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Europe, Malta, Weekend getaways
10 amazing places to visit in Gozo, Malta
19
Jun
Jun
Did you know that the country Malta consists of multiple islands? The main island of Malta which you all know, and many smaller islands such as Gozo and Comino. When I asked several people for travel tips about Malta, everyone recommended me a visit to the island of Gozo. This smaller, but non less impressive, sister of Malta is best known for its authenticity and beautiful landscapes. I certainly wanted to experience this with my own eyes and planned a day trip to Gozo during our stay in Malta, with a visit to the most memorable places. Gozo is a very small island, but has so much to offer. It’s very versatile and there is certainly something for every taste. It varies from orange beaches with azure blue coasts to immense salt plains, enchanting bays, lush countryside and the most impressive rock formations. Travel with me to all the best places to visit in Gozo.
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How to get to Gozo?
Now, how can you travel from the island of Malta to Gozo island and return? It has never been so easy. From Cirkewwa in Malta, ferries sail daily at regular times to Mgarr in Gozo.
You can make the crossing by car, by bicycle or as a pedestrian. And even better, you don’t have to pay anything from Malta to Gozo. Only when returning from Gozo to Malta you have to pay a one-time ticket.
On arrival at the spots where the ferries dock, everything is well marked. Sometimes you just have to wait a little, but all in all everything goes pretty smoothly. Once parked on the ferry, I advise you to get a seat somewhere in the ferry as quickly as possible. Especially during the high season it can get quite busy on the ferry, so sometimes there aren’t enough seats. If you’re unlucky you’ll have to stand. And if you quickly suffer from seasickness like me, that isn’t the best idea. The crossing takes about 30 minutes.
Best time to travel Gozo?
The best to travel to Gozo is of course the same as that of Malta, from April to October. Then you have the best chance of good weather. Gozo is much smaller than the main island of Malta. This makes it easier to see several sights in one day. During the summer months it can get busy here. Because of this, you may need a little more time to see everything. That is why I advise you to visit Gozo outside the high season.
Of course you can choose to stay a little longer in Gozo so that you have some more time to explore this beautiful island.
Where to stay in Gozo?
If you would like to stay a little longer on the island, I have already selected some of the most beautiful and authentic accommodations for you.
Maria’s B&B
Maria’s B&B is located in the smallest village of Gozo in the countryside of Ghasri. You are guaranteed to experience an unforgettable experience in this 19th-century authentic farm.
Photo credit: booking.com
Click for availability and prices
Casa Gemelli Boutique Guesthouse
Sweef life Gozo
This top residence is located one kilometer from Xlendi beach and has phenomenal views. This is the perfect place to completely unwind.
Photo credit: booking.com
Click for availability and prices
Are you looking for a place to stay at a different location in Gozo? Then you can easily search with this useful map from booking.com. You will find a perfect stay at your location of choice in no time.
The best places to visit in Gozo
1- San Blas Beach
The first place I’ll introduce you to is San Blas Beach. This is a small, secluded beach with orange sand and stunning rock formations. The beach is only accessible via a narrow, steep road from the nearby village. However, the last part is not accessible to vehicles, so we had to walk down.
The steep path downwards scares many people away, so the beach receives fewer visitors than the other popular, much-visited beaches on the island. Personally, I don’t mind because I don’t like overcrowded beaches. The small, dreamy bay in an enchanting, natural setting is therefore not only perfect for an excellent photo shoot, but also for a day of water fun or even a romantic sunset.
2- Tal mixta cave
A must-do in Gozo is a visit to the Tal Mixta Cave. This is a beautiful, natural cave that is located in the top of a rock. From here you have a breathtaking view of Ramla Bay. The cave can be reached via a hike from Ramla Bay beach. I’ve heard that the trail is gorgeous, well-marked and not too intense at all. Since we didn’t have much time, we decided to try the other way. Someone explained we could reach the top of the rock by car as well and descend via some stairs to enter the cave.
Once we reached the top of the rock and parked the car, we didn’t know exactly where to go. The road to the cave was not indicated and we were on private property. When we saw some other people walking to the edge of the rock, we decided to follow them. They walked past the house on the right, towards the garden. Suddenly we noticed a very small staircase down, to the left of the garden. You really have to look very carefully to find it!
When we descended the stairs, we immediately entered the cave. And our expectations were fully met, when we witnessed this breathtaking view. We took a moment to enjoy the panorama over the spectacular Ramla Bay.
Remember that the cave is a favorite tourist attraction. If you want to take some sublime shots, try to avoid rush hours and go in the mornings.
3- Ramla bay
Ramla Bay is one of the best known and most extensive beaches of Gozo. This because of the beautiful orange color of the sand and the azure blue color of the Mediterranean sea. In other words, a paradise for sun- and water lovers. Many tourists are looking for a spot on this beautiful beach to spend their hot summer days. So it can get very busy here during high season.
