Kirjiet fi Mtarfa

A small hilltop town beside Mdina, built originally as a military settlement and still recognisably laid out that way. It is quiet, green by Maltese standards, and considerably better value than the historic towns it looks across at.

L-istil ta’ ħajja

Mtarfa is a place to live rather than a destination, and it is quiet accordingly. The layout is unusual — the old military buildings and the newer housing sit in a planned grid rather than the tangle most Maltese towns have — which makes it easy to get around and slightly characterless compared with a village core. Amenities are limited; Rabat next door covers most of it and Mosta the rest. Buses run but a car makes life much easier. Families do well here: the streets are calm, there is space, and the schools of the central area are close.

Propjetà fi Mtarfa

A mix of apartments and maisonettes, generally newer than the historic towns nearby, with some conversions of the older barracks buildings. Space per euro is among the better ratios in the central area, and views towards Mdina add to some units without the price they would carry closer in. Parking is manageable, which is unusual. Both furnished and unfurnished lettings occur.