Short answer: this MeetNow Sliema guide explains how plans can work in one of Malta’s busiest areas. A host posts a plan at a public place in Sliema, such as a café on the seafront, a bar, a stretch of the promenade or the rocks for a swim, with the date, time, seats and who pays; people ask to join with a short note, and the host picks who comes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta, with the iPhone and Android apps coming soon.
Sliema is a natural meeting point: a long seafront promenade, plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants, swimming spots off the rocks, and good connections by bus and by ferry to Valletta. Many newcomers to Malta live in or near it. That makes it an easy place to post or join a plan with people you have not met. Here are plan ideas, transport tips and an example description.
Why Sliema works for MeetNow plans
- Lots of public places. Cafés, bars, restaurants and the promenade are always busy, which is exactly what you want for a first meeting.
- Easy to reach. Buses run along the seafront, and a ferry links Sliema with Valletta.
- Easy to leave. If a plan ends early, there is always a bus, a ferry or a taxi nearby.
- Something for every budget. A free walk, a pay-your-own coffee or a split-the-bill dinner all work here.
Plan ideas in Sliema
| Plan | Where | Seats | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning coffee for newcomers | A café on the seafront | 3 to 5 | Pay your own |
| Sunset walk | The promenade towards St Julian’s | 3 to 6 | Free |
| Swim off the rocks | The rocky shore along the seafront, in the season | 3 to 5 | Free |
| After-work drinks | A bar near the seafront | 4 to 6 | Pay your own |
| Group dinner | A restaurant you know | 4 to 6 | Split or pay your own |
| Ferry to Valletta and a walk | Meet at the ferry landing | 3 to 5 | Pay your own |
For more detail, see our guides to meeting new people for coffee in Malta and meeting new people for drinks in Malta.
Getting to Sliema
- By bus. Many routes serve Sliema’s seafront. Plan your trip, including the way home, on Malta Public Transport.
- By ferry. Valletta Ferry Services runs a catamaran between Sliema (The Strand) and Valletta; check its site for current departures.
- On foot. The promenade connects Sliema with Gżira and St Julian’s, so many plans can start with a walk.
In the plan, name a precise meeting point, such as the ferry landing or a specific café, rather than “Sliema”. It is a big area.
Example plan description
Saturday sunset walk along the Sliema promenade. Meeting at 17:30 by the ferry landing on The Strand, walking towards St Julian’s at an easy pace, about an hour, with an optional drink at the end. 5 seats. Walk is free, drinks pay your own. Newcomers and locals welcome. Say a line about yourself and how long you’ve been in Malta.
On MeetNow, accepted guests get a group chat to confirm the details. As host, you accept or decline each request and can limit who can join, for example by gender or age range. Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.
Who plans in Sliema suit
Because it is central and well connected, Sliema suits almost anyone, but it is especially handy for newcomers and expats who live nearby; our MeetNow Malta expats guide has more ideas. Students and people working in the area can fit a coffee or a walk around their week, and visitors staying in Sliema can join a local plan to meet people who live on the island. For a full picture of plans across the island, see MeetNow as an app to meet people in Malta.
Tips for hosting a plan in Sliema
- Pick a landmark meeting point. The ferry landing, a well-known church or a specific café is much easier to find than a stretch of promenade.
- Think about the time of day. The seafront is busiest in the early evening, which is great for atmosphere but means you may want to reserve a table for a drinks or dinner plan.
- Plan for the weather. In summer, mornings and evenings are more comfortable for walks and swims; in winter, the promenade can be windy, so have an indoor café in mind.
- Keep it short the first time. An hour or two is enough for a first plan; if the group clicks, you can always continue or plan the next one.
Safety box
Safety box. Meet at a busy public place, tell a friend where you are going and with whom, keep your drink with you, and arrange your own way home by bus, ferry or taxi. If you swim, follow the flags, swim within your ability and never alone. Leave if you feel uncomfortable. On MeetNow, the host chooses who joins and anyone can block a user.
FAQ: MeetNow Sliema
Is MeetNow available in Sliema?
Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com now, starting in Malta, so you can post or join plans in Sliema today. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
What are good plans in Sliema with new people?
A seafront coffee, a sunset walk along the promenade, a swim off the rocks in the season, after-work drinks or a small group dinner.
How do I get to Sliema for a plan?
By bus along the seafront, by the ferry from Valletta to The Strand, or on foot along the promenade from Gżira and St Julian’s.
Who pays on a Sliema plan?
It depends on the plan: walks and swims are usually free, coffee and drinks pay your own, and dinners split or pay your own. The host states it before anyone asks to join.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web now, starting in Malta, with the phone apps on the way: open MeetNow and see the plans near you.
