Tourist Information
Please find helpful information about the beautiful island of Gozo!
Getting to Gozo
Malta and Gozo are within easy reach for visitors crossing by sea. The Gozo Channel from Cirkewwa, and the Gozo Fast Ferry from Valletta, transport passengers between Malta and Gozo with regular sea crossings every day.
The ferry crossing from Cirkewwa takes 25 minutes, and the fast ferry service direct from Valletta takes 40 minutes. The Gozo Channel Company and GozoFast Ferry Company operate these services.
Places to Visit in Gozo
Many tourists holidaying in Malta, also visit Gozo and Comino. Gozo is cherished as an unspoilt gem because of its tranquillity, slower pace of life and natural scenery. Tourists enjoy the sweeping views of terraced fields, glimmering shorelines and monumental churches.
The island of Comino is smaller, just a mile long and mostly uninhabited. Comino is famous for its vivid turquoise ‘Blue Lagoon’ and tourists flock there to experience this picture perfect paradise.
On average, Gozo experiences 300 sunny days each year, and its diverse history offers lots for tourists to enjoy. With over 6,000 years of civilization, every square inch of Gozo, its temples and monuments teach us about this past. Culture and history buffs delight in our historical and archaeological sites, some date back 5,600 years – older than the Pyramids!
Museum lovers are spoilt for choice, our many museums show artifacts from various era’s including art, archaeology, natural history, wartime, the temples and our celebrated maritime history. Yet, even more treasures can be found inside Gozo’s 55 churches.
For tourists wanting to relax and rewind, take a stroll through our charming towns and villages. Immerse yourself in the tranquillity and uniqueness that is typical of Gozo.
Beaches
Beaches in Gozo – Marsalforn Bay, Ramla Bay, Xlendi Bay, Hondoq Ir-Rummien Bay, San Blas Bay, Imgarr ix-Xini Bay, Dahlet Qorrot Bay.
Beaches in Comino– Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, St. Nicholas Bay, Crystal Lagoon
Weather in Gozo
Gozo’s Mediterranean climate is influenced by the sea. Tourists can expect a pleasantly sunny climate, with 12 hours of daily sunshine in Summertime, and 10 hours in Winter.
Summers are sunny, hot and dry, with the intense day-time temperatures cooled by our sea breezes. Spring and Autumn are cooler, except when the occasional Scirocco wind from Africa brings unseasonably high temperatures and humidity.
Winters are mild, with the occasional short cold spells brought about by the North and North-Easterly winds from central Europe. Any rainfall is usually between September and April, and rarely happens in the summer.
Annual rainfall is low, average 568mm a year. Many locals and tourists enjoy sea-bathing, even into the ‘winter’ months, and the peak beach season can last until mid-to late October.
Check out the weather here Gozo Weather.
Geography of Gozo
Gozo has no mountains or rivers, but several hills. Many of our fields are small and terraced, and despite our low rainfall and adverse terrain, agriculture and farming thrive here.
Driving in Malta and Gozo
In Malta and Gozo, you drive on the left-hand side. The national speed limit is 80km/h for open roads and 50km/h in built up areas, unless indicated by road signs. If you plan on renting a car to drive in Malta, take out fully comprehensive insurance. National or International driving licences are accepted.
Electricity in Gozo
The electrical supply is 230 volts/-10%. The frequency of the supply is 50 hertz. The three-pin rectangular sockets used in Malta, just like those used in the United Kingdom. Adapters are very easy to find.
Health Information
Medical care in Malta and Gozo is available through public and private hospitals, Malta has a high quality health service. Before travelling to Malta, take steps to ensure you are up-to-date with all necessary immunisations.
We recommend consulting with your doctor for specific information related to your needs. Recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions.
Health Services
Hospitals in Malta and Gozo are modern and supported by a reliable network of health centres. Aside from the Covid-19 vaccine certificate, travellers do not usually need any other vaccine certificates or immunisations to enter the Maltese Islands. Visitors from EU member states should bring a European Health Insurance card.
All visitors, irrespective of their nationality should take out a personal medical insurance policy. Malta has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom. Nationals from these countries visiting Malta for less than one month, can get free medical and hospital care in Malta or Gozo.
