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St. Julian's digital nomad guide

Overview Economics Demographics Politics Environment Cities Map Jobs Visas Taxes Groups
Nomad score 7.0/10

35.9199, 14.4877 Europe/Malta #1208

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Researched Updated Oct 31, 2026 Last changed Oct 31, 2026 About guide entries

Food and Drink

Best Local Dish to Try
Pastizzi (peas or ricotta) from Crystal Palace or local 'Maxims' kiosks (€0.50)
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Grassy Hopper or Balance Bowl (Gzira/Sliema border)
Best Dessert Spots
Rivareno Gelato near Spinola Bay
Best Food Delivery App
Bolt Food delivers restaurant meals in Malta. Bolt Market, for groceries, sits inside the Bolt Food app where that service is offered. 12
Affordable Shopping Spots
Greens Supermarket (Swieqi) and Lidl (San Gwann)
E-commerce/Online Store
Amazon.de (shipping to Malta is common), Click and Collect via Maltapost SendOn
Grocery Delivery
Wolt Market or the Greens Supermarket online app
Bar/Nightlife Area
Paceville, inside St. Julian's, is where the town's hotels, restaurants and nightclubs are concentrated. 1
Local Brewery
Simonds Farsons Cisk brews Cisk at The Brewery, Mdina Road (Triq l-Imdina), Birkirkara, not in St. Julian's. Cisk is the local lager. 17 34
Wine Bars
Gululu (Spinola Bay) or Thirsty Barber (Paceville) for cocktails and wine
Street Food Stalls
Is-Suq Tal-Belt (Valletta Food Market) or the kiosks along the Sliema-St.Julian's promenade
Popular International Cuisine
Caviar & Bull, at the Corinthia Hotel on St. George's Bay, is the splurge restaurant named in the town guide. 15

Essentials

City
St. Julian's (San Ġiljan), Northern Harbour District, Malta 1
Population
The St. Julian's locality had 14,709 residents in the July 2024 mid-year estimate: 6,295 Maltese nationals and 8,614 foreign nationals. Foreign residents are already inside that figure. 1
Internet Speed
GO sells a 1,000 Mbps fibre offer with six months free, and Plug'n'GO wireless at up to 50 Mbps from €27.99 a month. The page does not publish one average speed for St. Julian's. 3
Currency & Banking
Euro (EUR). On 19 October 2026 the ECB rate was 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD, about 0.8909 EUR per USD. Wikivoyage notes that Lombard Bank does not charge an ATM withdrawal fee. 4 5
Tap Water
Tap water meets EU safety standards but tastes salty, because most of it is desalinated seawater or aquifer water. Bottled water is what many people drink. 5
Power
230 V, 50 Hz, Type G (British three-pin) sockets. 6
SIM Card
GO, Epic and Melita. A GO eSIM can be issued in the GO app before arrival. Smart S is €5.99 for 28 days (1 GB, or 1.5 GB with auto top-up); Smart M is €11.99 (15 GB, or 20 GB with auto top-up); Smart Unlimited is €15.99. Epic lists a talk pack, a 4 GB pack and a 10 GB pack, but not the euro top-up that switches each pack on. 2 11 5
Banking for Expats
Revolut is the standard; MeDirect for local savings; BOV for physical branches
Accommodation
High-end sea-view apartments and modern penthouses; rentals via QuickLets or Zanzi Homes
Cashless Friendly
Yes, contactless widely accepted in restaurants, bars, and supermarkets
Short Term Rentals
Airbnb, Booking.com, and Zest Rentals; average €1,200 - €2,200/month for central flats
Budget Accommodation
Inhawi Hostel (Triq il-Kbira) near Balluta Bay, approx. €25-€40/night for a dorm
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
Paceville for nightlife, Spinola Bay for dining and luxury hotels (Hilton, Westin) 1 15
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
Balluta Bay for a mix of cafes, sea views, and a slightly quieter residential feel

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
SOHO St. Julian's is at Punchbowl Centre, Elia Zammit Street. A hot desk is from €30 a day and a dedicated desk from €325 a month. The Strand and Savoy Gardens branches are in Gzira. 9
Best Cafe for Work
Mint (Stella Maris Street) or Lot 61 (Spinola) – excellent coffee and laptop-friendly desks
Networking Events
Business 1st meetups and 'Global expats in Malta' networking nights at Hugo's Terrace
Social Events for Expats
Expats Malta Facebook group events and weekly 'English Speaking' meetups at local pubs

