Victoria
TransportThe capital under the Cittadella, and the bus hub.
Gozo island guide
Things To Do In Victoria, Gozo
The second island's capital, under a hilltop citadel, and the base for a slower few days: temples older than the pyramids, red-sand beaches and the best diving in the Mediterranean.
5,000+
Years old, the Ġgantija temples
25 min
Ferry from Malta
2
Rival opera houses in Victoria
The quieter island
Gozo is Malta's second island, a twenty-five-minute ferry from the main one, and it feels like a different country: greener, more rural and much slower, with farms, stone villages and a coastline of cliffs and bays.
Victoria, known locally as Rabat, is its capital, in the middle of the island under the Cittadella, a walled citadel on a hill. Every bus on Gozo starts from here.
The island has Ġgantija, one of the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world, older than Stonehenge and the pyramids, and some of the best diving in Europe. Two or three nights is right. It rewards a slower pace.
Where to stay
Victoria is the transport hub. The coastal villages of Marsalforn and Xlendi are quieter bases by the sea.
Marsalforn
By the seaA seaside village on the north coast, with restaurants and diving.
Xlendi
SwimmingA small bay in a cliff inlet on the south-west coast.
Mġarr
ArrivingThe ferry port, with fish restaurants.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Victoria, Gozo
Climb to the Cittadella, the walled citadel above Victoria, and walk the ramparts for a view over the whole island. Inside are the cathedral, whose flat ceiling is painted to look like a dome, and small museums.
Ġgantija, near Xagħra, is a pair of megalithic temples built more than five thousand years ago, and one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world.
The coast is the rest of the island. Ramla Bay, on the north coast, has red-orange sand. Dwejra, in the west, has the Inland Sea, a lagoon connected to the open sea through a tunnel in the cliff, and the Blue Hole, one of the best dive sites in the Mediterranean; the Azure Window arch collapsed into the sea in 2017.
The salt pans at Xwejni, cut into the rock by the sea, and the narrow inlet of Wied il-Għasri are the island's best quiet corners.
Free things
Free things to do in Victoria, Gozo
The Cittadella is free to walk around, and the ramparts have the best view on the island. It-Tokk, the main square below, has a morning market.
The beaches, the salt pans and the coastal walks are free.
Swimming at Dwejra, Xlendi and Wied il-Għasri costs nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Victoria, Gozo
Gozo has its own food. Ġbejniet, small sheep's cheeses, fresh, dried or peppered, are the island's speciality. The Gozitan ftira, a thin bread baked with potatoes, tomatoes and cheese, is closer to a pizza.
The island makes its own wine, and the fish restaurants of Xlendi and Marsalforn serve the day's catch.
Prices are lower than on Malta in the villages; the seafront restaurants charge more.
Nightlife
Going out in Victoria, Gozo
Gozo is quiet at night. Victoria has a few bars around It-Tokk, and Marsalforn and Xlendi have bars on the water in summer.
Victoria has two rival opera houses, the Aurora and the Astra, which stage full productions in October.
For clubs, Malta's Paceville is a ferry and a bus away.
Getting around
Getting around Victoria, Gozo
The Gozo Channel ferry runs from Ċirkewwa on Malta to Mġarr on Gozo around the clock, taking about twenty-five minutes. You pay only on the way back, about €4.65 return for a foot passenger. Fast ferries also run from Valletta to Mġarr in about forty-five minutes.
Buses radiate from Victoria to the villages and beaches, on the same tickets as Malta: €2 in winter, €2.50 in summer, or the €25 seven-day Explore card. They are less frequent than on Malta.
A scooter, bike or hire car makes the island much easier to explore.
Costs
What Victoria, Gozo costs
Gozo is slightly cheaper than Malta for food, but has few hostels, so budget beds are limited. Guesthouses and farmhouse rooms are the alternative.
A careful day is €45 to €65. The costs that add up are diving and car or scooter hire.
The ferry is cheap, and the beaches and walks are free.
Safety
Staying safe in Victoria, Gozo
Gozo is very safe.
The coast is the risk. The cliffs have no railings, and the sea at Dwejra and the Blue Hole can be rough; people have been hurt swimming there in bad conditions. Dive only with a registered centre.
The roads are narrow and winding. Drive on the left.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Victoria, Gozo
The whole island is a short bus ride from Victoria.
Ramla Bay
A red-sand beach under green hills.
Comino
The Blue Lagoon, best early or late.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Gozo's carnival in Nadur is the strangest in Malta.
February
Nadur Carnival
Nadur
An unofficial, spontaneous carnival of dark and satirical costumes.
15 August
Santa Marija
Victoria
The feast of the Assumption, with the island's biggest festa.
October
Opera season
Aurora and Astra theatres
Full opera productions from Victoria's two rival opera houses.
When to go
April to June and September to October. July and August are hot and busy with day-trippers.
Jan
Mild and quiet
Feb
Nadur Carnival
Mar
Wildflowers
Apr
Good Friday processions
May
Excellent
Jun
Festa season
Jul
Hot, day-trippers
Aug
Santa Marija in Victoria
Sep
Warmest sea
Oct
Opera season
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The sea is warm from June to November, and diving is good all year.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes buses. Diving and scooter hire cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Victoria, Gozo travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Gozo worth visiting?
Yes. It is greener and slower than Malta, with Ġgantija, the Cittadella, red-sand beaches and some of the best diving in Europe.
How do I get to Gozo?
The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa takes about twenty-five minutes and runs around the clock. You pay only on the way back. Fast ferries also run from Valletta.
How many days do you need on Gozo?
Two or three nights.
Do I need a car on Gozo?
Not necessarily. Buses run from Victoria, but a scooter or car makes the coast much easier.
Is the Azure Window still there?
No. The rock arch at Dwejra collapsed into the sea in 2017. The Inland Sea and the Blue Hole are still there.
Are there hostels on Gozo?
Only a few. Guesthouses and farmhouse rooms are the other budget option.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October.
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