Best cities to live in Malta

Gozo over Malta anytime.

Birgu and Kalkara - up and coming areas, and outstandingly beautiful. Less crowded than St Julians and Sliema. Still cheaper than the north side of Malta. Downside: local shops close at 12:00 or 14:00, many do not reopen. Friendly neighbours, community spirit.

Sliema ,St Julians

valleta

Hi
It depends on your budget. Sliema and St Julians are more tourist places and full with Libian people moved to Malta due to the war. Locals dont seem to prefer these areas that much anymore but its nice for foreigners as its more "alive". Those 2 areas are hard to find a place to rent less than 700euro per month so many people live with flatmates

From the other hand if you want to see it from the locals point of view they prefer areas like Mosta Naxxar Zebbug and cities more in the mainland and not by the sea. There you can find more affordable apartments.

So the question is if u want to see it as local or foreigner and how much money u want to spend. Keep in mind the neighborhood as there could be some really noisy and dirty places where polution reaches sky high (ex avoid Msida-Gzira). Also no house has central heating and insulation which means humidity cold/heat and noise.

Hope this could be helpful

I live in central Naxxar (near the Parish church) and can 100% recommend the area if you're looking for a more authentic Maltese area. For me these are the main advantages:

- People are very friendly
- Lots of lovely apartments and penthouses (including new builds) at a fraction of the price you'd pay in Sliema/St Julian since there aren't that many foreigners
- Two big supermarkets (GS and Scotts), Pama shopping village in Mosta also not far
- Beautiful tree-lined roads which makes the area feel very green
- Picturesque churches and buildings
- Very quiet, so far I've seen no drunk people, also no one shouting at night on weekends or even new years, it's very civilised
- Decent bus connection to Mosta, Birkirkara and Valletta


Disadvantages:
- Connection to Sliema is no longer good since they changed the bus routes 202 and 203 often don't turn up and come once an hour
- People definitely stare at you because they are not that used to seeing a foreigner here, when you talk to them they're really friendly though, might just be curiosity and not meant in a bad way
- Cafes and restaurants seem to be quite pricey, maybe it's a richer area than others? not sure about this
- There are only a few roads where it's pleasant to take a walk, most have very narrow pavements and too many cars + buses speeding past means lots of fumes. Some side roads have no pavement and you have to walk on the road for a short stretch which is dangerous. I often miss the long promenade in St Julian/Sliema
- I also miss the water sometimes although the inland views are stunning and make up for it most days

If you don't drive, don't work, love to walk, swim, and take public transport once or twice a week, I would choose Bugibba Qawra area all day long.

Any tips for families with (little) children?

I've read here on the forum that Marsaskala is nice for families, and we've got friends in Mosta who are happy there with their 2-year-old daughter.

Does anyone know about other areas?
We've been thinking about:
- Birzebbuga
- maybe the Three Cities
- maybe Luqa
- or the north (around St. Paul's Bay, or Mellieha)
Any other suggestions welcome

We'll be in Malta for 2 weeks from 11 February to look for an apartment, and would appreciate any tips on which areas to consider.

In the end, our choice will also depend on the price, at least initially our budget is kind of limited to 450-500 EUR for a 2-bedroom apartment... That's also why we've "written off" the central area around Sliema, Gzira, etc.

Thanks for any tips!

Bernie

The rent in Luqa might be cheaper but there is nothing to do there except Lidl supermarket. Mosta is nicer..

yes absolutely!!!

Old St Paul's Bay still has village charm. small local shops, bank, post offcie and a neighborhood feel to it. Lots of small coves and swimming spots that are still clean and very pleasant. Stunning views across the bay to St Paul's Island, Mistra etc. Lots of pubs and more shops in the newer parts of St Paul's bay and Bugibba...but in the older village core between the chirch and mecca marine you do not have to live in all that commotion, yet its easily accessible. I've been there about a year now.

OH!!! ........And it's s till very good value for money for rentals!!!

Where to live depends on what you want and how much you're willing to pay.  We live at the very bottom of Swieqi, which is perfect for us.  It's probably in the same price bracket as St Julians, or at least it was when we were looking. It's supposed to be a lot quieter with it being slightly further back, but I've got no experience of living in St Julians itself to compare it with.

I know some of Swieqi has a problem with noise and people coming from Paceville late at night, but we don't experience any of that where we are.  It's very quiet, day and night, we don't seem to get people passing by unless they live here.  I'm not sure whether I'd recommend the whole of Swieqi because I can see that some areas do seem to have more people hanging about, but I'd definitely recommend the part where we are.

To be able to get more or less most things we need, or want, by walking to them is perfect.  We do have a car, but we wouldn't need it for day to day living. Shops don't seem to close and its only a short walk to the Bay Street shopping area that is open on a Sunday as well.  We live about a five minute walk from Spinola Bay, so there's plenty of restaurants nearby and it only takes about half an hour for me to walk to Sliema.

paako1 wrote:

Hi
Keep in mind the neighborhood as there could be some really noisy and dirty places where polution reaches sky high (ex avoid Msida-Gzira).

