The best hotels in Malta
Malta is small, but don’t let that fool you. Where you stay still makes the difference between walking, waiting or wandering in circles.
Valletta is the obvious starting point. It looks compact on the map, but once you're inside, the stairs and side streets seem to multiply. A hotel in or near the city keeps you close to the ferry, the museums, and those little snack shops that serve pastizzi hotter than the sun. Hotels here often put you in the middle of it all - which is perfect, unless you're carrying two suitcases and arrive during a hill climb.
Then there’s Sliema and St. Julian’s - connected but different. One feels like a coastal walk, the other like a Friday night on loop. Hotels in this area range from quiet corners near the promenade to places steps away from where nightlife just starts warming up. People stay here to hop between beaches, cafés, and the ferry that feels like it’s always just left. If you’re travelling with friends or want to mix day trips with late dinners, this zone works.
And for something slower, there’s Mdina and the surrounding towns inland. Fewer cars, more silence, and streets that seem designed to confuse GPS. Hotels near Mdina give you access to a different pace — and a chance to see the island without the sound of boat engines in the background. Good for catching up on reading, wandering aimlessly, or accidentally walking into a film set pretending to be ancient Rome.
