Gozo feels like Malta a generation ago: fields terraced with stone walls, villages each crowned by an enormous church, and a pace that slows the moment you step off the ferry at Mgarr. The crossing from Cirkewwa on Malta’s northern tip is short, and a fast ferry also runs from Valletta. The island’s capital, Victoria (Rabat to locals), is dominated by the Citadel, a fortified hilltop with a cathedral and views over the whole island. Near Xagħra, the Ġgantija temples are among the oldest free-standing structures on earth, older than Stonehenge and the pyramids, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the coast, Ramla Bay has soft reddish sand, the salt pans near Marsalforn form a chequerboard on the rocks, and at Dwejra the Inland Sea and Fungus Rock remain spectacular even though the famous Azure Window collapsed into the sea in 2017.
Gozo is too spread out to see well on foot in a day, which is why Tiqets’ Gozo options are mostly guided tours by buggy, quad bike, UTV, tuk tuk or jeep, many with lunch and the boat ride included, and some adding a stop at Comino. Pick a tour with the transfer from your Malta hotel if you do not want to deal with the ferry yourself. Independent travellers can also take the public ferry and island buses, or hire a car.
If you have the time, stay a night or two: day-trippers leave by late afternoon, and Gozo’s sunsets over the western cliffs and its quiet village evenings are the real reward. Spring and autumn are perfect for walking and driving; summer is hot, and the ferry queues are long on weekends.
What to expect
The experience
A full-day guided tour of Gozo by buggy, quad, UTV, tuk tuk or jeep, usually with ferry and lunch.
Best time
Spring and autumn; avoid summer weekends when ferry queues are long.
How long
Six to eight hours.
Tips
Choose a tour with hotel transfers for the easiest day, or stay overnight to see Gozo after the crowds leave.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers with three or more days in Malta.
- Families
- Buggy and jeep tours are fun for older kids; check age limits for quads.
- Couples
- Stay over and watch the sunset from the western cliffs.
- Pair with
- The Blue Lagoon on Comino, often on the same boat day.
- Time needed
- A full day, ideally a night.
Good questions
How do I get to Gozo?+
By car and passenger ferry from Cirkewwa to Mgarr, or by fast ferry from Valletta; many tours include the crossing.
Is the Azure Window still there?+
No, it collapsed in 2017. Dwejra is still worth visiting for the Inland Sea and Fungus Rock.
What are the must-sees on Gozo?+
The Citadel in Victoria, the Ġgantija temples, Ramla Bay, the salt pans near Marsalforn and the coast at Dwejra.
Is one day enough?+
For the highlights, yes, on a guided tour. A night or two lets you enjoy the island’s slower pace.
Can I combine Gozo with the Blue Lagoon?+
Yes, many boat and tour options stop at Comino on the way.