Real estate · Malta

Real estate in St Julian's: homes and areas

Malta's centre for nightlife, hotels and new towers: a former fishing village around its bays that has become one of the most international and fastest-growing places on the island.

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Living in St Julian's

St Julian's lies on the coast just north of Sliema, and the two run into each other along the same seafront. It grew from a small fishing village around Spinola Bay and the Spinola Palace into the centre of Malta's tourism and nightlife: the bars and clubs of Paceville, most of the island's big hotels, restaurants around the bays and a growing cluster of office towers. Several of the large online gaming companies based in Malta have offices here.

The population has almost doubled since the 2011 census, and at the end of 2025 more than half of the residents were foreign citizens, according to the NSO. English is the everyday language in shops, restaurants and most workplaces.

Buses run along the coast to Sliema and Valletta and inland across the island, and are free for residents with a personalised tallinja card; the Sliema ferry to Valletta is a short ride away. Two direct bus routes link St Julian's with the airport. Traffic and parking are a daily problem, and in and around Paceville, building works and late-night noise are frequent complaints, including from hotels and restaurants.

Nearly all homes are apartments: at the 2021 census about three in four households lived in a flat or penthouse, and more than half of all occupied homes had been built since 2011. The skyline is changing fastest here, with the Portomaso tower, the Zaha Hadid-designed Mercury Tower and Pender Place; a 2016 master plan for many more high-rises in Paceville was shelved after objections, but individual towers are still being proposed. Portomaso and Pender Place are Special Designated Areas, where foreign buyers face no extra restrictions.

Population
15,594 (2025)

Source: NSO Malta, World Population Day: 11 July 2026 (NR 120/2026), Table 11: total population by broad citizenship, district and locality as at 31 December 2025 (San Ġiljan)

Neighbourhoods

Paceville
Malta's main nightlife district, packed with bars, clubs, hotels and restaurants, and increasingly offices and apartment towers such as Mercury Tower and Pender Place. Lively and loud, especially at weekends and in summer.
Spinola Bay
The old heart of St Julian's, a small harbour with restaurants along the water and the Spinola Palace close by. Apartments here look over the bay.
Portomaso
A self-contained development around a private marina, with the Hilton hotel, the Portomaso Business Tower and apartment blocks. It is a Special Designated Area, open to buyers of any nationality without a permit.
Balluta Bay
On the Sliema border, around the neo-Gothic Carmelite church and the Art Nouveau Balluta Buildings of 1928. A mix of older apartment buildings and newer blocks by a small swimming bay.
St George's Bay
A small sandy beach at the edge of Paceville, surrounded by large hotels. Busy in summer and within walking distance of the nightlife.
Swieqi (next door)
The neighbouring locality inland, largely residential and much quieter, built up over former farmland, including the areas of Madliena and Ibraġ.

Practical information

  • Airport: Malta International Airport at Luqa is linked to St Julian's by the direct TD2 and TD3 buses, a paid service also for tallinja card holders.
  • Getting around: regular buses are free for residents with a personalised tallinja card, and the ferry from Sliema's Strand to Valletta is a short bus ride or walk away.
  • Schools: Verdala International School (International Baccalaureate) and St Catherine's High School are both in neighbouring Pembroke.
  • Healthcare: St Julian's, Swieqi and Pembroke residents use the Gżira Health Centre for GP and nursing services. Mater Dei Hospital, the main public hospital, is in Msida.

Frequently asked questions

How many people live in St Julian's?

At the end of 2025 St Julian's had 15,594 residents, according to Malta's National Statistics Office (NSO), and more than half of them were foreign citizens.

Is St Julian's noisy?

Around Paceville and St George's Bay, yes: the nightlife runs late, especially at weekends and in summer. Balluta Bay is calmer, and neighbouring Swieqi is mainly residential.

Can foreigners buy property in St Julian's?

Yes. In the Special Designated Areas of Portomaso and Pender Place anyone can buy without a permit. Elsewhere, non-EU citizens and EU citizens buying a second home before five years of residence need an AIP permit; EU citizens buying their main home do not.

Do I need a car in St Julian's?

Many residents manage without one. Buses run along the coast and across the island, and direct buses go to the airport. Parking is scarce and traffic is heavy, so a car is often more trouble than it is worth.

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