What we did & where we stayed in St Paul’s Bay with a baby and toddler
If you’re traveling to Malta, you will have lots of great options for where to stay during your travels. We chose to stay in St. Paul’s Bay, and we were so happy with that decision! If you’d like more general tips for visiting Malta with a baby or toddler, check out my detailed guide.
St. Paul’s Bay is the most populous town in Malta, because it is actually part of a Local Council that comprises several smaller towns, including Bugibba, Qawra, Burmarrad, Xemxija, and others. As you wander through the St Paul’s Bay area, it’s difficult to tell where one town ends and the next begins – they blend seamlessly together to form the greater St Paul’s Bay region.
It’s a popular area to stay, with the population nearly tripling during the summer months. Even so, it did not feel overcrowded or touristy when we were there in the height of the season. The town of St. Paul’s Bay itself is quieter than it’s more tourist-heavy neighbors of Bugibba and Qawra, but any of the towns along the Bay are a fantastic choice to stay.
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One of our favorite things to do in St Paul’s Bay was just to walk along the promenade that runs basically the whole way east and west along the bay. With several little beaches, tons of restaurants, and great little piazzas across the street, this area was lively and fun to explore. We hopped on and off the bus, grabbed ice cream, and just enjoyed exploring as a family.
If you’re looking for history, you’ll find plenty of it in St Paul’s Bay. The bay is named for the shipwreck of Saint Paul, which led to the spread of Christianity and a whole lot of subsequent changes on the island. It is home to remains that date back to 4000 BC, and a lot of interesting history from the Middle Ages and up through its importance to WWII. You can see much of this history in the sites around St Paul’s Bay, including the Wignacourt Tower from 1610, and the slightly later Qawra Tower.
You can’t miss Bugibba Square for wonderful dinner options. It definitely felt like an area that caters primarily to tourists, but it was a fun evening nonetheless, sipping drinks and people watching from Fat Harry’s pub.
Another major attraction along the promenade is the Malta National Aquarium. A popular place to stop for families, it has impressive underwater replicas of St. Paul’s shipwreck and the wrecked WWII-era HMS Stubborn submarine, along with a wide range of awesome sea creatures from the Mediterranean and beyond. Please note that the Malta National Aquarium is not WAZA-accredited, something that you may consider if you are passionate about the ethics of animal tourism.
Where we stayed in St Paul’s Bay
This is the incredible AirBnB that we stayed in. If you’re wondering if an AirBnB is the right choice for your family, you can find my advice from staying in dozens of AirBnBs with kids here. And if you’d like up to $40 off your first stay, use this link. I’ll get a small bonus, too – so thank you!
We loved staying in this apartment. It was close enough to walk to everything, but still quiet. The view was incredible, and being there during the festa meant that we were treated to an amazing fireworks show. It was easily large enough for our family, and the host was great when we booked last minute due to another host canceling on us the day of check-in.
Do you have any questions about visiting St Paul’s Bay, or Malta in general, with a baby or toddler? Feel free to leave it in the comments!
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