What and where The Strand is

The Strand, marked on maps as Ix-Xatt, runs along Sliema's Marsamxett Harbour shore, looking across the water to Valletta. The Sliema end holds the ferry terminal, and the road continues south until the front merges into the Gżira promenade. It is a street with a sea wall, not a promenade park, so expect a pavement, a busy carriageway and harbour views rather than open green space.

115 The Strand Hotel by NEU Collective gives the clearest fix on the stretch: hotel rooms on the waterfront at Marsamxett Harbour, with views of Valletta. The building sits at 115 The Strand, while some booking listings give its postal address simply as Il-Gżira, GZR1027 — which is why the boundary confuses visitors. Either way, the harbour, the ferry and the seafront road are the same few hundred metres.

Who it suits and who it does not

The Strand suits short-stay visitors who want to be on the harbour, walk to the Valletta ferry and reach Sliema's shops on foot. It also works for anyone who prefers a sea view from the room over a resort complex with grounds.

It does not suit travellers after quiet, a beach or a self-contained resort. There is no beach on this front, and the seafront road carries traffic through the day, so a front-facing room trades calm for the view. If you want a calmer base with gardens and a fort at the northern end of Sliema, look at Tigné Point instead.

Getting there and around

Arrive on foot or by bus and use the front as your walking route. The Sliema–Valletta ferry terminal sits at the Sliema end, and hotel descriptions put the crossing a short walk from the Strand buildings; ferries are one of the easiest and most scenic ways across to Valletta, though times and fares change, so check before you rely on a late crossing.

Buses run along the seafront road rather than on a separate promenade, so confirm your stop and route locally before setting out. Walking is the practical way to move between the ferry, the front and the streets behind it; distances are short, but the pavement is narrow in places and the heat at midday makes the sea side of the road the better line.

The walk south to Gżira

Walk south from the Sliema end and the front runs on into Gżira, with the water and Manoel Island on your right. The Sliema waterfront and the Gżira promenade form one continuous stretch of pavement and road rather than two separate fronts. Strand Suites by The NEU Collective describes itself as a stone's throw from the Gżira promenade, which shows how close the two fronts sit.

If you want the fuller picture of what lies beyond the boundary, the Gżira side has its own cafés, lidos and harbour corners worth a half-day. Continue past Gżira and the coast turns towards Msida and Ta' Xbiex, both of which work as add-ons to a walk rather than separate trips. See our guide to Gżira: a Practical Guide to Malta's Harbour District Between Msida and Sliema for that side of the waterfront.

Where to eat and drink on and near The Strand

Aqualuna Lido sits a 3-minute walk from the hotel buildings, according to The NEU Collective, and is complimentary for all hotel guests, with a pool and views towards Valletta and Manoel Island. It is the obvious daytime stop on this stretch for a swim and a drink without leaving the front. Check access rules with the property if you are not staying with the group.

Grana Trattoria is a few metres from the Strand Suites building and offers a 10% discount to guests dining there, per the operator. Breakfast is served in the hotel buildings, and recent guest reviews note the breakfast room getting busy in peak periods, with one reviewer advising arriving early to get a seat.

Behind the front, the streets towards Bisazza Street hold the wider choice of cafés, restaurants and shops. Broadway Travel places Bisazza Street and Triq Manwel Dimech within a 10-minute walk of 115 The Strand, which makes the back streets a quick alternative when the seafront venues are full.

Where to stay on The Strand

115 The Strand Hotel by NEU Collective occupies the seafront building, with hotel rooms, suites and family rooms that include a small kitchenette, and free WiFi throughout. Skyscanner lists check-in from 14:00 and check-out before 11:00, plus a pool and a restaurant among the amenities.

Strand Suites by The NEU Collective is the apartment-style option on the same stretch, with a Deluxe Room for two, a Family Room for three and a Two Bedroom Suite sleeping up to five, each with a private balcony.

Choose a front-facing room if the harbour view matters: guests repeatedly single out balconies looking over the water as the highlight of a stay, and one describes an upgrade to a sea view on arrival. Rear rooms sit away from the road, which may matter if traffic noise disturbs you at night.

What is within walking distance

The shopping streets behind the front are the main draw within easy walking distance: Bisazza Street and Triq Manwel Dimech both sit within 10 minutes of 115 The Strand. The Sliema–Valletta ferry terminal is a short walk from the same buildings, which makes the front practical for a day split between the two harbours.

Walk north along the Sliema front and you reach the Tigné Point end, where the fort and gardens are; walk south and you are in Gżira within a few minutes. Both directions follow the same shoreline, so a single afternoon covers the front from Tigné Point to the Gżira promenade without transport.

Practical trade-offs

The seafront road carries traffic and the pavement is narrow, so the stretch is a route to walk purposefully rather than to stroll with children in tow. Harbour views come at the price of that road noise, and guests describe the breakfast room filling up in busy spells. Weigh a sea view against a quieter rear room before you book, and read the room description carefully.

Guest reviews on the booking sites are snapshots from particular stays, not current conditions: they mention broken air conditioning in one room and a busy breakfast in another. Use them to know what to ask about, such as which rooms face the harbour, and confirm the specifics with the property at the time of booking.

Malta's environmental tax

Malta's environmental tax rises to €1.50 per adult per night from 1 July 2026, payable at the property, according to the Strand Suites operator. It is a nightly charge separate from your room rate, so add it to the budget for each adult in the party. Check the current rate when you book if your stay falls around the changeover.

Should you base yourself on The Strand?

Book The Strand if you want the harbour, the Valletta ferry and Sliema's shops on foot, and accept a working road in exchange for the view across Marsamxett. Choose a front-facing room for the harbour, a rear room for quiet, and budget for the environmental tax at the property.

If you want a calmer base with gardens and a fort on your doorstep, read the guide to Tigné Point before deciding. If you would rather be closer to Gżira's promenade, the Gżira guide covers that side of the same waterfront.