in 1700.

The Inquisitor’s official residence in Vittoriosa was originally built in the 1530’s to serve as the civil law court of the Order of St John soon after their arrival on the islands in 1530. It served this purpose until 1571 when the Order transferred its headquarters to the new city of Valletta. When the Apostolic Delegate and first Roman Inquisitor in Malta Mgr Pietro Dusina arrived on the islands in 1574, he initially resided in Valletta, but soon deemed it more appropriate to have a palace with a prison attached to it at his complete disposal. The building, also known as Magna Curia Castellania was soon earmarked as the most suitable building for the new Inquisitor’s requirements and was renamed Palazzo Del Sant’ Officio.

Throughout the centuries the building itself was greatly modified and extended to accommodate successive occupants, namely the 62 Inquisitors themselves, who sought to upgrade the palace according to their exigencies, whether real or imaginary. Subsequently, this even led to demolishing or altering sections of the building erected by their immediate predecessors. Their legacy is still apparent today, when in spite of careful restoration and recovering works, the structure still strikes as having been constructed quite haphazardly.

Speculation peppered with an abundant dose of scaremongering as to the horrors inflicted behind its majestic palace doors has consistently thrived throughout the years. Even today, the mere mention of the Inquisitor’s Palace conjures in one’s mind all manner of sadistic and terrifying images. This mostly exaggerated perception was perhaps further fuelled by the secrecy surrounding the procedures and functions of the Holy Office, where not only the accused were bound by very strict oaths of secrecy as to the occurrences inside the palace, but also the Inquisitors and their Ministers. Failing to honor this oath would incur the wrath of Rome in the form of excommunication which only the Cardinal Inquisitors of the Holy Congregation of Rome could remove.

Rumours of atrocious and unspeakable happenings within the Palace’s walls served to ignite the populace’s imagination and instil fear of the Holy Office. Whether these tales were instigated intentionally or not remains unclear, but to a certain extent they served as a sober deterrent for the people to ensure faithful adherence to the Church’s teachings. Undoubtedly, the greatest myth surrounding the Inquisitor’s Palace is the infamous ‘knife-pit’ (bir tas-skieken). It was believed that a pit with blades protruding from its circular wall was used for the execution of inmates; thrown alive, the prisoner would be mercilessly slashed to pieces to die an agonising death on the pit floor. This myth has been perpetuated to such an extent that very few people, locals included, perceive this legend for what it is – a gory myth fabricated throughout the ages by our ancestors.

Quite surprisingly, according to numerous records in the Archives of the Inquisition of Malta, the Holy Office’s methods, with its strictly observed procedures, were quite moderate when compared to torture administered by contemporary secular governments in most European prisons. Those who denounced themselves for any wrongdoing were never subjected to torture and were generally given penance of a spiritual nature. Frail, weak, elderly and disabled convicts were immediately exonerated from torture as were pregnant women. While the administration of torture varied from one Inquisitor to another, it was never used in the case of petty offences and contrary to what popular history might have us believe, it was applied in the most cautious and methodical manner.

Torture was always carried out in the presence of a doctor who certified or not the inmate’s state of health beforehand. The accused could not be tortured for more than 30 minutes a ta time and only as a last resort, as the Inquisition itself was quite sceptic of confessions obtained in this manner. The most common form used (and practically the only one) was the ordinarily referred to ‘ii tormento della corda’ otherwise known as the ‘strappado’. The hands of the accused would be tied with a rope behind his back which would be attached to a hook in the ceiling. He would then be pulled up in the air with his whole body weight supported only by his arms, suspended in mid-air for a short span of time where he would be lowered and raised again for not more than thirty minutes. Quite an unpalatable picture, but quite tame compared to contemporary methods used.

Today, the Inquisitor’s Palace, with its rich and opulent history remains the only one of its kind in the world to have resisted the ravages of time. Today, it serves as a National Museum of Ethnography under the auspicious patronage of Heritage Malta, who have undertaken the gargantuan task of restoring and cataloguing each and every artefact donated or recovered in connection with customs and traditions indigenous to our islands. It is an endless endeavour, but is somehow proving fruitful as can be seen in the various permanent exhibitions at the Inquisitor’s Palace. The immeasurable bounty of historical treasures, where each and every nook and cranny tells a story is undoubtedly incomparable to both locals and foreigners alike.