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
Bolt and eCabs both run ride-hailing in Malta. Bolt also runs Bolt Food and trips to the airport. 12 13
Bike/Scooter Rental
tallinja Bike docks at the Ross bus stop in St. Julian's and at Pembroke Park and Ride. Pay-per-use is €3 for the first 30 minutes, then €2 per 30 minutes. A 24-hour pass is €15, or €10 with a personalised tallinja card. The same page lists package rates of €0.13 a minute pay-per-use and €0.10 a minute on a personalised card. 10 31
Best Beach Nearby
St. George's Bay (sandy, in town) or a short bus ride to Sliema Exiles (rocky)
Top Regional Airline
KM Malta Airlines, the flag carrier that replaced Air Malta, has its hub at Malta International Airport in Luqa. It started flying on 31 March 2024. 14
Top International Airline
There is no airport in St. Julian's. Ryanair uses Malta International Airport in Luqa as a base. KM Malta Airlines codeshares with Lufthansa from the same airport. 5 14
Highway Access
Route 1 connects St. Julian's to the South and the Gozo Ferry Terminal in the North
Main Train/Transit Hub
Malta has no passenger railway. The island bus hub is the Valletta terminal, which has a Malta Public Transport sales office. In St. Julian's, tallinja Bike uses the Ross bus stop on Triq San Gorg. 5 7 10 31
Public Transport Passes
A personalised tallinja card is €25 to register (adult, student or Gozo), then free on day and night buses and on select special services, and also on the Valletta ferry and the Barrakka Lift. Tallinja Direct routes are not free. From 18 October 2026 to 12 June 2027 a cash or contactless day single is €2 (summer €2.50, night €3, Tallinja Direct €3, and TD1 €3.50). The Explore Adult 7-day card is €25. A card of 12 day journeys is €19. 7 8
Regional Travel
Gozo Channel sails Cirkewwa to Mgarr. A foot-passenger return is about €4.65, bought at the Gozo end. Gozo Highspeed also runs fast ferries from Valletta, Sliema and Bugibba; that page did not show a standalone fare from St. Julian's. 5 26

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
For emergencies call 112. Mater Dei Hospital in Msida is the main public hospital (+356 2545 0000). Saint James Capua Hospital in Sliema, the next bay along, has a private emergency room open every day, 24 hours (2329 1112). 16 5
Yoga & Wellness Centers
Lot 108 (Spinola Bay) and Freemyme (St. George's Bay)
Gyms & Fitness Centers
Cynergi Health & Fitness (Eden Place); Monthly membership approx. €85
Laundry Services
Portuguese Dry Cleaners (Triq Ross) or 24/7 Self-Service Laundry in Paceville

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
Mercury Tower, on the Lower Piazza at Mercury, is Malta's tallest building. Portomaso Business Tower, on Vjal Portomaso, was the previous tallest. The Love statue by Richard England stands by Spinola Bay. 1 27 28
Museums & Art Venues
Contemporary Art Museum (MICAS - nearby Floriana) or MUZA in Valletta
Historical Sites
Old Parish Church of Lapsi and the Lazzaretto (Manoel Island, nearby)
Religious Sites
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Carmelite church, with its feast on the last Sunday of July. The parish feast of St. Julian is the last Sunday of August. 1
Annual Events
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the last Sunday of July, and the feast of St. Julian is the last Sunday of August. Isle of MTV is a June or July concert at Fosos in Floriana, not in St. Julian's. 1 5
Cultural Districts
Valletta (UNESCO Heritage site, 15 min drive)
Theater Venues
Teatru Manoel (Valletta) and Salesian Theatre (Sliema)
Local Markets
Sunday Fish Market in Marsaxlokk (Requires a 30-min drive/bus)
Music Scene
Jazz nights at Bridge Bar (Valletta) or electronic music at Uno Village
Street Art
Murals around White Rocks (Pembroke/St. Julian's border)
Cooking Classes
Mediterranean Culinary Academy (Naxxar/Valletta)
Art Galleries
Christine X Art Gallery (Sliema) and Cavalieri Art Hotel exhibitions
Historic Buildings
Spinola Palace (Palazz ta' Spinola), on Triq il-Knisja, was built in 1688 by Fra Paolo Raffaele Spinola and looks over Spinola Bay. 1 15 29
Local Heritage
The Luzzu (traditional colorful fishing boat) docked in Spinola Bay

