9 Reasons Remote Workers Are Choosing Gzira Over Sliema and St Julian's

Ask where to stay on Malta's east coast and you will hear the same two names: Sliema for the shopping and seafront, St Julian's for the nightlife. But among remote workers and longer-stay guests, a quieter consensus has formed around the town in between. Sliema gets the headlines; Gzira is the encore people stay for. Here are nine reasons why.

In short: Gzira gives remote workers everything the famous neighbours offer, the harbour, the connections, the food, at better value and lower volume, with Manoel Island's new national park era as the bonus on the doorstep.

1. You are between everything

Gzira sits mid-corridor: ten minutes on foot to the Sliema ferry and Valletta beyond it, twenty to St Julian's, with buses in every direction along The Strand. You give up nothing by not living in either neighbour, you just stop paying their premiums.

2. Better value for the same harbour

Accommodation in Gzira tends to offer more space and better rates than the equivalent Sliema seafront address, with the same Marsamxett Harbour views and the same Valletta skyline at golden hour.

3. A food scene on the way up

Gzira has quietly become one of the island's most interesting places to eat, with ambitious kitchens earning Michelin Guide recognition alongside honest bakeries and pastizzi counters. Lunch options matter when the office is your apartment.

4. It still feels like a town

Gzira kept its residents when other seafronts turned resort. There are neighbours, a morning routine, a local bar. For a stay of weeks or months, that texture is the difference between visiting a place and briefly belonging to one.

5. The promenade is your gym

Morning runs along the water, sea swims off the front for much of the year, and Fort Manoel across the harbour as a backdrop. The commute from desk to Mediterranean is measured in minutes.

6. Quieter nights, easier mornings

St Julian's keeps its party, and Gzira keeps its sleep. When your 9 am call is with a client in Berlin, that trade reads like a bargain.

7. Manoel Island's next chapter

The island facing Gzira's seafront is set to become a national park following the 2026 settlement that ended its development concession, returning the fort, foreshore and green space to the public. Few addresses in Malta are about to get a front garden this size.

8. Everything practical within ten minutes

Supermarkets, pharmacies, gyms, hardware shops, the university next door in Msida: Gzira handles the unglamorous parts of life without a car or a plan.

9. Workspace-first stays actually exist here

Most Malta accommodation still assumes you are on holiday. Gzira is home to stays built for the laptop economy, including our own apartments with 27-inch monitors, proper desks and layouts designed for a full working day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gzira cheaper than Sliema?

Generally yes. For an equivalent distance from the seafront, Gzira tends to offer more space and better rates than Sliema, with the same harbour views and the same ferry, promenade and bus connections a few minutes further along the coast.

Is Gzira good for digital nomads?

Very. It combines a central, walkable location with cafes, a strong food scene, quiet nights, and accommodation actually designed around work, including stays with full workstation setups for one or two guests.

How far is Gzira from Valletta?

Ten minutes on foot to the Sliema ferry, then minutes across Marsamxett Harbour to the capital, or roughly fifteen to twenty minutes by bus along The Strand. Valletta's skyline is directly across the water from Gzira's promenade.

Staying longer than a holiday? Read our guide to extended stays and monthly rentals in Malta.

If those nine reasons sound like your kind of stay, Morrison Court offers short term and monthly rental apartments in Gzira for one or two guests. Get to know the town in our Gzira area guide, plan your workday with our work from Malta guide, and see how far you can roam in our 12 day trips from Gzira. Book direct at morrisoncourt.com.