VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Sliema: a busy seafront town on the north-east coast, about 10 km from Malta Airport (MLA) and across the bay from Valletta.
Is a Car Worth It in Sliema?
Sliema is walkable, buses are frequent and the ferry across to Valletta is quick, so a car is not essential for the town. Parking near the seafront is limited and competitive, especially on summer evenings.
A car pays off for the north, the temples and beaches that buses reach slowly. Our advice: rent for the days you travel and ask the agency to deliver it to your hotel or to a nearby car park.
Drive Times from Sliema
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Valletta | ~3–4 km | 10–25 min |
| St Julian's | ~2–3 km | 10–20 min |
| Malta Airport (MLA) | ~10 km | 20–40 min |
| Mdina | ~10 km | 20–35 min |
| Bugibba / St Paul's Bay | ~15 km | 25–40 min |
| Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry) | ~22–25 km | about 35–50 min |
Seafront Traffic and Parking
The coast road through Sliema and Gżira is slow at commuting hours and on warm evenings, and side streets are narrow with many one-way sections. Free spaces are scarce; hotel car parks, paid garages and signed bays are the practical options. Do not park on yellow markings and read bay signs, because parking enforcement is active.
- Ask your hotel about guest parking before you collect the car
- Avoid the seafront road at rush hour and on summer evenings
- Fines are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Sliema, or collected at Malta Airport (MLA). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid driving licence from your home country; depending on where it was issued, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be requested by the agency, so confirm what you need before you travel — rules for non-EU licences can change
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Fines, parking and any access charges are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Sliema: Roads and Habits
Buses, delivery vans and pedestrians crossing without warning make progress slow along the seafront. In the side streets, mirrors can be tight against parked cars.
- Traffic drives on the left, as in the UK; look right when pulling out and take roundabouts clockwise
- Roads are narrow, steep and congested, and local driving can be fast and assertive; keep a safe gap and do not be hurried
- Speed limits are signed (typically 50 km/h in built-up areas and higher on main roads); speed cameras and police checks exist
- Strict drink-driving rules — the safest approach is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Parking bays in white, yellow and blue have different rules; read the signs and ask your hotel, because fines and towing are real
- Do not take the car off the paved road, onto rocky tracks or to beach edges: insurance is not valid there
- The rental car must stay on the islands; taking it on the Gozo ferry needs the agency's permission