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
Pembroke Garigue Heritage Park for coastal walks (10 mins away)
National Parks Nearby
Majjistral Nature and History Park (30 mins by car)
Cycling/Walking Paths
The 5km promenade from St. Julian's to Gzira/Sliema
Scenic Viewpoints
Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) overlooking the Grand Harbour
Birdwatching Locations
Simar Nature Reserve or Ghadira Nature Reserve (North Malta) 19
Bonfire-Friendly Spots
Restricted in most bays; designated BBQ areas at Bahar ic-Caghaq

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service
MaltaPost, DHL, and Aramex
Tech Repair Services
iCentre (Pieta) for Apple repairs; PC Zone (Sliema)
Table Tennis Spots
Sliema Wanderers Sports Club or local community hubs
Language Classes
EC Malta English School or IELS Malta
Libraries & Study Spots
National Library (Valletta) or University of Malta Library (Msida)
Community Centers
The Millennium Chapel in Paceville opened in 2000. It has a meditation garden, opened in 2018, in the middle of the entertainment area. 1
Gaming Lounges
The Gamers Lounge (Msida)
Casino & Gaming Halls
Dragonara Casino is in the Dragonara Palace on the Tad-Dragun peninsula in St. Julian's. The palace was built in the 1870s and the casino opened in 1964, the first in Malta. Foreign nationals must be 18 to enter, Maltese nationals 25, with an ID card or passport on the first visit. 18 30

Business

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. €7,500/m² (e.g., 40 m² = €300,000 in Portomaso/Spinola)
Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. €4,500/m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000 in San Gwann)
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. €6,800/m² (e.g., 60 m² = €408,000)
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. €4,000/m² (e.g., 60 m² = €240,000)
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. €6,000/m² (e.g., 80 m² = €480,000)
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. €3,800/m² (e.g., 80 m² = €304,000)
Corporate Tax
35% flat on company profits. There is no separate corporation tax. From the FITWI rules published in 2025, an entity can elect 15% on chargeable income for at least five years; that tax is final and gives no imputation refund. 21
Dividend Withholding Tax
No withholding on dividends paid to non-residents. Malta uses full imputation, so the tax is the 35% already charged on the company. A 15% withholding can apply to a distribution of untaxed income to a resident individual, and in a few related cases. 23
Tax System
People who are both domiciled and ordinarily resident are taxed on worldwide income. Someone ordinarily resident but not domiciled is taxed on Malta-source income and on foreign income received in Malta, not on foreign capital gains. Non-residents are taxed only on Malta-source income and gains. 20
Highest Income Tax Bracket
35% on chargeable income over €60,000 (2026). For a single person the first €12,000 is taxed at 0%. 20
VAT
18% standard VAT. A reduced 7% applies to eligible accommodation, and 5% to electricity and some other supplies. 22
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
Yes. Malta's ATAD rules have applied since 1 January 2019. A foreign entity is a CFC when a Malta resident holds more than 50% and the foreign tax is lower than the Malta tax that would have been charged. 24
Property Tax
No annual tax on owning a home, and no wealth tax. Tax on property is charged when it is transferred. 22
Property Transaction Tax
The buyer pays stamp duty of 5% on the higher of price or real value. The seller generally pays a final withholding tax of 8% of the transfer value (10% if the property was acquired before 1 January 2004). Other rates apply in some cases. 22
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
Nomad Residence Permit holders pay 10% on authorised remote-work income, and that income is generally exempt in the first year. New applicants need €42,000 a year gross. Fees are €300 per person plus €100 for the card. This is not a zero-tax regime; other income follows the normal rules. 20 32 33

About these guide entries

Method
Researched
Last updated
Oct 31, 2026
Last changed
Oct 31, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