Malta is a group of islands in the heart of the Mediterranean, just below Sicily (Italy). The three main islands are Malta, Gozo and Comino, which attract a large number of travellers each year, who often return to spend their holidays in Malta. Many toursists visit the island of Malta for its rich history and culture but the country is most famous for its sunny and warm weather. Malta holidays are popular among travellers from all over Europe who enjoy the  beauty of the islands at very reasonable prices.

With the increasing number of cheap Malta flights being offered by low cost airlines, Malta is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination and its accession to the EU in May 2004 has enabled Malta to step up the quality of holidays it can offer its guests. The Mediterranean’s best kept secret, as the country is often referred to, offers a completely refreshing view on island life, with plenty of resorts and beaches but moreover a welcoming and generally friendly population and an island literally stuffed with places of great cultural and historical value. Most Maltese speak English and getting around the islands is relatively easy, with public transport serving almost all parts of the islands and widely available car rentals.

Get all your Malta travel guide info before you go!

Collect your travel info before booking your holiday by reading through this Malta travel guide. Malta has so much more to offer than any holiday brochure can ever show you. This site offers you the opportunity to see Malta from a non-commercial perspective, providing you with reliable information and an honest impression of a great holiday destination.

A quick preview of what’s in this Malta holiday & travel guide

• The About Malta section gives an introduction to the islands and provides facts and tips about Malta that are not to be missed, reasons why to visit the islands and what weather you can expect
• In the Culture and Heritage section you can learn more about Maltese culture and history
• The Holiday guide section provides info on Malta holidays, Malta car hire, Malta’s best beaches, restaurants and what types of transport are available to get around the islands
• The Leisure activities section tells you more about Malta’s nightlife and outdoor activities such as scuba diving in Malta and mountainbiking in Gozo
• Finally, the Articles section offers some recommended reading. For example, have a look at Malta at a Glance.

About GuideToMalta.net

GuideToMalta.net is privately owned and is not affiliated with any tourist organizations. Feel free to get in touch with any feedback you may have regarding the site’s content. Also feel free to send us any questions you may have about Malta, and related topics covered on GuideToMalta.net!

Bugibba and Qawra are small towns on the North coast of Malta, adjacent to the town of St. Paul’s Bay. Bugibba and Qawra are popular locations for tourists and are busiest in the high season while relatively quiet during the winter months. Although the shoreline is mostly rocky, a few locations are suitable for swimming.

Bugibba’s main square, located along the seaside promenade, is the center of activity in the area with a few pubs, nightclubs and restaurants attracting people of all ages to enjoy summer nights. Besides pubs and nightclubs, Bugibba and Qawra also offer a bingo hall, a cinema and a casino. For those who prefer a quiet night out, the location’s seaside promenade is ideal for a leisurely stroll.

Bugibba and Qawra are known mostly to form one of the busier tourism resorts during the summer months, when the area comes to life with the buzz of nightlife and numerous tourists enjoying a drink and entertainment provided by the various hotels in the area. The area doesn’t offer much more than that, however. No genuine Maltese feel, no specific activities other than sunbathing and only few shops lining the seaside promenade.

Having said that, Bugibba and Qawra are great locations as a home base for a holiday of exploring the rest of Malta. Accommodation is good and relatively cheap and the rest of the island is easily reached by public transport. From the Bugibba bus terminus you can find routes to various places in Malta, and also get to Cirkewwa to catch a ferry up to sister-island of Gozo. So if you’d like to add a little culture to your holiday, or spend time at the beach rather than the swimming pool, it’s easy to catch a bus or take your hired car out for a short drive to wherever you fancy.

History of Bugibba and Qawra

Bugibba and Qawra were virtually uninhabited until the 1960’s, when only a few watchtowers had been erected by the Knights of Malta back in the 17th century. The area consisted mostly of open fields with crumbling rubble walls when in the 1960’s a few entrepeneurs opened a few hotels in an attempt to attract tourists. When these ventures proved to be successful, Bugibba and Qawra developed at an astonishing rate in a virtual gold rush of investment. High-rise buildings were developed, with little attention being given to aesthetics or architectural consistency and design was simply an afterthought.  During the 1990’s the appearance of Bugibba and Qawra was hugely improved with the development of the seaside promenade, the Bugibba square and neatly constructed pavements.

