Ġgantija
Megalithic temples at Xagħra
Walls of giant stones raised in the fourth millennium BC — start in the visitor centre.
XagħraArchaeologyUNESCO
Gozo, Malta
Ideal: 2–3 daysBest: Apr–Jun · Sep–OctPrice: Moderate
In 60 seconds
Gozo in 60 seconds
Gozo is a short ferry ride from Malta and noticeably slower: smaller, greener, more rural, with villages gathered round outsized churches and terraced fields running down to the sea. The capital, Victoria — Rabat to Gozitans — is crowned by the Cittadella, whose walls look across the whole island. At Xagħra, the Ġgantija temples were raised more than five thousand years ago, before Stonehenge or the pyramids. Ramla Bay has the island's red-gold sand; Xlendi a narrow inlet for swimming off rocks; Dwejra its Inland Sea and Fungus Rock, though the Azure Window arch fell into the sea in 2017. The salt pans at Xwejni are still worked by hand. Stay at least two nights — day-trippers miss the best of it.
IslandArchaeologyCountryside
Best for
- Beaches
- Hidden gems
- History
Known for
- Ġgantija temples
- Cittadella
- Ramla Bay
- Dwejra
Skip if
You want nightlife — Gozo goes to bed early.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Gozo fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Cittadella
Fortified hilltop in Victoria
Walk the walls for a view over the whole island.
VictoriaFortressView
Ramla Bay
Red-gold sand in a green valley
Gozo's best beach — arrive early in summer.
NadurBeach
Dwejra
Inland Sea, Fungus Rock and sea cliffs
Boats run out through a cave from the Inland Sea; divers come for the Blue Hole.
San LawrenzCoastDiving
Xlendi
Village in a narrow inlet
Swim off the rocks and eat on the waterfront.
XlendiSeafoodSwimming
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Victoria (Rabat)
The island's capital
Market square, cafés and the Cittadella above.
The villages
Xagħra, Nadur, Għarb and the rest
Farmhouses for rent, village feasts in summer and huge parish churches.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Village farmhouses
ModerateConverted stone farmhouses with pools
The classic way to stay on Gozo.
GroupsQuiet
Victoria
ModerateHotels in the capital
Central, with buses to every corner.
Buses
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Car ferries cross from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr in about 25 minutes; a fast ferry runs from Valletta.
- Getting around
- Buses fan out from Victoria; a car or scooter is easier.
- Village feasts
- Each parish celebrates its saint in summer with fireworks and band marches.
- Taste locally
- Gozitan ftira, ġbejna cheeses and Gozo wine.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- c. 3600 BC
The first of the Ġgantija temples is built.
- 1551
An Ottoman raid carries off most of Gozo's population into slavery.
- 2017
The Azure Window at Dwejra collapses into the sea in a storm.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Mellieħa & Comino
The Blue Lagoon between the islands
Mellieħa & Comino has its own guide.
20 min by boatSwimming
Valletta & the Three Cities
The capital
Valletta & the Three Cities has its own guide.
45 min by fast ferryHistory