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St Paul’s Bay is a village located in the North of Malta along its Northern coastline. Its municipality includes the neighbouring villages of Buġibba and Qawra, as well as a few smaller localities, which include Xemxija and Mistra.
Traditionally, St Paul’s Bay was known as a fisherman’s village, similar to Marsaxlokk, although it’s lost a little of its character with the area’s development as a popular tourist destination.
The village’s name refers to Saint Paul’s shipwreck. According to the Bible, he was shipwrecked on an island while travelling from Caesarea to Rome, and it is believed that this island was Malta. Saint Paul is believed to have introduced Catholicism to the Maltese.
Being a quieter town in comparison to its neighbours, St Paul’s Bay still retains a little Maltese village life, with a higher concentration of Maltese people living there permanently. Buġibba and Qawra are a little more popular among foreigners living in Malta, and more summer residences are bought by the locals there as well.
The village is home to one of Malta’s water polo clubs and holds a festa (village feast) in July, offering a little taste of Maltese culture.
Accommodation-wise, there are fewer options here, and you’re more likely to find privately rented out apartments and a few B&Bs at most.
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Of the three neighbouring villages, St Paul’s Bay is probably the quietest, even though a fair bit of traffic passes through its main road. Although quieter and less touristy, it’s not really a typical Maltese village anymore, although you can still find remnants from its past as a small fisherman’s village.
Traditionally a summer resort for locals, many still have holiday flats and flock to this little seaside village during the summer months. The town has an old church, a core Maltese community and features older-style traditional houses (unlike the more touristy neighbouring towns of Buġibba and Qawra.
You can find pretty much anything in terms of daily needs, while public transport connections are good. Evenings by the sea can be a big plus if you enjoy that, and you can find various good restaurants around town to enjoy fresh local fish, for example.
If you’re looking for all-inclusive comfort, you won’t find many options here, however. It would only really make sense to stay here if you’re a couple looking to explore Malta and wanting to take benefit from the good location but without being right in the centre of the busiest parts of the area. Renting an apartment or room via Airbnb is probably your best bet, and you can find good options here.
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Although a seaside town, the mostly rocky coastline doesn’t offer a lot in terms of large sandy beaches. In fact, there are only a few small bays that are suitable for swimming, namely the following (which are easy to find on Google Maps):
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It’s pretty easy getting to St Paul’s Bay, as it is one of the major localities in Malta. Using the country’s only type of public transport, a system of bus routes, you can easily get to St Paul’s Bay, with most routes passing through the village and terminating at Buġibba bus terminus.
It takes around one hour to get to St Paul’s Bay by bus from the airport, and ticket prices are pretty cheap, at €2 per ride during the day. You can buy tickets (and multi-day cards) at the airport Arrivals Hall from a ticket booth or ticket machine, but if you have a VISA credit or debit card, you can also pay for single rides on board the bus.
Getting a Malta airport transfer can be a pretty convenient option. A private taxi ride will set you back around €20, while a shared shuttle bus (which is likely to be packed heading to St Paul’s Bay during the summer season) costs around €14 for 2 adults (one-way fares in both cases).
It’s pretty easy getting to St Paul’s Bay from different parts of Malta, with road signs pointing to the village’s name. It normally takes 30-45 minutes to get to St Paul’s Bay from the airport by car (or by taxi).
Get more detailed info here: How to get from Malta Airport to St. Paul’s Bay
Parking can be difficult in St. Paul’s Bay, so here are a few local tips to make it a little easier:
Additional parking is available in the neighbouring towns of Buġibba and Qawra.
Based on archaeological finds, it seems the area of St Paul’s Bay was inhabited as early as 4000 BC, with remains having been found of a megalithic temple in Buġibba. So-called cart ruts (tracks cut into the rock, presumably used for transportation of heavy loads on carts) and a punic tomb were discovered in the area as well.
St Paul’s Bay is thought to have been an important harbour during the Roman period. On the hill of Xemxija, one can find remains of a Roman road, while on the seabed of its bay, Roman ship anchors were found.
The area was considered unsafe and vulnerable by the late Middle Ages, with corsair raids becoming increasingly common. The Knights of the Order of St John built several fortifications in the area to help safeguard the population of Malta. The Wignacourt watchtower and Qawra Tower at Ta` Fra Ben were built in the first half of the 17th century and still stand today.
Unlike nearby towns Buġibba and Qawra, St. Paul’s Bay retains a lot of its quiet character even during the busiest part of the year (summer). Originally a small fisherman’s village, it’s become more of a summer resort for both locals and tourists, but it rarely feels busy.
Although you’ll find a few great bars and restaurants in St. Paul’s Bay itself, you can find a more lively atmosphere in Buġibba, which is within walking distance. With several bars and pubs, a small square, a long promenade and a few seaside clubs, there’s plenty to do in the area if you decide to visit Malta in summer.
Yes, it is. Although it’s no longer the idyllic little fisherman’s village it once was, it’s a safe place to stay on a holiday. You should, however, still take normal precautions as you would at any tourist destination.
There are several swimming spots along the coastline where the locals swim, but the shore is rocky. There’s only one tiny sandy beach called tax-Xama, which is pretty but doesn’t offer much space. Alternatively, there’s an artificial sandy beach in Buġibba, which is within walking distance.
St. Paul’s Bay itself is not the best place for nightlife. However, Buġibba is good for nightlife thanks to its numerous bars, pubs, restaurants and a few clubs.
Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.
As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.
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Hi
I’m planning on coming for Christmas to st pauls bay.
Will enough shops and restaurants be open?
Hi Charlotte, most restaurants will open on Christmas Day, but shops are usually closed. Outside of Christmas Day (and New Year’s Day if you’re staying until then) everything will be open as usual.
Hi we are coming to malta (St. Paul’s Bay) on Saturday and as the weather looks bad with lots of rain and thunderstorms. Could you please suggest things to do in the area in bad weather thank you
Hi Maria, I’d look to take a bus to Mdina or Valletta for some museum visits and food tasting as there isn’t much to do indoors around St. Paul’s Bay except the National Aquarium in Qawra (for which you’ll still want to take a bus). Weather-wise: It’s rare for the rain to last hours in Malta. The downside is that the amount of rain comes in pretty intense bursts so keep an eye on the sky and pack a few brollies!