Gozo island attractions and interesting facts from Malta

Gozo island is one of the main attractions of the Maltese Archipelago for us. Gozo offers beaches, hiking trails, and a diverse coastline.

Getting to Gozo island is easy, pleasant, and enjoyable if you’re in Malta. If not, you can take a ferry from nearby Sicily, which is just under 100 km away. Ferries depart from the port of Pozzallo there, mostly heading to Malta, but supposedly, you can find one that will take you to Gozo.

How to get to the island of Gozo

If you’re neither in Malta nor in Sicily, the journey to Gozo island won’t be neither quick nor easy, as you’ll need to fly to Malta first, as there is no airport on Gozo. However, if travellers only chose the easy and pleasant routes, the world map would still be full of blank spots.

We were fortunate to have the simplest option. One morning, we packed our rented car onto the ferry from Malta to Gozo, and after 20 minutes, we arrived. Along the way, we passed by the tiny island of Comino with its famous Blue Lagoon. Indeed, it was very blue, even visible from the ferry deck. However, we decided to save that attraction for another time.

Recently, we wrote about the ancient megaliths in Malta. Gozo also has similar structures, but today they won’t be our focus.

The island of Gozo first impression

Driving around Malta, the longest stretch we ever managed to cover never exceeded 30 km. On Gozo, the distance from one end to the other is only 12 km. One might think it would feel cramped, but surprisingly, as a driver, I felt much more at ease there than in neighbouring Malta.

Apart from a few towns, or rather villages, not much happens here. We really liked that, and I’ll be honest, I fell in love with Gozo. If it weren’t for the fact that most of our belongings were left back at the hotel in Malta, we would have stayed longer.

Compared to its larger sister, Gozo is less crowded and urbanized. Despite being a tiny island, it’s effortless to find areas here that are absolutely deserted and wild.

Capital Gozo island Victoria (Rabat)

The first place we decided to visit was the capital of the island, Victoria. Until 1897, the city was named Rabat, a name given centuries earlier by the Arab rulers of the archipelago. The name was changed by the British to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign.

The city is gorgeous and peaceful for a capital. Perhaps it’s due to the season and visiting off-peak, or maybe it’s always like this. We were amazed at how we felt transported back in time to when locals curiously watched foreigners, and in turn, tourists didn’t stumble upon another tourist at every step.

This feeling was intensified by the fact that for a few euros, we could have lunch, have a coffee, and taste local sweet specialities. The silence, tranquillity, very friendly and nice people around: I really liked it there, and those prices!

The city lies on the slope of the highest hill on the island, Ta’ Dbieġi, and although its height is only 190 meters above sea level, it makes a monumental impression. At its peak stand the ruins of a powerful fortress built by the Aragonese from Spain.

The city of Victoria, the former Rabat, is slightly neglected

Only its part located directly above the city has been renovated. Although the citadel has fallen into ruin, it remains a beautiful and memorable adornment of Victoria.

In the city, enthusiasts of baroque architecture will find an interesting attraction in the form of a 17th-century baroque cathedral. It supposedly stands on the foundations of a Roman temple dedicated to one of the ancient gods.

Local legend has it that after the Christian church was built on the site of the previous temple, there was a clash of the powers of two religions. Allegedly, all the forces of nature conspired against the island, and for months, storms raged at sea, and Gozo shook to its foundations.

Today, the cathedral still stands, and there is no trace of earthquakes, evidently, the new God of the Christians proved to be stronger.

The town of Marsalforn on Gozo island

We didn’t waste any more time wandering around the city; there were much more enjoyable attractions waiting for us outside.

The town of Marsalforn is one of the most charming places we’ve seen on both Maltese islands. It sprawls with sand-coloured buildings along the shore of a beautiful, blue lagoon, whose crystal-clear waters could put many swimming pools to shame.

Moreover, the water turned out to be indecently warm and changed colour depending on the time of day. If only I had a poet’s soul, I would write a poem, a humorous verse, or even a haiku, but I’m not, so the photos will have to suffice for you.

Between the buildings right by the water, many companies operate, ready to help you fulfil your dreams of adventure at sea. You can easily rent a boat or join an organized excursion here.

There are shops and dive clubs full of equipment and people who will show you what to do with it. By chance, we stumbled upon Poles running one of these places, and if it weren’t for the burning need to continue our journey, we probably would have used their services.

Salt Pans coast on Gozo island

We left Marsalforn and headed west. If we had gone east, we would have reached Ghajn Barrani Bay, a beautiful rocky cove, and further on to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island — Ramla Bay Beach.

However, we went left and passed the Qolla I Bajda peninsula with its famous cliffside houses, then Xwejni Bay, before finally stopping at the Salt Pans amidst clouds of dust and the squealing tires of our Peugeot 108.

Centuries ago, clever Maltese attempted to extract salt by evaporating seawater in sun-heated, carved-out basins in soft rock. The plan succeeded, and for a long time, Malta was a significant producer of sea salt.

Today, only enthusiasts collect salt from the stone pools, but the salt pans themselves have become a major tourist attraction.

Gozo island is a diverse coastline

The surrounding rocks are very soft, and the seawater has carved hundreds of small caves, little coves, and water pools that can serve as natural jacuzzis with a view of the blue sea. Nature has provided us with true luxuries completely for free.

