What Balluta is
Balluta is the small bay between Sliema and St Julian’s, marked by the Carmelite church on the waterfront and a strip of cafes and restaurants overlooking the water. It’s a popular evening promenade spot for locals and has a tiny patch of sand that gets crowded in summer.
Anchoring
The bay is small and exposed to northeasterly weather. Sand and rock bottom in 3 to 7 metres, holding patchy. As an anchor stop it’s marginal because the swell wraps in from the open sea even in moderate northeasterly conditions, and there’s not much space to begin with.
Practical notes
For most owners this is not a destination bay. Cafes are easier to reach by walking in from Sliema. The swim is fine but unremarkable compared to anywhere on the north or west coast. Useful only as a quick photo stop on a coastal cruise past Sliema, or as a swim point if you’re moored in nearby Marsamxett and want a change of scene.