Things to Do in Sliema, Malta: Walking Guide

Looking for things to do in Sliema? This coastal town on Malta’s east coast combines a Mediterranean setting with a rich collection of military buildings and churches. Its waterfront atmosphere is part of the experience, but Sliema is also a rewarding place to explore for its forts, chapels and varied religious heritage. Neywo has a free audio guide for Sliema with 9 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

Sliema is a useful base for discovering Malta, including nearby Valletta, while its own sights can be explored on foot. The town’s landmarks reflect both the island’s long defensive history and the communities that shaped its religious life.

What to See in Sliema

Fort Tigné

At Tigné Point, Fort Tigné is one of Sliema’s most distinctive military landmarks. The Order of Saint John built the polygonal fort between 1793 and 1795 to protect the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour.

Its unusual shape makes it one of the oldest forts of its kind in the world. The British extensively altered it during the nineteenth century, and it remained in military use until 1979. The fort therefore brings together several periods of Malta’s defensive history in one restored stronghold.

Stella Maris Church

Stella Maris Church is the oldest parish church in Sliema and Gżira. Its name means “Our Lady, Star of the Sea”, and its Maltese name is Verġni Marija Kewkba Tal-Baħar.

The Roman Catholic church dates from 1878 and serves as the mother church, or matrice, for the other parish churches in the two communities. It is one of Sliema’s most important places of worship and a central stop when exploring the town.

Cambridge Battery

Cambridge Battery, also known as Fort Cambridge, stands on the Dragut’s Point peninsula beside Fort Tigné. The Victorian-era coastal battery was built between 1878 and 1880 during the period of British rule over the Maltese islands.

Although it is popularly called Fort Cambridge, it was never officially classified as a fort while it was in use. The military installation originally housed an Armstrong gun weighing 100 tons, and its position places it immediately beside the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour.

Church of the Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a Church of England building that opened in 1866. Its design was intended to resemble an English village church, giving it a character unlike the island’s Roman Catholic parish churches.

The building reflects the Anglican tradition established in Malta and adds another layer to Sliema’s religious history.

Sacro Cuor Parish Church

Also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sacro Cuor Parish Church is one of Sliema’s notable Roman Catholic churches. The sanctuary was founded in 1877 and became a parish church in 1918.

Its Maltese name is Il-Knisja Parrokjali tal-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor. The church stands on Triq Dun Pawl Vella and forms part of the town’s rich collection of places of worship.

Our Lady of Divine Grace Church

Our Lady of Divine Grace Church is a small Roman Catholic church in Sliema. It stands opposite Stella Maris Church, making the two buildings an easy pair to notice while walking through this part of town.

Its modest scale contrasts with the larger parish church nearby and helps show the variety of religious buildings found across Sliema.

In-Nazzarenu Church

In-Nazzarenu Church, also known as the Jesus of Nazareth Church, is another church building to look for while exploring Sliema. It adds to the concentration of religious landmarks that characterizes the town.

St Luke’s Garrison Chapel

St Luke’s Garrison Chapel is a former Anglican church with a military past. It once formed part of the Tigné Barracks and Cambridge Battery, connecting it directly with the British army’s presence in this part of Sliema.

The chapel remained connected with the British army until 1979. It is no longer used for religious purposes and now contains offices, giving the former place of worship a very different role.

Exploring Sliema on Foot

Sliema itself is part of the sightseeing experience. The resort town occupies a Mediterranean island setting on Malta’s east coast, where the coast and the town’s built environment come together.

The forts and batteries around Tigné Point show the strategic importance of the harbour entrance. The churches, meanwhile, reveal the different religious traditions and communities that have left their mark on Sliema. Together, these places make the town a good choice for travellers who want more than a simple seaside stop.

For a wider view of Malta’s historic towns, you can also continue to Mdina or Birgu.

Explore Sliema with Neywo

Download Neywo and follow the Sliema’s Seafront Churches and Garrison Forts walking tour. It covers 2.86 km in 94 minutes and includes 8 narrated stops: Church of the Holy Trinity, Sacro Cuor Parish Church, Our Lady of Divine Grace Church, Stella Maris Church, In-Nazzarenu Church, St Luke’s Garrison Chapel, Cambridge Battery and Fort Tigné.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. It is a self-guided way to discover Sliema’s churches and garrison forts while walking through the town. For more ideas across the island, explore Malta and its other destinations, including Victoria.