There is no airport in Gozo. So if you want to come here, you will have to travel from neighbouring Malta, which is connected to Gozo by a regular ferry service.
You can read in detail about how to get to the neighbouring island of Malta in the separate Malta guide.
The islands of Malta and Gozo are connected by two different shipping companies.
| Port of Malta | Port of Gozo | Price for pedestrians (return) |
Cruise time | Frequency | Car transport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gozo Channel Line | Cirkewwa | Mgarr | 4,65 eur | 25 minutes | 30 minutes | Yes |
| Gozo Fast Ferry | Valletta | Mgarr | 15 eur | 45 minutes | 60-120 minutes | No |
Ferry Gozo Channel Line
Large ferries carrying cars and independent pedestrians are provided by the "Gozo Channel Line".
The ferries to Gozo depart from Cirkewwa Harbour, located at the northern tip of the island of Malta.
Sailing times and timetable
The ferry to Gozo operates 365 days a year. It runs all day at approximately 30 minute intervals. At night the frequency is 45 minutes.
The cruise to Mgarr Harbour itself takes around 25 minutes, allow a little margin for embarkation and disembarkation. You can board the boat with a car, motorbike, bicycle or simply on foot, no need to show a passport or ID.
The exact timetables can be found on the shipping company's website gozochannel.com. Sailing is 24 hours a day.
Ticket prices
An interesting fact is that tickets to Gozo are only paid for on the way back to Malta. So, when travelling to Gozo, simply get on board, leave a few minutes early on the way back and buy your ticket.
In practice this means that the journey to Gozo is free, you only pay for the cruise back to Malta.
Tickets can be purchased at the Gozo terminal before boarding the boat.
If you are travelling by car, you pay at the "toll gate" (no need to get out of the car), again only when travelling from Gozo to Malta. You can always pay by card or cash.
- Pedestrian - adult: 4,65 eur
- Passenger car + driver: 15,70 eur (each additional passenger is charged at the standard price 4,65 eur)
- Foot passenger - adult, night rate (between 20:00 and 5:30): 4,05 eur
- Pedestrian passenger - child 3-12 years: 1,15 eur
The cruise is fast and comfortable, the boats are equipped with seats, a snack shop and restrooms.
The journey itself offers some interesting views, as you head towards Gozo you can see the islet of Comino on your right. The harbour of Mgarr is very picturesque and from the boat you can already see the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of Our Lady of Lureth.
How is the embarkation with the car?
You don't have to worry about the procedure of boarding the ship by car. Clear signage will lead you to a large area where cars line up in several columns.
A member of the shipping company will always send you to the appropriate column.
Other employees clearly show you the exact route of the boat ride and the exact place to stop.
Transport to Cirkewwa wharf
The road to the marina by car is signposted from all major junctions around the island. Occasionally the signs use only the Maltese word for the island, "Għawdex".
Foot passengers can get directly to the harbour by many bus routes from all over Malta. Click on the line number to see the route and timetables:
- Airport - Line X1
- Valletta - lines 41 and 42
- Mellieha - lines X1, 41, 42, 101, 221, 222, N11
- Popeye's Village, Ghajn Tuffieha, Golden Bay, Paradise Bay - line 101
- Bugibba - line 221, N11
- San Giljan, Sliema, Pembroke - line 222, N11
- Mosta - lines 41 and 42
Transportation to Mgarr Port
The car route to the marina is signposted from all parts of the island at all major junctions.
Pedestrians can get directly to the harbour by many bus routes from all over Gozo. Click on the line number to see the route and timetables:
- Victoria (Rabat) - lines 301, 303, 323, N301
- Nadur - lines 303, 322
- Xewkija - line 323
- Xaghra (Ggantija) - line 322
- Marsalforn - line 322
More than just bus services in Gozo can be found in the separate chapter Transport.
Gozo Fast Ferry
The Gozo Fast Ferry company also operates a fast boat service directly from Valletta to Mgarr harbour on Gozo.
These ferries carry foot passengers only.
The Valletta wharf can be found near the boat dock to the Tri-Cities on the south side of town (location on google.com/maps).
Online ticket booking, timetable and other information is available on the website: gozohighspeed.com/fares-and-schedule.
Unlike the big ferries from Cirkewwa wharf, these boats only run once an hour in the morning and afternoon. There are no midday and night crossings.
- One-way adult ticket: 7,50 eur
- One-way ticket children under 10 years old: 3 eur
There is no discount on the return ticket.
Ferry Gozo - Comino
There are also regular ferries to the island of Comino departing from the port of Mgarr every hour during the day. In addition to the classic return tickets, you can also buy a one-way ticket from Gozo to Malta with any length of stop on Comino or vice versa. Tickets can be bought at the dock in Gozo (or in Cirkewwa, Malta, if you choose to go via Comino) or online.
Transport is provided by Comino Ferry Services.
- Timetables
- Online ticket purchase (discount compared to buying on site)
The price list is as follows:
- Return ticket Gozo - Comino: 8 eur online / 10 eur on site
- Return Ticket Gozo - Comino with cruise around the caves: 11,99 eur online / 15 eur on site
- Ticket Gozo - Comino - Malta: 12 eur return
Children under 10 years old have a 50% discount.