Gozo Island

The island's area is small – only 67 km2, it is surrounded by the most sparkling and transparent waters on the Mediterranean Sea. This is a natural pool, and many swim with masks, dive and anchor their yachts to swim and relax.

The island of Gozo has many fans among Europeans who prefer a calm, peaceful vacation in the bosom of nature. There are a little more than ten hotels and boarding houses on the island.

Gozo is located just north of Malta, but the distance between the islands is so insignificant (about 30 km from the extreme points) that the climatic conditions on both islands are completely the same.

The best time to relax on the island of Gozo is from May to October. At this time, the air temperature is about +30 ° C, winter is quite warm - +10 ... +15 ° C. It rains mainly in autumn. In the cold season, there are strong cold winds and storms at sea. The average water temperature in summer is about +25 ° C, in winter - +14 ° C.

Most of the cafes and restaurants on Gozo are concentrated in the capital of Victoria Island, in the resort of Marsalforn, especially on the main street Marina Street, in the resort of Shlendi, as well as in the port of Mojarra. By the way, unlike Malta, where vegetation is practically absent, Gozo is rich in various representatives of flora: olives, watermelons and melons grow here, potatoes, almonds, figs, which is considered the sweetest in the whole Mediterranean, tiny tomatoes and.

Gozo Facts

• The import of cats and dogs to Malta and the island of Gozo, respectively, is strictly prohibited. So you'll have to leave your affectionate pets at home!
• The official languages are Maltese and English. In addition, the local population understands Italian well. You can always explain yourself here easily and simply.
• Malta has cloudless skies for 300 days a year. The hot season starts in April and ends at the end of October. In summer, the temperature is up to 35 ° C, in spring and autumn — up to 28 ° C, while the water can reach 25 ° C. Malta generally has a mild climate. Even in winter, the air temperature does not fall below 14 ° C.
• There is a ferry service between the islands. The transfer from Chirkeva in Malta to the port of Mjarr on Gozo takes about 20 minutes. There is also a helicopter connection between Malta and Gozo.

Gozo: The best time

Every season is good in its own way. In Gozo, the high tourist season is considered to be the time from May to October, at this time the weather is excellent, the sun is bright, and the sea is calm and warm.

In Gozo, summer is hot and humid, it is in the summer months that it is most comfortable to spend time on the beach. The sea is excellent, and the humidity is quite well tolerated due to the breeze from the water.

At this time, divers come here to admire the beauty of the underwater world, couples with children who have all the conditions for a comfortable stay, children and teenagers for recreation and training in specialized language camps, as well as lovers of a rich "excursion".

In addition, summer is the time of festivals and carnivals, providing an additional influx of tourists. High demand leads to an increase in prices from about 20% to 50%. Tours will also cost more because of the increased cost of air tickets for this period of time. However, earlier booking is a very profitable option that allows you to save significantly. As a rule, it becomes available for many travel agencies already from February — March.

It has been raining and humid on Gozo since November, so you can't swim: the sea is stormy, but this time is intended for enjoying nature, trips on excursions. Although there are few travelers at this time (which is an additional plus), of course, the nightlife continues!

Weather

As in neighboring Malta, the weather on Gozo is characterized by an abundance of warm, sunny days a year, as well as rather short and mild winters. The average rainfall on Gozo is 550 mm per year. It is considered one of the lowest in the entire Mediterranean.

• Spring — The weather on Gozo in spring is dry and sunny. And if at the beginning of spring the average temperature is kept at +14-15 ° C, then by May this indicator rises to +22 ° C. It is no coincidence that spring is considered one of the best seasons to relax in Gozo.
• Summer — The weather on Gozo in summer creates ideal conditions for a beach holiday. Summer is the peak of the tourist season on Gozo, when the hotels and beaches of the island are filled with hundreds of tourists from all over the world. At the end of the season, the average air temperature often rises above +30 °C.
• Autumn — The weather on Gozo in autumn continues to be favorable for various types of outdoor recreation. Starting from the end of September, the air temperature gradually decreases, but in October and November, precipitation increases significantly.
• Winter — The average temperature of +15-16 ° C and +5-6 sunny hours per day characterize the winter in Gozo. Frequent torrential rains and lack of snow are more like winter in tropical countries than in one of the states in southern Europe.

How To Get There?

Gozo is served by ferries of the Gozo Channel company from Malta, and you can get from Malta for free, but to return back to Malta, you will have to pay for travel. A car can also be transported by ferry. The ferry departs from Malta from the town of Chirkova, arrives in Gozo at the port of Mjarr. The duration of the trip is 20-30 minutes, this time can be spent in the cabin of the ferry, but most tourists prefer to use the open deck in good weather, which offers a beautiful view of Malta, Gozo and Comino.