Beaches in Bugibba and Qawra

An artificial sandy beach can be found on the shoreline close to the New Dolmen Hotel and a natural beach with pebbles is located at the tip of Qawra (also referred to as Ta` Fra Ben). Although most of the Bugibba/Qawra shoreline is rocky, there are flat surfaces that are suitable for sunbathing. Finding entry/exit points can be tricky but simply watch the locals and you’ll be fine. Beware of black sea urchins – although not large in numbers they inhabit rocky shorelines.

If you prefer sandy beaches, both Ghadira (Mellieha) Bay and Golden Bay can be reached fairly easily by bus, from the Bugibba bus terminus (see below for more info).

Nightlife in Bugibba and Qawra

• Plenty of nightlife activity during the summer months with a number of bars, nightclubs and karaoke bars providing entertainment
• Mostly concentrated around Bugibba Square but good options in other areas just the same
• Main nightclubs are Amazonia (seafront, near Oracle Casino and New Dolmen Hotel) and Fuego (near Qawra Palace Hotel)

Bugibba and Qawra facts

• Transit time from airport: 45-60 minutes
• Ideal for family holidays
• Compromise between the very quiet (Mellieha) and busy (St. Julian’s) in summer months
• Nightlife is limited but entertaining
• Rocky coast with limited swimming opportunity. If you prefer beach life you’ll have to catch a bus. Golden Bay/Ghajn Tuffieha (pron. aajn tuffee-ha) and Ghadira (pron. a-deera) are around 30 minutes away
• Thinking of renting a car? Unless your accommodation offers free parking, be aware that finding space to park can be a real headache in Bugibba and Qawra, mostly during the summer months

Annual Festa’s in Bugibba and Qawra

Bugibba and Qawra do not celebrate any traditional village feasts, however, neighbouring St. Paul’s Bay (within walking distance) celebrates their festa in the 2nd/3rd week of July.

Read more: Maltese village feasts or festa

Popular Bus Routes

Route 49, to:

• Mosta (20 min)
• Valletta (50 min)

Route 652, to:

• Golden Bay (35-40 min)

Route 48, to:

• Mellieha Bay (40-45 min)

Routes 70 and 645, to:

• St. Julian’s/Paceville – Malta’s center of nightlife. (30 min). Regular service until 10pm, with limited night service. Expect to take a taxi back or route bus when regular service resumes the next morning. (30 min)

Map of Bugibba and Qawra

The village of St. Julian’s is located alongside the Northern coastline of Malta, adjacent to Sliema and a few miles to the West of the capital city Valletta. Paceville is an area at the core of St. Julian’s which is known as Malta’s centre of nightlife, offering a variety of bars and nightclubs for a great night out.

Despite the various package deals offered for St. Julian’s, the town is mostly popular among teenagers for its nightlife and young couples who appreciate the nightlife but enjoy fine dining, wine bars and who don’t mind a regular commute to get to beaches and places of interest. Nevertheless, St. Julian’s has something to offer for people of all ages and walks of life.

Spinola Bay (one of St. Julian’s more popular bays) in particular is an excellent location for an evening stroll around the marina which plays host to fishing boats which are berthed there all year round. You’ll also find a few restaurants serving great food and offering a great view of this picturesque bay and its surroundings.

History of St. Julian’s

St. Julian’s as it is known today is a relatively young village which was practically undeveloped until the 1800’s, having traditionally been a fisherman’s village. Most of the Northern coastline of Malta had been left undeveloped for fear of making the area vulnerable to attack from the Ottoman empire, which posed a threat to Maltese security in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The building of Spinola Palace, overseeing what is nowadays called Spinola Bay, started in 1688 and proved to be a first step in the slow development of the coastal area of St. Julian’s. Under British rule (starting with the defeat of Napoleon and ending with Malta’s independence in 1964), St. Julian’s was transformed into an important seaside village boasting several prestigious residences.

Beaches in St. Julian’s and Paceville

Although St. Julian’s is a seaside town, there’s only one public beach that is suitable for swimming. St. George’s Bay offers a small sandy beach and is located on the Paceville side of St. Julian’s. The town’s two other bays, Spinola Bay and Balluta Bay don’t have a beach and are rarely used for swimming. The bays are used mostly to berth fishing boats, giving the area a very distinctive feel but not favouring avid swimmers.

