Pembroke vs Ta' Xbiex
Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.
Summary
Pembroke rates 8/10 for family living and safety against Ta' Xbiex scoring 10/10 safety and 9/10 transport. Pembroke connects to Sliema and Valletta via buses 120, 225 and 212, with the Sliema ferry ten minutes away by bus. Ta' Xbiex sits on the Sliema–Valletta bus route and the ferry is a five-minute walk. Ta' Xbiex reaches Malta International Airport in 25 minutes by car; Pembroke takes 30 minutes. Property prices sit mid-range in Pembroke, whereas Ta' Xbiex commands premium rates with limited supply.
Pembroke delivers coastal nature reserves, modern housing stock with parking, and a quiet atmosphere away from nightlife. It scores 4/10 for dining and 4/10 for nightlife. Ta' Xbiex scores 8/10 for dining and 6/10 for nightlife, with a yacht marina, embassy row, and direct views across Marsamxett Harbour to Valletta. Pembroke's population of 4,200 is double Ta' Xbiex's 2,200, yet both areas maintain exclusive residential feels — Pembroke through modern suburb planning, Ta' Xbiex through diplomatic prestige.
Modern residential town with military heritage
Exclusive diplomatic waterfront
Living in Pembroke
Pembroke is one of Malta's newest towns, built on land that served as a British military base from the 1860s until the navy left in 1979. Named after the 12th Earl of Pembroke, the area still bears visible traces of its military past — coastal fortifications, Victorian-era barracks, and gun emplacements that once guarded the approach to the Grand Harbour. The town has developed rapidly since the 1990s into a residential area popular with middle-class Maltese families and expat professionals. The housing stock is predominantly modern apartment blocks and terraced houses, with some newer villa developments on the eastern edge. Pembroke's big advantage is greenspace — the town sits adjacent to the Pembroke Garigue Nature Reserve, a protected area of rocky coastline and wild garigue habitat that's one of the few remaining natural spaces in urban Malta. Pembroke occupies a strategic position between St. Julian's and the northern coast. It's close enough to Paceville and Sliema to benefit from their amenities but far enough to escape the noise and congestion. Property prices sit in the mid-range — above the southern towns but below the premium coastal strip.
Highlights
- Pembroke Garigue Nature Reserve — protected coastline
- Former British military base with Victorian fortifications
- Mid-range property between St. Julian's and the north
- Popular with families and expat professionals
- Greenspace rare in this part of Malta
Living in Ta' Xbiex
Ta' Xbiex is a tiny, prestigious waterfront locality between Gzira and Msida — barely a neighbourhood by most standards, but home to several foreign embassies, a marina, and some of the most expensive apartments on the harbour. The name means 'threshing floor' in Maltese, though you'd never guess it from the current property values. The seafront promenade is Ta' Xbiex's crown jewel. It looks out across Marsamxett Harbour to Valletta's fortifications, with yacht masts from the marina filling the foreground. Several diplomatic residences line the waterfront — the British, Australian, and Egyptian embassies among them — giving the area a quiet, exclusive atmosphere. Property here is premium. Apartments with harbour views command prices comparable to Sliema's best addresses, and the limited supply keeps values stable. Ta' Xbiex appeals to professionals and diplomats who want harbour views without Sliema's commercial density. There's no real commercial strip — you walk to Gzira for groceries and restaurants — but for a certain type of buyer, that's exactly the point.
Highlights
- Foreign embassy row — diplomatic enclave
- Yacht marina and harbour views
- Walk to Valletta via ferry from neighbouring Gzira
- Prestige address with limited supply
- Quiet residential atmosphere
Lifestyle Comparison
Which Area Is Right For You?
Choose Pembroke
Pembroke comes out ahead in family, beaches .
Choose Ta' Xbiex
Ta' Xbiex comes out ahead in dining, safety, nightlife, transport .
