Bugibba is a popular tourist town in Malta, brimming with hotels, bars, and restaurants. It’s also the place I grew up in, and my current hometown.

To help you navigate this bustling place, I’ve put together a complete guide with recommendations on where to stay, where to eat, and where to swim.

I also share some essential tips about staying in Bugibba, plus a list of the best things to do and annual events.

So, let’s get started!

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What you need to know about Bugibba

Bugibba forms part of the St. Paul’s Bay peninsula in the north of Malta.

Formerly a quiet fishing village, St. Paul’s Bay (or San Pawl il-Bahar) is nowadays the largest town in Malta by population. It’s also a very multicultural place, hosting people from across the world.

The touristy neighbourhoods on the peninsula are known locally as Bugibba and Qawra, although the two are often used interchangeably.

Plus, St. Paul’s Bay is often referred to as Bugibba (and vice versa).

Now, I’m going to be honest with you – Bugibba is not the stuff of postcards. It can feel shabby and crowded, and the streets can get very dirty.

You’ll find garbage bags rotting in the sun, pavements covered in dog poo, and beaches littered with plastic bottles and cigarette buts. It’s a densely populated area with limited resources and funding.

Additionally, you’ll come across at least one construction site on every street (that’s not an exaggeration).

Unfortunately, these problems are also present in other tourist towns in Malta, including Sliema and St. Julian’s.

Of course, there’s a good side to Bugibba, too. Firstly, it has a vast rocky coastline, with views of St. Paul’s Island and the open sea.

It’s also super lively, especially in summer. You’ll find everything in this town: wine bars, pubs, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, gift shops, kiosks, party venues, and a lot more.

Oh, and the sea is lovely! There are plenty of swimming spots in Bugibba – I’ll be sharing my favourite beaches later in the post.

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Where to stay in Bugibba

Bugibba is a popular base for tourists, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation.

For example, Gillieru Hotel is located in a quiet area by the old harbour, next to a lovely little chapel. It has a beautiful restaurant on the waterfront, specializing in fresh seafood.

If you want a more authentic experience, consider staying in a family-run guesthouse like Casa Ricca. The building is a restored palazzino, and it’s located next to the St. Paul’s Bay parish church.

Additionally, you’ll find many all-inclusive hotels in Bugibba. However, for ethical reasons, I cannot recommend them on my blog. Many of these places are owned by some of the country’s wealthiest businessmen, who have brazenly (and often illegally) acquired public land for commercial use.

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Where to eat in Bugibba

There are many amazing restaurants in Bugibba. Since the town is quite multicultural, you’ll find places that specialize in ethnic cuisines, including Indian, Nepalese, Turkish, Japanese, Moroccan, and Lebanese.

You’ll also find a lot of Italian restaurants, Sicilian cafes, and British pubs. Plus, many cafes in Bugibba serve traditional English breakfast.

So, if you’re looking for the best places to eat in Bugibba (and drink!), here are my top recommendations.

Breakfast

I’m not a brekkie person, but sometimes I can’t resist a good fry-up. Here are the best places in Bugibba for breakfast.

Le 2 Sicilie

This little Sicilian cafe makes amazing coffee! It also serves a variety of delicious pastries, including croissants, calzones, and arancini.

It’s located along the promenade road (five minutes away from Bugibba square), and has both indoor and outdoor seating.

Michele’s Cafe

Next to the Bugibba bus terminus, you’ll find an orange cafe with colourful tiles and a vast selection of mouth-watering cakes. Michele’s Cafe does a wonderful English breakfast, too.

If you fancy something sweet, make sure to try their cannoli.

Parrot the Pirate’s Bay

This kiosk by the sea makes a hearty English breakfast. It also serves sandwiches and other light snacks.

Plus, it offers beautiful sea views, and it’s right next to the perched beach.

Lunch

Many restaurants in Bugibba are open all day, and serve a variety of light snacks and heavier meals. Here are the best places for lunch in Bugibba.

The Sea Cloud

This tapas and cocktail bar is the perfect place to chill. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and the tapas are prepared on the spot with fresh ingredients.

Make sure to try the tacos, the jamon, and the bread with feta cheese and homemade avocado cream. They make amazing sangria, too!

Rusty Spoon

Rusty Spoon is a no-frills gastro pub that does an excellent Sunday roast. They also serve a variety of burgers, pasta dishes, and salads.

If you want to have Sunday lunch here, try to book a table in advance.

Simenta

Simenta is a popular place among locals, especially beach goers. It’s located on a quay in the St. Paul’s Bay area (near the local primary school).

They make lovely seafood dishes here, including fresh mussels.

