Sliema, St Julian's and Paceville

Malta's liveliest corner has a clutch of tourist resorts that merge into one another. Rocky shores washed by inviting ultramarine water and little harbours bobbing with boats are linked by a seafront promenade, with the closest beach to St Julian's, Sliema and Paceville being the pale swish of sand at St George's Bay. On the whole, the area has the greatest variety of places to dine and drink in Malta from high-end seafront restaurants to fast food outlets, and it's also well-known for its nightlife and entertainment that includes bars, clubs, a bowling alley and cinema.

Starting life as a quaint fishing village, St Julian's has transformed into a buzzing tourist district with smart hotels and holiday apartments. Dining and relaxing in the elegant restaurants and bars around St Julian's Bay, with twinkling lights dancing on the water, is the perfect way to end a day. The little luxurious Juliani boutique hotel is one of the most pleasant places to stay in the area with a cafe, room service, a rooftop pool and serene interiors.

Neighbouring Paceville is the place to go if you want to party, with countless bars and clubs bouncing to life come nightfall. Nearby Sliema is quieter and more refined with neat residences lining the rocky shore. The five-star Le Meridien hotel, perched above Balluta Bay and harbour, is one of the nicest in the area and it's only a short walk from Sliema's seafront promenade. Its style is more smart boutique than sprawling resort but it does have four restaurants, a spa and a peaceful rooftop pool.
A more family-friendly option is the Westin Dragonara Resort hotel situated between St Julian's and the sandy beach at St George's Bay. It has four restaurants, a spa and a beach club on the rocky shore offering watersports, sunloungers and refreshments and there's even a casino housed in a huge neoclassical villa that used to belong to the Marquis of Malta. The hotel is ideal if you want a peaceful location that's still close to the buzz of Paceville. To stay right on the beach, there is an Intercontinental hotel perched at one end of St George's Bay with part of the sand reserved for guests.
 

Bugibba, Qawra and St Paul's Bay

Nestled on a headland between two deeply inset bays in northern Malta, the two resorts of Bugibba and Qawra are right beside one another and form the largest tourist area on the island, while the relaxing and peaceful resort of St Paul's Bay is just next door. The pleasant tourist town of Bugibba has a wide seafront walkway along the rocky shore that's lined with restaurants, cafes and bars. Equally, Qawra's pretty landscaped promenade skirts the shore and features Malta's shiny National Aquarium, which adds to the area's appeal to families.

Nearby, St Paul's Bay is a great location for a serene break in the sun, swimming in the deep water from the rocks and cliffs and gazing out at St Paul's island opposite. St Paul's Bay has held on to much of its traditional fishing village charm, and the low-key San Pawl Hotel in Back Tail Street is a good budget base in the area.

Built around landscaped grounds sloping down to the sea, the four-star Dolmen Resort Hotel is a centrally located accommodation option in Qawra for travellers who like large resorts with lots of facilities. There's a spa, four pools, a private beach offering watersports and a dive centre, tennis, a casino, several eateries and a piano bar. Seashells Resort at Suncrest is a decent mid-range family option on the seashore overlooking Qawra Bay with two pools and water slide that's popular with children.
 

Mellieha and Golden Bay

Malta's northern peninsula is indented with sandy beaches that include the island's longest ribbon of sand at Mellieha (Ghadira) Bay and the most scenic beach at Golden Bay, both on the western side. Needless to say it's the best place on the island for a holiday centred on the beach. It's also close to Cirkewwa harbour where you can board boats to the neighbouring isles of Gozo and Comino and experience the extraordinary natural beauty of the Maltese coastline.

Close to the ferry point is the wonderful Ramla Bay Resort, in a relatively undeveloped area of coastline, which has sprawling gardens, pools, a sandy beach, several eateries and bright and airy rooms all with balconies. It's a particularly good spot for aqua-sports enthusiasts with its own PADI dive centre and a watersports hut offering a range of activities. The proximity to the boat to Comino and Gozo also means it's easy to get to the famous Blue Lagoon, as well as the Azure Window and other sites of interest on these two smaller islands.

The small tourist town of Mellieha clings to a gentle hillside above the bay and has a decent collection of hotels. Seabank Hotel is one of Malta's most impressive modern resort hotels with a huge central swimming pool close to the long sandy beach. It's family-friendly and all-inclusive making it perfect for a beach-focused break.

To the south of Mellieha is Malta's first national park, Majjistral Nature and History Park, which marks an area of unspoiled coastline and dramatic cliffs perfect for hiking and exploring on foot. Beyond the park is Golden Bay, a wide beach of soft pale golden sand flanked by hillsides and with several eateries set back from the water. The five-star Radisson Blu Golden Sands hotel is just above the beach and is ideal for fans of aquatic activities, with watersports facilities for snorkelling, parasailing, jetskiing, a diving centre and a jetty. Its slightly out-of-the-way location makes it more of a destination hotel than an ideal base for sightseeing, but its seven restaurants and bars ensure guests are well catered for.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What else is there to see and do?
If you don't want to spend all of your time in Malta relaxing on the beach, there are plenty of things to keep you amused. History buffs can take in the island's heritage, which has been shaped by all manner of cultures over the centuries, with Roman, Arab, Norman and British influences to name but a few. Valletta, the Maltese capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its stunning architecture that dates back to the Middle Ages. Malta is also home to a number of prehistoric temples, including the Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni, which is the only known underground prehistoric temple in the world. Another must-see is Mdina, a fortified medieval city that was formerly the capital. Numerous arts and culture festivals are held across Malta in the summer months, with the Malta Jazz Festival and Malta Arts Festival particular highlights. For active pursuits, Malta offers excellent opportunities for scenic hiking and water sports such as sailing, diving and surfing.

What is the local currency and what currency should I take?
The Euro is the Maltese currency. There are numerous money exchange services and cash machines across the island, while major credit and debit cards are readily accepted.