Living in 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.
Mtarfa at a glance
- Lifestyle
- Residential, elevated, quiet
- Best for
- Families, couples, anyone wanting value in the centre of the island
- Atmosphere
- Calm and residential throughout
- Property market
- Apartments and maisonettes, some older barracks conversions
- Typical property types
- Apartments, maisonettes, townhouses
Why live in Mtarfa?
Views across the centre
The hill gives long views over Mdina, Rabat and the countryside between.
Value
Space here costs less than in Rabat or Attard for a very short drive.
Quiet
Residential and low-traffic, with almost nothing passing through.
Central
Roughly in the middle of the island, so nothing is especially far.
The lifestyle
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.
Property in 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.
Who is this area best for?
Families
Quiet streets, space, and central-Malta schools nearby.
Couples
Good-sized flats at prices the coast does not offer.
Value-seekers
Among the better value in the centre of the island.
Less suited to
Anyone wanting nightlife or a wide choice of shops on foot.
What's nearby?
- St Julian's25 min
- Sliema25 min
- Malta International Airport25 min
- Valletta30 min
Approximate driving times, outside peak hours.
Properties in Mtarfa
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