Kirjiet fi Swieqi

The residential town immediately behind St Julian’s, and the standard answer for people who want to be near the centre without living in it. Swieqi is quieter, greener in places, and built at a lower density — more space for the money, at the cost of needing a car for some things.

L-istil ta’ ħajja

Swieqi is unglamorous in a way that tends to grow on people: mostly residential blocks and maisonettes on a hill, with local shops rather than a high street. There is less to walk to than in Sliema, and the walk down to St Julian’s is easy while the walk back up is a hill. It is popular with students because of the nearby university-adjacent housing, which means some streets have a higher turnover and more sharing than others — worth asking about if you want a quiet building. The upper reaches towards Madliena get noticeably more expensive.

Propjetà fi Swieqi

A broader mix than the coastal towns: apartments and penthouses, a good number of maisonettes with their own front door, and villas in the higher parts. Terraces are common and often generous. Furnished long-lets are the norm. Because so much of the stock was built in a similar period, two flats at the same price can differ a great deal in condition — this is an area where viewing several is worth the time.