Gozo Island - Have you ever heard of it?

Honestly, I first learned about Gozo Island in Dubai, about 6-8 weeks before my departure for Gozo. This little paradise in the Mediterranean was unknown to me until then. And so, in November 2022, we set out to explore this island.

Gozo Island – Malta's Sister Island

Malta consists of a total of eight islands, but only three of them are inhabited: Malta itself, Gozo, and Comino. Gozo Island is located about five kilometers northwest of Malta. On the way to Gozo, you will automatically pass Comino. Approximately 37,000 people live here, and the island is about one-third the size of Liechtenstein. If you walk around the island once, you will have walked exactly a marathon, as the coastal paths are exactly 43 km long. Gozo Island is 14.5 km long and 7.5 km wide. Quite cozy, then.

From here, Sicily is 96 km away and Africa is 295 km away. That will give you a good idea of where Gozo is located within Europe.

You can only descend from Gozo by ferry, which departs from Mgarr harbor and reaches Malta within 20 minutes. Unless it's stormy, then it goes behind Comino and takes about 15 minutes longer. However, the view is a bit nicer again because you see the lagoons and caves of Comino from the ferry. The alternative is the Fast Ferry, for foot passengers only, but it goes directly to Valletta, the capital of Malta.

The capital of Gozo is Victoria, and it's located right in the center of the island. The oldest village is Xewkija, pronounced *Show-key-ah*, not *Show-key-cha*!! Yes, the names here are all of Arabic origin. Maltese is a Semitic language, so an Arabic language from North Africa, with influences from Sicilian. The biggest difference from Arabic is the letters. Maltese uses Latin letters. This is an advantage for foreigners, as you can at least read the names here. You'll naturally learn the correct pronunciation here over time. 🇲🇹

The 8 islands in the archipelago of Malta

There are sources that officially speak of ten islands, some only of six or seven. Depending on your definition of an island, which size of a rock protruding from the sea would you still call an island. I have decided on eight islands, as these islands all have their own names.

1. Malta, the main island
2. Gozo, the most beautiful island
3. Comino, the swimming and hiking paradise
4. Comino
5. Filfla and Filfoletta
6. St. Paul's Island
7. Fungus Rock
8. Manoel Island

The Landscape of Gozo

Gozo Island offers a breathtaking landscape. So far, I've only known the island as green. From about October to April, it's colored green, with many wonderful flowers, plants, and shrubs. There are only a few trees (olive trees) here, or rather, few really large ones. In our garden, we have shaded spots under trees, making us one of the very few places on the island that offer natural shade.

From picturesque villages, to magnificent coastlines and numerous beaches, to bays and cliffs, Gozo Island offers something breathtaking for everyone. So much for my advertisement for the Gozo catalog 😀

I really love Gozo Island now because I can finally go hiking here again. In Barbados, there were simply no hiking trails, and it was also a bit too hot for it. Here in Gozo, the weather is ideal for it in autumn, winter, and spring. In July and August, it's of course too hot for it here too.

The hiking trails wind across the entire island. They are therefore also very varied. It goes straight for a long time, but also up and down, and you walk on the street on asphalt, then on limestone, on meadows and through bushes, but mostly on familiar narrow hiking trails towards the coast or along the coast.

The green will also change to brown in the summer, and we are excited to see what the landscape will look like then.

Beaches on Gozo Island

Anyone who wants beaches in Malta heads to Gozo. Consequently, many people commute to Gozo in the summer. There are beautiful bays and beaches here for relaxation. To name just a few of the most beautiful beaches:

Ramla Bay – The Red Beach

The largest and most beautiful beach in Gozo is called Ramla Bay, or Ramla il-Hamra, and is located in the north of the island. The beach has an intense reddish color, which is why it got the name „il-Hamra“ (the Red). The bay is surrounded by hills covered with orchards and fields. To the upper right, meaning east of the bay, you can see Tal-Mixta Cave. You can hike up there from the beach and enjoy a breathtaking view over the bay and the beach.