Visitors receiving special medical treatment, must bring a medical prescription, or a letter of introduction from their family doctor, in case they may need to purchase particular medicines.
Public General Hospitals
Mater Dei Hospital
B’Kara By-pass
B’Kara MSD 2090
Tel: 356 25450000
Email: [email protected]
Gozo General Hospital
Victoria.
Tel: 356 21561600
For more information on health services click here.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are found throughout the Maltese Islands, and operate during normal shopping hours. On Sundays, chemists open on a roster from 07.30 until 11.00 am in Gozo, and from 09.00 until 12.30 in Malta. See the pharmacy roster here.
Water and Milk
Do not drink water from the tap while staying in Malta. Local and imported bottled mineral water is sold in shops, supermarkets, restaurants and bars. Milk is pasteurised and sold in cartons and bottles. All dairy products are safe for consumption.
Language in Malta and Gozo
The official languages spoken throughout Malta is Maltese and English. Many locals also speak Italian.
Il-Lingwa Maltija – The Maltese Language
The Maltese language – Malti- fascinates visitors and linguists because it is unique, and the only Semitic language written in Latin characters.
Malta’s language comes from the language of the ancient Phoenicians who lived in Malta around 750 B.C. The influence of the Arab occupation, from the 9th to 13th centuries, is obvious too, especially when referencing place names and numbers.
Over the centuries, when occupied by other nations, many words, particularly English, Italian and French were blended into our language. English is Malta’s official language, after Maltese, so it is widely and fluently spoken and is the language of international business.
Surprisingly, local people kept their unique language. Over the centuries, Maltese was usually spoken, but in the second half of the 19th century, its grammatical rules were defined and documented, so that it could become an official written language too.
The survival of the language is a testament to the resilience of our people, determined to remain a distinct nation with a distinct culture.
Money Matters
Malta’s currency is the Euro, after joining the EU in 2004.
Banks
Banking hours are between 8.30 a.m. and 13:00 p.m Monday to Saturday. Opening hours change from Winter to Summer. There is a 24 hour foreign exchange desk at Malta International Airport, open all year around. There are also many automated foreign exchange machines scattered around the islands, and ATM machines.
The following banks operate in Malta and Gozo:
Credit Cards
Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club International, Master Card, Visa and Revolut are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. Card-holders should check with their credit/charge card company for details on merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.
Shopping in Gozo
Shopping centres and shops in Gozo are in central areas, easily reached by private or public transport. Shops are open daily until 19.00hrs. Gozo’s capital Victoria has two shopping malls, the Duke Shopping Mall and Arcadia Shopping Mall.
Gozo has a wide selection of shops selling everything from food, fashion, souvenirs, shoes, equipment and household accessories. Some shops may close on Sundays, and on public holidays.
Major credit cards are accepted at most leading shops and restaurants. Card-holders should check with their credit/charge card company for details on merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.
From Monday to Saturday, there is an open-air market in Victoria, open until 1pm.
Nadur’s larger open-air market runs every Wednesday morning from 7am until 12pm.
Public Holidays
Malta and Gozo have 14 annual Public Holidays. With the exception of Good Friday, which varies from year to year, every other Public Holiday is celebrated on a fixed date. Here are the dates:
- 1st January – New Years Day
- 10 February – Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck
- 19th March – Feast of St. Joseph
- 31st March – Freedom Day
- March/April (date changes) – Good Friday
- 1st May – Labour Day
- 7th June – Sette Giugno
- 29th June – Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul (L-Imnarja)
- 15th August – Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (Santa Marija)
- 8th September – Feast of Our Lady of Victories
- 21st September – Independence Day
- 8th December – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- 13th December – Republic Day
- 25th December – Christmas Day
Telephones
Local and international telephone calls can be made from hotel rooms, and credit and charge cards are normally accepted.
Important telephone numbers:
- 00 International Direct Dialling Access Code from Malta
- 356 Malta Country Code
- 112 Emergency
- 191 Police
- 196 Ambulance
- 199 Fire
- 150 Star Services
- 190 Directory Enquiries
Time in Gozo
Malta and Gozo use Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The islands are six hours ahead of Eastern Seaboard Time (EST).