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Voykit pocket guide · Malta
Sliema
Spend 1–2 days in Sliema; walk the seafront, shop, dive or relax, then take a 5‑min ferry or 20‑min bus to Valletta.
Sliema is Malta's most built‑up coastal town, offering a long promenade, many hotels, restaurants and dive centres. It is a convenient base for short stays and easy day trips to Valletta or the Three Cities by bus or ferry.
- Country
- Malta
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, crowded buses)
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards work in most restaurants and shops; carry cash for kiosks, village bars and some boat trips.
- SIM and data
- GO, Epic and Melita sell prepaid SIMs at the airport and in shops; ID required.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin sockets; bring a UK adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if service is not included.; Café: Leave small change.; Taxi or ride-hail: Round up.; Boat crew or dive guide: €5–10 for good service.
- Water
- Tap water is safe but tastes of desalination; bottled or filtered water is normal in homes and restaurants.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at bus termini and main squares, some paid (€0.50); cafés and museums otherwise.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €1.5–2.5 |
| Fish and chips (sea‑front) | €8–12 |
| Pint of local beer | €3–5 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | €12–15 |
| Bus day ticket | €2.60 |
| Ferry Valletta‑Sliema | €1.20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MLA · Malta International Airport
- about 1 h by car to Sliema
Typical fares
- Bus day ticket Sliema area
- €2.60 unlimited rides (check)
- Ferry Sliema → Valletta
- €1.20 one‑way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bus day ticket €2.60 (unlimited rides). Main routes 12/13/14 run Valletta‑Sliema; ferry every 30 min, €1.20 one‑way, 5‑min crossing.
See and do
Known for
- seafront promenade
- shopping district
- scuba diving
- ferry link to Valletta
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Valletta | Ferry from Sliema promenade, 5 min crossing; or bus 12/13/14, ~20 min | ≈30 min total |
| Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua) | Ferry to Valletta then short walk or bus via Valletta | ≈45 min |
| Gozo | Bus to Cirkewwa (≈45 min) then ferry 25 min to Mgarr | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Hibernia House Gateway Hostel
- Budget dorm, few blocks from the beach
- Imperial Hotel
- Mid‑range, air‑conditioned, sea‑view rooms from €52
- Ta' Cettina Hotel
- Splurge, panoramic views of the Sliema front
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Skużaskuzja |
| Thank you | Grazzigrahtsi |
| How much is it? | Kemm jiswa?kemmi jiswa |
| Where is the toilet? | Fejn hu l‑toilet?fejn hu l‑toilet |
| Can I pay by card? | Nista' nħallas bil‑karta?nista nħallas bil‑karta |
| One‑way ticket, please | Bil‑bilja waħda, jekk jogħġbokbil‑bilja waħda, jekk jogħġbok |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A handshake; 'bonġu' or good morning; avoid: Assuming Malta is 'like Italy' or 'like Britain' — it is its own country
- Churches: Dress modestly and keep quiet; avoid: Flash photos during services
- Festas: Join the crowds and street food; avoid: Standing in front of the band or statue procession
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides between Labour and Nationalist supporters in public
- Driving: Expect sudden stops and narrow lanes; avoid: Road rage — it escalates fast
Scams and watch-outs
- Buses can be very crowded in summer; you may need to travel via Valletta to reach other parts of the island.
- Petty theft is the main crime risk in the busy tourist zones; keep valuables secure.
Sliema is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and keep an eye on belongings on buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sliema yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- seafront promenade
- shopping district
- scuba diving
- ferry link to Valletta
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sliema official site: sliemalc.gov.mt/
- Wikivoyage: Sliema, revision 5287674 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5287674
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sliema
Għal din l‑indirizz, jekk jogħġbok
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
US consulate in Malta (check address); other embassies in Valletta.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sliema). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.