St. Paul's Bay

Travel Guide
St. Paul\'s Bay which includes a coastal town and rugged coastline
Many years after a revered saint was believed shipwrecked here, St. Paul’s Bay has become one of Malta’s favorite vacation spots.

Leave your worries behind and enjoy over 3 miles (5 kilometers) of coastline at St. Paul’s, a collection of seaside towns in northern Malta. This lovely bay and its townships form the hub of affordable Maltese tourism, with resorts for a wide budget range. Wealthy Maltese were once the only summer visitors on these shores. Now others can appreciate the area.

St. Paul’s Bay has always had a special allure, as legend says that St. Paul himself was shipwrecked here, marking the beginning of Christianity in Malta. Aside from its historical and Biblical significance, the real attractions are the beautiful seascape and panoramic vistas. Populations in these little towns increase by tens of thousands during the summer.

The village of St. Paul’s hasn’t been completely transformed by tourism and still has a Maltese character, which you can see in places like the Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck. Local townspeople light a bonfire here every February to commemorate the fateful shipwreck. Enjoy the sweeping view from the Wignacourt Tower, built in 1609, which has a small military museum. The Knights of St. John set up towers like this all along the Maltese coastline as reminders of the vulnerability near these rocky islands in past centuries.

Three small harbors along the curve of the coast have the gorgeous azure Mediterranean Sea lapping at their shores. The village of St. Paul’s is practically merged with its bustling neighbor Bugibba. Around the curve of the shoreline is the more serene Qawra. See the wonders of the sea at the new and stylish Malta National Aquarium in Qawra. The Malta Classic Car Collection provides something special for car-lovers. At the northern end of the bay lies mysterious, uninhabited St. Paul’s Island.

St. Paul’s Bay is a great destination for families and anyone seeking a laid-back resort vacation. Although you’ll never be far in distance from the rest of busy Malta, here you can enjoy the views and the sea in a quiet location.

Where to stay in St. Paul's Bay

Mistra

When in Mistra, you can plan a visit to Xemxija Bay and Selmun Palace, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Mistra
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Burmarrad

While Burmarrad isn't home to many top sights, Kennedy Grove and Salina National Park are some notable places to visit nearby.

Burmarrad
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Bidnija

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Bidnija and surrounding area, you can visit Xemxija Bay and Bugibba Square.

Bidnija
Mayflower Hotel
Mayflower Hotel
3.5 out of 5
Triq l-Imhar Qawra, St. Paul's Bay, Malta
The price is €60 per night from 29 Mar to 30 Mar
€60
per night
29 Mar - 30 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (311 reviews)
Fabulous .
"Lovely hotel and lovely staff , gorgeous room with a panoramic sea view ! Spotlessly clean and comfortable, i will definitely go back next time i visit Malta 😁"

Reviewed on 18 Mar 2024

Mayflower Hotel
QAWRA Palace Resort & SPA
QAWRA Palace Resort & SPA
4 out of 5
Qawra Coast Road, Qawra, St. Paul's Bay, Malta
The price is €75 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
€75
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions The Malta Classic Car Collection ...
8/10 Very Good! (93 reviews)
"Check in and check out staff were excellent! A gorgeous hotel everything you would want."

Reviewed on 16 Mar 2024

QAWRA Palace Resort & SPA
AX ODYCY Hotel
AX ODYCY Hotel
4 out of 5
Qawra Coast Road, St. Paul's Bay, Malta
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and 5 restaurants. Popular attractions Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (75 reviews)
Excellent Hotel
"Excellent & Clean environment. Customer care was excellent. All staff were courteous, specially, Mariani Taupan is very good. Recommend this hotel for top stay in Malta."

Reviewed on 7 Mar 2024

AX ODYCY Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Qawra Point Holiday Complex
Qawra Point Holiday Complex
3 out of 5
Tourist Street, Qawra, St. Paul's Bay, Malta
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay are located ...
6.4/10 (146 reviews)
"The property is well located, there is a bus station about five minutes walk from the property so if you take the X3 bus from the airport you you literally get off at the last stop Bugibba, and it cost only two euro. The national aquarium is about three minutes walk away and there are various places ..."

Reviewed on 10 Oct 2023

Qawra Point Holiday Complex
Triton
Triton
3 out of 5
Triq It-Tartarun, Qawra, St. Paul's Bay
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, a terrace, and a balcony. Popular attractions Mellieha Bay and St George's Beach are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (37 reviews)
"We really enjoyed our time at the Triton apartments. The building is clean and well maintained. The beds were comfortable and daily housekeeping was very good. The staff are welcoming and friendly. We loved that our unit had a balcony with a view of the sea and promenade. The kitchen was great to ..."

Reviewed on 9 Jan 2024

Triton
BH Penthouse direct on Seafront 2 Bedroom in St Paul`s Bay . Easy parking/Buses.
BH Penthouse direct on Seafront 2 Bedroom in St Paul`s Bay . Easy parking/Buses.
San Pawl il-Bahar
Stay at this beach apartment in St. Paul's Bay. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (7 reviews)
Mum and son stay
"Thank you for your hospitality. Great hosts. We arrived late at night but with very detailed checking in instructions it was quick and smooth. Communication with the hosts was perfect very attentive and welcoming - thank you Ruth, Leo and Alessandro. Good transport links to amazing Malta landmarks. ..."

Reviewed on 2 Sep 2023

BH Penthouse direct on Seafront 2 Bedroom in St Paul`s Bay . Easy parking/Buses.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of St. Paul's Bay

5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
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4 - Good
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" "4 - Good 0%
3 - Okay
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2 - Disappointing
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
18 Mar 2020

The view of the bay! A great place to take walks from in all directions, the heritage trail worth a look, the walk to Golden Bay easy to follow & around the headland to Mehelia Bay. Try the fruit & veg man in the lay-by.