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Essential Tips for Visiting Sliema with a Dog
🇲🇹Sliema, Malta·Updated 21 June 2026
Sliema is welcoming to dogs but its Mediterranean summer is the real challenge: heat, hot stone and limited shade demand careful timing. Plan walks for dawn and dusk, stick to the seafront, and remember Malta's strict beach and transport rules.
Summer Heat & Safety
Malta summers regularly hit 32 to 35°C and the stone promenade and rocks radiate heat well into the evening. Walk dogs at dawn or after sunset, test the ground with your hand, carry plenty of water, and never leave a dog in a parked car.
Beach & Foreshore Rules
Dogs are banned from sandy and Blue Flag beaches in summer, with steep fines. They are allowed year-round on non-Blue-Flag rocky shores, with Tigné Point the official dog beach where dogs may swim. Keep dogs leashed out of the water and clean up.
Getting Around
Public buses only carry pets in a closed carrier on your lap, so large dogs realistically must walk, taxi or take the ferry. The open-deck Sliema-Valletta ferry generally welcomes leashed dogs. Malta drives on the left, so look right when crossing.
Entry & Paperwork
Bring an EU pet passport, microchip and current rabies vaccination. Critically, Malta requires a vet-administered Echinococcus tapeworm treatment for dogs 24 to 120 hours before arrival, recorded in the passport. Check the latest Maltese veterinary rules before you travel.
💡 Quick Tips
- 1.Walk only at dawn or after sunset in summer; midday stone can burn paws.
- 2.Carry water everywhere; shade is scarce on the exposed seafront.
- 3.Use the ferry, not the bus, for large dogs travelling to Valletta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sliema a good base for a dog-friendly trip to Malta?
Yes. Sliema is walkable, has a long seafront promenade, dog-tolerant terraces and a designated dog beach at Tigné Point, plus the dog-friendly ferry to Valletta. The main caution is summer heat.
What is the biggest risk for dogs in Sliema?
Summer heat and hot stone surfaces. Temperatures of 32 to 35°C and sun-baked promenade rocks can cause heatstroke and burnt paws, so walk at dawn and dusk and always carry water.
Are there any special entry rules for dogs in Malta?
Yes. On top of standard EU passport, microchip and rabies rules, Malta requires a vet to treat dogs against Echinococcus tapeworm 24 to 120 hours before arrival, recorded in the passport.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Sliema
Our top-rated pet-friendly hotels, handpicked and verified.
Eleven by Warren Collection
★★★ · 8.6/10
€105/night
Charming Rooms with a Seaview
★★ · 8.4/10
€70/night
Iprime Suites
★★★ · 8.2/10
€90/night
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