Known in Maltese as San Ä iljan, Saint Julian's is a lively city, shaped by both its architecture and its vibrant community. For many years, it has attracted large numbers of tourists and expatriates, creating a dynamic atmosphere ideal for those looking to visit or settle in Malta. If you are considering accommodation in Saint Julian's, here are some tips to guide you.
Saint Julian's: The most vibrant city in Malta
St Julian's (San Ä iljan in Maltese) is one of the most frequented places in Malta, alongside Sliema and Valletta. Originally a fishing village, Saint Julian's offers a blend of traditional and modern architecture. With its rocky coastline and views of the Mediterranean on the horizon, it's easy to see why it's so popular.
St Julian's is divided into several neighborhoods: St Andrew's, °Õ²¹±ô-³Òħ´Ç±ç´Ç»å, Ta' Ä iorni, Paceville (famous for its nightlife), and the areas around Spinola Bay, St George's Bay, and Balluta Bay.
Balancing modernity and history, St Julian's has been designed for the well-being of both its residents and visitors. The waterfront is never far away, with shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs revitalizing this part of the Maltese coastline.
On the waterfront, there's Portomaso, home to the business center. This area includes the Hilton Hotel, overlooking the marina, as well as luxury residences. At Dragonara Point, a stately 19th-century mansion stands resilient against the encroachment of modern buildings. The small sandy beach at St George's Bay is perfect for families, as children can swim in the shallow waters.
In the waterfront area, numerous shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs give Saint Julian's a fresh and modern look. In short, Saint Julian's combines history with modernity, offering an unparalleled quality of life in Europe to its residents, along with plenty of entertainment and activities for tourists.
Features of Saint Julian's
Saint Julian's is one of the most densely populated cities in Malta, with around 13,800 residents. This number is further increased by tourists, language students, and expatriates living there for short periods.
Saint Julian's is served by several bus lines, which go to Paceville and Sliema. Valletta is not far, and the coastal road leads to the St. Paul's Bay area in the north of Malta. There is a night bus service, so you don't have to worry about getting home after a party, especially when it's a lively one. The bus service is operated by Malta Public Transport every day from 5:30 AM to 11 PM. Night buses, on the other hand, run from 11:10 PM to 2 AM.
Hosting many businesses, Saint Julian's is one of the cities offering the most employment opportunities in Malta. Online gaming is one of the main industries in Saint Julian's, and they hire many expatriates. However, there are also other types of jobs, such as office jobs, available in the city.
Indeed, the economy of Saint Julian's is also based on tourism and nightlife. Many expatriates work in restaurants, bars, and clubs. Therefore, if you work, there is a good chance you will find a job in Saint Julian's.
Thus, the city is a relevant destination where you can live close to your workplace. You will avoid the morning and evening commutes and traffic jams (common in the Saint Julian's area and its surroundings). To get to work, you just need to take a bus for a short ride, walk, or use an electric scooter.
The city has several schools, which is a plus if you plan to move to Saint Julian's with your children. Some of them are quite popular among expatriates: Sacred Heart College, which offers primary and secondary education, Verdala International School (located in Pembroke, near Saint Julian's), St. Michael School, Maltalingua Language School, EF Education First Malta (which teaches English), Berlitz Language Centre, and EC Malta.
Saint Julian's is a lively area with the Spinola Palace gardens (Ä nien Spinola in Maltese), several shops and boutiques, cinemas and bowling clubs like Eden. There are also several grocery stores and small convenience shops for added convenience. Besides Maltese shops and groceries (like The Convenience Shop), you'll find specialty grocery stores with foods from around the world, such as Asian, Bulgarian, or even a French bakery!
This reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the population living in Saint Julian's. It's good news for you, as all expatriates end up missing the cuisine of their home country.
Finally, there are a few private clinics in Saint Julian's, including the Spinola Clinic. As you can see, Saint Julian's has all the necessary amenities to live comfortably and peacefully.
How to choose your neighborhood in Saint Julian'sÂ
Saint Julian's is divided into several areas. Your goal is to choose the one that best suits your housing criteria. Here is an overview of the different neighborhoods:
- Paceville is a relatively modern neighborhood built in the 1920s. This area is famous for its lively nightlife with bars, casinos, clubs, etc. Paceville also attracts young couples and some professionals, but it can be difficult to find long-term rentals as landlords prefer to rent to short-term visitors, which is much more profitable.
- Spinola Bay is located on the other side of St Julian's. This area includes the traditional bay with its fishermen. You'll enjoy its cafes, bars, restaurants, and the seaside promenade.
- Balluta Bay is a lovely, lively bay with beautiful views. You'll find cafes, restaurants, and bars, but also a slower pace of life than in other parts of Saint Julian's. You can even swim in the small bay by going down a few steps and accessing the (really) tiny sandy beach.
