The Top Things to See and Do in Sliema

If you want to take in your surroundings from a different perspective, the public ferry service is the most convenient and affordable way to get out onto the water. Marsamxett Ferry Services runs two ferries per hour, including a free shuttle service that connects Marsamxett Harbour with the Grand Harbour, on the other side of Valletta. The views of fortified Manoel Island and the butterscotch-hued walled city of Valletta will make you want to take the journey again and again.

Manoel Island sits at the centre of Marsamxett Harbour, attached to mainland by a bridge – with a lot of history packed onto its 0.3sqkm area. In 1592 it was first used as an isolation centre to contain an outbreak of the plague and cholera, and there’s a quarantine complex dating from between the 17th and 19th which still remains today. Close by is the Knights of Malta-built, 18th-century Fort Manoel, a sprawling limestone star fort that’s appeared in Game of Thrones.

Formerly known as Artitude, the Christine X Art Gallery promotes the work of local and foreign emerging artists in an intimate setting. Daring abstracts, figurative paintings and scenes from local landscapes coexist within a relatively small space. They’re all available to buy, custom-framed, if you’re in the market for a unique souvenir. From time to time, this owner-run gallery hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to a particular contemporary artist – and it’s always free to visit.

British military barracks, disused since the 1970s, had a 21st-century makeover to become Tigne Point – an area that features the largest conglomerate of modern high-rise architecture in the country. The streets beneath, lined with a mix of luxurious apartments, shops and hi-tech offices, are now completely pedestrianised. Cross the bridge which leads to the Point, Malta’s biggest retail mall, to see the dozens of small padlocks – imitating the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris.

Sliema’s oldest theatre, the Salesian, has been running for more than a century. You’ll find it in the backstreets, a little way inland from the coastal promenade. Having been restored and reopened as one of the country’s cultural reference points, its intimate setting plays host to music performances, plays and contemporary art exhibitions. Stucco ornamentation and a wall painting entitled The Virtues of Mankind by Maltese-born painter Giuseppe Cali adorn the theatre’s proscenium.

At just over 2km (1.2mi), the seaside promenade following Tower Road is one of the longest continuous stretches of unobstructed open sea views to be enjoyed anywhere in urban Malta. Starting from the edge of Qui-Si-Sana neighbourhood, walk towards St. Julian’s – you’ll pass a British military base-turned-restaurant known as Il-Fortizza (the Fortress), 17th-century coastal watchtowers, churches and ice cream parlours galore. Art deco fans should look out for Balluta Bay’s chic terrace townhouses.

There may not be any sandy beaches in Sliema, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t swimming opportunities. Just beneath the beautifully located Surfside restaurant lie a series of rectangular rock-cut pools, sheltered from open sea currents and equipped with swimming pool ladders. The pools are commonly referred to as Roman Baths or Fond Ghadir, however they probably date to the much more recent Victorian era.

Start walking down the thoroughfare of Sir Adrian Dingli Street and allow yourself to wander off into the web of backstreets. You’ll stumble across fancy colonnades, colourful Maltese balconies and art deco and art nouveau facades that once defined Sliema’s urban landscape. Close to the ferry terminal on San Duminku, stop for a pistachio or hazelnut coffee and vegan almond and berry cake at the dinky-but-delicious Caffe Berry.

As one of Europe’s most Catholic countries, Malta has nearly enough churches for you to visit a different one every day of the year. With four parishes, Sliema has its fair share of beautiful churches open to everybody, such as the baroque Stella Maris (translated as Our Lady Star of the Sea), built in 1854. Small but full of character, its theatrical decor includes red columns and sashes, and a fresco over the altar.

You don’t need any boating experience to hire one of the red motor-powered dinghies from Malta Self Drive Boats. Run by a friendly British owner, they’re easy to operate, cheap to rent and come with a booklet showing you where to anchor, swim and even stop at a waterfront bar. It’s also a great way reach some of the hidden corners of the harbour region’s stunning coastline, bays and historic sites.