What to do?

• Visit the Azure Window, a geological stone arch formed many millions of years ago after the collapse of a limestone cave.
• Ggantija Temples are one of the oldest free-standing buildings in the world. The name means "belonging to giants'', and local folklore says that they were built by giants.
• The village of Nadur — There are two watchtowers and a very interesting Maritime Museum, as well as several beautiful sandy beaches, including Dalet Korrot and San Blas.
• Beach holidays — Getting a chocolate tan, swimming in the clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, beach parties have always been and remain one of the main reasons for visiting the state of Malta and the island of Gozo in particular.
• Getting to know the local cuisine — Maltese cuisine resembles Sicilian and Italian. You can enjoy the variety of dishes and their taste qualities in any cafe and restaurant in each locality of Gozo.
• Different kinds of sports — Diving, fishing, paragliding, water skiing, wakeboarding, etc. are especially popular among travelers.
• Recreation on the beach — On the beach you can go cycling, play volleyball, tennis, golf, football, basketball, take a walk through the cities and countryside, learn horse riding skills, etc.
• Shopping — The most popular souvenirs are honey, local cheese, cactus liqueur, carob syrup, attributes of local clothing, ceramics and magnets.
• Visiting nightclubs and bars — You will not see an abundance of night entertainment here, but there are still several places that a night party goer will like. Most of these establishments are located in the resort towns of Schlendi and Marsalforn.

Attractions

Like the whole of Malta, Gozo offers travelers to get acquainted with a lot of amazing historical, cultural, natural and educational sites:

• Megalithic complex Jgantia;
• Citadel;
• The world famous Azure Window;
• Ta 'pinu Church;
• The Cathedral, consecrated in honor of John the Baptist;
• Archaeological Museum;
• Calypso Cave;
• Ninu Cave;
• Jordan Lighthouse;
• Nikolai 's Mill, etc.

The Malta-Gozo destination is considered one of the best options for a foreign holiday. You can be sure that a trip to a fabulous island state will give you a lot of new positive emotions, broaden your horizons and energize you until your next vacation.

The best beaches in Gozo

Marsalforn Bay is a well-equipped bulk sandy beach, which is ideal for a family holiday. It is surrounded by restaurants and hotels of the resort, so it is especially popular with guests of Marsalforn.

Bayar Bay — the second beach of Marsalforn. It has a rocky surface. In addition to the main pastime — sunbathing and swimming, tourists are offered a lot of other entertainment, including snorkeling.

Shlendi Bay — a unique 2-in-1 beach located in the resort of Shlendi. Why 2 in 1? It's simple: Shlendi Bay consists of two zones — the first: a sandy zone, the second: a concrete zone. This beach is suitable for both children and adults, and all because deep waters and shallow water are adjacent here.

Ramla Bay — This beach is recognized as one of the most beautiful in Gozo. It is located near the village of Shara. Ramla Bay boasts the purest waters, gentle sand, the presence of snack bars and ice cream trays.

Near the beach of Ramla Bay are the ruins of a Roman villa, on the territory of which there was a sauna in former times. And on the western side of the beach you can visit the famous Calypso Cave – one of the main attractions of Gozo.

San Blas — The beach area is covered with red sand. The beach is located near the village of Nad Ur, surrounded by lush green vegetation. There is a kiosk where different types of sandwiches and drinks are sold, kayaks, sun loungers and umbrellas are rented.

Mjarr-ish-Shini — Cozy Mjarr-ish-Shini is covered with pebbles. It has a small size and is surrounded by picturesque rocks. In addition, this beach is famous for a variety of underwater inhabitants. This fact has become the reason for the special love of divers for a secluded beach. In the bay where the beach is located, the Schlendi ferry was specially flooded, attracting whole crowds of divers.

Hondok-ir-Rumin — Sandy beach, located in the vicinity of the village of Ala. This place is surrounded by natural caves, which makes the beach a great place for diving. The waters of Hondok ir-Rumin are adjacent to the cold current, so the beach is considered the coldest in the whole of Malta.

Dahlet Orrot — A popular pebble-rocky beach located near Nadur. Dahlet Orrot is a small coastal area, remote from the hustle and bustle of city streets. It is surrounded by fields that provide peace and quiet for visitors to this place. Tourists vacationing here can swim in the purest waters of the Mediterranean Sea and get a perfect tan on the coastal rocks.

