geocalia
Day itinerary · 36.05° N · 14.25° E
Drive to Ċirkewwa, a 25-minute ferry, the Ġgantija temples, lunch on Xagħra square, the Cittadella walls and sunset at Dwejra.
Part of GozoGame of Thrones Locations
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
From Valletta to Ċirkewwa, at the northern tip of Malta
€10 with the Ta' Kola windmill · opens at 9:00
Walls free · old prison €5, closed on Monday
Inland Sea and sunset
From Dwejra to Mġarr
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Gozo deserves two or three nights, but if you only have one day from Valletta, this is the one that gives the most: the island's oldest temples, a lunch on a village square, the citadel of Victoria and sunset on the west coast. You need a car, hired in Malta and taken across on the ferry, to link it all together.
From Spain, a direct flight to Malta; Gozo has no airport. From Valletta, drive to Ċirkewwa, in the north of Malta, and from there take the Gozo Channel ferry to Mġarr, about 25 minutes, with departures all day. You do not book: you board in order of arrival, with a car too. The ticket is not paid on the way out, but on leaving Gozo. If you hire the car in Malta, check that the insurance covers Gozo and the ferry.
7:45 · Leave Valletta. About 55 minutes to Ċirkewwa, depending on traffic, and the ferry.
9:45 · Ġgantija temples. Two late Neolithic temples, between 3800 and 2000 BC, with an interpretation centre at the entrance. The ticket, €10, is also valid for the Ta' Kola windmill, in the same village.
12:30 · Lunch at Al Sale. On Xagħra square, next to the church, meat and fish with local produce; the Michelin Guide recommends it. Closed on Thursday.
14:30 · The Cittadella. Park in Victoria and climb to the fortress. Walk round the walls, free, and go into the old prison, with its ship graffiti (combined ticket €5; closed Monday).
16:15 · Dwejra. The Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, the Blue Hole and the place where the Azure Window stood. Stay to watch the sun go down.
18:00 · Return. To Mġarr, ferry to Ċirkewwa, paying the ticket before boarding, and the road to Valletta.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the prawn and scallop ravioli with bisque, or the beef short rib with salsa verde; if you sit outside, the terrace looks onto the church square
What to order: the ceviche of the day's catch or the grilled octopus, the grilled fish and seafood trio, and Jane's cheesecake, the house dessert
What to order: the three-course menu with the house rabbit ravioli, a main flambéed at the table such as the steak Diane, and for dessert the home-made imqaret or the Grand Marnier soufflé
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
All year. In winter it gets dark early: reach Dwejra before 17:00. Al Sale closes on Thursday and the Cittadella's old prison on Monday.
Tips
By mid-morning the excursion groups arrive.
The Cornucopia, in Xagħra, is a short walk from Ġgantija.
In November and December it gets dark before half past five: do not arrive late at Dwejra.
Questions
The essentials, yes: Ġgantija, the Cittadella and Dwejra, with a car.
No. Gozo Channel is not booked and the ticket is paid on the return.
A little over an hour and a half to Ġgantija, with the car and the ferry.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/malta/gozo/itineraries/gozo-day-trip-from-valletta
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/malta/gozo/itineraries/gozo-day-trip-from-valletta
