During our time on Malta, we were impressed by the many things to see and do on the island. We loved it there! But just a short ferry ride away from Malta lies Gozo, Malta’s greener and calmer sister island. And that island? It stole our hearts! We spent two full days on Gozo, and still it felt too short to explore everything this little island has to offer. Just like Malta, Gozo is packed with variety: ancient temples, interesting villages, stunning coastline and pretty beaches.
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In this post, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to plan your trip to Gozo: how to get there, the best things to see and do, and even where to stay if you decide (like us) that one day just isn’t enough.
Read more: Our perfect 7-day travel itinerary for Malta (and Gozo)
Table of Contents
We also included a handy travel map, so you have everything ready for your exploration of Gozo.
Map of Gozo with the main highlights
How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations. You can also click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version of the map in a new tab. Click the star (favorites) next to the name of the map to save to your Google Maps.
How to get to Gozo
Before you can discover Gozo, you have to get there. And there are two options, both including a ferry:
- Take the Gozo Channel Ferry – This ferry leaves from Ċirkewwa (in the north of Malta) and goes to Mgarr (Gozo’s port). You don’t need to buy a ticket upfront, you only pay when heading back from Gozo to Malta. You pay around 15 euro for a car and two persons. The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. We wrote more about taking the ferry in our post about renting a car and driving in Malta.
- Take the fast ferry – There is a fast ferry leaving from Valletta and taking you within 45 minutes to Gozo. This is an excellent option when you don’t have a car available. You pay around 12 euro per person for a retour ticket. You can book your ticket easily via the official website.
How to get around on Gozo
We like to explore freely and independently when we travel. And that’s why we opted to rent a car for our entire time on Malta. We took the car with us on the Gozo Chanel Ferry to Gozo and explored the island by car. We rented a car on the Discovercars.com platform and were very satisfied with the car and the service. You can read more about renting a car and driving in our post.
When we were on Gozo, we noticed quite a few travelers using the Hop-On Hop-Off buses. At first, we weren’t sure if this would really work on such a small island, but we researched it and it turns out these buses make a lot of stops all over Gozo. That way, you can reach pretty much all the highlights without needing a private car. So these busses can be a very convenient option if you don’t feel like driving or renting a car.
Book your tickets for the Hop-On Hopp-Off bus on Gozo
Where to stay on Gozo?
If you have the time, we definitely recommend staying at least one night on Gozo. You’ll experience that the island has a completely different vibe in the evening. The most convenient place to stay is in the capital Victoria. We’ll give you some of our favorite places to spend the night in Victoria:
Casa Gemelli Boutique Guesthouse
This guesthouse is located on in the heart of Victoria and is a beautifully restored Maltese townhouse. Why this is an excellent place to stay? Because it is just a stone’s throw from the Citadel and the staff is very warm and welcoming. The rooms are air-conditioned and some offer a balcony or terrace to enjoy the morning views.
Check prices and availability on booking.com
Marcellino Boutique Living
This charming guesthouse is again located in the heart of Victoria and offers rooms that are air-conditioned, bright, and equipped with private bathrooms.
Check prices and availability on booking.com
If you want to add some beach time to your time in Gozo, an accommodation near Xlendi beach would be our recommendation:
Sweet Life Gozo
This is an adults-only bed and breakfast located near Xlendi Beach and Dwejra. Sweet Life Gozo offers elegantly designed rooms, each equipped with air conditioning and a private bathroom. There is even an outdoor swimming pool and a shared kitchen is available for use.
Check prices and availability on booking.com
The best things to do on Gozo
Just to be clear, we’ve organized these highlights by location, starting at the port of Gozo and looping east to west, rather than by personal preference.
Tal Mixta Cave and Ramla Bay
The Tal Mixta Cave is definitely one of the most popular spots on Gozo. It is a cave on top of a small hill that gives some stunning views over Ramla Beach and the surrounding area. It’s a well-known attraction on the island, and therefore, this cave attracts a lot of tourists. There are two options to get to the cave. The first one starts from Ramla Beach where you can climb up the mountain to the cave. It’s a short but steep hike. A more easier option is to park your car on the parking lot indicated on our map. From there, it’s only a short and flat hike to the cave.
After the cave, it’s time for the beach. The Tal Mixta caves looks over Ramla Beach, with its red-golden sand and relaxed vibe. You can easily drive to the beach but there is limited parking. So make sure to check for open roadside spots when heading to the beach.
