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View of Ramla Bay from a cliffside cave, Gozo

Explore Gozo

Beaches, ancient sights, coastal walks and village festas, with the practical details that make an island holiday easy. Written from Għajnsielem, where the ferry lands.

-- Gozo now Sunset --:-- Sea --

Places to go

Gozo is small enough to see a lot, and varied enough to choose your kind of day. Drive times from Cloud 9 are approximate and vary with traffic and parking.

Windy where you are? Check another coast before giving up on the beach. Gozo is compact enough for conditions to be completely different on the opposite side.

San Blas Bay, Gozo

Red sand · steep path

San Blas Bay

A small red-sand cove below Nadur's terraced valley. The lane down is very steep, so allow time for the walk back up.

Approx. 10 min, then a walkMap for San Blas Bay (opens Google Maps)↗

The doorway of Xerri's Grotto on a street in Xagħra

Xagħra · underground

Xerri's Grotto

A cave of stalactites beneath a family home, shown by the family who live above it. Small, quirky and memorable; check it is open before you go.

Approx. 10–15 minMap for Xerri's Grotto (opens Google Maps)↗

A Gozitan ftira topped with sliced potato, in a box with the countryside behind

Nadur · Gozitan ftira

Maxokk Bakery

Nadur's family bakery, famous for ftira: Gozo's thin, pizza-like bake, often topped with potato. Expect a queue. Mekren's, nearby, is a wood-fired alternative.

Approx. 10 minMap for Maxokk Bakery (opens Google Maps)↗

Tmun, Gozo

Mġarr Harbour · seafood

Tmun

Seafood-focused cooking on the harbour, listed in the Michelin Guide. The closest special-occasion dinner to Cloud 9.

Approx. 5 minMap for Tmun (opens Google Maps)↗

Jeep, quad and tuk-tuk tours in Gozo

Full-island tours

Jeep, quad and tuk-tuk tours

A guided way to see a lot of the island, including back roads, without driving yourself.

Scuba diving in Gozo

Beginner to technical

Scuba diving

Shore and boat dives with caves, tunnels, reefs, walls and wrecks.

Sea kayaking in Gozo

Guided tours

Sea kayaking

Guided trips into caves, coves and along limestone cliffs around Gozo and Comino.

Boat trips in Gozo

Best from the water

Boat trips

Short trips through sea caves and longer coastline tours with swimming stops and Comino.

Cycling in Gozo

E-bikes help on hills

Cycling

An e-bike covers a surprising amount of the island and makes Gozo's hills much easier.

Climbing and abseiling in Gozo

Guided options

Climbing and abseiling

Sea cliffs and inland crags, with guided options for beginners and experienced climbers.

Aerial view of the Cittadella and Victoria, Gozo
From the CittadellaDomes, villages and terraced fields, with the sea never far away.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The easiest island day trip from Cloud 9: boats leave from Mġarr Harbour, just below the village. The Blue Lagoon is the headline, but you can also walk to Santa Marija Bay or take a boat past the sea caves when the sea allows.

Try once: a Blue Lagoon pineapple drink, served in a hollowed-out pineapple. Touristy, but part of the day.

Blue Lagoon, Comino, from the air
A pineapple drink held up over the Blue Lagoon, with a tour boat behind

  1. Boat from Mġarr

    Small ferries run from Mġarr Harbour to the Blue Lagoon, typically 15–20 minutes, through the day in season.

    Online or at the Mġarr stand

  2. Book your landing slot

    Going ashore needs a free timed booking: 08:00–13:00, 13:30–17:30 or 18:00–22:00. Some ferry tickets include it.

    How the booking works ↗

  3. What to bring

    Swimwear, towel, sunscreen, hat, water and water shoes. Shade is limited away from the kiosks.

    Pack light; you arrive by boat

  4. How long to stay

    Three to four hours is enough for a swim and a short walk without a long wait for the boat back.

    Early or late is calmer

Rules can change. The booking system was introduced by the Malta Tourism Authority in 2025. Check current slots and your ferry operator's terms shortly before you go, especially in summer.

Today in Gozo

Live conditions, what's happening today and the next village festas.

What's on todayConcerts, feasts, exhibitions, markets and family events across Gozo, updated daily by Events in Gozo.See today's events ↗
Next village festa

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    Official calendar on Visit Gozo

    This time of year

    Summer evenings

    Village festas

    From late May to mid-September, Gozo's parishes take turns to celebrate their patron saint: streets hung with banners and lights, brass bands, a procession and fireworks over the rooftops.

    Go in the evening and expect road closures near the celebrating village. Our own village, Għajnsielem, celebrates Our Lady of Loreto at the end of August.