I live in Gzira, and in this 2.5 years haven't exactly noticed how is it more polluted then Sliema or St. Julians

I agree that I could maybe get more for my money somewhere inland, but I prefer to be within walking distance to the sea and Sliema


@ bernie_iris_fabian_david

the answer to your question depends alot on the fact do you own a car and where are (will be) working
I presume you don't wish to spend 45-60 minutes traveling one way to workplace by bus

Yes, where you work and how you get there will definitely play an important role. If you're running a business from your home then you should also factor in the frequent power cuts which can affect the whole island but more or less seem to occur in the same areas - that is Msida, Gzira, Ta' Xbiex, Sliema and St Julian.

Google "power cut malta", then click on news and you'll see some articles on that. Many smaller power cuts (an hour or less) often don't reported, so check out the comment section, too. No power cuts so far in Naxxar http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/vi … rea.597476

As previously mentioned, the best area to live various from each person and from each one priorities. I have been in Malta for nearly 3 years and so far, I have lived in 2 different places, Balzan and Mellieha.
I came to Mellieha the first time I arrived in Malta and I only moved to Balzan coz at the time my wife got a job in Attard and the commuting via the public transport from Mellieha to Attard, was nightmare. My wife had to leave home at 5am to be at work at 7am. Apart of the time consuming, the public transport in Malta sucks! There's no time scale, bus drivers are arrogant (or were few years ago), buses are full at all times...basically, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! As soon as I bought a car, we've moved back to Mellieha straight away!
Now, if you are going to have your own transport, IMHO, I'd prefer living a bit further south to places like Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, etc, they are cheaper and really nice. Or towards the north side of the island such us, Mellieha, Qwara, St. Paul's Bay, etc.
If you are going to be working close to the center and you don't have your own transport, then I would recommend you to find a place as closed as possible to your work place so you don't need to use the bus on a daily basis.
In my case, I work in Sliema but I don't mind the driving from Mellieha (which it's not easy as well) but at least I have the quality of live that I need for me an my family when I get home. Also, as further as you live from the central areas like Sliema, St Julian's, Swieqi, Naxxar, you will see a big difference on the prices. Just as an example, I am paying €525 for a 3 bed maisonette in Mellieha and the same type of property in Sliema/St Julian's, it would probably cost me at least €1400 or more per month.
To be honest, at this moment in time (and this is my opinion), I wouldn't change Mellieha for any other place in Malta.
We have everything we need here in Mellieha, a great school for the kids, outdoor parks, beautiful beaches (probably the best all over Malta), lots of shops, restaurants, bars, very friendly people and so on...
My advice is, do your homework, see what's more important to you and then try to find something that meets your priorities the best.

I live in Birzebbuga and I love it. Great little sandy beach and a kiddies play park next to it. Only 30-40 minutes to Valletta by bus. Good supermarkets close by. Friendly people and not too many tourists during the summer.

bernie_iris_fabian_david wrote:

Any tips for families with (little) children?

I've read here on the forum that Marsaskala is nice for families, and we've got friends in Mosta who are happy there with their 2-year-old daughter.

Does anyone know about other areas?
We've been thinking about:
- Birzebbuga
- maybe the Three Cities
- maybe Luqa
- or the north (around St. Paul's Bay, or Mellieha)
Any other suggestions welcome

We'll be in Malta for 2 weeks from 11 February to look for an apartment, and would appreciate any tips on which areas to consider.

In the end, our choice will also depend on the price, at least initially our budget is kind of limited to 450-500 EUR for a 2-bedroom apartment... That's also why we've "written off" the central area around Sliema, Gzira, etc.

Thanks for any tips!

Bernie

You will find something in that budget, though many will tell you that you can't. South or North would likely be best bets, as someone said there is nothing at Luqa - apart from plane noise ;-)  Three Cities, lovely, only one road in, no green space, lots of water, my not be great for kids (it's drops in not gentle beaches!) Inland places will also be more reasonable, if you would be happy living there. They vary a lot.

Find a couple of good agents, look all over, visit different towns on your own, look at MaltaPark online, the Sunday Times paper and the zillions of Facebook property groups!!

We arrived on Malta in December 2015. Cousin lives on Gozo and the daughter in Salina. I found Gozo lovely but not practical getting to work if you work on Malta.
I loved St Julians and Valetta but the prices are too high when looking at 3 bedrooms.
When having no vehicle, it is best to live by good bus routes. This way you can get to Valetta and Mater Dei and the university. My mom 8s elderly and my son is going to study.
The place that answered all my needs is Mosta. We are very happy here. Very central, great bus routes to everywhere on the island and good selection of shops, including the big shopping centre Pama. Although I prefer the little grocer and bread shop and butcher.

A lot of people are opting for central areas like Mosta and Naxxar now :-)

We stayed in St Julians when we first came here, found it unbearable, now in Mosta and it's lovely.  Calm, friendly, feel at home.