Malta to Gozo: How to Visit and Is it Worth it?

Where is Gozo?

Gozo is a small island located in the Maltese archipelago. It’s northwest of the main island of Malta and separated by a roughly 3-mile wide channel, known as the Gozo Channel. 

Gozo is the second-largest island in the group and is known for its picturesque villages, beautiful coastline, and historic sites, including the ancient Ggantija temples, which are some of the oldest freestanding structures in the world.

While there are many great things to do in Malta, I also highly recommend a trip to Gozo. It’s a smaller island and seems to move at a slower pace than the bustling Malta. As such, it’s super relaxing and beautiful to visit. 

Malta to Gozo ferry

The most popular way to get to Gozo from Malta is by ferry. Of course, you can also go on a private boat, but the ferry is the most popular option. Luckily, it’s very easy to book. 

The ferry port is located at the northwestern tip of the island, near Popeye’s Village. You’ll need to travel to the Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal. You can do this via public transport. 

When we visited Malta, we stayed in Rabat, so had to get a bus to St Paul’s Bay, then another bus up to the terminal. This takes roughly an hour and 20 minutes. 

If you’re staying in Valletta, there’s a bus that goes straight there, passing through St Paul’s Bay on the way. This takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes though, so there’s really not much difference. You can also take the fast ferry directly from Valletta, which takes 45 minutes.

If you’re coming directly from the airport, you can also catch the X1 bus directly to Ċirkewwa. This takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs just €2.

Tickets and how much does it cost

Once you’ve reached the passenger terminal, you can buy tickets directly from the counter. It’s a little confusing, however, because they don’t actually give you a ticket when you leave Malta. 

Instead, you buy your ticket from Mġarr Harbour on the way back to Malta, which is pretty bizarre, but it seems to work. The tickets cost €4.65 per adult.

Once you’ve boarded the boat, it takes roughly 25-30 minutes to reach Gozo. It was a very smooth crossing when we went, which I very much appreciated!

✅ This tour will take you to Gozo, the Blue Lagoon, and Comino Island!

Once you reach Gozo

Gozo is only 26 square miles, so it’s fairly easy to get around and you can see a lot of the island even if you just go for a Gozo day trip. When you arrive at Mġarr Harbour in Gozo, there are several ways to get to Victoria, the historical capital.

You can take public transport and there is a bus that goes from the terminal to Victoria in just 25 minutes and buses run every 30. However, the bus system in Gozo isn’t the most practical because, while the service is reliable, all of the buses depart and return to Victoria.

This means that if you want to get from the tombs to the salt pans, you have to first get a bus to Victoria, and then get a second bus to your destination, instead of just taking a bus straight there. 

It’s not the most efficient way to get around which is why I don’t really recommend it. 

By far, the easiest way we found to get around Gozo was to use the hop-on-hop-off bus service. This bus takes you all over the island, stopping at the most important sites and landmarks. 

It’s a great way to see the best things in Gozo without always going back to the capital and what we did when we visited the island. 

Of course, you can also get around Gozo by car, taxi, quab bike, or bicycle, which are ideal if you’re spending longer than a day in Gozo.

What is there to do in Gozo?

There are so many amazing things to see in Gozo. We could easily have spent longer than a day trip on the island as there is a great range of historical sights, beautiful natural landmarks, and wonderful buildings to explore. 

Some of the best things to do include:

• Exploring the historical citadel of Victoria. 
• Visit the beautiful Tal-Mixta cave
• See the Ggantija Temples
• Visit the Salt Pans
• Visit the stunning Mgarr Ix-Xini Beach
• Go on a boat trip to Dwejra
• Admire the Ta’Pinu Shrine

And so much more! If you’re wondering exactly how to spend a day in Gozo, check out my itinerary for the perfect day trip here. 

The best Malta to Gozo Tour

Of course, another of the best ways to get from Malta to Gozo is via a guided tour. These tours offer a complete day tour of the island, and take you to some other beautiful coastal spots including the Blue Lagoon and Comino. Plus, they include return transport from your hotel. 

If you want to visit Gozo by guided tour, I recommend this tour.

This makes it super convenient to reach Gozo and you can explore with an expert guide who will show you around and give you loads more information about the sites. 

✅ This tour will take you to Gozo, the Blue Lagoon, and Comino Island!

What is the best time to visit Gozo?

You can visit Gozo all year round. We visited Malta in winter. It was for New Year’s Eve actually which coincided with my Dad’s 60th birthday, so we killed two birds with one stone. Despite it being the complete off-season, we had the best time. 

It was much quieter than the peak summer months, and much nicer for it. Admittedly, if you’re searching for a beach break, I don’t recommend going in December, because you’re not likely to catch a tan. 

But, it’s still one of the warmest places to visit in December in Europe and well worth a trip if you want some winter sun. If winter doesn’t appeal to you, then I recommend visiting Malta between April and May and September and October. 

During these times, you’ll find temperatures within the mid to high 20’s and the sea will be warm enough to swim in. But, the summer crowds won’t quite have arrived yet.

However, both Malta and Gozo can be visited all year round, so you really can visit whenever you want!

How long do you need to visit Gozo?

We spent a day on Gozo and, while we were able to see a lot of the island thanks to the hop-on-hop-off bus, we could ideally have done with another day there at least. There’s a lot more to Gozo than people expect, from beautiful beaches to fascinating history.

So, while you can certainly see a great deal of Gozo in a day trip from Malta, I recommend spending a little longer there, to really appreciate the island.

✅ This tour will take you to Gozo, the Blue Lagoon, and Comino Island!

Is travelling from Malta to Gozo worth it?

Yes, it’s 100% worth travelling from Malta to Gozo. It’s super easy to get between the two and there’s so much wonderful history you can see on both islands. 

While Gozo is similar to Malta, it has a significantly different vibe and feels less touristy and somehow calmer. There are also plenty more beautiful and historic sites to see on Gozo, from the shrines and temples to the beaches and ocean views. 

Overall, if you’re considering a trip from Malta to Gozo, I cannot recommend it enough and I hope this article has helped with planning your trip.

👉 Haven’t chosen where to stay yet? Here are all of my favourite places to stay in Malta!