11 things to see and do in Gozo, Malta

Writer: Helena Bergström

Today we have 11 things to see and do in Gozo, Malta. We've been to the Maltese islands three times and they are islands that have a lot to offer in terms of nature, culture, history, sun and swimming. We haven't collected our tips on Gozo in one place before, so here we are!

Gozo, Malta's smaller sister island, is especially suited to those who appreciate a peaceful environment, beautiful scenery, locally produced food, sun and swimming, and opportunities for activities such as hiking or mountain biking. This is a hidden gem!

1. Visit the Citadel in Victoria

Victoria (or Rabat) is the largest city on the island of Gozo, with just under 7,000 inhabitants. The capital, Victoria, is located in the centre of the island. At the top of the city sits an impressive citadel, which should not be missed. The church looks modest from the outside, but once inside, the decorations are anything but modest!

2. Hang out in the cosy Marsalforn

The village of Marsalforn is located on the north side of Gozo. This village may be a bit touristy - there are several hotels here - but it's still very cosy. There's sunbathing and swimming in the centre of town, and you can try your hand at scuba diving. There are a whole bunch of restaurants with nice outdoor seating, such as the Kartell restaurant, where you can enjoy great views of the sea.

3. Sunbathing on Ramla Bay Beach

Gozo's coastline is made up of beautiful rock formations and there are some great beaches here and there. The finest beach on Gozo is Ramla Bay, a sheltered bay with crystal clear, shimmering green waters.

4. Experience rural Gozo

In Gozo, rural life is ever-present. There are plenty of farmers who grow tomatoes, olives or grapes, or perhaps have sheep or goats. Take a tour of the countryside to experience the real Gozo - and maybe you'll get the chance to visit a farmer or buy locally produced produce right on the spot. We visited the farmer, cheese maker and restaurant owner Rikkardu of Ta' Rikardu.

At Rikkardu, milking is done by hand "because it is easier to feel if something is wrong" and the separation of lambs and kittens from their mothers is done gradually "because it is such a difficult process" and "because they are so sad". The traditional cheese 'gbejniet' is made from unpasteurised goat or sheep milk.

Traditionally, a goat or sheep stomach was added to start the process, but nowadays there are powders with the same enzyme as in the stomach. The cheese milk is poured into baskets and drained. It can then be eaten fresh or dried, with different flavours. Our favourite was dried cheese with pepper spice - soooo good!

5. Buy locally produced ingredients

Locally produced ingredients can be found at Ta' Mena Estate, run by Mr Joseph Spiteri. They produce both wine and a lot of other local delicacies, and tourists can visit to taste and learn more about wine and olive oil, for example. We thought the olive oil here was so good that we bought three litres to take home!

6. Enjoy the view from the Kantra restaurant

Restaurant Kantra is located in the south of Gozo, not far away from Ta'Cenc spa hotel. We might not choose this restaurant for the food (which was ok, but nothing special), but we would always choose it for the amazing view!

7. Eat good food at Ta'Philip meat restaurant

Do you like good food? Then the Ta'Philip meat restaurant, near Mgarr, is a place not to be missed in Gozo. You can tell when food is cooked with love. When the ingredients are local and the owner is super friendly, it doesn't get much better than that!

It's not all meat at Philip's, but since he was most proud of his meat, we tried it. After a starter of baked asparagus, we tried three meat dishes: lamb, pork and rabbit. Everything was soooo tender, and the pork was probably the best pork we've ever had!

8. Go for a mountain bike ride

Why not discover Gozo by mountain bike? We did our mountain bike tour with a guide from Gozo Adventures. It was a ride through beautiful nature, along dramatic cliff roads and with stops at caves and in charming villages, such as the fishing village of Xlendi.

9. try climbing

In Malta you can try what is known as ”abseiling.” This type of climbing involves climbing up a wall while attached to a rope, while the guide gradually pulls in the rope so that it is constantly taut.

When you go down again, you are lowered down with the rope while leaning back and walking with your feet towards the mountain. We climbed with the company Gozo Adventures. Even though we had never climbed before (and even though one of us is afraid of heights) it went well and was a fun experience!

READ MORE: Try rock climbing in Gozo, Malta

10. Diving in the clear sea

Gozo is perfect for diving because the water is so clear and there are plenty of fish. Peter did the dive with a company in Gozo called Calypso Diving Centre. Peter was very happy with the dive guide and felt that all safety procedures were well followed. He saw both fish and a stingray and was very happy with his diving experience. Now that the Azure window landmark has collapsed, it is also popular with divers, as is the nearby Blue hole.

READ MORE: Diving in Malta - a great experience

11. stay in a spa hotel

If you really want to enjoy the peace and quiet, you can combine your stay with accommodation at a spa hotel. We stayed at the hotel Ta Cenc, which is located on the southern part of the island. This spa hotel on Gozo offers a relaxed and peaceful environment with pools, beautiful surrounding nature and good food. And spa treatments of course!

More things to do in Gozo in Malta

What else is there to do on Gozo in Malta? If you want to experience the outdoors and nature, there are good opportunities for hiking and canoeing throughout the island. There are also opportunities for tours by horse, by boat or on a quad bike.

In addition, there are of course lots of small charming coves for rock swimming in the clear water. Not to mention all the beautiful churches... In other words, there is a lot to do on Gozo in Malta!

Travelling to Gozo

To get to Gozo, fly you first go to Valletta in Malta. Gozo can be reached by car ferry from Cirkewwa in Malta to Mgarr, which takes about 25 minutes. There is also a helicopter connection between Gozo and Malta's Luqa Airport.

Living in Gozo

If you don't want to stay in a spa hotel, as mentioned above, there are many other options. We haven't tried all of these ourselves, but we asked our guide in Malta and simply passes on his suggestions. If you want to stay in a 5-star hotel, he suggested Kempinski, set in the countryside with spas and pools.

If you are looking for simpler options, there are Calypso hotel or Maria Giovanna guesthouse in Marsalforn. Our guide also pointed out the so-called "farm houses", which are cosy rural accommodations for families or a group of friends. Boran group should have many different farmhouses to choose from.

Things to do in Malta

If you also have time to look around the main island of Malta, there is plenty to see and do. We have written a whole bunch of articles about Malta, so feel free to browse around! If you want to know more about the language and history of Malta, you can also read our article on Languages in Malta - Arabic, British or Italian? Find more tips for your trip to Malta here! Don't forget that there is a third small island called Comino, which is famous for the clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.

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READ MORE: What to do in Malta - 25 experiences and attractions