For the full Maltese experience, you can’t miss a day trip to Gozo. This 26-square-mile island is second to Malta in size, but gives the main island some tough competition in terms of beauty.

Despite being the more remote “sister” island to Malta, there are plenty of wonderful things to do in Gozo, particularly with a rental car in tow.

Plus, Gozo is easily reachable by ferry from Malta, so there’s really no excuse not to visit! Here’s what you need to know to plan an unforgettable Gozo day trip for a uniquely remote Mediterranean experience.

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You most certainly can visit Gozo on a day trip and that’s exactly what this guide will help you do! While you may be put off by visiting separate islands and only want to stick to one, this is actually a huge missed opportunity.

Plus, you can reach the island in less than an hour from Valletta, so it’s actually very feasible to incorporate one day in Gozo into your Malta itinerary.

Gozo has so much to offer, particularly for lovers of nature and hidden gems. Between distinct landscapes, stunning beach coves, and unique towns, you may even want more than a day to see it all.

The ride from Valletta, Malta to Mgarr, Gozo is an easy 45 minutes aboard the Gozo Fast Ferry, making it a very popular day trip option. After all, it’s not every day that you can access a unique island that’s totally distinct from Malta in under an hour!

Alternatively, you can also hop on from the port of Cirkewwa in northern Malta, which takes just 25-30 minutes.

If you’re wondering how to get to Gozo from Malta, you may be surprised to find that it’s actually very straightforward. Traveling by ferry is not just one way of getting to Gozo – it’s the only way!

While driving to this island is obviously out of the question, so is flying, as remote Gozo lacks the infrastructure (and demand) to support an airport.

It’s important to be aware of the different ferry options before you travel to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. I also highly recommend booking your ferry tickets in advance, particularly during peak summer season.

First things first: What’s the best ferry to take to Gozo?

The answer to this will all depend on where you’re based in Malta – and whether or not you’re traveling with a car or as a foot passenger.

If you’re planning to base yourself in or around Malta’s capital – and I highly recommend checking out these wonderful Valletta hotels with pools if you do – you can travel on the Gozo Fast Ferry via the Valletta terminal. You’ll find this ferry terminal located at Xatt Lascaris, Il-Belt Valetta in Malta.

You can check out the Gozo Fast Ferry schedule to and from Valletta here and purchase ferry tickets here.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Gozo Fast Ferry from Valletta is exclusively reserved for foot passengers only, so you won’t be able to bring a vehicle on board.

Otherwise, if you’re planning to travel with a vehicle, you’ll want to hop on the alternative ferry option in the port of Cirkewwa. This ride is shorter, getting to you Gozo between just 25 and 30 minutes. You can check out the Gozo Channel ferry schedule here and the current car fares here.

Regardless of which option you choose, either ferry will take you to Mgarr Harbor in Gozo.

If you’d prefer to leave the coordination to someone else and simply enjoy the journey, consider joining an organized tour/day trip to Gozo. These tours leave from Malta and sometimes include a visit to the smaller neighboring island of Comino in addition to Gozo.

If you’re not part of an organized tour, the next thing you’ll want to consider for your day trip to Gozo will be how to get around.

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: Do you need a car in Gozo?

Admittedly, I spent a lot of time researching this before our trip. While technically you do not need a car, I highly recommend renting one.

I was initially under the impression – considering Gozo’s small size – that much of the island could be explored on foot. After a bit of research, I discovered that my assumption was far from reality!

Although Gozo is small and has much to offer, its major points of interest are spaced pretty far apart. In other words, it would take an unreasonable amount of time (say two hours or so) to get between places on foot – not to mention the difficulty of navigating some challenging terrain!

The bottom line: You’ll need to rely on some form of transportation while you’re here.

Personally, I think a car is the best option, as you’ll have full freedom to come and go as you please. The only (potential) downside of having a car may be having to navigate some rugged terrain (depending on where you visit).

It’s also important to know that driving is on the left-hand side of the road like the rest of Malta.

