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Informal breakfast in a historic port town with cobbled streets dating back hundreds of years, a green hinterland full of orange trees as far as the eyes can see, pistachio ice creams and scenic drives along the coast to blood-orange sunsets: soon it will be summer in the Mediterranean .
The ancient sea is expecting a record wave of visitors this year, with more transatlantic flights and new train routes, but if joining the hustle and bustle of Santorini and Mallorca doesn’t sound too enticing, there’s a lesser known island that is just as incredible (and more affordable).
Gozo is home to pristine beaches, breathtaking rugged nature and postcard-ready villages. It’s the culturally charged, sunny getaway you never knew you needed:
Why you should visit Gozo in the summer of 2024
Gozo is an unusual island belonging to Malta, a collection of three small islands barely visible on a map, and a sovereign European country located just south of Sicily and halfway between mainland Europe and North Africa.
Although relatively unknown to the American public, Malta is one extremely popular destination for decades for Europeans, with holiday towns like Sliema and St Julians packed with Brits and Germans during the balmy summer months.
But while hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the largest island – named after the country itself – where the biggest resorts and beach clubs are located, Malta’s smaller sister Gozo is still ignored by most because it has no airport. it is theoretically ‘harder’ to achieve.
Gozo can only be reached by ferry from certain departure points in Malta, such as Cirkewwa and Marsamxett, and is only 40 square kilometers in size, even smaller than the main island’s 150 square kilometers. one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
On the other hand, the fact that it is remarkably small and that it receives fewer tourists does not mean that there is a lack of tourist offer – on the contrary:
Gozo is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean
With its rugged landscape, ocher towns dominated by imposing Baroque churches and pristine coastline, where golden sandy beaches are embraced by blue-green waters, Gozo is within easy reach. one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean basin.
Unlike Malta, which is highly urbanized – concentrating on 94% of the Republic’s 531,000 inhabitants – Gozo is mainly rural, with plantations and arid core areas as far as the eye can see, and only 17 townships spread across its small perimeter.
The largest city – and the island’s capital – is Victoria (known to some locals by its native Maltese name Rabat), a old walled fortress best known for its monumental Cathedral of the Assumption, impressive ramparts and winding alleys.
Outside Victoria, there are other beautiful towns with ornate church facades and Malta’s iconic red telephone boxes (a remnant of British colonial rule) such as L-Gharb, Ix-Xewkija, Iz-Zebbug and Ghajnsielem, the main harbour, dominated by an 18th century fortress and a neo-Gothic church on a hilltop.
As for beaches, the bays of Ramla, Marsalforn and Hondoq are the best top three bestwhich have been awarded Blue Flag status, although there are hidden gems such as Ghasri and San Blas that are worth checking out – and they are all surprising a lot quieter than the average beach on the Mediterranean.
Gozo as a whole it is incredibly peaceful:
Why are there fewer tourists in Gozo?
The Mediterranean islands are overflowing with tourists these days, and neighboring Malta is one of them, with a growing expat population and an economy increasingly dependent on tourist euros and dollars.
Interestingly, there seems to be a consensus among the native Maltese and their representatives in the government that Gozo should be protected at any price.
This is Malta’s most prized asset, where the most historically important archaeological sites are located and where Maltese traditions are in their purest and strongest form, without interference from an increasingly international community.
There are a handful of ships that dock in Gozo, but most would call at Valletta (the country’s capital, located on the main island), so the influx of cruise visitors and ‘day trippers’ is less pronounced, making city streets less busy are and beaches cleaner.
Yes, there are tourists around – enough to make Gozo feel a little crowded on weekends – but the volume is far from high overwhelming: in other words, you are unlikely to have to queue for hours to access attractions.
There are no airports on Gozo – it is only connected to Malta by regular ferries that also carry cars every hour – and there are a limited number of hotels on the island – 21, to be precise, excluding guest houses and hostels – and only one five star accommodation as shown on Booking.com.
Malta, on the other hand, has a whopping 126 hotels, another 176 apartments listed as holiday rentals, and countless Airbnbs and hostels: it is much busier therewhile Gozo is more exclusive, but not necessarily more expensive.
How expensive is Gozo to visit?
There are standard hotel rooms in Marsalforn on Gozo from just $74 per nighta ‘very good’ breakfast included, or ‘comfort’ rooms at Nadur’s aptly named Quaint Boutique Hotel from $87 – if you’re on a budget, boarding houses will only disappoint you $37 per night.
Gozo’s only five-star resort, the Kempinski Hotel in San Lawrenz, with a lagoon-style pool, lush gardens and spa facilities, costs just $229 to book per night, while nights at luxury resorts in Malta range between $290 and $409.
Popular deals include the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julians (Malta’s resort capital), which costs $341 per night, the Cugo Gran Macina in Senglea, for $366, and the landmark Xara Palace, in Mdina’s citadel, for $409 per night.
Malta as a whole isn’t the most affordable Mediterranean country, but local food in Gozo can be surprisingly cheap: expect approx $10 – $12 for one simple pasta dishor the traditional Maltese rabbit stew at a local restaurant in a village, plus $3 to $5 for a glass of wine, depending on the wine.
Overall, tourists spend an average of $35 per day on meals when traveling to Malta (including the island of Malta and Gozo).
How do you get to Gozo?
The only way to reach Gozo is to first reach Malta, which is home to the country’s only International Airport (MLA), serving non-stop flights from all over Europe, sometimes for as cheap as $18 on Ryanair.
Like any other small island in the Mediterranean where public transport is not optimal, with not so frequent buses and a lack of train connections, a rental car will help you make the most of your visit to Malta and Gozo.
As already mentioned you can take your car from Malta to Gozo by ferry from Cirkewwa, the northernmost point of the island of Malta, and the sailing time is only 25 minutes – you are already on the coast of Gozitan before you register that you have left Malta.
you shall need a car in Gozo to visit all those remote nature reserves, caves overlooking the azure Mediterranean Sea and ethnic Maltese villages, but if you’re just looking for an easy car-free day trip from Malta, then your choice is:
Take the ferry from Valletta, the Maltese capital, with a total duration of 45 minutes.
You will be dropped off at the port of Ghajnsielem and from there you can take a taxi or a local bus to Victoria (Rabat), the capital of Gozo, which is about five kilometers inland.
It can be a challenge to visit other destinations around Gozo by public transport, but if your sole purpose is to see the walled wonder of Victoria, sample Gozitan food and stroll the picturesque streets before catching the ferry back to Valletta, then we won’t do that. see why not go for it.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