    If you hear fireworks, follow them.

    Għarb's parish church lit up at night for the feast of the Visitation, with the statue carried in procession
    Għarb
    The Feast of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem, during the iconic Balzunetta March.
    Ghajnsielem

    Getting here

    Every route ends at Mġarr Harbour, a few minutes from the house.

    1. Fly into Malta

      Malta International Airport is on the main island; Gozo has no airport.

      Malta International Airport ↗

    2. Travel to the ferry

      The X1 express bus runs from the airport to Ċirkewwa (around 1 h 15 min), or take a taxi or transfer. Without a car, the fast ferry from Valletta is an alternative.

      Malta Public Transport ↗

    3. Cross to Gozo

      About 25 minutes from Ċirkewwa, or about 45 minutes on the fast ferry from Valletta.

    4. Arrive at Mġarr

      Cloud 9 is a few minutes up the hill in Għajnsielem. Confirmed guests receive arrival details before their stay.

    Gozo Channel ferry at Mġarr Harbour

    Gozo Channel

    Car and passenger ferry · Ċirkewwa to Mġarr

    Journey
    About 25 minutes, 24 hours a day, subject to conditions.
    Booking
    Not needed. Boarding is first-come, first-served; an online ticket doesn't give priority.
    Paying
    You pay only on the return trip from Mġarr. In 2026, about €4.65 per foot passenger and €15.70 for a car and driver.
    With a car
    Yes. Join the vehicle queue at Ċirkewwa and follow staff instructions.

    ScheduleCurrent fares

    High-speed ferry between Gozo and Valletta

    Gozo Highspeed

    Passenger-only fast ferry · Valletta to Mġarr

    Journey
    About 45 minutes from Valletta; about 30 from Buġibba and around 75 from Sliema via Buġibba.
    Booking
    Online or at the terminals. Online sales close shortly before departure.
    Vehicles
    None. Foot passengers only.
    Best for
    Arriving from, or staying around, Valletta, Sliema or Buġibba without a car.

    Timetable

    Live ferry queueVisit Gozo's cameras on the Mġarr marshalling area. Useful on summer weekends, festas and public holidays.Open live cams ↗ Official travel guideVisit Gozo's own page on getting to the island, with current options.Visit Gozo ↗

    Getting around

    A car gives the most freedom, but buses and ride apps cover a lot, with Victoria as the hub.

    By car

    • Easiest for beaches and Dwejra.Book before arrival; some firms deliver or collect around Mġarr.
    • Drive on the left.Village roads can be narrow. Request an automatic early in high season.
    • Parkingis easier than in Malta, but Victoria, popular bays and festa villages get busy.
    • Car for part of the stay?Plan those days around Dwejra, remote beaches and the north and west coasts.

    By bus

    • Use the Tallinja appfor journey planning, live bus tracking and service changes.
    • Pay on boardby cash, contactless card or phone. Visitor travel cards cover Malta and Gozo.
    • Victoria is the hub.Routes 301, 303 and 323 link Mġarr Harbour and Għajnsielem with Victoria.
    • Check the last busbefore an evening out; frequencies vary by route and season.
    Malta Public Transport

    Rides and taxis

    • Boltis the most widely used ride app on Gozo. Waits can be longer than on Malta.
    • Uber and eCabsalso operate on Gozo; eCabs is useful for booking a ride in advance.
    • Local taxisare best for confirmed pickups, ferry connections and early or late journeys.
    • Hop-on hop-off busesfrom the Mġarr side make an easy first sightseeing day.

    Practical information

    The essentials, before you need them.

    Emergency: 112Police, ambulance and fire anywhere in Malta and Gozo.
    Gozo General HospitalIn Victoria. The island's only hospital, with an emergency department.
    Sunday pharmaciesOpening by rota on Sundays and public holidays, usually at least 09:00–12:00 and 16:00–19:00.Today's roster ↗
    MoneyMalta uses the euro (€).
    PlugsType G three-pin sockets (as in the UK), 230 V.
    DrivingOn the left. Village roads are narrow and parking near popular bays fills early.
    Drinking waterTap water is treated and generally considered safe; many people prefer bottled water for taste.
    Time zoneCentral European Time: UTC+1, and UTC+2 in summer.

    Tips you usually learn too late

    1. Plan beaches around the wind

      If one coast is rough, a bay on the other side is often calm.

    2. Use Victoria as your reset point

      If a direct bus doesn't work, changing in Victoria often does.

    3. Carry water on coastal walks

      Much of the coast is exposed, with little shade.

    4. Festa week changes villages

      Expect closed roads and less parking, and maybe the best night of your stay.