They also serve traditional Maltese dishes, sandwiches and salads, and pasta. It’s a lovely place for a swim and some light lunch.

Dinner

And, here are my favourite Bugibba Malta restaurants for dinner.

Tava Terrace

This restaurant specializes in authentic Mediterranean and Turkish dishes. It has a cozy and intimate ambiance, and the staff are lovely.

Make sure to try the prawns in butter and garlic, and the pide (Turkish-style pizza).

Chicha Hut

Want to try something different? This Filipino restaurant will delight your tastebuds with hearty, home-cooked meals.

I highly recommend the spring rolls for starters and any pork-based dish as the main.

Chinese & Sushi

As the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in Chinese and Japanese cuisine. It’s located on the promenade, opposite Bugibba Square (look out for the Casablanca sign).

The sushi is amazing, as are the tempura prawns!

This place is perfect for those who prefer lighter meals for dinner. And if you’re lucky, you might get a table overlooking the bay.

Habibi’s

Habibi’s is an authentic Lebanese restaurant, located in the heart of Bugibba. Their falafel is amazing, and they use fresh ingredients for their salads.

This place is ideal if you’re staying at one of the hotels by the square and fancy a takeaway.

Ice-cream and cakes

Looking for the best ice-cream in Bugibba? Fancy a cake or coffee instead?

Here are my top recommendations.

Mare Azzurro

This place is hard to miss! It’s located just up the road from the square, with a nice outdoor area overlooking the sea.

The kiosk serves Mr. Whippy-style ice-cream, as well as cakes, fresh fruit, coffee, and other snacks.

In summer, Mare Azzurro is open till around 11pm.

The Malta Chocolate Factory

Want to try some delicious artisan chocolate?

The Malta Chocolate Factory near Bugibba Square offers an insight into the process of chocolate-making. They even offer workshops, as well as chocolate and wine pairing sessions

Plus, the cafe serves some homemade cakes and sweets.

You can also buy chocolate and other treats as a souvenir.

Promenade

This kiosk on the promenade is one of my favourite places for a drink. It’s situated between the Bugibba Square and the National Aquarium, and serves a variety of little sweets and hot and cold drinks.

The kiosk has a lovely seating area, surrounding by trees and overlooking the sea. It’s open all year round.

Zwiit Cravings

If you really want to spoil yourself, head to Zwiit Cravings near Bugibba Square.

This place makes big donuts filled with chocolate, cream, jam, and other delicious ingredients, and topped with all your favourite chocolate bars!

They also make churros and other mouth-watering treats.

Tony’s Ice-cream

This little kiosk has a variety of sweet treats, including chocolate squares, kannoli, and profiteroles.

They also have a decent selection of ice-cream flavours. The coffee is nice too, and the seating area is perfect for enjoying the sunset.

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Best swimming spots in Bugibba

You don’t have to visit Malta in summer to spend long days at the beach – it is normally warm enough for a swim as late as November and as early as April.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many sandy beaches in Bugibba, so it might be a bit difficult to find a comfy sunbathing spot in summer.  

Swimming zones are marked by floating ropes. You don’t want to swim beyond these markers or outside of designated swimming zones as some boats and jet skiis tend to come close to the shore.

Also, the rocky coast is a bit rough in some areas, so make sure there is an easy and safe way to return to shore after your swim. You can find steps and ladders along the coast.  

The Bugibba Perched Beach is a great swimming spot. There’s the main beach, and two smaller beaches with shallower water.

If you’re not a fan of sandy beaches, there is a ramp close by where you can lie down comfortably and access the sea safely with a ladder.

Between the Gillieru Hotel and Wignacourt Tower, there’s another lovely swimming area with old baths carved into the rocks.

And if you keep walking towards the tower, you’ll find another beautiful spot, with crystal clear water and smoother ground.

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Best things to do in Bugibba 

Even though Bugibba is a large residential area and tourist resort, you’ll still find some interesting attractions on the peninsula.

Here are some of the best things to do in Bugibba.

Walk on the rocky coast  

The Bugibba promenade is normally teeming with people in the summer months, but you can easily escape the crowds by walking on the rocky coast.

If you’re heading towards Ta’ Fra Ben (or the Malta National Aquarium), look out for a set of stairs on the promenade that lead you down towards the sea.

You’ll get a good view of the sunset from here, too. Just make sure you wear good walking shoes as the coast is quite rugged.  

Go for a stroll in St. Paul’s Bay  

If you want to get away from the loud bars and crowded beaches of Bugibba, head to St. Paul’s Bay.

You can walk along the promenade towards Gillieru, where you can stop to take photos of the colourful fishing boats.

Then, make your way towards Wignacourt Tower and just sit on a bench to enjoy the view.