  1. St. Julian's locality, July 2024 population, Paceville, feasts, Mercury TowerReference
  2. GO Smart top-up plans and visitor eSIMOfficial
  3. GO home internet, 1000 Mbps offer and Plug'n'GO from €27.99Official
  4. ECB euro reference rate on 19 October 2026Official
  5. Wikivoyage Malta, tap water, buses, Gozo ferry, Ryanair, Mater DeiSecondary
  6. Malta plugs, 230 V, 50 Hz, Type GSecondary
  7. Bus fares, winter single €2, Explore Adult 7-day €25Official
  8. Personalised tallinja card, €25, free bus and ferry schemeOfficial
  9. SOHO St. Julian's, Punchbowl Centre, hot desk €30 a day, dedicated desk €325Official
  10. tallinja Bike fares and the Ross stop in St. Julian'sOfficial
  11. Epic prepaid top-up pack allowancesOfficial
  12. Bolt rides, airport trips and Bolt Food in MaltaOfficial
  13. eCabs ride-hailing in MaltaOfficial
  14. KM Malta Airlines, hub at Luqa, replaced Air Malta on 31 March 2024Reference
  15. Wikivoyage St. Julian's, Spinola Palace, Caviar and Bull, Hilton and WestinSecondary
  16. Saint James emergency rooms, Sliema open 24 hours, 2329 1112Official
  17. Farsons brands, Cisk and KinnieOfficial
  18. Dragonara Casino, Tad-Dragun peninsula, opened 1964, entry 18 for foreign nationals, 25 for MalteseOfficial
  19. BirdLife Malta reserves, Ghadira and SimarOfficial
  20. PwC Malta personal income tax, reviewed 30 September 2026Secondary
  21. PwC Malta company tax 35 percent and the 15 percent electionSecondary
  22. PwC Malta VAT, stamp duty and property transfer taxSecondary
  23. PwC Malta dividend withholdingSecondary
  24. PwC Malta controlled foreign company rules from 2019Secondary
  25. PwC Nomad Residence Permit, 17 February 2025, income and feeSecondary
  26. Gozo Highspeed routes from Valletta, Sliema and BugibbaOfficial
  27. OpenStreetMap Mercury Tower, St. Julian'sReference
  28. OpenStreetMap Portomaso Business TowerReference
  29. OpenStreetMap Spinola Palace, Triq il-KnisjaReference
  30. OpenStreetMap Dragonara Casino, St. Julian'sReference
  31. OpenStreetMap Ross bus stop, Triq San Gorg, St. Julian'sReference
  32. Nomad Residence Permit eligibility, minimum gross yearly income of 42,000 euroOfficial
  33. Nomad Residence Permit fees, 300 euro application and 100 euro card, one-year permitOfficial
  34. OpenStreetMap The Brewery, Triq l-Imdina, Birkirkara, CBD 2010Reference

