Come to the small harbour at the heart of St Julian's for dinner on a terrace by the water, then a walk along the seafront promenade towards Sliema.
Beach, St. Julian's. Meridian Dispatch.
One travel guide describes the bay and promenade as open at all hours, with some bars and clubs running into the early hours. That makes a late dinner by the water an easy plan.
Follow the seafront promenade along the coast into Sliema. Allow about twenty minutes in all; walking is the nicest way to do it, and the path stays by the water the whole way.
Take the Sliema to Valletta ferry, which docks at Sliema. From the landing, Spinola Bay is a pleasant twenty-minute walk or a short bus ride.
Spinola Bay is a small horseshoe of water, with apartment blocks rising behind the waterfront bars and restaurants. It was the town's fishing harbour.
Look at the boats moored in the middle of the bay. The brightly painted ones are luzzu and kajjik, the traditional Maltese fishing boats, and their colours are the first thing you notice from the water's edge.
The bay is also known for its promenade and for the large number of restaurants around the water.
The Spinola Palace stands behind the bay. It dates from the 17th century, but apartments and other modern buildings now hide most of it, so you see little of it from the harbour.
Walk the curve of the waterfront past the cafe and restaurant terraces, and stop at the LOVE monument for the photograph. Then pick a terrace if you are staying on for a meal.
Spinola fits easily into a longer stroll, since the seafront walk runs all the way from Sliema to St George's Bay. Heading towards Sliema, the promenade reaches Balluta Bay and its neighbourhood life, then follows the coast on.
Portomaso Marina, also in St Julian's, makes a second short walk once you have finished at the bay.
Spinola has no beach to swim from. It is a place for eating, drinking and walking, so if you want a swim as well, carry swimwear and use the rocky ladders along the coast or St George's Bay.
In the daytime, a coffee from one of the cafes by the bay is the easy start to a walk along the coast.
Walk round Spinola Bay to dinner on the restaurant terraces, then sleep in Balluta, with Spinola Bay between you and Paceville's clubs.
Read the St. Julian's guideExplore the rest of St. Julian's
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