How many days in Gozo? 4 days of the Cittadella, Ġgantija, salt pans and sea caves
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Gozo is Malta's second island, a 25-minute ferry ride from the north of Malta, and it feels a generation slower: villages built around huge domed churches, terraced fields and cliffs of golden limestone. Many visitors come for one day; give it four. One for Victoria and its hilltop Cittadella, one for the north coast with the Ġgantija temples, older than Stonehenge, and the red sand of Ramla Bay, one for the west at Dwejra and Xlendi, and one on the water, diving or on a boat to Comino.
Short answer
Two days covers the Cittadella, Ġgantija, Ramla and Dwejra by car or tour. Four days lets you swim at the quieter inlets, walk a cliff path and spend a day underwater or at the Blue Lagoon.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Victoria and the Cittadella
Morning. Take the ferry from Ċirkewwa in Malta to Mġarr harbour (about 25 minutes; you pay only on the way back, about €5 for a foot passenger and €15-20 for a car with driver), or the fast ferry from Valletta (about 45 minutes). The bus or a taxi reaches Victoria, also called Rabat, in about 15 minutes.
Afternoon. Walk up to the Cittadella, the walled citadel on the hill at the centre of the island. The walls and streets are free to walk; a combined ticket of a few euros covers the Gozo Cathedral, the old prison and small museums. From the ramparts you can see almost the whole island, from the Ġgantija ridge to the cliffs of the west.
Evening. Come down to It-Tokk, Victoria's main square, and the lanes around St George's Basilica. Eat a Gozitan ftira, a pizza-like bread topped with potato, tomato, anchovies or local cheese, about €10-15 for a large one to share.
If you bring a hire car from Malta, check the rental contract allows the ferry. Driving is on the left, and Gozo's roads are narrow but quiet.
Day 2: Ġgantija, Ramla Bay and the salt pans
Morning. Arrive at the Ġgantija temples near Xagħra at opening time. Built roughly 5,500 years ago, they are among the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world, listed by UNESCO (about €10-12, including the nearby Ta' Kola windmill museum). Allow 1-1.5 hours with the visitor centre.
Afternoon. Drive about 10 minutes to Ramla Bay, a wide beach of orange-red sand in a green valley, with a statue of the Virgin and a few kiosks. Above it, a viewing point looks down over the bay where tradition places Calypso's Cave, from the story of Odysseus; the cave itself is closed for safety.
Evening. Drive along the coast to Marsalforn and walk 15-20 minutes west to the Xwejni salt pans, square pools cut into the rock where families still harvest sea salt in summer. Sunset there, then fish dinner in Marsalforn, €20-30 per person.
Buy a bag of salt directly from the salt-pan families when they sell it at the roadside; it is a better souvenir than anything in the shops.
Day 3: Dwejra, Ta' Pinu and Xlendi
Morning. Drive about 20 minutes west to Dwejra, where the famous Azure Window arch collapsed in a storm in 2017. Walk on the flat rocks to see Fungus Rock and the Inland Sea, a lagoon joined to the open sea by a narrow tunnel; fishermen run boat trips through it to the sea caves (about €5-10).
Afternoon. On the way back, stop at the Basilica of Ta' Pinu, a large church standing alone in the fields near Għarb, a major place of pilgrimage. Then drive south to Xlendi, a narrow bay between cliffs with clear water, cafés and rocks for swimming.
Evening. Walk up the cliff path on the right side of Xlendi bay at sunset, about 15 minutes, and eat by the water: grilled fish, octopus or stuffat tal-fenek, rabbit stew, about €18-25.
The Blue Hole at Dwejra is one of the best-known shore dives in the Mediterranean, and snorkellers can swim in it on calm days. Do not swim there in rough seas.
Day 4: Comino, the Blue Lagoon or a dive day
Morning. Take a boat from Mġarr to Comino, the small island between Gozo and Malta, and its Blue Lagoon, a shallow channel of very clear water over white sand (about €15-25 return, 15-25 minutes). Go on the first boat: by late morning in summer the lagoon is crowded with day-tour boats.