Nightlife in St. Julian’s and Paceville

Paceville is the place to be for clubbing and a bustling nightlife, with a mixed audience and various styles of music. From R&B and Hiphop over at Havana, to club/trance at Axis or Sky Club and Salsa and other Latin styles at Fuego… and a lot more to check out. Entrance fees are low, although not all clubs actually have an entrance fee at all, which makes Paceville ideal for simply hopping from one bar/club to another.

St. Julian’s offers mainly restaurants, wine bars and pubs, which all come in different flavours and in the case of restaurants, cater for different budgets. Check out the map for a couple of suggestions for bars/clubs to visit.

St. Julian’s and Paceville facts

• Thinking of renting a car? Unless your accommodation offers free parking, be aware that finding space to park can be a real headache in St. Julian’s, particularly during the summer months as well as on weekends

Popular Bus Routes

Routes 62, 64, 66, 67 and 68, to:

• Valletta (30 min)

Route 65, to:

• Mosta (30 min)
• Ta` Qali Crafts Village (40 min)
• Mdina/Rabat (45 min)

Route 70, to:

• Bugibba/Qawra (30 min)

Route 167 (summer only), to:

• Mellieha Bay (45 min)
• Cirkewwa – Gozo ferry (55 min)

Got any tips/reviews to share about St. Julian’s and Paceville? Leave a comment!

Map of St. Julian’s and Paceville

Sliema is one of Malta’s main seaside tourist locations. It is located on the Northeast coast of Malta, to the West of Valletta Grand Harbour. To the locals, Sliema is a popular area for shopping, hosts numerous businesses and also boasts some of the island’s most desired (and therefore costly) residential estates. Subject to heavy development over the past three to four decades (spurred by increasing tourism to the area), many of its characteristic seafront residences have made way to high-rise apartments and hotels, reshaping what once was a quiet fishing village into a busy tourist centre.

Nevertheless, Sliema still has a very distinct feel. A character found nowhere else and appreciated by locals and travellers alike. Offering various hotels as well as bars and pubs, Sliema is a good holiday location for couples of all ages. Neighbouring St. Julian’s, with its nightlife area known as Paceville is a stone’s throw away (for late night club visits), while capital city Valletta is nearby as well, offering plenty of culture, history and places of interest to appreciate.

The Sliema seaside promenade stretches almost 5km, starting in St. Julian’s and going into Gzira, Ta Xbiex and Msida. Two watch towers can be found along the Sliema coastline, one of which is was erected by De Redin in the 17th century (nowadays home to a small café) and another built by the British in the 1880’s.

History of Sliema

The name Sliema is derived from the Maltese word sliem, meaning peace. Peaceful is what Sliema, originally a fishing village, was until the mid-19th century when rapid development started to turn Sliema into a popular summer resort, for the wealthier citizens of Valletta. The area was a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, both for locals but also for the British who recognised the potential for holiday homes nearby Malta’s capital city, yet enjoying peace and quiet.

Few of the prestigious, Victorian and art nouveau residences remain in the inner streets of Sliema and a only a handful remain on the seaside which is a highly sought after area for further development of modern high rise construction. A few of these older seafront residences remain intact and untouched, now protected by law. A small cluster of such residences can be found on the Gzira side of Sliema, opposite the bridge towards Manoel Island.

In the 1950’s, development of properties in Sliema really kicked into high gear as tourism in Malta increased, making the town the first tourist resort on the island.

Beaches in Sliema

Sliema offers no sandy beaches but its rocky coastline is nevertheless suitable for swimming. A particular spot alongside the coast, referred to by the name of Exiles, is a popular bathing area for locals and tourists alike, with easy access to the sea and clear and clean waters. Although rocky, the shoreline is made up of mostly flat rock surfaces, which makes sunbathing perfectly possible.

Alternatively, direct bus routes to sandy beaches such as Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay (aka Ghadira) are also available, although you should expect a one hour ride to get to these beaches.

Nightlife in Sliema

Sliema offers plenty of bars and pubs, and a handful of nightclubs, spread alongside the coastal promenade over the St. Julian’s side of Sliema as well as the Gzira side. For the clubhoppers, Paceville (part of St. Julian’s) is only a stone’s throw away.

