Where to stay in Malta with Family – The Best Malta Family Hotels

Malta isn’t the first place you think of when considering a European family holiday. It has fewer beach resorts and family-focused attractions compared to the likes of Spain, Portugal and Greece. However, it’s still an excellent place to escape to for a week or two, especially if you like warm weather.

Malta is an underrated destination for beaches, great value hotels and historic attractions. It may be a tiny island, but it has a lot to see and do for all interests. It’s also well equipped with facilities and has excellent tourism infrastructure.

Thinking of booking a family holiday to Malta but not sure which hotel to book? Read on guide on where to stay in Malta for families for hotel and area inspiration. Some locations are better than others for a family holiday, and this guide will explain why.

The best areas to stay in Malta for families

Mellieħa

Without a doubt, Mellieħa is the number one best place to stay in Malta for families that want a beach holiday. The northern region of the island boasts some excellent golden-sand beaches and a selection of family-focused sea-view hotels. Mellieħa is far less crowded than the south and centre of the island, suiting families that want a relaxing break in the sun.

It’s a little further out for some attractions. However, Malta is a small island, and you can easily reach the other tourist centres in only half an hour. Many of the hotels in Mellieħa also cater to families, offering kids clubs, evening entertainment and child-friendly dining options.

We recommend a stay in Mellieħa for families that want to prioritise relaxation, beaches and hotel time.

Top reasons for families to stay in Mellieħa:

• This area has Malta’s best selection of beaches. They’re long, sandy and easily accessible.
• Mellieħa has fewer crowds and traffic than other areas of Malta.
• Well-located for trips to the island of Gozo, boat tours around Comino Island and the top Mellieħa attraction, Pop-eye Village.
• A good choice of hotels. Accommodation here can be good value for money, particularly in the low season.

Reasons you may not want to stay here

Mellieħa has a remote location compared to other areas in our guide. It’s not as well connected, so it’ll take longer to reach some attractions. It also has a quieter atmosphere, with fewer shops, bars and restaurants than other resort areas.

The best Mellieħa hotels for families

Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands (Luxury)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

Located to the west of Mellieħa, overlooking the beautiful Golden Bay Beach, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is a top choice hotel for families that want a luxurious beach holiday. Noted for its large swimming pools and excellent facilities, it’s unbeatable for relaxation.

db Seabank Resort & Spa (Moderately priced)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

db Seabank Resort & Spa may well be the best family hotel in Malta. This large, all-inclusive hotel is right by the long, sandy beach of Mellieħa Bay. It features multiple swimming pools, evening entertainment, a kids club, and even a bowling alley. It suits families that want lots of facilities in one place.

Luna Holiday Complex (Budget friendly)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4/5

Luna Holiday Complex is a top-choice Mellieħa family hotel for those on a budget. 3-star rated; this aparthotel is only a few minutes’ walk from the Mellieħa Bay beaches. Rooms have self-catering facilities, and it has indoor and outdoor pools.

Bugibba / St Pauls Bay

St Paul’s Bay has long been the go-to resort area for families that want lots of facility and hotel options all in one place. It may not be as beautiful as other Malta towns. However, you can’t beat having such a good selection of bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and attractions all in one place. It has a long seaside promenade for daily walks, a vibrant square and a traditional holiday atmosphere. It’s also home to one of Malta’s top family-friendly attractions, The National Aquarium.

The only downside to a stay In the St Paul’s Bay area is the lack of nice beaches. It does have a beach, but it’s partially eroded and isn’t the best for relaxation. It also feels busier than other destinations, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the type of family holiday you want.

One of the top reasons St Pauls Bay is a top place to stay in Malta for families is its selection of hotels. Hotels here range from basic, budget-friendly apartments to 5-star all-inclusive hotels, and everything in-between.

Top reasons for families to stay in St Pauls Bay:

• An excellent selection of hotels, with options for every budget. Hotels here tend to be good value compared to other areas of Malta.
• St Pauls offers a vibrant holiday atmosphere. It has an endless selection of hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. It also offers well-known food options for the kids, including Wagamamas and McDonalds.
• Well-located for seeing the island. St Pauls Bays’ central location is great for seeing the north, centre and south of Malta. It also has good public transport connections.

Reasons you may not want to stay here

St Pauls Bay and its main town of Bugibba is very built up. It lacks the beauty of other areas of Malta. The beach here is quite poor.

The best St Pauls Bay hotels for families

Ax Odycy (Luxury)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 5/5

Ax Odycy is a recently refurbished 4-star hotel right on the Bugibba seaside promenade. It offers B&B, half-board and all-inclusive packages and some excellent facilities. A 24-hour café, large outdoor pool, kids water park and kids club make it an excellent hotel for families that want a luxurious but family-focused accommodation option. It appeals to all ages, including the adults.