Afternoon. Walk across Comino to the Santa Marija Tower, a 17th-century watchtower, about 30 minutes on rough tracks, then take the boat back. Or, instead, spend the day diving with a Gozo dive centre (about €50-80 for two shore dives).
Evening. Visit the gorge of Wied il-Għasri on the north coast, a narrow inlet reached by rock steps, for a last swim, then dinner in Xagħra's village square.
The Blue Lagoon now has a daily visitor booking system in peak season; check whether your boat ticket includes the access slot.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, see Victoria and the Cittadella on the first afternoon, then Ġgantija, Ramla Bay and Dwejra on the second. You lose Xlendi, the salt pans at sunset and Comino.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to the cliff walk along Ta' Ċenċ near Sannat, the quiet bay of Mġarr ix-Xini for kayaking, or back to Malta for Valletta and Mdina.
Where to stay in Gozo
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Victoria | Central, with buses to every village and the port. | €55-90 |
| Mid-range | Marsalforn | Seaside village with restaurants, dive centres and buses. | €80-140 |
| Mid-range | Farmhouses in Għarb, Xagħra and Għasri | Restored stone houses with private pools, often rented whole. | €90-180 |
| Comfort | Spa hotels in Xlendi, Mġarr and San Lawrenz | Sea views, pools and quiet. | €160-320 |
Getting around
Gozo is about 14 km long; nowhere is more than 25-30 minutes' drive. Gozo Channel ferries run from Ċirkewwa about every 45 minutes, day and night; fast ferries from Valletta take about 45 minutes. From Malta airport, allow 1-1.5 hours to Ċirkewwa by bus or taxi. Buses on Gozo start from Victoria and cost about €2-3; a hire car costs €30-50 a day; taxis from Mġarr to Victoria are about €15-20.
What to eat in Gozo
Gozitan food is farm food. Try ġbejniet, small sheep's cheeses, fresh, dried or peppered; ftira, Gozo's topped flatbread; stuffat tal-fenek, rabbit stewed in wine and garlic; lampuki pie in autumn, when the dorado fish arrive; and pastizzi, flaky pastries with ricotta or peas, about €0.60-1 each. Order local wines and honey. A village restaurant meal costs €20-30 per person.
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October are best: highs of 24-29°C, warm sea and fewer day-trippers. July and August reach 32°C and the Blue Lagoon is very crowded. Winter is mild, about 15-17°C, good for walking, but rough seas can stop small boats. The village feasts (festi) fill summer weekends with fireworks and band marches.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €30 | €55 | €120 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €35 | €65 |
| Sights & tickets | €8 | €25 | €60 |
| Local transport | €5 | €20 | €35 |
| Total per person, per day | about €65 | about €135 | about €280 |
Approximate 2026 prices; Malta adds an eco-contribution of €0.50 per person per night, up to €5 per stay.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Gozo worth more than a day trip from Malta?
Yes. A day trip shows the Cittadella, Ġgantija and Dwejra from a coach. Staying two to four nights lets you swim at Ramla early, watch the sunset at the salt pans, dive or snorkel, and see the villages in the evening when the day visitors have left. Gozo's prices are also often lower than in Malta's resorts.
How do I pay for the Gozo ferry?
On the main Ċirkewwa-Mġarr route, you pay only when leaving Gozo, so the outward crossing from Malta is free at the time of travel. Foot passengers pay about €5 and cars with a driver around €15-20. Fast ferries between Valletta and Mġarr are paid both ways and should be booked in advance in summer.
Can I still see the Azure Window?
No. The arch at Dwejra collapsed in a storm in March 2017. The site is still worth visiting for Fungus Rock, the Inland Sea and its boat trips through the tunnel, the cliff walks, and the Blue Hole, a famous dive and snorkel spot where the arch once stood.
Do I need a car on Gozo?
Not necessarily. Buses link Victoria with every village and the main sights, and hop-on hop-off tours run in season. A car gives you freedom to reach the small inlets, such as Wied il-Għasri and Mġarr ix-Xini, and to go out early or late. Quad bikes and jeep tours are other popular ways to explore.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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