Best Day Trips To Gozo From Malta
Malta is a beautiful little archipelago in the Mediterranean and has gained a reputation for being one of the most beautiful places in Europe to visit.
On Malta’s main island, you will find the only international airport in the country and the wonderful capital city of Valletta.
So, it is little wonder why most people choose to stay on the main island for most of their trip to Malta.
But did you know that Malta’s sister island of Gozo is equally beautiful and contains a fraction of the crowds of the main island?
In this article, we are going to outline the best day trips to Gozo, all beginning in Malta, so you can have the chance to explore this wonderful island for yourself during your Malta travel itinerary.
So, let’s dive into: Best Day Trips to Gozo from Malta
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Best Gozo Day Trips Overview
Best Gozo day trip for adventure lovers: Gozo Quad-Bike Tour
Best boat tour to Gozo: Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon Sightseeing Cruise
Best day trip for history buffs: Gozo Day Trip including Ggantija Temples
Best overall day trip to Gozo: Full Day Gozo Sightseeing Tour
Best Day Trips to Gozo from Malta
Despite being less than a quarter of the size of the main island of Malta, Gozo is full of fascinating historic sights, beautiful sandy beaches and dramatic coastal cliffs.
While we would always recommend spending more than one day in Gozo, we understand that for many Malta travel itineraries, a day trip to Gozo from Malta is the most suitable way to see the beauty of the island. After all, getting the chance to see Gozo is one of the reasons why Malta is worth visiting in the first place.
That’s why we have created this list of the best day trips to Gozo, so you can get a feel for the different options that are out there and decide which way you would prefer to see the island of Gozo. Even if you are only planning to have 2 days in Malta, a day trip to Gozo is certainly a worthwhile venture!
Gozo Quad-Bike Tour
Gozo Quad Biking (photo from Get Your Guide)
The Gozo Quad Bike Tour is one of the most unique and exhilarating ways to explore Gozo and is guaranteed to be the pinnacle of your travels to Malta and Gozo.
With helmets provided, you are given a quick lesson on driving the quad bike before embarking on an adrenaline-fuelled adventure around the island. Take it as fast or as slow as you like and drive around Gozo's winding, twisting roads.
The beauty of driving a quad bike around Gozo is that you are able to see more sites than you ordinarily would on a tour bus. Marvel at the Salt Pans in Xwejni before heading towards the Inland Sea at Dwejra.
Lunch is provided on the day trip, as is the speedboat ride to take you to the Blue Lagoon for a snorkel and swim before heading back to the main island of Malta.
Worth noting: you have to hold a valid driver’s licence and be 21 or older to drive the Quad Bikes.
Starting point for the trip: Many set points around Malta, incl. Valletta, Sliema and St Julians
Main highlight: Driving your own Quad Bike around Gozo
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo Day Trip including Ggantija Temples
Ggantija Megalithic Temples - a UNESCO World Heritage site in Gozo
One of the best day trips to Gozo from Malta includes a trip to the Ggantija Temples - a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to around 3400 BC.
The tour begins by getting picked up from your hotel in Malta and getting the ferry to Gozo. Transport will take you to the temples from here before heading towards Victoria Cittadella.
Wandering around the impressive Cittadella is one of the best things to do in Victoria, Gozo’s capital city. It’s easy to get lost in the history inside the fortified walls of the Citadel.
A quick stop at Xlendi Bay follows before rounding off the trip at Dwejra Bay, home to the beautiful inland sea - a small bay surrounded by cliffs that features a dramatic 65m natural tunnel out to the main sea.
Starting point for day trip: Hotel pick-up in Malta
Main highlight: Victoria Citadella
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon Boat Tour (from St Paul's Bay)
Comino - a stop-off on the day trip from Gozo to Malta
It’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful sight in Malta than the Blue Lagoon, so to be able to combine a visit to the lagoon with a stop at Comino and then a tour of Gozo, it gets no better.
Having the chance to dive into the crystal-clear water at the Blue Lagoon will live long in the memory, and being able to step foot on the uninhabited island of Comino is a real highlight.
While the boat tour doesn’t provide you with all that much time on Gozo itself, it is excellent for being able to explore the beautiful waters surrounding Malta.
Starting point for day trip: St Paul’s Bay
Main highlight: Exploring the Blue Lagoon
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour Bus
Ta’ Pinu Basilica - one of the stops on the Gozo hop-on hop-off Sightseeing Tour Bus
The Gozo Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour Bus is a great way to get around Gozo and explore the entire island on a day trip from Malta.
This does, however, mean you have to make your own way to Gozo first, but this is very simple, and we have created a guide on how to get to Gozo from Malta to help you out.
The sightseeing tour bus has roughly 15 different stops and takes you to the majority of the highlights on the island. One of our personal favourites is Ta' Pinu, an impressive Roman Basilica!
With popular spots such as Victoria and Xlendi Bay also included in the itinerary, there is little wonder why many choose this as their favourite day-trip option around Gozo.
Starting point for day trip: Mgarr Harbour
Main highlight: Flexibility to see Gozo at your own pace
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Comino and Blue Lagoon Boat Cruise with Gozo Sightseeing
The beautiful Blue Lagoon
Many of the best day trips to Gozo from Malta take advantage of the incredibly beautiful waters that surround the island, and the Comino and Blue Lagoon Boat Cruise is a wonderful example of that.
Starting the day trip from St Paul’s Bay, a popular starting point for many boat tours in Malta, you will be taken to a number of fascinating natural caves before stopping for an hour and a half to snorkel at the Blue Lagoon.