A bit further, there are two well-known viewpoints: Reqqa Point and Wied il-Ghasri, offering panoramas of beautiful and very high cliffs. Here, we also encountered a group of people exploring the island on quad bikes. We loved the idea, and next time, the car stays at the port, and we explore the island on four-wheeled beasts.

At Wied il-Ghasri, right on the edge of the steep cliff, stands a solitary mountain where wind, sand, and salty water have sculpted fantastic forms resembling stone waves. It’s a incredible place that was hard for us to leave. Once again, the wonders of nature overshadowed everything that could be created by humans.

Blue Hole on Gozo the famous Blue Hole in the island

As I mentioned earlier, the island isn’t large, and before we knew it, we were already on the other side near the famous Blue Hole. The name is relatively mysterious, but better than, for example, Black Hole… I would steer clear of a place with such a name.

The Blue Hole in Gozo island is nothing more than a small lake filled with seawater. The hole in the cliff is about 10 meters in size and connects to the sea through a gap in the rock at a depth of around 5 or 7 meters below the sea surface.

The Blue Hole lake is considered one of the most attractive diving spots on Earth, and although it’s not as spectacular as the other Blue Hole in Egypt, it attracts divers from all over the world every year.

And although there’s no shortage of beaches in the area, especially in Malta, I consider the Blue Hole in Gozo island to be the most attractive place for swimming.

Right next to it until recently stood a natural structure called the Azure Window, which unfortunately was destroyed during a storm in 2017. Believe it or not, the rock formation had stood here for ages, and a year before our arrival, it collapsed into the sea… I might believe in some kind of conspiracy of evil forces. Michał will probably find some explanation for this stroke of bad luck in his legends somewhere 🙂

Gozo is a place where you could stay longer

Unfortunately, the day isn’t endless, and our time on Gozo was inevitably coming to an end. With great sadness, we bid farewell to the beautiful cliffs and the blue hole in the ground, promising ourselves solemnly that we would return here soon.

The journey to the port, which is on the other side of the island, took us a whole… hmm, 40 minutes. But that’s only because we stopped in the town of Xlendi on the southern side of Gozo for a quick coffee.

It was a fantastic day, but unfortunately, very short. Despite being small, the island hides many attractions. Today, we only discussed a fraction of what it has to offer.

Of course, we’re waiting for your suggestions regarding attractions on Gozo island, which we’ll use during our next visit to the island.

And that’s all I can tell you about this small island lying in the Maltese archipelago. It’s comforting to know that a couple of our friends are planning to settle in Malta, which will provide us with a foothold for a more thorough exploration of the beautiful Maltese islands.

Useful information about the island of Gozo in Malta

• When travelling to Gozo island by ferry, we don’t pay for the journey; the fare is only charged on the return trip. We purchase a ticket, which costs just under 16 euros for a car and 5 euros for each passenger.
• The roads on Gozo are good, but only the main ones connecting the towns. Secondary roads are often just packed earth or casually leveled rock. Additionally, they are narrow, and locals drive fast, which can be intimidating at times. Another danger is what happened to us. At one point, a digger emerged onto the narrow and winding road ahead of us, and for several kilometres, we crawled behind it at a mere 5 km/h. We couldn’t turn back because there was a funny guy behind us who seemed to be in no hurry.
• There are many Lidl stores and a supermarket on the island, so there are no problems with shopping.
• For the latest information, check the official website of the island.
• I recommend a hotel in Gozo that we have checked.

Gozo facts, information, and curiosities

• Gozo, like Malta, has typically served as a backdrop for film shoots. We could see it in movies featuring Agent 007, in Game of Thrones, or the famous Da Vinci Code. The island has doubled as Syria, Palestine, Israel, and many other places.
• During the filming of Game of Thrones, the crew caused significant damage to a protected national park.
• On the island of Gozo, there is a type of fungus that resembles human organs in appearance. In the Middle Ages, it was believed to have healing properties. The Knights of Malta diligently guarded their treasure. Anyone caught attempting theft faced imprisonment, death, or rowing on galleys. The Maltese Mushroom, as this wonder is called, is said to combat venereal diseases, act as a contraceptive, and alleviate fever. Its list of medicinal values is much longer, and some claim that a certain extinct variety could even make limbs regenerate!
• In Malta, divorce was only legalized in 2011 through a referendum. Supporters of a second chance won by just 4 percent of the vote. However, before divorce becomes a reality, the dissatisfied couple must undergo a 4-year separation and an entire program in which the state does everything to change their minds.
• The Knights of Malta paid King Charles V of Habsburg one falcon annually for the lease of the islands of Malta and Gozo. In exchange for the use of the islands, they sent the king a falcon, which is the best lease agreement I’ve ever heard of. Unfortunately, falcons are no longer found on the Maltese islands today.
• Strange grooves carved into the soft rock have been found on Gozo and Malta, supposedly dating back 4,000 years. They resemble tracks left by sledges or carts. Conspiracy theories suggest that they are spaceports for spaceships or remnants of mobile machines that harness energy from space. One can truly have fun seeking explanations for their creation.
• Like Malta, Gozo island has no forests or rivers.
• Left-hand traffic is observed on the islands of the archipelago, similar to England.
• According to some historians, Malta was a part of the famous Atlantis, as evidenced by its location and the ancient megalithic ruins we’ve already described.

Polish version