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Buġibba Malta is a village along the Northern coastline of the main island of Malta and forms part of a cluster of villages together with Qawra and St. Paul’s Bay. Together, the three villages share a seaside promenade that stretches for 3.5 kilometres from Salina salt pans (Qawra) to Buġibba square and Gillieru Harbour (in St. Paul’s Bay).
It’s one of the most popular travel destinations in Malta and attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Although Buġibba isn’t a typical Maltese village (more of a tourist resort) and offers little in terms of culture and history, it’s a good location for those looking to combine holiday comfort with exploring the country.
There are a lot of choices for things to do and see, a few decent options for beaches and places to swim in the sea and a good choice of hotels in resorts, particularly when you’re not looking for a luxury holiday.
It’s also a good option if you’re looking for a place to stay on a family holiday with kids in Malta.
Being well connected with public transport bus routes, it’s easy to travel to other parts of the island from Buġibba and makes for a good base to enjoy your holiday in Malta. You can take direct bus routes to various larger beaches as well as more popular points of interest and places to visit like Mdina and Valletta.
This article provides information for those wondering whether to stay here or want to get to know the area better before setting off on your trip to Malta.
Looking to stay in Buġibba and need accommodation?
Have a look at my recommendations for hotels in Buġibba.
Being a popular village among tourists, Buġibba is a relatively quiet place during the winter months and busy (for local standards) during the summer months. With a number of locals having holiday flats to enjoy with their families during the summer months, plus the high season attracting tourists to this popular destination and its various hotels, that comes as no surprise.
Buġibba is very much a summer destination in fact. I wouldn’t suggest staying there in winter unless your primary objective is to have an economic base to explore the Maltese islands. There aren’t many things to do here at that time of year otherwise.
With the vast majority of tourists in Malta being UK citizens, you’ll find a number of pubs and bars in the area.
Because Buġibba and Qawra are so similar in character and adjacent to each other, it doesn’t really matter whether you stay in one or the other. In both towns, you can find a selection of hotels and resorts, for varying budgets though mostly 3- and 4-star properties.
It’s a popular destination for families with children and couples of all ages. For younger couples especially, St. Julians (and its nightlife area called Paceville) are likely to be a better option. For travellers seeking serenity and looking to be closer to Malta’s best beaches, Mellieħa and its surroundings are a more popular choice.
Stay in Buġibba if you’re looking for:
Look elsewhere if:
If you’d like to consider alternative locations to stay during your holiday in Malta, have a look at this article: Where to stay in Malta.
Being a popular tourist destination, Buġibba offers a variety of hotels to suit different budgets for your trip, with the exception of luxury hotels. The area is a favourite among holidaymakers and value Malta holiday packages can easily be found among hotels here.
Here are a few of the more popular choices:
View my full selection (and their best rates) here: Bugibba Hotels: The 12 Best Reviewed Stays.
Within the area of Buġibba itself, there aren’t an awful lot of points of interest. If you’re looking for major attractions and points of interest, you’ll need to venture out of the area.
The big plus of staying in this area is that it’s pretty easy to do so:
These are a few suggested options for things to do when you stay in Buġibba.
Get my recommendations on the best day trips, boat trips, excursions and activities and book in advance!
Using Malta’s only type of public transport (the bus) you’ll find that various routes can take you to Buġibba from various places on the island. Buġibba has its own bus terminus, meaning there are a number of direct routes you can take to various (sightseeing) spots around the Maltese islands.
Getting to Buġibba from the airport by bus will take you roughly 45-60 minutes and tickets only cost €2 per person (summer fare), which you can get from a machine or booth at the airport. On most buses, you can also pay contactless with a VISA credit or debit card nowadays.
The road signs to follow are those pointing to St. Paul’s Bay, which is the name of its neighbouring village and the municipality of which Buġibba forms part. Getting to Buġibba from the airport by car (or taxi) usually takes 30-45 minutes.
Getting a one-way transfer from Malta International Airport to Buġibba costs around €25-30 for a private taxi and around €14 (two adults) for a shared shuttle bus.
I usually recommend Welcome Pickups for the lowest rates. They never let me down.
Get more detailed info here: How to get from Malta Airport to Buġibba and Qawra.
The nightlife in Buġibba consists mostly of pubs and bars dotted around the central part of town and the main road running through to Qawra (Triq it-Turisti). There are also a few beach (and night) clubs along the coastline with great music, drinks and food.
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Buġibba and its surrounding area aren’t known for beaches, but you can find an artificial “perched” sandy beach, placed on an otherwise rocky shoreline. ‘Perched’ refers to the fact that although the beach is sandy, on the shore the entry to the water is rocky. Different entry points have been added to make access to the sea easy for everyone.
You can find this beach in the heart of Buġibba, opposite the Dolmen Hotel Malta and umbrellas and deckchairs are available for rent.
It’s a clean beach that’s popularly frequented by tourists staying in the area, although it pales in comparison with some of the naturally formed sandy beaches that Malta is known for.
If you don’t necessarily need to sunbathe, you can always follow the coastline to nearby the main square for a spot on the rocks (and crystal clear waters to swim in). During the summer you can usually find a water park of inflated platforms in the bay which kids love to play on.
Another option for bathing in the open sea is Ta’ Fra Ben beach, at the tip of the neighbouring village of Qawra (and lies within walking distance). It’s a beautiful location that’s mostly rocky although there’s a small beach with pebbles and a platform where sunbeds and umbrellas are rented and set up. It’s a personal favourite spot to go for a swim because it’s clean, rarely gets crowded and also offers beautiful underwater life to admire while snorkelling.
If you’d like to visit one of the natural sandy beaches that Malta has to offer, you’re not far from a few of the more popular options when staying in Buġibba. You can reach Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa easily by bus with a direct route (223 or 225), as well as Għadira Bay (Mellieħa), Malta’s largest sandy beach (routes 41, 221, 222, 250). If you’re looking for more ideas, have a look at my Top 10 Best Beaches in Malta.
If you’re not too bothered about swimming in the sea, you can find a few options to spend a day by the pool, for example at Cafe Del Mar (close to Qawra’s Ta’ Fra Ben beach) or Amazonia Complex.
The old village of St. Paul’s Bay (which lies within walking distance of Buġibba) has a few swimming spots where mostly locals go in summer, mostly rocky. These are a few spots you can easily find on Google Maps:
Being a popular destination among tourists and locals as well, especially in summer, you can find a good number of quality restaurants in the area, many located at Buġibba square. Here’s my selection (from personal experience):
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I was wondering if the koala bar is still open in Bugibba or if it is under a new name?
Hi Aileen, I used to live in the area for a while but never heard of the koala bar I’m afraid, sorry!
Very informative! I’m new to Malta and struggling to know where to go apart from paying extortionate prices to go on tours where you get no time to look around.
Hi Patricia, you can still find tours and excursions that don’t cost a lot and allow for flexibility. Here’s a good starting point: Malta tours, excursions and activities.