Annual Festa’s in Sliema

• Our Lady of Sacred Heart - 1st week of July
• Our Lady Star Of The Sea - 3rd week of August
• St Gregory The Great  - 1st week of September

Read more: Maltese village feasts or festa

Popular Bus Routes

Routes 62, 64, 66, 67, 68 and 70, to:

• St. Julian’s/Paceville (5-10 min)
• Valletta (15-20 min – opposite direction)

Route 65, to:

• Mosta (20 min)
• Ta Qali crafts village (30 min)
• Rabat/Mdina (40-45 min)

Route 627, to:

• Bugibba/Qawra (35-40 min)
• Marsaxlokk (35 – 40 min, opposite direction. Fishing village on East coast of Malta)

Route 645, to:

• Mellieha (40 min)
• Mellieha Bay (45 min)
• Cirkewwa (50-55 min)

Route 652, to:

• Golden Bay (40-45 min)

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Map of Sliema

St. Paul’s Bay is both a seaside village in its own right as well as the name for the larger area which includes the neighbouring villages of Bugibba and Qawra. Being less busy than these two villages, St. Paul’s Bay is a good option for those who want to be able to enjoy the area without having to stay in the dead center of this popular tourist resort.

St. Paul’s Bay is a relatively quiet village, with one long main street branching out into smaller streets with mostly residential areas. Offering a few bars and restaurants, the village offers entertainment after sundown, although Bugibba and Qawra remain more popular among those seeking nightlife.

History of St. Paul’s Bay

St. Paul’s Bay is known as the location where the Apostle St. Paul is said to have been stranded after his ship was wrecked on St. Paul’s Island on his journey from Caesarea (in Israel) to Rome. Nowadays, this small island features a large statue of St. Paul in commemmoration of this event, which brought Christianity to Malta.

Originally being a fishing village, St. Paul’s Bay still hosts a small marina where fishermen berth their luzzijiet and dghajjes (traditional Maltese fishing boats).

Beaches in St. Paul’s Bay

There are no sandy beaches in St. Paul’s Bay, although its rocky shoreline offers a number of places where swimming is possible.

The nearest sandy beaches are Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha (on the West coast of Malta) an Mellieha Bay (up north near the village of Mellieha).

Nightlife in St. Paul’s Bay

There are a few bars and pubs around in St Paul’s Bay, as well as some good restaurants, but most of the nightlife is concentrated in Bugibba and Qawra. Bars found in St. Paul’s Bay are generally quiet, but nevertheless worthwhile visiting for a couple of drinks or a nice glass of wine.

St. Paul’s Bay facts

• Named after St. Paul, said to have brought Christianity to Malta
• Small core village, extended with Bugibba and Qawra
• Relatively quiet alternative to staying at Bugibba or Qawra
• Rocky shoreline, suitable for swimming. Sandy beaches nearby
• Popular area for snorkeling and diving

Annual Festa’s in St. Paul’s Bay

In the 2nd/3rd week of July, the village’s single festa (Our Lady of Sorrows) is celebrated with the usual band march and fireworks.

Read more: Maltese village feasts or festa

Popular Bus Routes

Routes 43, 44, 49 and 159, to:

• Valletta (50 min)

Routes 44, 45 and 48, to:

• Mellieha (20 min)
• Mellieha Bay (25 min)

Routes 45 and 48, to:

• Cirkewwa – Gozo ferry (50 min)

Route 167 (summer only), to:

• Paceville – nightlife (20 min)

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Map of St. Paul’s Bay

Mdina, also called the Silent City, is surrounded by fortified walls and sits on top of one of the highest hills of Malta. Built in medieval times, much of its original architecture has been preserved and its narrow alleys tell tales of centuries of history and the various rulers that governed Malta.

There’s a distinct feel you get when walking through these alleys and the views over large parts of the island from on top of the bastion walls are breathtaking and indicative of the area’s strategic importance to its various occupants.

Standing proudly on one of Malta’s highest promontories, the old capital looks like a medieval walled city straight out of a fairy tale. The fortress city, which acted as Malta’s capital city before Valletta was built, once extended to the neighbouring town of Rabat.

Once past the deep moat, nowadays a public garden, and inside the city’s walls, cobbled streets are lined with immaculately preserved noble houses, private chapels, palazzi, and cathedrals. The streets are narrow and winding, and walking along them feels like trying to find your way out of a maze; a feeling which adds to the element of surprise at finding large squares. Silence pervades, and is the perfect complement to a walk on the bastions, as well as taking in the panoramic view of most of Malta and the surrounding sea.

Today Mdina is a major tourist attraction recognised internationally as an important UNESCO heritage site (currently on its tentative list).

