Family Hotel in Sliema: A Room for Everyone

Malta packs a lot into a small space, which is exactly what makes it work for families. Nothing is more than an hour away, the sea is warm for most of the year, and the island has a handful of attractions built specifically with kids in mind. Staying in Sliema puts you close to the ferry, the promenade, and a family hotel with a room built for more than two people.

A Room Built for the Whole Family

The Family Room at Novotel Malta Sliema has a double bed and a double sofa bed, with enough space left over for kids to actually play rather than just sleep. It saves you booking two separate rooms, and means everyone’s in the same space at the end of a long day out.

Malta National Aquarium, Qawra

The Malta National Aquarium sits inside a starfish-shaped building on the Qawra seafront, with tanks themed around Malta’s own coastline as well as species from further afield. It’s a small aquarium, most visits run 45 minutes to an hour and a half, which makes it a manageable stop rather than a full day out. It’s open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:30. Bus 212 runs direct from Sliema and takes just over half an hour; a taxi is closer to 15 minutes. Ticket prices vary by season, so it’s worth checking current rates online before you go.

Popeye Village, Anchor Bay

Built as a film set for the 1980 Popeye movie and now a family attraction, Popeye Village sits at Anchor Bay on the island’s northwest coast. Entry covers the film set itself along with boat rides, water features, and live shows, so there’s no separate charge once you’re through the gate. Opening hours shift by season, generally 9:30 to 17:30 outside the summer months, with high-season hours running later. It’s a longer trip from Sliema than the aquarium, best done as a half-day out by car, taxi, or a combination of buses, so it’s worth building the rest of the day around it rather than fitting it in alongside something else.

A Gentler Option: Boat Trips from Sliema

If a full day trip feels like too much, Sliema and neighbouring Gżira both run shorter harbour cruises, some under two hours, that pass Valletta and the Three Cities without needing an early start or a long journey home. For families wanting open water without the whole day committed to it, this is the easier middle ground between staying local and heading north to Comino.

Book Your Stay at Novotel Malta Sliema

After a day at the aquarium or the beach, Soleil Skydeck & Pool gives kids somewhere to keep swimming without leaving the hotel, and Tria Restaurant runs a buffet breakfast and dinner that suits mixed ages and fussier eaters better than a fixed menu. Book a Family Room using the Book now button above to lock in space for everyone before your dates fill up.

For more on getting around the island without a car, our guide for first-time visitors to Malta covers the basics, and Malta Public Transport has live bus routes and timetables if you’re planning the aquarium or Popeye Village trip yourself.