Compare cars for St Julian's — pick up near your hotel and head out to the rest of the island.
Local tips
Practical pointers from the CarsMT team in Malta, so there are no surprises at the rental desk.
St Julian's — around Spinola Bay, Paceville and the big seafront hotels — is Malta's main nightlife and hotel district. Many rental companies deliver to hotels here, which is handy if you only want a car for part of your stay.
Streets around Paceville and the bay are narrow and busy, and on-street parking is hard to find at night. Most larger hotels have their own car parks — check whether yours charges for it. Traffic between St Julian's and Sliema can be slow at rush hour.
If you're heading out in Paceville, leave the car at the hotel: Malta's drink-driving limits are strict and enforced, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find.
In pictures
Questions
Yes. A few rental companies have offices in St Julian's, and many deliver to the hotels around Spinola Bay, Paceville and the seafront. Search with St Julian's as your pick-up point to compare them side by side.
Most companies place a deposit hold on a credit card in the main driver's name, and the amount depends on the car and the cover you choose. Full coverage bought online covers the excess if something happens, but the rental company usually still holds the deposit. Some cars come with a lower deposit than others — each car's deposit is shown in its rental conditions before you pay, so compare it alongside the price.
Not for St Julian's, Sliema or nights out in Paceville — those are walkable, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find. A car is worth it for day trips to the beaches in the north, Mdina and the south coast, so many visitors rent for just part of their stay.
On-street parking around Paceville and Spinola Bay is scarce, especially at night. Most larger hotels have a car park — check whether yours charges for it — and there are paid public car parks in the area. Don't park on yellow lines or in residents' bays — fines are common.
Roughly 20–30 minutes by car, longer at rush hour. If you're flying out, leave extra time to return the car at Malta Airport and get to departures.
Updated October 2026 by the CarsMT team in Malta. About us
Other pick-up points
Read our full guide to renting a car in Malta — documents, insurance, parking and taking the car to Gozo.
Compare Malta's rental companies — deposits, debit cards and Gozo rules from their own terms.
Compared company by company: renting under 25, insurance excess, fuel policies.
Car hire prices in Malta by month — what a week's hire costs per day at the airport, in the towns and on Gozo.
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