This Is Your Guide To St. Paul’s Bay Malta!
With its picturesque alleyways and rugged coastlines, St. Paul’s Bay is home to some of Malta’s most stunning and charming views. This small coastal town is definitely a secret gem you’ll want to escape to! Especially after a lively couple of days in Valletta. It’s time to relax and enjoy the local way right here in St. Paul’s Bay.
This cute little town in Northern Malta is an absolute must stop spot and I’m about to convince you why it needs to be on your Malta bucket list. Trust me when I say there is so much to do in St. Paul’s Bay, you’ll want to stay and stay and stay!
Keep scrolling if you want to know what to expect in St. Paul’s Bay, help planning your trip to Malta or if you’re simply looking for the perfect itinerary for what to do in St. Paul’s Bay!
St. Paul’s Bay: The Back Story
The quaint not-so-village-like St. Paul’s Bay was named after Saint Paul’s shipwreck. As the story goes, after Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked on an island while traveling from Caesarea to Rome in 60 AD, he was the first to introduce Christianity to the Maltese. If you look around Malta, you can see why his presence was so important! There’s a whopping 359 churches, cathedrals and chapels dotted around the Maltese Islands all thanks to Paul!
What started as a small fishing village has grown significantly into a booming, yet laid back, atmosphere where many regulars to Malta come for a relaxing seaside vacation! You can walk endlessly along the coast line of St. Pauls Bay, go for a dip almost anywhere and watch the most magnificent sunset over the bay.
Where To Stay In St. Paul’s Bay
First things first, where are we going to stay in St. Paul’s Bay? Let me, let you in on a secret, because I know the best place and you don’t want to miss it! The 1930’s Maltese Residence is local, cultural and the most amazing experience all wrapped up into one! Didn’t you come to Malta to be drenched in its culture?
The 1930’s Maltese Residence is a charming and cozy townhouse from the 1930’s, so really you aren’t getting more authentic Maltese than this. The hotel is a short 12 minute walk from the beach and features incredibly strong WiFi ,traditional stone work, exposed wooden beams, an LCD TV, mini-fridge as well as tea and coffee.
I have to say that aside from this dreamy hotel giving me all the Maltese design goals, Oliver, the rental owner, is unequivocally the most amazing host I’ve ever met. He was helpful, thoughtful, attentive and even gave us a short walking tour of the area upon our arrival. He even sent us a digital copy of the local newspaper every day!
Not only does Oliver clearly pour his heart and soul into The 1930’s Maltese Residence, but he truly has a passion for hosting and making sure his guests are comfortable and enjoying their stay. He gave us incredible recommendations to restaurants, cafes, beaches and other amazing spots to visit in the area as well as Malta and Gozo.
I typically give a few hotel options in my blogs to give you a range of hotels and accommodations in the area, but I just can’t express to you how badly you need The 1930’s Maltese Residence in your life. Oliver truly made our time in Malta spectacular and I am so grateful to have chosen his hotel by chance! Thank you Oliver for all you do!
CHECK PRICES FOR THE 1930’s MALTESE RESIDENCE HERE!
What To Do In St. Paul’s Bay
Discover the best things to do in St. Paul’s Bay, from gilded cathedrals and colourful painted balconies to boat trips and hidden beaches around every corner! There is plenty to do in St. Paul’s Bay, here are 6 of the best things to do:
1. Head To A Local Swimming Hole
No holiday in Malta is complete without a trip to its beautiful beaches of course. In St. Paul’s Bay the water is clear and warm and its rocky coast is perfect for snorkelers! Without further adieu, here are some of the best beaches to visit in St. Paul’s Bay!
→ Qawra Point Beach for a great beach with calm water that’s perfect for swimming
→ Buġibba Perched Beach for a popular beach raised on a rocky shoreline, with umbrella rentals, snorkeling & dining
→ Il-Bajja tax-Xama’ for a cute & quaint little sandy beach tucked away in a cozy cove
2. Check Out Xemxija Heritage Trail
The Xemxija Heritage Trail is a fascinating collection of ancient Roman and prehistoric caves, graves, baths, beehives, cart tracks and more. The site is over 2000 years old and gives us a fascinating look into what life was like in prehistoric times!
The trail is hot! Early mornings and evenings are your best bet! You’ll also want to take a Xemxija Heritage Trail leaflet with you! Oliver had one for us at The 1930’s Maltese Residence or you can pick one up at the Bugibba tourist office. The path was very poorly signposted, so we really needed the map to help us out!
3. Explore The Walkable Neighbouring Villages Of Buġibba & Qawra
One of the best places to spend time on the island is obviously St Paul’s Bay, which is home to the towns of Qawra and Bugibba. These two spots have plenty to offer! Bugibba’s waterfront is a thriving, bustling hub, while Qawra’s boardwalk provides terrific views over St Paul’s Bay, especially when the sun sets and the sky fills with impressive colours.
Bugibba Square is a nice place to spend afternoons in the sun and arguably it’s the best place to be in the evening. Packed with restaurants, pubs and clubs a lively atmosphere is not hard to find once the sun goes down.
