Gozo

Gozo is the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago and is known for a quieter, rural character compared with the main island of Malta. It includes ancient temples, fortified towns, and coastal features valued for walking and diving.

Beyond coastal bays and cliffs, visitors find prehistoric sites such as Ġgantija, a fortified central citadel in Victoria (Rabat), sandy beaches like Ramla Bay, and scenic inlets and sea caves around Dwejra. The island offers short drives between compact towns and archaeological sites rather than long-distance travel.

The coastline supports diving, snorkeling, and boat excursions; inland areas contain traditional villages, small farms, and walking routes that highlight stone terracing and local architecture. Tourism on Gozo tends to be smaller-scale and more spread across the island than on Malta’s main resort hubs.

Gozo has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was the site of early temple building such as the Ġgantija complex. Over centuries it saw Phoenician, Roman, medieval and Knights-period influence and developed distinct local traditions while remaining linked to Malta by regular sea crossings.

Located northwest of the main island of Malta, Gozo is separated by a narrow channel and served by frequent ferries; the island’s compact size makes most towns and beaches reachable within short drives.

• Access: The island is the second-largest in the Maltese archipelago and is a short boat crossing from mainland Malta with regular ferry services.
• Ancient temples: Ġgantija on Gozo is among the oldest free-standing stone structures in the world and is part of the Megalithic Temples UNESCO listing.

What to See #

• Ġgantija Temples: A pair of Neolithic temples dating from around 3600-3200 BCE, consisting of two adjacent complexes of chambers and courtyards that predate most other monumental stone construction in the Mediterranean.
• Victoria (Rabat): The island's administrative and commercial centre, also called Victoria or Rabat, dominated by the fortified Citadel and acting as the main transport hub.
• Dwejra and Inland Sea: Rock-carved coastal features and former sea stacks; the famous natural arch known as the Azure Window collapsed in 2017 but the area remains noted for diving and the Inland Sea inlet.
• Ramla Bay: A wide sandy bay on the northern coast noted for its red-tinged sand and a popular family beach on Gozo.