Victoria (Rabat) and the Citadel
Start your Gozo adventure in Victoria, also known as Rabat, the island’s capital. At its heart stands the Citadel, a fortified city that dates back to medieval times. From its walls, you’ll get a panoramic view of the entire island, as it’s that small, green hills, tiny villages, and the Mediterranean in the distance.
Inside, you can wander cobbled streets, visit the cathedral, or just enjoy the peaceful vibe. We loved exploring the corners and hidden alleys here, it’s charming and cute and we took a lot of photos.
Also, if you have time, book a dinner at Maldonado Bistro Gozo, they offer some tasty food with a french, italian twist.
Ta’ Pinu Basilica
Just a short drive from Victoria, Ta’ Pinu Basilica is one of Gozo’s most iconic landmarks. Built in the early 20th century, it’s not only stunning from the outside but also deeply meaningful to locals. The basilica became famous after a local woman claimed to have heard the Virgin Mary’s voice here, turning it into a site of pilgrimage and prayer. Even if you’re not religious, it’s a beautiful building.
And sunsets here are something else.
Ġgantija Temples
Before you even get to Dwejra Bay, make sure to stop at the Ġgantija Temples, one of the most fascinating places on Gozo, and honestly, not just on Malta. These megalithic temples are over 5.500 years old, which means they’re older than the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. When you think about that for a moment, it’s just crazy impressive.
The name Ġgantija means “place of the giants” because locals once believed that only giants could have built something so massive with the technology available at the time, some blocks weighed more than 50 tons.
There’s also a small museum that helps you understand how people lived here thousands of years ago, with tools and artifacts found on-site, you can visit if you want, we skipped it.
Dwejra Bay
Once home to the famous Azure Window (which sadly collapsed in 2017), Dwejra Bay is still one of the most beautiful natural spots on Gozo. The coastline here looks dramatic, the cliffs, caves, and the deep blue sea stretching as far as you can see.
You can take a short boat ride through a tunnel that connects the Inland Sea to the open sea. Even without the Azure Window, the area’s natural beauty makes it worth the visit.
Blue Hole
Right next to it is Blue Hole, a natural rock formation that created a circular “pool” right next to the sea. It looks like a perfect hole carved into the rocks, filled with incredibly clear, deep blue water, and then connected to the open sea through an underwater arch. It’s actually one of the most famous diving spots in Malta, but even if you’re not diving, or don’t want to swim it’s fascinating to see. We actually couldn’t locate it, maybe the sea was too rough or something.
Sanap Cliffs
For some of the most surreal views in all of Gozo, head to the Sanap Cliffs on the island’s southern coast. These limestone cliffs rise over 100 meters above the sea, and the views from the top are just breathtaking, endless blue stretching to the horizon, with nothing but the sound of wind and waves below, and the wind.
Come around sunset if you can, the golden light over the sea and cliffs is magical. Though it can get a bit windy here, just watch your step and don’t go near the edge.
Tal-Mixta Cave
For one of the famous views in Malta, head to Tal-Mixta Cave above Ramla Bay. The cave overlooks the bay’s unique red-gold sand, and from inside, the wide opening perfectly frames the beach and the Mediterranean. It’s a perfect postcard photo.
Getting there involves a short walk, but it’s not difficult,. Honestly we think that the view towards the cave is much prettier, maybe because the cave got so crowded and that kinda ruined it a bit for us.
Ramla Bay
Below Tal-Mixta Cave lies Ramla Bay, Gozo’s most famous beach. With its reddish sand and clear, shallow water, it’s ideal for swimming and relaxing. Even in December, some people were enjoying the water. In summer, it’s popular with both locals and tourists, but it’s large enough that you can always find your own spot to unwind. As we are not beachy-type people, we just admired it from afar, from the hill near Tal-Mixta Cave.
Salt Pans of Marsalforn
Along Gozo’s northern coast, near Marsalforn, you’ll find the salt pans. They are shallow pools carved into the rock, that have been used for traditional sea salt production for centuries. The process is still alive today, and you might even see locals scraping salt.
From above, the salt pans look like a giant mosaic of gold and silver, glistening under the sun. If you have a drone, or can climb to an elevated place, don’t miss it. There are smaller salt pans on the main island, but these ones are more uniform and look amazing. You can also buy the salt from a few shops along the road.
Getting to Gozo
To reach Gozo, take the ferry from Ċirkewwa (north of Malta) to Mġarr Harbour on Gozo. The ferry runs frequently and takes around 25 minutes. You can either bring your car on board or rent one once you arrive. Check out our guide on getting to Gozo from Mġarr Harbour or Valletta.
If you’re not driving, there are also organized day tours from Malta that include transport and a local guide.
Gozo might be small, but it’s overflowing with charm, views, and culture. One day is simply enough to visit everything. We like the main island more than Gozo, but enjoyed it either way.
Until next time, be mesmerized ❤️