Db San Antonio (Moderately Priced)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

The second ‘db’ brand hotel on our list, db San Antonio Resort is a large hotel complex in the centre of Bugibba town. It overlooks the seaside promenade. Top family facilities include an adventure splash park with a giant pirate ship, large swimming pools and kids clubs for various ages.

Park Lane Aparthotel (Budget friendly)

Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

In all the hotels we’ve visited in Malta, none of them are as welcoming as Park Lane Aparthotel. Many hotels also struggle to compete with Park Lane’s affordable nightly rates. Rooms at this hotel are large and well-equipped, perfectly suiting families that need a place to stay with multiple rooms and lots of space. It also has a small rooftop swimming pool.

Sliema

Sliema is one of the best places to stay in Malta for families that want to be near some of the island’s main sites and historic centre. A long-standing favourite resort area for all types of travellers, Sliema is a built-up seaside area just across the bay from Malta’s capital, Valletta. Known for its long promenade, Sliema always has lots going on. It has an abundance of bars, restaurants and attractions. You’re also a short bus or taxi ride from some excellent attractions.

Sliema is known as the best places for shopping in Malta. It has multiple shopping malls and dining options for the whole family. This area is more picturesque and central that other recommendations on our list. However, it lacks the relaxing ‘beach holiday’ atmosphere of other towns. It suits families that want to eat out on an evening and do lots of sightseeing during the day. In our opinion, it may suit families with tweens and teens over those with young children.

A final excellent reason to stay in Sliema is the selection of hotel options. It has hotels and apartment options for every budget, with plenty of choice.

Top reasons for families to stay in Sliema:

• Sliema’s long, scenic promenade is picturesque, lively and an excellent place to eat out.
• Well-located for many key sites and attractions, including Malta’s capital city, fortresses, St Julian’s Marina, shopping malls and more.
• A good selection of hotels to suit all budgets.

Reasons you may not want to stay here

Sliema isn’t a good place to stay in Malta for families that want a relaxing beach holiday. It does have a couple of small beaches, but the area is built-up, and hotels tend to be smaller.

The best Sliema hotels for families

Ax The Palace (Luxury)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

Ax The Palace is a top choice Malta family hotel for those that want a luxurious hotel that fits all members of the family. Indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and fitness centre are just some of the facilities on offer. It also has several highly rated dining options.

Palazzo Violetta

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

If you prefer hotels that are smaller and more intimate, Palazzo Violetta is an excellent option. It has a wide variety of room options to suit all family sizes, many offering more space that a standard hotel room. Facilities include a small outdoor pool and a well-appointed breakfast room.

Pebbles Boutique Aparthotel (Budget friendly)

View on Expedia.com  |  Tripadvisor rating 4.5/5

Stylish, modern, well-equipped and with beautiful panoramic views of Valletta harbour… That’s what you can expect with a stay at Pebbles Boutique Aparthotel. It’s an excellent accommodation option for families on a budget that want to self-cater. The restaurants, shops and facilities of Sliema are right on your doorstep.

Our top tips for booking a family holiday to Malta

• If possible, travel outside of school holidays, or towards the start/end of holiday periods. Accommodation and flights are likely to be cheaper.
• Travel outside of the summer months for cooler temperatures and lower prices. Malta summers can be very hot, especially for small children.
• Book a hotel on a half-board or all-inclusive basis to save money eating out. Malta has an excellent selection of half-board and all-inclusive hotels.
• Consider hiring a car to get around. Hiring a car in Malta is affordable and hassle-free, especially when travelling with family. Many of the hotels on our list offer free parking.
• Do you want a cheap self-catering holiday in Malta? Eating out is just as expensive as many other European holiday destinations. However, self-catering is quite affordable. Book an apart-hotel and shop at the local supermarkets. Lidl supermarkets can be found throughout the island.
• Bring sun cream, toiletries and family essentials with you. You’ll find everything you need in Malta, but convenience items may be more costly than back home.
• Compare package holidays to separate flight and accommodation bookings to find the best price.
• Consider booking a hotel with free cancellation. That way, if the price drops before you arrive, you can cancel and re-book at the lower rate.

Thanks for reading our guide on where to stay in Malta for families. We hope we gave you a good idea of what to expect in each area and plenty of family-friendly hotel recommendations. Malta can be an excellent family holiday for year-round sun. It’s a very comfortable and safe destination for families to visit.

If you have any questions about anything in our guide, be sure to post a comment below. We’ll happily help you plan your trip.