Discover St. Paul's Bay

Discover St Paul's Bay

Our Product Manager Thomas describes St Paul's Bay and Qawra as Malta's most complete resort area — and it is not difficult to see why. This is a destination that has been welcoming British and European visitors for decades, and the infrastructure that has built up around that long relationship shows. The hotels are larger and better equipped than in most other parts of the island, the bar and restaurant scene is lively and varied, and the overall atmosphere is that of a resort town that knows exactly what it is and delivers it well.

St Paul's Bay shares something important with Mellieha: it is a genuinely family-friendly destination. The scale of the hotels here — AX Odycy, Qawra Palace and the DoubleTree by Hilton among them — means that families have access to pools, entertainment and facilities that the smaller boutique hotels of Sliema simply cannot match. The area is particularly popular with British, Irish and other English-speaking visitors, which gives it a familiar and accessible character that first-time visitors to Malta often find reassuring.

The coastline in St Paul's Bay is predominantly rocky — as it is across most of Malta — but the hotels and resort areas have invested significantly in purpose-built lido platforms that provide comfortable and direct access to the sea. The water quality here is excellent, and swimming from the platforms is an enjoyable experience once you understand and embrace the Maltese approach to coastal access. It is different from a sandy beach, but it is far from a compromise.

The bar scene in St Paul's Bay is one of the liveliest outside St Julian's — a broad selection of waterfront bars and restaurants that keep the evenings sociable without ever reaching the intensity of Paceville. For guests who want a lively enough atmosphere to enjoy their evenings without the full force of Malta's nightlife capital, St Paul's Bay finds a comfortable middle ground. The Oracle Casino at the DoubleTree by Hilton adds a further evening option for those who enjoy a flutter after dinner — and unlike the Dragonara Casino in St Julian's, it is right on the hotel's doorstep.

One Honest Note

St Paul's Bay is not Mellieha. The area is more commercial and more densely built than its neighbour to the north, and guests who are specifically seeking the pitoresque village charm of Mellieha or the cosmopolitan promenade atmosphere of Sliema will find St Paul's Bay a more functional and resort-oriented proposition. It is honest rather than beautiful in its character — and for many guests, that honesty is precisely the appeal. Everything you need is here, it works well, and the value for money is strong. For those who want a reliable, well-equipped, sociable Malta holiday without any surprises, St Paul's Bay consistently delivers.