Aqualuna Lido in Malta: Pool, Rates and Who Gets In Free

Malta has no shortage of places to swim, but most of them involve a bus, a car park and a walk down to the water. Aqualuna Lido is the opposite proposition. It sits on Sliema Creek, on the water directly opposite the ST Hotels Malta properties along the Gzira and Sliema seafront, which means the walk from your room to a sun lounger is measured in minutes rather than a morning.

It is also open all year round, weather permitting, which makes it unusual in Malta. Most lidos close once the season ends. Here is what is actually there, what it costs, and which properties include access.

What Aqualuna Lido Actually Is

Aqualuna Lido is a waterside sundeck built around an outdoor freshwater pool. Freshwater matters more than it sounds. You get the sea view without the salt, and you can swim on days when the creek itself is choppy or the wind is up.

The outlook is across Sliema Creek toward Manoel Island and the Valletta skyline beyond it, with Fort Manoel in the middle distance. Late afternoon is when that view does its best work, as the light turns and the fortifications across the water pick up colour. There are three restaurants on site, so a day here can run from a morning swim through a long lunch and into sundowners without moving.

Who Gets Free or Discounted Access

Access terms differ by property, and this is the detail most guests get wrong when they book. Entry to Aqualuna Lido is complimentary for guests of Azur Hotel and Valletta View Apartments. Guests at Alavits Hotel and Blubay Apartments get special rates rather than free entry.

There is a second route in. Both Bayview Hotel & Spa and Blubay Apartments sell room types with Beach Club Access built into the rate, so the lido is included from the moment you book rather than paid for at reception. If you are choosing between room types, that is usually the cheaper way to get several days at the lido. For the wider picture on what is included where, our piece on fitness centre and pool access at Azur Hotel covers the same ground from the other direction.

When to Go, Including Winter

The lido operates all year round, weather permitting, and the pool is heated through the winter months. That is the single most useful thing to know about Aqualuna Lido, because it means a February trip to Malta can still include an outdoor swim, which is not true of most of the island’s swimming spots.

In July and August, go early or go late. The deck is exposed and the middle of the day is fierce. September and October are the sweet spot: the water is still warm, the crowds have thinned, and rates across the island drop once the peak season ends. If you are planning an autumn trip, our guide to visiting Malta in October sets out what else is worth building the days around.

Getting There and What Is Nearby

The lido sits on the water along the Gzira and Sliema seafront, so for guests staying on The Strand it is a matter of crossing the road. From the properties set back from the water it is a short walk along the promenade.

That same promenade is the reason this stretch works as a base. Walk one direction and you follow the water past the Manoel Island bridge toward the marina at Ta’ Xbiex. Walk the other and you are into Sliema proper, with the ferry landing and a crossing to Valletta that takes a matter of minutes. There is plenty to stop for on the way, as our round-up of what you can find on the Sliema promenade sets out.

Where to Stay for Aqualuna Lido

Azur Hotel is the clearest case, since it has no pool of its own and entry to the lido is complimentary for guests, which effectively makes Aqualuna its pool. Valletta View Apartments also includes entry, and pairs it with sea views toward the capital and self-catering space if you want to cook rather than eat out every night. Bayview Hotel & Spa is the option for guests who want a backup plan, with an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, the Sea Salt Spa, a sauna and a jacuzzi on site, plus Beach Club Access room types that fold the lido into the rate. Blubay Apartments suits longer stays and groups, has its own rooftop pool, accepts pets by prior arrangement, and also sells Beach Club Access studios. Alavits Hotel offers special rates at the lido alongside its own rooftop pool and Baia rooftop pool bar, which is the right combination if you want the sundeck some days and the roof on others.

Booking directly through the ST Hotels Malta site gets you the best available rate, and ST Insider members get member pricing on top.

A lido day works best as an anchor rather than a whole holiday. Swim in the morning, cross to Valletta on the ferry in the afternoon, and come back for dinner. If you would rather stay higher up, our guide to the rooftop pool at Alavits Hotel covers the alternative.