Gozo
The smaller and more rural sister island to Malta, Gozo is a tranquil escape full of history and breathtaking nature. Delve into the island’s rich past as you explore the fortified medieval town of the Cittadella and visit the ancient Ġgantija Temples.
After seeing the Gozo’s historical sites, make your way out of the centre to discover the hidden gems along the island’s rugged coastline. Experience the beauty of the Tal Mixta Cave window, the checkerboard salt pans that line the coast, and the stunning turquoise stream that runs through the gorge at Wied il-Għasri. For even more to do, spend time relaxing at one of the many bays surrounded by sweeping cliffs and dramatic rock formations.
1. Victoria
There are a couple of options to get to Gozo. One is from the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal at the top of the island (next to where the boats run to Comino). The Gozo Channel line normally runs every half hour and the crossing takes around 20-25 minutes. Tickets are bought in the queue on the return trip and cost €15,70 for a car and driver, and €4.65 for each additional passenger (or for foot passengers).
To get the most out of your trip to Gozo and to see all of the island’s nature, I’d definitely recommend taking a car. However, if you’re not driving, an alternative option is to get one of the fast ferry services from Valletta (Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries Gozo) which between them run every half hour and take 45 minutes.
The ferry will arrive into Mgarr, and from there you’ll want to make the 15 minute drive into the centre of Victoria, the capital of Gozo. While we were there the town was busy with the Saturday markets, events and live music.
2. The Cittadella
The citadel is located in the middle of Gozo, just a short walk from the centre of Victoria. The small fortified town is perched on a hill with 360 degree views over the surrounding countryside and coast.
Explore its winding streets to see the cathedral square, the clock tower and the cannons and imagine what life would have been like throughout the ages. It’s free to wander through the citadel, and if you’re interested, for around €5 you can access the group of museums inside the walls.
3. The Ġgantija Temples
Named Ġgantija, derived from the Maltese word for ‘giant’, these temples are huge limestone structures from the Neolithic era. With some of the limestone blocks weighing over fifty tonnes, the people of Gozo (Gozitans) used to believe that they were constructed by giants. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are thought to be older than the pyramids of Egypt.
The temples are a 10 minute drive from Victoria and on the way to the Tal Mixta Cave.
4. Tal Mixta Cave
After visiting the city, I highly recommend getting out to explore Gozo’s stunning nature. Our first stop was the Tal Mixta Cave, around a 20 minute drive from Victoria (or about 10 minutes from the temples). The cave is located in the small village of Nadur and is on private land which the residents kindly allow you to cross. After parking up, it’s less than a 5 minute walk to the narrow entrance of this special slice of nature.
Once inside, the cave’s window opens up to sweeping views over Ramla Bay and the Maltese countryside. We waited and got the cave to ourselves and it was a really magical experience. It’s a great alternative to the nearby Calypso cave which is no longer accessible due to geological movement. Be warned, there were a lot of cracks in the Tal Mixta cave and I can’t imagine this one will be around forever either, so visit while you can!
The beach down below is also worth a visit to see its deep reddish golden sands. There are also some facilities (bathrooms and a couple of cafés) at Ramla Bay.
5. Xwejni Salt Pans
These salt pans are a beautiful pattern of checkerboard blue pools carved out of the soft limestone which stretches along the coastline of Gozo. Before summer, they are filled with sea water which is then evaporated by the hot sun, leaving behind salt crystals which are collected and sold. The harvesting of natural sea salt is a centuries old tradition on the island and the artisanal salt can be bought from the nearby family run business – the Leli Tal-Melh Salt Shop in Żebbuġ.
From the Tal Mixta cave, Żebbuġ is a 15 minute drive north along the coast and it’s best to search for the salt shop on maps for directions. Park up along the side of the road, and wander along to the coast to see the salt pans along with the interesting rock formations that surround the area.
6. Wied il-Għasri
Also in Żebbuġ, a further 5 minutes up the coast is the Għasri valley. The turquoise Mediterranean waters wind from the sea all the way along the gorge in between the impressive cliffs either side.
There is a car parking at the top with views down into the valley. From there, you can descend down a steep staircase carved into the rock which leads to a tiny pebbled beach at the mouth of the inlet. It’s a really beautiful spot in Gozo!
7. Dwejra Bay, Wied il-Mielaħ, Xlendi Bay and the Sanap Cliffs
By this point, we were tired so we caught the ferry back. But if you have more time and energy than us, here are some more things that were on our list to check out around the west and south coasts of Gozo:
Dwejra Bay: this scenic bay with its dramatic rock formations was where the Azure Window once stood. The huge natural arch featured in the first series of Game of Thrones and was one of Malta’s most popular attractions before it collapsed into the sea during a storm in 2017. Also at Dwejra Bay is the Blue Hole, a beautiful lagoon popular for swimming and diving.
Wied il-Mielaħ: not far from Wied il-Għasri, this sea arch is a smaller alternative to the now fallen Azure Window.
Xlendi Bay: a small but pretty sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs on the southern coast of Gozo.
Sanap Cliffs: sweeping white cliffs in Munxar, a short drive from Xlendi Bay.
8. Map of Gozo
9. More To Do
It is possible to combine a trip to Comino with Gozo. This might be a good option if you’re short on time or aren’t driving. However, to make the most of Gozo and all of its beautiful nature, I would highly recommend taking a car with you on the ferry, which you won’t be able to do if you’re stopping off at Comino.
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