St. Julian's vs Ta' Xbiex

Side-by-side comparison of property prices, lifestyle, and practical info to help you choose the right area.

Summary

St. Julian's is better for nightlife and young professionals, while Ta' Xbiex suits luxury buyers and professionals seeking a quieter, prestigious address. St. Julian's scores 10/10 for nightlife and dining, anchored by Paceville's bars and the upscale Portomaso Marina. It is louder, with a safety rating of 6/10, and tourist-heavy on weekends. Ta' Xbiex offers an exclusive diplomatic enclave with a 10/10 safety rating, scoring a tranquil 6/10 for nightlife and 8/10 for dining, relying on neighbouring towns for commercial amenities. The two localities sit roughly 2 km apart on the central coast. St. Julian's is served by bus routes 12, 13, 14, and 16, while Ta' Xbiex connects via routes 13 and 15. Ta' Xbiex holds a transport advantage, with the Sliema ferry to Valletta just a 5-minute walk away. Both areas reach Malta International Airport in 25 minutes by car. St. Julian's supports a dense population of 13,200 residents compared to Ta' Xbiex's exclusive 2,200. Property prices run high in both areas, though Ta' Xbiex carries extra premium pricing due to limited supply and expansive Marsamxett Harbour views.

St. Julian's

Lively coastal entertainment hub

Ta' Xbiex

Exclusive diplomatic waterfront

€2093

Avg. Rent

€3950

Listings

2.1

Avg. Bedrooms

Very good. Flat coastal promenade connects to Sliema. Paceville is entirely walkable. Some uphill streets heading inland.

Walkability

Good. Flat promenade connects to Gzira and Msida. Everything accessible on foot.

Difficult, especially on weekends and evenings. Paceville is nearly impossible by car after 8pm. Portomaso has underground parking (paid).

Parking

Moderate. Better than Gzira. Some embassy staff parking. Street parking available but competitive.

High in Paceville area. Moderate elsewhere. Spinola and Balluta are surprisingly peaceful considering proximity.

Noise Level

Very low. Quiet diplomatic area. Marina activity is minimal and peaceful.

Living in St. Julian's

St. Julian's is where Malta goes to play. By day it's a pleasant coastal town spread around Spinola Bay — one of the most photographed fishing boat harbours on the island — and Balluta Bay with its grand art nouveau houses. By night it becomes Paceville, the island's densest concentration of bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants, drawing revellers from across Malta until the early hours. The town has a split personality that works in its favour. The Paceville side is loud, youthful, and commercial, home to international hotel chains and the Dragonara Casino. The Spinola and Balluta side is refined, with upscale restaurants housed in converted townhouses and a promenade that connects westward to Sliema. Portomaso, with its signature tower and marina, sits between the two — a luxury residential and commercial complex that symbolises the area's premium positioning. St. Julian's is the heart of Malta's iGaming and tech industries. Office buildings cluster around the Mriehel area and along the coast, making it the most convenient base for professionals working in these sectors. Property here commands some of the highest rents on the island, particularly in developments with sea views.

Highlights

Spinola Bay — iconic fishing boat harbour lined with restaurants
Paceville — Malta's nightlife district with dozens of bars and clubs
Portomaso Marina and luxury tower
Heart of Malta's iGaming industry
Balluta Bay with its art nouveau buildings

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

10/10

dining

8/10

4/10

family

7/10

6/10

safety

10/10

5/10

beaches

5/10

10/10

nightlife

6/10

8/10

transport

9/10

Which Area Is Right For You?

Choose St. Julian's

young professionals nightlife lovers tourists

St. Julian's comes out ahead in dining, nightlife .

Choose Ta' Xbiex

luxury buyers professionals

Ta' Xbiex comes out ahead in family, safety, transport .

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Julian's is the stronger pick for dining, nightlife. Ta' Xbiex stands out for family, safety, transport. St. Julian's is popular with young professionals and nightlife lovers and tourists. Ta' Xbiex is popular with luxury buyers and professionals.

St. Julian's has a lower average rent at €2093/month compared to Ta' Xbiex's €3950 — a difference of around €1857.

St. Julian's and Ta' Xbiex are around 2 km apart — roughly a 5-minute drive depending on traffic.