At Comino, you have the chance to explore the island on foot or simply relax in one of the comfy deck chairs provided on the boat.
The final stop of the day trip is Gozo itself, where a shuttle bus is provided (for a small extra fee) to take you into the centre of Victoria - the capital of Gozo and one of the best cities in Malta.
Starting point for day trip: Bugibba, St Paul’s Bay
Main highlight: Blue Lagoon (with shuttle bus provided on Gozo)
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Full Day Gozo Sightseeing Tour
Victoria Cittadella - one of the highlights of the Gozo Sightseeing Tour
A 10 hour full day sightseeing tour is a fantastic way to explore everything Gozo offers.
Beginning with a pick-up directly from your hotel, you jump on the ferry across to Gozo before beginning your exploration of the island. Along the way, you will stop at Ta’ Pinu Basilica - a 100-year-old National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin or Ta’ Pinu - before heading to the nearby city of Victoria.
High above the city is Victoria Cittadella, a fortified citadel that is home to prison cells and incredible Maltese architecture.
One of the strengths of this day trip is that it includes a buffet lunch in Victoria on top of all the sightseeing - for us, this makes it one of the best day trips to Gozo because everything is taken care of for you. There are no hidden costs (aside from the optional boat ride at the inland sea in Dwejra).
Starting point for day trip: Pick-up from Hotels in Malta
Main highlight: Ta’ Pinu Basilica and Victoria Cittadella
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon Sightseeing Cruise
Mgarr Harbour - your first stop in Gozo on the Sightseeing Cruise
The Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon Sightseeing Cruise does exactly what is advertised - a tour that introduces you to all of the highlights of the Maltese archipelago in one day.
As with the other boat tours on the list, it follows a similar itinerary in that the tour takes you to Comino, the uninhabited sister island of Malta and Gozo, before venturing to the Blue Lagoon.
Perfect for swimming, snorkelling and diving, the Blue Lagoon is a real highlight of the trip - with the chance of jumping into the water from the boat's top deck an extra bonus!
You are then treated to a 3-hour stop in Gozo, where you can rent land transport for a small additional charge to take you around the island.
Starting point for day trip: Bugibba, St Paul’s Bay
Main highlight: Snorkelling in Blue Lagoon and going down the 10m slide attached to the boat
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon - Bus and Boat Tour (from Sliema)
Another great option for a day trip to Gozo from Malta is the boat tour that begins in Sliema, rather than the more crowded St Paul’s Bay.
You begin the day-trip by getting a ferry over to Gozo, where you will jump on board the sightseeing bus at Mgarr Harbour and be taken to a number of spots around the island. While the stops are relatively short, it is a great way to see many of the best things to see in Gozo in a short amount of time.
After sightseeing in Gozo, you then board a different boat to cruise towards Comino and the beautiful Blue Lagoon. You remain here for around an hour and a half with the chance to swim and sunbathe to your heart’s content.
Quick tip: Malta is one of the best snorkelling destinations in Europe so bring a snorkel set with you for your trip to Gozo. It’s one of the most important things to pack when visiting Malta and Gozo.
Starting point for day trip: Sliema
Main highlight: Bus ride around Gozo and cruise to Comino
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Self-Driving E-Jeep Sightseeing Tour of Gozo
Self driven e-Jeep Sightseeing in Gozo
Driving your own Jeep on this self-driven sightseeing tour of Gozo is an incredibly unique way of embarking on a day trip to Gozo.
Weather permitting, the tour begins with a private boat transfer from the main island (or regular ferry if the seas are rough) before being taken to complete the necessary jeep rental paperwork. The electric jeeps can accommodate up to 3 guests and are an excellent way to see all the sights in Gozo.
You are given a quick demonstration and practice before embarking in convoy around the island. A light Gozitan lunch is provided on the day-trip so you are adequately refreshed and ready for the rest of the driving.
If weather conditions are tricky, the tour operators provide you with a chauffeured tuk-tuk ride around Gozo - which adds an extra peace of mind if you choose to visit Gozo on a day-trip in Winter.
Starting point for day trip: Pick up from ‘set’ locations in Malta
Main highlight: Driving your own Jeep around Gozo
Read more reviews on GetYourGuide
Gozo Day Trip from Malta - Doing it by yourself
The final option we are going to highlight in this article is choosing to organise a day trip to Gozo from Malta by yourself. It is entirely possible to visit Gozo independently, but, it is worth noting that public transport on the island is limited, so it may involve paying for taxis once you arrive.
You will of course, need to make your own way to the island before exploring. We have an entire article explaining how to get to Gozo from Malta, so we won’t go into too much detail here, but you essentially have to make your way to the ferry terminal in Valletta. It is very straightforward and there are ferry crossings every hour throughout the day.
The best option once you arrive at the port in Mgarr Harbour is to get on the 301 public bus that takes you into the centre of Gozo, to the capital city of Victoria.
You can see a full timetable for the 301 public bus here.
Victoria is a great base for your Gozo day-trip because it is in the centre of the island. From the capital, you can either get a taxi to explore the island, jump on board public buses or even opt to buy a ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that stops at all the major sights in Gozo.
Top tip: in our experience, trying to see all of the highlights of Gozo in one day can feel a little rushed when you’re not on an organised day-trip. We would recommend staying for one-night in Gozo, perhaps in one of the best boutique hotels in Gozo, and then spreading your trip out over 2 days.
There we have it folks, a comprehensive round-up of all the best day trips to Gozo from Malta. Gozo is a beautiful hidden gem of the Maltese archipelago and it definitely needs to be explored when you visit Malta.
