A Gozo road trip: one day, done properly
A route round Gozo that fits into a day from Malta — Victoria, Ramla, Xlendi and Dwejra — with the ferry timings that make or break it.
Updated 21 July 2026 · 6 min read
Start with the ferry
Everything about a Gozo day depends on the crossing. From Ċirkewwa it's about 25 minutes on the water, running frequently through the day, and you pay for the vehicle on the way back rather than on the way out.
Aim to be at Ċirkewwa early — before the late-morning build in summer. From Mellieħa the terminal is ten minutes; from Sliema allow about an hour to be safe.
Mġarr up to Victoria
The road climbs steeply away from Mġarr harbour towards Għajnsielem, and within fifteen minutes you're in Victoria, which sits in the middle of the island and which most Gozo journeys pass through.
The Ċittadella is the reason to stop: a small fortified citadel on the high point with views across the whole island. An hour is enough unless you're going into the museums.
North to Ramla
Twenty minutes from Victoria to Ramla Bay, the red-sand beach on the north coast and the best swimming stop on the island. The approach road is narrow and the parking is informal — arrive early or park back and walk down.
If you'd rather look than swim, the view from Tal-Mixta cave above the bay is the one you've seen in photographs.
West to Dwejra
Half an hour across to the west coast, where the Azure Window stood until it collapsed in 2017. The Inland Sea and the Blue Hole are still there and still worth the drive, and the site is far quieter than it was when the arch drew the crowds.
The roads over are narrower and the bends sharper than anything on Malta. Nowhere is far, but don't plan it to the minute.
Xlendi before the ferry
A steep run down into a narrow bay with restaurants along the water — the road simply ends at the sea. It's the natural last stop before heading back to Mġarr, about twenty minutes away.
Build in a buffer for the return crossing. Sunday evenings queue, and so does any summer evening.
Or stay the night
A day works, but Gozo rewards two. If you can, stay over — the island empties in the evening when the day-trippers leave, and that's when it's at its best.
Common questions
- Can you drive round Gozo in a day?
- Yes. The island is small enough that Victoria, Ramla, Dwejra and Xlendi fit comfortably into a day, provided you catch an early ferry over.
- Is driving on Gozo harder than Malta?
- Quieter but narrower. Far less traffic, sharper bends, steeper hills and lanes where two cars have to negotiate. A compact car is the sensible choice.
- Do I need to book the Gozo ferry?
- No — you join the queue at Ċirkewwa and drive on. Going early is the way to avoid the longest summer waits.