Marsalforn salt pans
Just outside the fishing village Marsalforn, you’ll find of our highlights on Gozo: the salt pans. These shallow, square pools along the coast are carved into the rocks and look like some sort of giant chessboard. They’ve been used for centuries to harvest salt and today, the tradition is still alive. In summer, the pans are filled with sea water that slowly evaporates under the sun, leaving behind natural sea salt. Locals then scrape it up, dry it, and sell it. This place offers such a unique landscape and we loved taking photographs here.
Make sure to have a look at Xwejni rock as well. It made the landscape even more spectacular.
Wied Il-Għasri
Wied il-Għasri is a narrow inlet on Gozo’s north coast and we thought it resembled a mini fjord in Norway. This narrow inlet is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling. The water is clear and calm on good days, and the high cliffs on both sides make it feel sheltered. It is also a well-known spot for divers because of the underwater caves nearby. You can easily reach the water by taking the staircase cut into the rock. It’s not long, but it can be a bit slippery, so make sure to wear decent shoes. At the bottom, there is a small pebble beach, but keep in mind that the space is limited.
Wied il-Mielaħ Window
When the famous Azure Window collapsed in 2017, Gozo lost an iconic landmark. But just a bit further north, we found the Wied il-Mielaħ Window. And that natural limestone arch is still standing strong! We can’t compare it with the Azure Window, but we considered Wied il-Mielaħ definitely worth a stop. To get there, it is pretty straightforward: the road takes you almost all the way down, and there’s space to park close by. A short path and a few steps lead to a viewpoint where you can see the arch from the cliffs. Don’t expect too much in terms of facilities as there are none. We arrived there during sunset and the light was splendid.
The Ta’ Pinu Basilica
Another sight on Gozo that can’t be missed is the Basilica of Ta’ Pinu. First we had a picnic nearby with views of the church rising up in the open fields. Afterwards, we might a quick stop there and were surprised by the architecture.
The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is an important pilgrimage site for Maltese people. Inside, you’ll find walls full with thank-you notes and photos, left by people who believe their prayers were answered. What we loved the most however, were the mosaics outside. The basilica is open daily and free to enter.
Dwejra Bay and its natural sights
Dwejra Bay is one of Gozo’s most famous spots. Before the Azure Window collapsed in 2017, the area was mainly visited because of this stone archway. However, even the Azure Window is no longer there, Dwejra Bay is still packed with natural landmarks worth seeing.
Here an overview what you can find there:
- What’s left of the Azure Window: The arch is gone, but divers now explore the massive rock formation that fell into the sea. But even from above the water, it is cool to look for the place where this archway once stood and compare the picture now with pictures from before 2017.
- Fungus rock: This is a huge boulder rising out of the sea at the bay’s entrance. The Knights of St. John used to guard this rock as they believed that a rare plant with healing powers grew on this rock.
- The inland sea: This is a small lagoon connected to the sea through a tunnel in the cliffs. There are fishermen still running boat trips through the tunnel, but only if the weather allows this. A boat trip costs € 5.
- The blue hole: This is a natural sinkhole and it’s a famous site for divers. We loved watching the divers disappear in the this blue pool of water.
Victoria
Your trip to Gozo wouldn’t be complete if you don’t make a stop in Victoria (also called Rabat), the island’s main town. At the center of Victoria sits the Cittadella, a fortified city packed with history and views. Entry to the Citadella is free, but if you want to visit some musea inside, you have to pay a small fee.
Ta’ Kola Windmill
Not far from Victoria, you’ll finds the Ta’ Kola Windmill in the village of Xagħra. This windmill was built in the 18th century and is one of the few fully restored windmills left on the Maltese Islands.
Inside, you can see the original milling machinery, the living quarters of the miller’s family and tools used for grinding grain. It’s small and doesn’t take long to explore, but it’s well worth the stop.
The Ġgantija Temples
Also located in the village of Xagħra are the Ġgantija Temples. These monuments are UNESCO World Heritage and are one of Gozo’s biggest historical highlights. These temples are more than 5000 years old, and that’s actually older than the Egyptian pyramids.
The complex is made up of two massive stone temples, built with huge limestone blocks. Inside, you’ll see the outlines of altars, curved walls, and slabs that hint at rituals once held here. Expect to spend around 1 hour here, including the visitor center and walking through the temples. Entrance fee is 10 euros (combo ticket with the Ta’ Kola windmill.
And that’s the overview of the main sights on Gozo we think you shouldn’t miss. Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions of places we missed on Gozo.
Happy travels!
Matthias & Mieke
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