If you do decide to rent a car while in Gozo, there are several places near Mgarr Harbor where you can pick up your rental. We went with Budget rental cars via Expedia. You can expect to pay around $45 for a single-day rental, including taxes and fees.

If driving isn’t your speed and you’d prefer public transportation, an alternative option is traveling by bus. There’s a total of 15 bus routes running throughout the island and buses run each hour. (There’s also a bus route between Mgarr ferry terminal and Rabat that operates every 30 minutes.)

You can plan your journey and check out bus schedules here.

Just keep in mind that while bus travel is the cheapest of all options, it’s also the most time-consuming. This is definitely something to consider for your day trip to Gozo, as you’ll obviously be somewhat limited on time.

That said, if you’re only planning to hit a few of the major sites while on the island, it may actually be the best option for you overall.

If you like the idea of traveling by bus but you’d prefer to focus on the major sites without a lot of additional stopovers in between, you may prefer to jump aboard the hop-on/hop-off bus. This option follows a set route around the island which takes around three hours in total.

If you’re only interested in a handful of the bus stops, you may wish to hop off before the full route is complete and grab a taxi for any additional stops.

Unsurprisingly, a taxi is the costliest of all the transportation options, but it’s also convenient and efficient. It’s also a great alternative if you don’t want to wait around for a bus and you prefer traveling without a crowd.

Gozo Taxi Service is considered the leading cab service on the island, offering everything from island tours to airport transfer services.

Gozo is swimming with points of interest (sometimes quite literally)!

While I’ve already covered the best things to do in Gozo in detail, here’s a quick rundown to get you started:

• Explore Victoria (Rabat)
• Climb the Victoria Citadel
• Visit the Blue Hole (formerly the Azure Window)
• Check out Fungus Rock (Dwerja Bay)
• Marvel at the Wied il-Mielaħ Window (a great stand-in for the Azure Window)
• Look down upon the Inland Sea
• Check out the Xwejni Bay Salt Pans
• Stroll along Mgarr Harbor (the ferry stop)
• Visit the town of L-Għarb
• Relax along Marsalforn Bay
• Swim at Wied il Għasri Beach
• Discover the Tal-Mixta Cave
• Explore the historic Ggantija Temples
• Wade in Xlendi Bay

Here are some helpful pointers to best prepare you for your day trip to Gozo:

• Book an early morning departure and a late return trip – If you’re doing a day trip to Gozo, you’ll want to maximize your time as much as possible. Ferries to the island run on a specific timetable, so I suggest booking an early morning departure and an evening time slot for the return trip for the fullest possible experience. Again, I highly recommend booking in advance so that you’ll have access to the full range of time options.
• Bring more than just a bathing suit – While Gozo is known for its remote beaches, there’s much more to the island than that! In addition to swimwear, you’ll also want to bring appropriate attire that covers your knees and shoulders. This is particularly key when visiting the island’s many churches.
• Book your car rental in advance – If you’re planning to rent a car, reserve your rental before you arrive. Since the rental facilities operate on different schedules and there are a limited amount of vehicles available, you want to make sure there’s a car ready and waiting for you when you arrive.

If you ultimately decide you’d like to dedicate more than just a day trip to Gozo, you’ll find plenty of unique accommodations on the island. These wonderful properties range from cozy farmhouses to luxury hotels.

Regardless of how long you’re able to dedicate to Gozo, you’re bound to have an unforgettable experience. Have I convinced you to plan a day trip to Gozo or perhaps even extend your stay? Let me know your initial impressions of this unique island in the comments below!

Ready to explore more of the Maltese archipelago? Check out my other island guides:

• 15 Awesome Things to Do in Gozo, the Gem of the Maltese Archipelago
• 12 Fabulous Valletta Hotels with Pools for a Relaxing Stay
• 15 Fun Things to Do in Valletta (Including Free Activities & Day Trip Ideas)
• Plan the Perfect Day Trip from Valletta to Mdina, Malta
• 33 Fun Facts About Malta You Probably Didn’t Know
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