We often come here to just relax for an hour or two. There are a few restaurants here, but they are closed in the winter.

Hondoq Bay

On the south coast of Gozo Island, very close to the village of Qala, lies Hondoq Bay. We like to go here for sunset, even though the south isn't ideal for it naturally, the reddish and violet sun reflects beautifully here in the sea. This creates a great atmosphere.

While the beach is rather small and manageable, it is very quiet and secluded. From here, you also have a beautiful view of the island of Comino.

Dwejra Bay – Inland Sea

This bay is located near the village of San Lawrenz, in the far west of Gozo Island. Dwejra Bay is one of Malta's most spectacular natural attractions. Here you'll find a lagoon called the Inland Sea. Although there's only a pebble beach here, the location and landscape are incredibly beautiful. The Inland Sea is connected to the open sea by a 60-meter-long cave, which you can use for diving and snorkeling trips.

We love excursions here because it's an ideal playground for the kids, and there's also a good restaurant to stop at. There are only pebble beaches here, but the location is really beautiful. In the summer, you can start many boat trips from here.

What else is there to do on Gozo?

Astonishingly much. First and foremost, it's ideal for kids. There are surprisingly many playgrounds. Every village has at least two of them, and then there's a huge playground in Victoria, right in the center. You'll always meet someone you know there because the island is really very familial, which here is just a synonym for small. 😀

You can even go shopping here. Unlike what we know from Barbados, you can find everything here, from clothes to electronics to household items. There's even more choice in Malta, which is a great day trip on the weekend.

Of course, we're getting some work done here too. On Gozo Island, you naturally won't be as distracted as you would be working in the middle of Zurich. The landscape also stimulates creativity, and it's pleasant to be working in the European time zone again. Gozo has stable internet, 1 Gbit fast, and if that fails, you're still fast enough with 5G. This is all very technical, but important if you're working from on the go, working.

The power grid here is also relatively stable. However, two weeks ago, someone cut the main power line from Malta to Gozo at a construction site. As a result, we had no electricity for a few hours. But unlike in Barbados, the power doesn't go out for no reason. 😁

Last but not least, of course, there are many sights and museums here. Celebrations, like Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Carnival, which we've experienced so far, are also very exciting. Everything is celebrated with more awareness and on a grander scale here. The whole island is decorated, and there are even Christmas parades here. Valentine's Day is celebrated over several days with markets and events, and Gozo is a carnival hotspot where all of Malta pilgrimages to.

What is the best time to visit Gozo?

It really depends on what you want to do here. Gozo Island has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers. From June to September, you can swim, sunbathe, snorkel, dive, and basically do all water sports.

From October to May is ideal hiking weather. During this time, there are recurring precipitation, but compared to German or Swiss weather, the temperatures are very moderate.

From November to March is the low season here, meaning you'll have plenty of space, find parking everywhere, and can enjoy the peace and quiet.

The season starts in April, and then July marks the peak season here, lasting until October. It's very busy then, yet it's more pleasant and quieter than in Malta. There are still quiet spots here, as the locals tell us.

My recommendation for a trip to Gozo is the Christmas season, due to the beautiful decorations and traditions here. For hiking, April and May are ideal according to temperature and precipitation patterns, and July for swimming, as it's not yet too hot then.

Conclusion

We are surprised by what Gozo Island has everything to offer. An island that we didn't even know existed until a few months ago. Life here is very simple, something we've learned to appreciate in recent years. You don't need permits for everything, you don't have to fill out a hundred forms, and the people here are extremely friendly and hospitable. Strangers offer us help, and we immediately felt very welcome here.

Write in the comments if you've ever been to Gozo Island. Have you heard of it before? Do you like the island and do you have any tips for us on what we absolutely must see here?

I will continue to report from this beautiful place in the Mediterranean. Here I have a few (many) impressions for you. After a few weeks here on the island, it's hard to show only a few pictures. But I've already been diligently sorting and sorting.

Photo gallery Gozo Island