A Mediterranean waterfront town north of Valletta, with a palm-lined promenade facing Manoel Island's 18th-century fort and yacht marinas. Popular for local cafes and restaurants.
Gżira stretches along Malta's central coast, where its 2-kilometer waterfront promenade faces Valletta across Marsamxett Harbour. You'll find Fort Manoel on its island, Korean restaurants next to traditional pastizzi shops, and streets lined with the typical Maltese wooden balconies painted in bright colors.
Walking the Seafront
Walk the waterfront promenade from Sliema to Ta' Xbiex, where you can watch boats coming in and out of the marina while Valletta's fortress walls rise across the harbor. Stop at the public garden halfway along the promenade, where palm trees shade the benches and a playground keeps children entertained. After sunset, locals fill the cafe terraces that line the water's edge.
Exploring Manoel Island
Cross the 30-meter bridge to reach Manoel Island, home to the massive Fort Manoel. The fort's four bastions reach 18 meters high, built from local limestone in the 1720s. Walk into the central parade ground, an 80-meter square surrounded by soldiers' barracks and a small chapel. While workers are still restoring parts of the fort, you can walk the island's coastal path to Duck Village, where ducks and other water birds swim in protected freshwater ponds.
Local Food Scene
Along Rue D'Argens, you'll smell fresh pastizzi baking from 6 AM - these diamond-shaped pastries come filled with ricotta or mushy peas. The street's restaurants range from traditional Maltese kitchens serving rabbit stew (fenek) and seasonal lampuki fish to newer spots cooking Korean bibimbap, Indian curries, and Middle Eastern shawarma.
Getting Around
Catch buses 12, 13, and 21 to Valletta every 15 minutes between 5 AM and 11 PM. The X2 airport bus stops hourly on Rue D'Argens. To reach Sliema and St. Julian's, take buses 13 or 21 running every 20 minutes. Walk 10 minutes to the Sliema Ferry terminal for boats to Valletta, which depart every 30 minutes from 7 AM.
Swimming and Recreation
From June to September, swim off the rocky shore near Manoel Island. The water drops to 3 meters deep about 10 meters from shore, making it good for snorkeling - just watch for boat traffic from the nearby marina. The public garden covers 2,000 square meters, with benches under palm trees and a playground for children.
Daily Life
Behind the seafront, small grocery stores occupy the corners of residential streets, next to bakeries and townhouses with painted wooden balconies. University students walk from the nearby campus to study in the cafes. Each morning, vegetable vendors set up their stalls on street corners. In summer, restaurants along the water serve dinner until midnight, while locals stroll the promenade to catch the evening breeze.
