Sliema: Seafront Promenade, Coast and Hotels

When choosing accommodation in Sliema, different aspects of your trip may be relevant: the seafront promenade, bathing areas, the ferry connection to Valletta or historic buildings. These places and details offer different ways to assess what interests you most about Sliema.

Ferry connection to Valletta

A scheduled ferry service runs between Sliema and Valletta every 30 minutes. In Sliema, the ferry departs from Sliema Ferries at The Strand. If Valletta is part of your travel plans, the ferry connection is a practical point of reference when choosing where to stay. Operating details are published seasonally; check the current timetable and landing points before your trip.

Seafront promenade and bathing areas

Sliema’s seafront promenade is three kilometres long and overlooks rugged rocks. The Għar id-Dud promenade is below Tower Road. Qui-Si-Sana is at the corner of Tower Road and Qui Si Sana Road and is considered a rocky beach. In 2026, Fond Għadir is listed as an official bathing area in Sliema. As bathing conditions can change, check the latest conditions before swimming.

Għar id-Dud is also a historic point of reference: water polo developed there. The Sliema Aquatic Sports Club has a beach club in the centre of Sliema. Check its operating conditions before visiting. The coast brings together a range of themes: the long seafront promenade, designated bathing areas and the history of water sports.

Local history along the coast and streets

Various Victorian buildings once stood along the seafront promenade. The coastal garden Ġnien Indipendenza (Independence Garden) reflects a different kind of change: an abandoned agricultural plot in Sliema was turned into this garden in 1990. These two local histories point to different former uses—buildings along the coast and farmland that made way for a garden.

Fort Tigne also tells a story of several development phases. The Knights of St John developed the fort in the late 18th century; in later years, the British further developed it. This sequence differs from the history of individual churches and houses and adds another perspective on Sliema’s built heritage.

Churches and historic buildings

Six traditional houses with Maltese balconies are particularly well preserved at Belvedere Terrace. The houses are protected and overlook Manoel Island across Sliema Creek. For those interested in architecture, the group offers a tangible impression of how distinctive homes and a striking view across the water come together.

Stella Maris Church was built in 1855. By 1878, it had been declared an independent parish and separated from Birkirkara. The Church of Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor in Tas-Sliema was completed in June 1881. These two dates help place local church history in chronological order.

Another chapter in local history concerns water supply: the island’s first seawater distillery was built in Sliema in 1881 and supplied water to the British barracks. The former distillery building still stands; from 1882, it served as a printing works. Thus, alongside churches, the fort and houses, industrial use is also part of Sliema’s historical story.

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Go to the main travel overview: Malta.