Change history

    • Method Generated Researched
    • Annual Events Feast of St. Julian's (August); Isle of MTV (July in nearby Floriana) The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the last Sunday of July, and the feast of St…
    • Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads Nomad Residence Permit: 10% flat tax on income from 'authorized activities' Nomad Residence Permit holders pay 10% on authorised remote-work income, and that income…
    • Bar/Nightlife Area Paceville (St. Rita Steps) – a dense cluster of clubs and bars like Havana Paceville, inside St. Julian's, is where the town's hotels, restaurants and nightclubs are…
    • Best Coworking Space SOHO Office Space (The Strand or Savoy Gardens); Hot desk approx. €250/month SOHO St. Julian's is at Punchbowl Centre, Elia Zammit Street. A hot desk is from €30 a day…
    • Best Food Delivery App Wolt and Bolt Food Bolt Food delivers restaurant meals in Malta. Bolt Market, for groceries, sits inside the…
    29 more changes
    • Best Hospital Mater Dei Hospital (Public) or St. James Hospital (Private, Sliema/Zejtun) For emergencies call 112. Mater Dei Hospital in Msida is the main public hospital (+356…
    • Best Taxi/Ride App Bolt, Uber, and eCabs (eCabs is local and very reliable) Bolt and eCabs both run ride-hailing in Malta. Bolt also runs Bolt Food and trips to the…
    • Bike/Scooter Rental Tallinja Bike or Bolt Scooters; approx. €0.15 - €0.25 per minute tallinja Bike docks at the Ross bus stop in St. Julian's and at Pembroke Park and Ride…
    • Casino & Gaming Halls Dragonara Casino (Malta's oldest) and Portomaso Casino Dragonara Casino is in the Dragonara Palace on the Tad-Dragun peninsula in St. Julian's…
    • Community Centers Millennium Chapel (Paceville) – provides counseling and community support The Millennium Chapel in Paceville opened in 2000. It has a meditation garden, opened in…
    • Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, implemented via EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) Yes. Malta's ATAD rules have applied since 1 January 2019. A foreign entity is a CFC when…
    • Corporate Tax 35% (effectively 5% after shareholder refunds for non-residents) 35% flat on company profits. There is no separate corporation tax. From the FITWI rules…
    • Currency & Banking Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Major banks: HSBC Malta, Bank of Valletta (BOV) Euro (EUR). On 19 October 2026 the ECB rate was 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD, about 0.8909 EUR per…
    • Dividend Withholding Tax 0% for non-residents under the full imputation system No withholding on dividends paid to non-residents. Malta uses full imputation, so the tax…
    • Highest Income Tax Bracket 35% for income over €60,000 35% on chargeable income over €60,000 (2026). For a single person the first €12,000 is…
    • Historic Buildings Palazzo Spinola (17th-century palace overlooking the bay) Spinola Palace (Palazz ta' Spinola), on Triq il-Knisja, was built in 1688 by Fra Paolo…
    • Internet Speed Average 100-250 Mbps via Melita or GO Fiber GO sells a 1,000 Mbps fibre offer with six months free, and Plug'n'GO wireless at up to 50…
    • Local Brewery Lord Chambray (Gozo-based, widely available) and Farsons (Cisk Lager) Simonds Farsons Cisk brews Cisk at The Brewery, Mdina Road (Triq l-Imdina), Birkirkara…
    • Main Train/Transit Hub Malta has no trains. Main bus hub is the Valletta Terminus (20 mins away) Malta has no passenger railway. The island bus hub is the Valletta terminal, which has a…
    • Must-See Landmarks Spinola Bay Love Monument, Portomaso Tower (Malta's tallest building) Mercury Tower, on the Lower Piazza at Mercury, is Malta's tallest building. Portomaso…
    • Popular International Cuisine Wagamama (Spinola) or Caviar & Bull (High-end Mediterranean) Caviar & Bull, at the Corinthia Hotel on St. George's Bay, is the splurge restaurant named…
    • Population 14,000 (permanent population), significantly higher with expats and tourists The St. Julian's locality had 14,709 residents in the July 2024 mid-year estimate: 6,295…
    • Power 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (British standard) 230 V, 50 Hz, Type G (British three-pin) sockets.
    • Property Tax 0% annual property tax; only a one-time stamp duty on purchase No annual tax on owning a home, and no wealth tax. Tax on property is charged when it is…
    • Property Transaction Tax 5% Stamp Duty on the purchase price The buyer pays stamp duty of 5% on the higher of price or real value. The seller generally…
    • Public Transport Passes Tallinja Card; personalized cards offer free bus travel for residents A personalised tallinja card is €25 to register (adult, student or Gozo), then free on day…
    • Regional Travel Gozo Channel Ferry (€4.65 return) or the Fast Ferry from Valletta to Gozo (€7.50) Gozo Channel sails Cirkewwa to Mgarr. A foot-passenger return is about €4.65, bought at…
    • Religious Sites Knights of Malta's Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Balluta Bay) Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Carmelite church, with its feast on the last Sunday of…
    • SIM Card Epic, GO, and Melita. Prepaid 10GB data bundles approx. €15-€20 GO, Epic and Melita. A GO eSIM can be issued in the GO app before arrival. Smart S is…
    • Tap Water Safe but brackish taste; most residents use RO filters or buy 19L jugs (EcoPure) Tap water meets EU safety standards but tastes salty, because most of it is desalinated…
    • Tax System Remittance-based tax system for non-domiciled residents People who are both domiciled and ordinarily resident are taxed on worldwide income…
    • Top International Airline Ryanair, Lufthansa, Emirates (daily flights to Dubai) There is no airport in St. Julian's. Ryanair uses Malta International Airport in Luqa as a…
    • Top Regional Airline KM Malta Airlines (formerly Air Malta) KM Malta Airlines, the flag carrier that replaced Air Malta, has its hub at Malta…
    • VAT 18% standard rate; 7% for accommodation 18% standard VAT. A reduced 7% applies to eligible accommodation, and 5% to electricity…

    fix pass after the batch check. Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads (aligned to the country wording: €42,000 a year gross, €300 plus €100 in fees, from the official eligibility and fee pages), Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules (aligned to the country wording), Best Hospital (Sliema emergency room hours and both switchboards from the pages that print them), Casino & Gaming Halls (entry ages 18 for foreign nationals and 25 for Maltese, from the operator page), Local Brewery (the brewery street address now cites the map object that shows it), Best Coworking Space (the private-office price that no page showed came off). Provenance set to this pass's model and date.

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