Wied il-Ghasri — The beach is located near the village of Asri. It's quiet and peaceful here. You can explore underwater caves and grottoes. To get to this secluded paradise, guests of the island will have to descend a narrow staircase that was cut right into the rock.

Dweira — A rocky beach located near San Lorenzo. This place allows the guests of Gozo to retire and endlessly enjoy the beauty of the local landscapes and unlimited swimming in the clear waters of the sea. By the way, the water warms up perfectly on the Dweira beach, so it will be nice for even small children to swim here.

Approximate prices for water activities

• Introductory scuba diving in closed water: €75
• Diving from a boat in closed water: €115
• Scuba diving course for children: €55
• Diving from the shore: €40
• Night Dive: €50
• Snorkeling: €40

Gozo Holidays

Gozo, as well as other parts of the state of Malta, regularly hosts festivals and various celebrations. Such celebrations are especially loved by local residents and visiting guests of the country:

St. Paul's Day – The holiday is celebrated on the last May weekend in the village of Munshar.

Celebration in honor of Christ the Savior — it is held in the first days of June and includes equestrian competitions (horse racing). The event is held in the village of Asri.

St. Anthony 's Day — this holiday also takes place in June, but in the city of Ansel.

Sacred Heart – summer holiday, which is celebrated on the third Sunday in June in the city of Fontana.

Celebration in honor of John the Baptist – It is celebrated at the end of June in Shevkin.

The Day of the Apostles Paul and Peter – It is celebrated on June 29 and is considered a public holiday. Celebrations can be viewed in the village of Nadur.

The Parish of the Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth —the celebration takes place in Aruba in July.

Feast of St. Margaret – a July holiday celebrated in the village of Santa.

St. Peter 's Day Joseph – It takes place on the first Sunday in August in the village of Ala.

St. Lawrence 's Day – It takes place in mid-August in a place called San Lorenzo.

Assumption of the Virgin Mary — The holiday is held on August 15 in Rabat (Victoria).

Celebration in honor of St. Mary – It is celebrated in the second half of August in the village of Zebboudj.

Our Lady of Loreto –The celebration is held on the last Sunday in August in Anselm.

Day of Our Lady of Carmel – It is held on the first Sunday in September at the Schlendi resort.

The Nativity of the Virgin – The celebration is celebrated on September 8 and is a public holiday. In another way, this event is called the feast of the Blessed Virgin of Victory. The celebration takes place in the village of Sharovo.

Blessed Mother of God – It is celebrated in mid-September in Rabat (Victoria).

In addition to these holidays, Gozo also celebrates the usual celebrations for everyone: Christmas, Easter, New Year, Republic Day, etc.

The best places to stay in Gozo

Tiny Gozo has hotels of all possible categories — from 5-star Kempinski San Lawrenz and Ta' Cenc & Spa to 2-3-star Xlendi Resort & Spa, San Andrea, etc.

The cost of living in the most comfortable hotels of the island ranges from 150 to 220 € for a double room.

A room for two in less prestigious hotels will cost an average of 60 €. On Gozo, it is widespread to rent rooms and apartments in guest houses and on local farms, or even rent an entire country villa with a swimming pool.

There are two hostels on the island, located in the town of Marsalforn. For a place in the Santa Martha Hostel you will have to pay 17 €, and in the Maria Giovanna Hostel — 30 €. In short, the prices of Gozo hotels are almost as good as hotels in Malta itself.

All hotels, guest houses and hostels on Gozo are located either in Victoria, or in the local resorts of Marsalforn and Schlendi, or near the port (Mjarr, Ainsilem), or in close proximity to the most important attractions of the island (San Laurenz, Shara, Sannat).

The best hotels on Gozo have magnificent spa centers, the services of which can also be used by tourists who do not live in the hotel.

Popular hotels in Gozo

• Boutique Hotel Ceska is a trendy but quiet hotel between Schlendi and Victoria.
• Hotel San Andrea is a clean and stylish hotel with a view of the sea and the Gulf of Schlendi.
• The Duke Boutique Hotel is a charming boutique hotel in the heart of Victoria.
• Murella Living is a colorful, trendy hotel a few steps from the seafront in Marsalforn.
• The quaint Nadur Hotel is a clean and stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Nadur.

Villas in Gozo

For those who want to be more independent, there are many self-service options on Gozo, from simple seaside apartments in Marsalforn to luxury farmhouses, almost all of which are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and an outdoor pool.

Built of traditional limestone in soft pastel tones, with darkened courtyards, thick stone walls and interiors with beams, the restored farmhouses of Gozo offer amazing luxury.