MT
Gozo
Malta’s greener, slower sister island, with prehistoric temples and dive sites
Malta’s greener, slower sister island, with prehistoric temples and dive sites
The fortified hilltop town contains Gozo’s cathedral and small museums, with views across the whole island.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Built around 3600–3200 BC, these megalithic temples are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gozo’s best-known sandy beach has reddish-gold sand in a green valley.
Photo: JosephAmodio, CC BY-SA 4.0
A small bay with cliffs, seafood restaurants and clear water for swimming and diving.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Between Gozo and Malta, the tiny island of Comino has a turquoise lagoon. Visitors must book a free time slot online, and numbers are capped.
Book your slot before taking a boat.
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Try Gozitan ġbejniet (small sheep’s cheeses), ftira (a pizza-like bread), local honey and fresh fish.
Xlendi and Marsalforn have seafront restaurants.
Gozo Channel ferries run from Čirkewwa in northern Malta to Mġarr in about 25 minutes; you pay on the return trip. A fast ferry from Valletta takes around 45 minutes.
Buses run from Mġarr and Victoria; a car or scooter is useful for exploring.
Malta uses the euro (€). English is widely spoken, and buses run across the islands.
Prices are approximate; check current rates.
History and coast.
Visit the Citadel and Ġgantija, then swim at Ramla Bay.
Explore Dwejra and Xlendi, or take a boat to the Blue Lagoon (with a booked slot).
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Malta is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
You pay for the Gozo Channel ferry when returning to Malta.
Gozo has some of the Mediterranean’s best dive sites.
Book a free time slot online before visiting.
A car or scooter makes it easier to reach beaches.
Quick answers for planning time in Gozo.
By ferry from Čirkewwa (about 25 minutes) or fast ferry from Valletta.
No, it collapsed in 2017.
Yes, a free time slot must be booked online.
They date from around 3600–3200 BC.
April to June and September to October.
English is an official language, but translation helps with Maltese signs.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Malta travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.