4. Lounge Or Party The Day Away At Café Del Mar Malta
If you want to relax by a stunning pool, sip a crafty cocktail or party while the sun goes down, Café del Mar Malta offers magnificent panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and pool parties every Thursday. This beach club is just that, a perfect place to lounge by the pool as well as a great place to dance the night away!
5. Get Out On The Water
Being surrounded by calm, clear waters you just can’t not get out on It! Try your hand and rent a kayak or hop on a tour with Kayak Tours Malta! Take sail on a self driving boat, jet ski or go diving with Waterworld Malta.
6. Climb Up The Wignacourt Tower
The Wignacourt Tower was built in 1610 by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt and is the oldest surviving coastal defense post in Malta! Inside the tower discover a piece of history as some of the amazing volunteers who open the tower are very knowledgeable and eager to tell you its story!
Best Cafes In St. Paul’s Bay
When it comes to a great cup of coffee, the Maltese know how to do it right. Plus you can’t tell me coffee doesn’t taste better when it’s seaside. If you’re looking for a cafe in St. Paul’s Bay here are some of the best!
→ Terryberry Tea Room for a very pink, yet very cute tea room serving up all sorts of cuteness
→ Coffee Circus Qawra for a vegan & raw vibe that offers up an excellent cup of premium coffee
→ Nine Lives Malta for a beach side cafe & restaurant to have your coffee with a view
→ Carolina’s Petit Cafe for a frilly & vintage cafe serving up lattes, lunch & dessert
→ Sottozero Bugibba for some great coffee to go with a side of incredible ice cream
Best Restaurants In St. Paul’s Bay
There’s an incredible array of authentic local restaurants in St. Paul’s Bay that offers both traditional and contemporary Maltese flavours. It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to restaurants here and you really are spoilt for choices. These are just some of the absolute best restaurants in St. Paul’s Bay!
→ La Buona Trattoria Del Nonno for an amazing family run bistro with Italian dishes to die for
→ Ocean Basket for a cheerful vibe, serving up incredible seafood & sharing platters
→ Da Rosi for authentic Mediterranean dishes and great seafood at great prices
→ Tarragon for fine dining locally-sourced from Malta’s verdant fields & seaside villages
→ Gillieru for mouth-watering dishes that are accompanied by spectacular sea views
→ Fins & Gills for chill vibes & fresh fish & chips at low prices, get takeaway & sit by the sea
→ Ta Bertu for traditional Maltese dishes this is certainly a place you don’t want to pass up
Best Bars In St. Paul’s Bay
St. Paul’s Bay by night is a marvelous experience. This coastal town takes on a warm, golden tone as the sunsets and the sounds of clinking glasses fill the air. Here are some of the best St. Paul’s Bay bars to enjoy that much needed drink!
→ The Sea Cloud for tapas style nibbles, craft cocktails, wines & savory sangria
→ Miracles Lounge for tasty cocktails in the middle of Bugibba Square, happy hour 4:00-8:00pm
→ Cheeky Monkey Bar where fun is the only option & happy hour drinks are from 4:00-7:00pm
→ Sonora for a cool & hip vibe on the Sirens Water Polo pitch, happy hour from 4:00-7:00pm
How To Get Around St. Paul’s Bay
It’s pretty easy to get to St Paul’s Bay and get around as well! Being a smaller town you do have a couple of options when it comes to transport!
🚗 By Car: Renting a car is one of the easiest and efficient ways to get around Malta! It also means you are free to explore at your own leisure and aren’t constrained to the operating hours of public transport! We rented a car through Green Motion, one of the most inexpensive car rental companies on the island, it was great!
🚌 By Bus: Travel worry-free by bus! Malta’s only public transport system offers visitor passes and single use tickets depending on your preferences. Check out Malta’s bus system HERE!
👟 By Foot: St. Paul’s Bay is a very walkable city which will allow you to get those steps in on the daily while seeing the sites!
🚕 By Taxi: We all know and love Uber for the sole purpose of getting around the city safely and comfortably! I also recommend downloading Bolt before you go as it’s another very commonly used taxi service that acts just like Uber!
Booking.comIf you have any questions or just want to see some more travel content find me on Instagram at @agirl.enroute! I’m always happy to chat!
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Malta, undoubtably, is one of the most stunning countries I’ve ever visited. It’s historic charm, balmy beaches, pristine waters and vibrant culture immediately sucked me in. It was love at first sight! It’s quaint alleys, tasty pastizzi, incredible people and fascinating history should make Malta a top destination for all travelers. If you haven’t booked your flight yet, I’m sure my Malta blogposts will convince you otherwise! Check them out below…
📌 2-Day Valletta Itinerary Is All You’ll Need!
📌 Gozo Guide: Why You Need to Visit Malta’s Stunning Sister Island
📌 St. Paul’s Bay Is Totally Worth The Visit & Here’s Everything You Need To Know!
📌 Marsaxlokk, Malta: The Colourful Fishing Village That Will Enchant You
📌 Mdina & Rabat Travel Guide: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Malta’s Silent City
📌 Mellieha Malta: Northern Malta’s Hidden Gem