- Portomaso houses luxury accommodations, a leisure center, a beach club, shops and boutiques, as well as a luxury hotel and conference center. It is home to the Portomaso Business Tower, the first skyscraper built in Malta, with 22 floors. Its famous bar, TwentyTwo, located on the 22nd floor, offers breathtaking panoramic views of the islands at night.
- Pender Gardens is another prestigious real estate project in the Saint Julian's area, offering a wide range of residential properties.
Saint Julian's also has three bays:
- Spinola Bay, filled with luzzijiet (plural of luzzu, a colorful traditional Maltese boat), and fishermen;
- Balluta Bay, where the church of St Julian's watches over everything;
- St. George's Bay, which features a small sandy beach.
Saint Julian's immediate vicinity
If you are drawn to Saint Julian's but are concerned about its bustling life and noise, the best solution is to find accommodation in the immediate vicinity of Saint Julian's.
- Swieqi: This is a quiet and peaceful residential area. Residents enjoy the amenities of St Julian's without suffering from the overpopulation that sometimes plagues the city. In terms of real estate, you'll find duplexes, apartments, and terraced houses. Swieqi is only 15 minutes by bus from Sliema and within walking distance of Saint Julian's and Paceville, Malta's nightlife hub.
- Madliena: This is a quiet residential area located in Swieqi. This area is under development with Madliena Village, a luxury apartment project with sea views. Madliena Ridge is another project focused on high-end properties.
- San Ä wann: This is the 7th largest city in Malta. It has all the amenities you could need. From there, you can reach Saint Julian's in 15 minutes by bus or 30 minutes on foot. Rents in San Ä wann are more affordable than in Madliena.
Important:
San Ä wann and Saint Julian's have similar names for newcomers. Do not confuse them when looking for accommodation in Saint Julian's.
Types of accommodation in Saint Julian's
When it comes to finding accommodation in Saint Julian's, you will be spoiled for choice with studios, apartments (ranging from one to four bedrooms and sometimes more), penthouses, "maisonettes" (which are independent apartments in a larger residential property), terraced houses, and even villas. Choose according to your budget and needs.
Rents in Saint Julian's are among the highest in Malta, so some expatriates opt for flat-sharing. Although this option reduces privacy, it allows for socializing and meeting new people easily.
House huntingÌý¾±n Saint Julian's
You have no less than four methods to search for accommodation in St Julian's: online classifieds, local newspaper classifieds, real estate agencies, and word of mouth.
Since St Julian's is a tourist destination, many rentals are short-term, so you need to make sure to specify this in your search. Be sure to type "long-term rental St Julian's Malta" in your browser's search bar.
In the same vein, it's not difficult to find accommodation online in St Julian's. Again, it is advisable to distinguish between short-term vacation rentals and long-term rentals.
If you have already read our article about "AccommodationÌý¾±n Malta", you know that many online listings are not up to date. Therefore, it is important to contact real estate agents by phone to learn more about properties that will actually be available upon your arrival.
The real estate agent can make things easier, as not only will they conduct the search for you, but they will also be very helpful with the formalities and contract. Note that this service is chargeable, at half a month's rent. The landlord will also pay the agent a fee of the same amount. Several real estate companies operate in Saint Julian's, including major ones like , , , , , , and .
If you don't want to pay the real estate agent's fees, try renting directly from the landlord. In this case, be wary of scams, especially if you are coming from abroad.
Marketplaces and social networks are the best tools for finding accommodation directly from the landlord in Saint Julian's. is the most popular marketplace in Malta. Visit their website and browse the list of accommodations.
Facebook, very popular among Maltese people, is also perfect for searching for rental or sale accommodation in Saint Julian's. Check the Facebook marketplace using the filters, or look for groups dedicated to housing in Malta.
If you're looking for shared accommodation in Saint Julian's, you might find it on Facebook, through word of mouth, or via an agency.
Finally, classifieds in local newspapers, some of which are available online, can also help you in your search.
Important:
Remember that to stay more than three months in Malta, you must obtain a residence permit (eResidence card for Malta).
Rental prices in Saint Julian's
Due to its popularity, St Julian's is one of the most expensive cities in Malta. Expect to pay around €1,050 minimum for a small apartment, €1,400 minimum for a spacious apartment, and at least €6,000 (up to €10,000!) for a luxury residence.
If your budget doesn't stretch to these rents but you still want to live in Saint Julian's, consider flat-sharing. You can find a room for rent for €500 per month.
Due to San Ä wann's ideal location, rents there are not cheaper than in Saint Julian's. Expect roughly the same prices.
Alternatively, you can live in Swieqi or Madliena, two quieter neighborhoods. However, living in the latter upscale area comes at a price: at least €4,000 per month for a villa. Some beautiful villas with pools can be rented for more than €10,000 per month! As for rents in Madliena, expect to pay from €1,400 for an apartment, and at least €800 for a small apartment in Swieqi.
Good to know:
Prices have risen dramatically in recent years, so some prices mentioned online are no longer realistic estimates for popular areas of Malta, including Saint Julian's.
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We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