You can continue along the Belvedere and towards the primary school, where you’ll find a lively restaurant by the sea and a little sandy beach.

On your way back, you could take the thoroughfare of St. Paul’s Bay to see the church and admire the traditional townhouses in the area.

From here, you can simply follow the main road into Bugibba, or just return to the promenade and walk back along the sea.

Walk to Xemxija  

The neighbouring village of Xemxija is home to several ancient ruins, including a Roman apiary, Punic tombs, well-preserved Roman baths, and a carob tree that is estimated to be over 1,000 years old.

The Xemxija Heritage Trail is just a 30-minute walk from St. Paul’s Bay. You can hike along the main road of St. Paul’s Bay or the bypass to Xemxija.

Alternatively, you could get the bus. The journey should only take 10 minutes.

Have a picnic in Salini Park  

Being an overbuilt peninsula, St. Paul’s Bay doesn’t have a lot of green areas.

The Salini National Park is the only place in St. Paul’s Bay where you can enjoy some greenery and perhaps have a break from the busy town centre and crowded promenade.

There are designated picnic areas, as well as a playground for children. You can also walk along the trail overlooking Salini, a nature reserve with ancient saltpans and a popular bird-watching spot.

Visit Wignacourt Tower

Wignacourt Tower was one of the first bastioned watchtowers to be built along Malta’s coast in the 17th century. It protected the area against attacks by the Ottomans and Barbary corsairs, and it’s the oldest surviving coastal defence post in Malta.

The tower is generally open to the public in the morning. However, this depends on the availability of volunteers (the site is managed by a local NGO).

Take a boat trip to St. Paul’s Island

It is believed that St. Paul was shipwrecked in Malta on his way to Rome, specifically in the large bay that now carries his name. According to legend, the crew landed on a tiny island in the bay and swam to the mainland for safety.

St. Paul’s Island is uninhabited and largely bare, save for a 17th-century tower and a statue of the saint.

You can visit the island on a boat trip. Several tour operators combine trips to St. Paul’s Island with stops in Comino and Gozo. These depart from the Bugibba jetty and you’ll likely need to book your tickets in advance.

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Bugibba Malta events

Bugibba plays host to several events throughout the year. Here are the most popular ones.

Christmas in the Park

If you’re visiting Malta in December, you can walk around the Christmas market in Salini Park.

Artisan stalls are set up around the fountain, with lighting displays lining the path towards the children’s play area. There are also food stalls and a stage with daily performances.

Entrance is free, and the event usually runs for 2 – 4 weeks.

Summer Carnival

In August, Bugibba plays host to the colourful summer carnival.

Vibrant carnival floats parade along the promenade, accompanied by dancers and music. The road is closed to traffic, so you can enjoy the carnival safely.

The Village Festa

Every parish community in Malta celebrates its patron saint with a big annual feast.

In St. Paul’s Bay, the feast takes place on the last weekend of July, and it’s dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

The church and surrounding streets are beautifully decorated, and on Saturday night you can enjoy a fireworks display over the sea.

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Safety tips for Bugibba

Bugibba is a safe place, but there are possible dangers and threats that you need to be aware of.

Walking alone at night

Malta is a relatively safe country, but densely populated areas like St. Paul’s Bay experience more crime than others.

If you’re a woman travelling solo, you’ll want to avoid walking alone at night.

Bugibba Square and the surrounding streets should be safe in the summer months, as there’s a lot of activity and many places are open till late. But you might get some unwanted attention if you venture into the back streets.

Beach theft

Malta’s beautiful beaches tend to get very crowded in summer, making it easier for thieves to snatch unattended bags.

If you’re heading to the beach on your own, consider getting a waterproof bag so you can take your valuables into the sea with you.

Rough seas

Malta is often battered by strong winds and high waves. The St. Paul’s Bay peninsula gets hit very badly when the wind blows from a certain direction.

On these days, you’ll want to stay away from the jetty and the shore, as the waves can be pretty violent.

Also, you’ll want to avoid swimming in choppy water – it might not seem that bad at first, but the sea can get very rough in just a few seconds.

Crossing the road

Please exercise extra caution when crossing the road, even when using pedestrian crossings.

Bugibba and Qawra are popular weekend destinations among locals, especially among party-goers, and this causes a lot of traffic in the peninsula.

Unfortunately, you’ll see (and hear) many over-speeding cars in Bugibba (particularly along the coast), and currently, there are no measures in place to deter such reckless driving.

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Frequently asked questions about Bugibba

In this Bugibba travel guide, I tried to cover all the things you need to know about my hometown. However, you might still have some questions.

Let’s answer some of them!