Many photographers would like to take a photo on top of the salt pans. However, this is not nice for the locals and also not safe at all. The walls between the salt plains, crumble when being stepped on. At some spots walking on the salt pans is already prohibited. Please consider that these are still used by the locals and that this is their job.
Along the way we stopped for a delicious lunch in Qbajjar restaurant, within walking distance of the salt plains. We enjoyed the real traditional Mediterranean cuisine with all its benifits.
Also restaurant Il-Kartel, near this location, is highly recommended. Be sure to try the pasta Vongole there.
5- Wied Il-Ghasri
From the dry salt plains to the Wied Il-Ghasri bay in the middle of nature. How wonderful and varied can this island be? Again I was so surprised by this new and very unique location.
After a short descent via stairs made out of stones, we arrived at a small peaceful beach covered with boulders. With in between two rocks, a narrow, long and winding bay that leads to the sea.
When we climbed over the rocks, we could walk towards the sea alongside the bay. Here some people looked for a quiet place to sit. We also stopped to just admire and enjoy the mesmerizing scenery for a moment. However I could easily spend a whole day here.
6- Wied Il-Mielaħ
In 2017 the most famous rock bridge “The Azure Window” in Gozo collapsed. This is also the location where the marriage of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo in the Game of Thrones series was shot.
If you like colossal and impressive rock formations like us, than Wied-Il-Mielah is a good alternative.
7- Admire the Ta ‘Pinu Basilica from the countryside
On the way from Wied Il-Ghrasi to Wied Il-Mielah we drove along the most winding and breathtaking roads through the countryside of Gozo. During the spring when everything is blossoming, this is the ideal place for a bike ride or a brisk hike. We kept our eyes peeled and stopped by the road once in a while to take a snapshot. From here we also had a great view of the famous Ta ‘Pinu Basilica. If you have enough time, be sure to take a look inside.
8- Sanap Cliffs
The impressive Sanap Cliffs are one of the most hidden gems on Gozo. They are also one of the highest points on the island. The cliffs offer a beautiful view all the way to the bay of Xlendi. The best time to admire this wonderful panorama is during sunset.
Near the Sanap Cliffs you can also enjoy walking along the beautifully landscaped hiking trails while admiring the spectacular views.
9- Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is best known among divers. It’s an internationally acclaimed dive site. But the Blue Hole is also worth a visit for the non-divers among us. You can also admire this beautiful natural phenomenon from the surrounding rocks.
At the Bleu hole you can also see the Fungus Rock, a colossal rock that rises out of nowhere from the sea. The rock was an important place in history beacause a precious medicinal plant grew here. That is why this rock was heavily guarded and only those who received permission were allowed to pick the plant. The Knights of St. John even leveled the sides to ensure that climbing the rock was an impossible task.
Near the Blue Hole and the Fungus Rock you will find Dwejra, also called the inland sea of Gozo. This is a lagoon of beautiful blue sea water that is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through an opening in the rocks in the shape of an arch. This place is surrounded by small authentic boat houses with colorful gates, which makes it all the more attractive to linger here for a while and take a refreshing dip.
10- Discover Gozo in an original way
You can also discover Gozo in an original way through Getyourguide. You can opt for different tours that take you along the most beautiful Gozo sights. View the offer below and book the best deals.
The island of Gozo was one of the biggest surprises of Malta for me. This versatile island is definitely worth a visit. Are you traveling to Malta soon? Then you now know why Gozo should not be missing on your Malta itinerary. Visit the most beautiful places in Gozo with my tips.
If you like to read more about Malta, be sure to check out my other Malta blog posts.
Is Gozo already on your bucket list? Tell me all about it in the comment section.
Thank you for reading.
Yours truly,
Sarah
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Beautiful images! I was lucky to see the rock bridge before it collapsed. Malta is a beautiful country with great cuisine!
Thank you so much. And yes, it is . I had such a wonderful vaction there.
Wow!! Your photos are gorgeous!! This looks like an amazing place to visit!
Thank you so much. If you visit Malta, be sure to make a day trip to Gozo.
OMG, I love Malta so much, it is such an amazing place to explore!!! For sure, I haven’t been to any places you’ve shared here, as last time we only had 3.5 days in Malta… and that was our first time! Definitely want to schedule another trip to Malta/Gozo island, to explore more!
Oh yes, we had only a week and I still feel that I haven’t seen all what Malta has to offer. Such a stunnin travel destination!
Beautiful images xx I grew up in Malta but made it a point to visit Gozo whenever I could! Especially for Carnival!
Malta as well as Gozo are stunning island. I haven’t seen Comnino yet, but I’ll go back to explore it for sure!
Your photos never fail to mesmerize me! I love your perfect shades of blues!
Thank you so much! That really means the world to me.
Breathtaking! I much prefer the hidden gems and lesser-known places. I do have Malta on my list so adding a day trip to Gozo.
Oh yes, then you will definitely love Gozo.