History of Mdina

Punic remains have been found in the area around Mdina and suggest that Phoenician settlers inhabited the region around 700 BCE. Historians believe that even they fortified the city they then called Maleth. Mdina’s location was of strategic importance, situated on one of the island’s highest points and relatively far away from the sea.

The Romans also recognized Mdina’s strategic importance and developed the city further, also building the Roman Governer’s palace there.  It was during the Norman conquest of Malta in 1091 AD when Mdina’s outline was shaped as we know it today. Mdina’s thick surrounding fortifications and wide moat were constructed by the Normans and much of the architecture in Mdina dates from medieval times.

Mdina was fortified in medieval times, but its protection in early times must have been its high location on a rocky hill. It is certain that either during the Byzantine or during the Arab occupation of Malta, the fortifications were retracted to the present proportions, perhaps for better defensibility. Although the Arabs were officially expelled from Malta in 1250, the Arab legacy continued. The name ‘Mdina’ survived even though the City’s name had changed several times throughout the centuries, from Maleth by the Phoenicians, Melita by the Romans, Medina by the Arabs, Citta’ Vecchia (the old city) and Cita’ Notabile (the noble city) during medieval times.

A strong earthquake destroyed parts of Mdina in 1693, after which the Knights of Malta rebuilt the cathedral and erected buildings such as Palazzo Falzon and the Magisterial Palace in Baroque style.

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Map of Mdina

Taking a relaxing cruise round Malta’s majestic, historic and natural harbours provides a break from the sometimes hectic routine sight-seeing. Indeed, cruising around in Valletta Grand Harbour has today become an integral part of the tourist itinerary for thousands of visitors to these islands.

For what better way is there to see the sights than from an exceptional vantage point, with the refreshing sea breeze caressing your face? Although the average harbour cruise lasts about an hour, many visitors to Malta regard this experience as one of the highlights of their holiday. Indeed, taking a cruise around the island’s harbours can be an exhilarating experience!

Undoubtedly, the main attraction of any harbour cruise is Valletta Grand Harbour. The imposing bastions of the fortified cities of Valletta and The Three Cities, together with the skyline of their baroque churches, provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable cruise around one of the world’s deepest natural harbours. Once inside Grand Harbour, one can appreciate better the vital role this port still plays in Malta’s economy, with a constant flow of cargo ships coming in to load and unload, while others wait to be repaired at the local dockyard.

Apart from Valletta Grand Harbour, these cruises take visitors around the various creeks which make up Malta’s harbour area, where amongst others one can admire a vast array of yachts and other sea-crafts berthed at the island’s popular marinas. Other attractions in the vicinity include Fort Manoel, a star-shaped fort situated on Manoel Island and built by the Knights of St. John, as well as the gardens of Sa Maison, located on top of the bastions in Pieta Creek.

The Three Cities, on the other hand, offer an intriguing insight into Malta’s history. A visit by boat to this part of the harbour area offers an authentic slice of Malta’s maritime tradition. The Three Cities also lay claim to being the cradle of Maltese history. Vittoriosa and Senglea, situated on rocky promontories jutting into Grand Harbour, as well as Cospicua, located at the end of the creek between the two, have provided both a home as well as protection to successive waves of settlers on the Island. In fact, historians have declared that the area’s harbour inlets have been in use since Phoenician times.

The docks, which for centuries have provided a living for the inhabitants of the area, continue to dominate the skyline. Finally, the imposing Fort St. Angelo, at the tip of Vittoriosa, is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Malta’s architectural heritage.

The starting point for most harbour cruises lies along the promenade linking Sliema to Gzira, more specifically the part known as The Ferries. Here one can choose between the services offered by the various companies operating cruises.

Most excursions take place on regular passenger cruisers which have a long tradition of safety and comfort. A number of traditional Maltese fishing boats. called Luzzus, have also been charmingly modified for cruising purposes. However, for that extra touch of luxury and a more classic sea-faring adventure, you can join a harbour cruise on one of the majestic sailing yachts which ply the archipelago’s sea lanes. Meanwhile, a running commentary, a standard feature on any cruise service, will allow you to better appreciate the sights.

Whichever harbour cruise you go for, however, you are certain to encounter a hospitable and helpful crew who will go that extra mile to ensure that you have a memorable experience. So get your camera ready, sit back and enjoy the sights.