Sliema

SLIEMA, MALTA

Sliema's name is rooted in maritime history: it derives from a small chapel on the peninsula dedicated to Stella Maris, Our Lady Star of the Sea, a landmark for fishermen navigating these waters long before any town existed here. Sliem is simply the Maltese word for peace. The peninsula sits at 35.9122N, 14.5022E, directly across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta — a harbour-facing position that would eventually make it the capital's primary overflow and, much later, its busiest resort. For most of its history the name fit: a quiet shoreline hamlet, not a town with ambitions.

From Watchtower to Summer Retreat

The coastline carries fortifications spanning more than a century of Knights-era defence. Saint Julian's Tower, completed in 1658 under Grand Master De Redin, was part of a chain of coastal watchtowers built to warn of approaching raids. Fort Tigné followed between 1793 and 1795 at the peninsula's tip — one of the final major works completed by the Order of St John before their expulsion from Malta in 1798, and considered one of the earliest polygonal fort designs anywhere in the world. The area's modern character took shape later: in the late 19th century Sliema became the preferred summer retreat for wealthy Valletta families, who built villas along the seafront and crossed the harbour by ferry to escape the capital's heat for months at a time. Stella Maris church opened to the public in 1855, and the parish was formally established in 1878 once the population around it had grown enough to justify it.

Fort Tigné: A Landmark in Dispute

Fort Tigné remains Sliema's most prominent landmark, though its current status is unsettled. Interior access has been inconsistent and restricted in recent years according to multiple visitor reports, while the exterior and the surrounding Tigné Point promenade stay open to the public regardless. Ownership of the fort is actively contested: in late 2025 the Maltese government approved a transfer of the site to private developer Joseph Portelli, a decision the heritage organisation Din l-Art Ħelwa publicly opposed by offering to match the reported €2.5 million purchase price to keep the fort in public hands. As of that offer the government had not yet responded, and the outcome — and with it, what future public access looks like — remains unresolved. Visitors planning to see the fort's interior should check current access locally rather than assume either way.

Tigné Point and The Point Mall

The fort now sits at the centre of Tigné Point, a roughly €600 million redevelopment by MIDI plc that transformed a derelict military site into one of Malta's most significant waterfront projects. The Point, built on the former Tigné Barracks site as part of that development, is Malta's largest shopping mall, holding more than 70 stores under one roof. Outdoors, Tower Road and Bisazza Street carry Sliema's high-street and boutique trade, while Triq Manwel Dimech runs a further retail strip slightly inland. The result is a peninsula where 18th-century bastions stand directly beside glass apartment towers built two centuries later — neither pretending the other isn't there.

Where to Eat

Dining in Sliema runs across a wide price range depending on where you sit. Seafront restaurants along Tower Road and the Tigné promenade typically charge €25-50 per person; The Point's food court and the inland cafés bring that down to roughly €10-20. Il-Fortizza, a former British military post on Triq it-Torri, now operates as a restaurant and bar, trading on its converted-military setting. Exiles and Surfside, both swimming spots by day, become some of the liveliest bar and restaurant destinations on the front once evening arrives in summer.

Swimming Without a Beach

Sliema has no sandy beach in the conventional sense — the coastline is flat limestone rock rather than sand. Qui-Si-Sana, the swimming spot closest to the main shopping streets, is quieter than the rest of the front precisely because the rock isn't suited to sunbathing. Near Surfside, a series of pools cut directly into the rock are popularly but inaccurately called the Roman Baths. Fond Għadir is the exception worth noting specifically: one of Malta's twelve official Blue Flag beaches, and the longest stretch of swimming coastline in Sliema. The single patch of genuine sand sits at Exiles, beneath Independence Garden at the western end, next to a children's playground.

Getting Around from Sliema

Getting to and from Sliema rarely requires a car. The Marsamxett ferry to Valletta crosses in around 15 minutes, with roughly two departures an hour and a free onward shuttle to the Grand Harbour side of the capital. Buses cover the same route in 20-25 minutes depending on traffic. The promenade walk to St Julian's and on to Paceville's nightlife district takes well under an hour at an easy pace. From Malta International Airport, Sliema is approximately 20-25 minutes by car or taxi. Parking within Sliema itself is genuinely difficult given the density of development, which is part of why the ferry and bus network see such consistent use.

Where to Stay in Sliema

Sliema holds 18 hotels along its promenade, from five-star resorts to budget aparthotels. AX The Palace Hotel Malta and Barcelo Fortina Malta, both 5-star, sit at the top end, while Courtyard by Marriott Sliema and AX The Victoria Hotel offer strong 4-star options minutes from the water. For the full range across every price point, see our complete Sliema hotels guide.