Burmarrad vs Mgarr
Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.
Summary
Burmarrad suits families wanting affordable larger properties near St. Paul's Bay, while Mgarr is the better choice for nature lovers seeking traditional farmhouse living with direct access to Malta's best beaches.
Both areas score 7/10 for family suitability and 8/10 for safety, with minimal nightlife and a car essential in each. Burmarrad offers larger properties with gardens at the northern area's lowest prices, just a 5-minute drive from St. Paul's Bay amenities. Mgarr provides Malta's most affordable farmhouses with land, surrounded by working farms and vineyards, with excellent access to Ghajn Tuffieha, Golden Bay, and Gnejna Bay — scoring 9/10 for beaches compared to Burmarrad's 6/10.
Mgarr has slightly better transport links (3/10 vs 2/10) with routes 44 and 45 from Valletta, and a 25-minute drive to the airport versus Burmarrad's 30 minutes. Burmarrad is closer to the Cirkewwa Gozo ferry at 20 minutes north. Mgarr's population of 4,100 supports a stronger village community and dining scene (5/10 vs 3/10), including the annual Strawberry Festival, while Burmarrad's 1,500 residents live in a more spread-out area with no village centre.
Living in Burmarrad
Burmarrad is a small residential area on the inland edge of St. Paul's Bay — a flat, rural-feeling neighbourhood of modern houses and smallholdings that sits between the coast and the agricultural land of the Pwales Valley. It's not a traditional village with a church square; it's a spread-out residential community that grew as St. Paul's Bay expanded inland. The surrounding Pwales Valley is one of Malta's few remaining agricultural areas, with small farms producing vegetables, strawberries, and the tomatoes that go into Malta's famous sun-dried tomato paste. The valley floor is flat and green — a rarity in Malta — and the distant view of the Mellieha ridge provides a pleasant backdrop. Property in Burmarrad is among the most affordable in the St. Paul's Bay area. Buyers get larger properties with gardens — almost unheard of in coastal apartments — at prices well below the seafront. The trade-off is distance from the coast and a car-dependent lifestyle.
Highlights
- Pwales Valley — one of Malta's few agricultural areas
- Larger properties with gardens at affordable prices
- Flat terrain and open countryside views
- Part of the St. Paul's Bay area but quieter
- Close to Mistra Bay and Xemxija
Living in Mgarr
Mgarr is a rural village in northwest Malta that serves as the island's agricultural heartland. Surrounded by farmland, vineyards, and olive groves, Mgarr produces more of Malta's home-grown food than anywhere else — strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, and the grapes that go into Malta's growing wine industry. The annual Strawberry Festival draws thousands of visitors each spring. The village centre is a traditional Maltese square dominated by an enormous parish church that's dramatically oversized for the population — locals reportedly wanted to build the largest church in Malta but ran out of funds before completing the dome. The unfinished dome is a source of village pride rather than embarrassment. The surrounding countryside is scattered with cart ruts, megalithic sites, and the Bingemma valley. Property in Mgarr offers rural Malta at its most affordable. Farmhouses with land are still available, and the village has a genuine agricultural character that's disappeared from most of the island. The trade-off is distance — Mgarr is a 25-minute drive from Valletta with limited public transport.
Highlights
- Annual Strawberry Festival — Malta's biggest food event
- Working farms, vineyards, and olive groves
- Farmhouse properties with land at affordable prices
- Cart ruts and megalithic sites in the countryside
- Genuinely rural Malta
Lifestyle Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Available Properties
Burmarrad (1 listings)
View all Burmarrad properties
Mgarr (10 listings)
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