Sliema is a coastal town on Malta’s northeastern shore, facing Valletta across Marsamxett Harbour. Once a small fishing community, it has developed into one of Malta’s main residential, commercial, and waterfront areas. The coastline is lined with apartment buildings, hotels, cafés, shops, and a long promenade that follows the rocky shore toward neighboring St Julian’s. Views across the water include Valletta’s fortified skyline, the domes and bastions of the historic capital, and the entrances to the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. The town’s seafront is also used for swimming, walking, and boating.

Sliema’s name is associated with the Maltese word “sliem,” meaning peace, and its early identity was closely connected with the coast and fishing. The Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an important local landmark, while Stella Maris Parish Church serves as one of the town’s principal religious centers. Traditional Maltese townhouses can still be found among newer buildings, particularly on streets away from the waterfront. The area also preserves traces of Malta’s coastal defenses, including watchtowers and military structures that once formed part of the island’s wider system of fortifications.

The Sliema promenade provides the town’s most continuous public space, following the shoreline past rocky bathing areas, small inlets, and sections of exposed limestone. Independence Gardens offers another open area overlooking the sea, while the coastal route toward St Julian’s passes by the historic Torri ta' Għallis and several points used for swimming. Manoel Island lies across Marsamxett Harbour and can be seen from much of the waterfront. The ferry service from Sliema provides a direct connection across the harbor to Valletta, making the town an important part of Malta’s network of coastal transport.

Food in Sliema reflects Malta’s wider Mediterranean traditions, with restaurants serving dishes based on fresh fish, rabbit, vegetables, pasta, and local cheeses. Pastizzi, filled pastries made with ricotta or seasoned peas, are a common Maltese snack, while ftira provides another local staple, often topped or filled with tomatoes, tuna, olives, capers, and other ingredients. The town’s waterfront dining scene also reflects Malta’s international connections, with cuisines from across Europe and the Mediterranean represented. Its rocky shoreline is another distinctive feature, as traditional Maltese seaside bathing takes place directly from the limestone coast rather than from long sandy beaches.