Ferries to Gozo from Malta: All You Need to Know

Ferries to Gozo from Malta All You Need to Know

Planning a trip to the island of Gozo from Malta?

Then it pays to know there are two ferry options and this article is going to tell you all about both of them!

I highly recommend adding Gozo island to your Malta itinerary.

This little gem is only a short ferry ride from the main island and is perfect for a day trip or a few days’ adventure.

Here’s your comprehensive guide to catching a ferry to Gozo, including routes, schedules, ticket info, and handy, practical tips..

Malta, Ferry to Gozo, Gozo Channel

 


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Ferries from Malta to Gozo: A Simple Summary

Malta, Gozo Me in Tal-Mixta Cave

Two ferry operators run reliable services from Malta to Gozo: the Gozo Channel Ferry, which leaves from Cirkewwa in the northwest of Malta, and the Gozo Fast Ferry, which departs from Valletta in the northeast.

 

  Gozo Channel Ferry: The Gozo Channel Company Gozo Fast Ferry: Virtu Ferries Gozo
Departure Point Cirkewwa, Northwest Malta Valletta, Northeast Malta
Arrival Point Mgarr Harbour, Gozo Mgarr Harbour, Gozo
How Long Does it Take? 25 minutes 45 minutes
Vehicles Allowed? Yes Foot Passengers Only
How to Buy a Ticket At Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal, cash or card At Valletta Ferry Terminal, cash, card or online
Ticket Prices Adults: 4.65€ return, Kids (3-12): 1.15€ return, Car: 15.70€ return 7.50€ one way. Online return ticket 12€. Seniors and Kids (4-10): 3€.
Cancellations Less susceptible to cancellations due to bad weather More cancellations in bad weather conditions
Luggage No strict luggage limit No strict luggage limit

 

Let’s break them both down, so you can decide which one is best for you…

 

Gozo Channel Ferry from Malta to Gozo: From Cirkewwa to Mġarr Harbour

Malta, Gozo Channel, Ferry

The Gozo Channel line is a traditional, no-fuss option founded in 1979.

It’s the main Gozo ferry, and ferries cross at least every 45 minutes from the northern tip of Malta at Cirkewwa to Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

The crossing takes just 25 minutes and the ferry runs throughout the day and night.

During peak season, ferries run even more often. You’ll never have to wait for long!

You can view the current timetables and further information here.

This is the only car ferry from Malta to Gozo, so if you’re thinking of taking a vehicle, this is the one for you.

If you’re not taking your car / van to Gozo, then there’s plenty of parking at the port in Cirkewwa, including designated short-term and long-term spaces.

The Cirkewwa ferry terminal has basic facilities like toilets, a small café, and a waiting area with seats.

Once onboard, you’ll find a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend heading to the sundeck for the best Gozo views!

The ferry is air-conditioned inside and you’ll also find an onboard café for grabbing a snack, souvenirs, magazines, and Malta guides.

 

How to Buy Gozo Channel Ferry Tickets

The great news is that there’s no need to overthink this or plan it too far in advance!

Tickets are purchased on the day, at the little ticket booths at the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. You can pay by cash or card.

However, during public holidays and the height of peak tourist season, I recommend booking in advance as ferry crossings are VERY popular during these times.

Prices are budget-friendly.

For a return trip, adults pay 4.65€, and kids (aged 3-12) pay 1.15€ (under 3’s are free).

If you’re bringing a car, the cost is 15.70€, and a motorbike is 8.15€, which also covers the driver’s fare. A push bike is an additional 1.15€.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket, follow the arrows.

When the ferry arrives, the gates open, and you can walk straight onto the ferry via some stairs / escalator and a short corridor.

 

Getting to Cirkewwa Port

It’s a little more complicated to get to Cirkewwa if you haven’t hired a car.

If you’re staying in Valletta or nearby, it will take longer than the Gozo Fast Ferry option, but it’s more budget-friendly.

Luckily, Malta public transport is easy to navigate.

Here are the bus routes:

  • Valletta – Cirkewwa – Bus 45 is the long route, but you’ll see lots of Malta along the way. Route X300 is direct and faster.
  • Silema – Cirkewwa – Bus 645: Stops = Sliema – Balluta – St Julian’s – Paceville – St. George’s – St. Andrews Splash & Fun Park – St. Paul’s Bay – Xemxija – Mellieha Centre – Mellieha Bay – Popeye Village – Cirkewwa
  • Bugibba – Cirkewwa – Bus 48: Stops = Bugibba/Qawra – St. Paul’s Bay – Xemxija – Mellieha Centre – Mellieha Bay – Popeye Village – Marfa – Paradise Bay Hotel – Cirkewwa
  • Malta International Airport – Cirkewwa – Bus connection (Route X1) that takes you from the airport to Ċirkewwa. The bus is 100m from the arrivals terminal. The bus is every 30-45 minutes from 5:00am until 10:55pm.

Tickets can be purchased with cash or card on the bus from the driver.

There’s is a flat journey fee of 2.50€ during the day and 3€ in the night.

Check out journeys planners for Malta’s buses here.

Bolt is also very common across Malta and very affordable – ideal if you don’t want to mess about with the bus.

My Bolt journey from St Paul’s to Cirkewwa cost 15€.

 

Gozo Fast Ferry Service to Mgarr Harbour: Ferry to Gozo from Valletta

Malta, Gozo, Cittadella

If you’re staying in Valletta and don’t fancy the bus ride up to Cirkewwa, the Gozo Highspeed Ferry is your best bet.

This service, introduced in 2021, connects Valletta (Lascaris) directly with Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

It’s a foot-passenger-only service, which can carry up to 300 passengers per journey.

The Valletta Ferry Terminal is super easy to access and is located in the centre of Malta’s capital city.

You can walk there from most Valletta hotels, or take a Bolt if you’re carrying luggage.

There’s also parking available nearby if you’re driving.

The terminal is basic, but there’s a small waiting area and a snack bar.

The Gozo Fast Ferry takes 45 minutes, a bit longer than the Gozo Channel Ferry. However, you save time by not having to travel up to Cirkewwa.

So, if you’re staying in Valletta or nearby, it might actually be the faster choice overall.

However, this ferry has a limited schedule, so I advise you to look at the timetable and not just turn up!

The fast ferry is designed for speed, but is smaller and vulnerable to storms and bad weather, leading to more cancellations.

Read: This ferry is weather-dependent, so if the weather is rough, you may experience delays or cancellations!

The seats are modern and comfy, but there’s less space than on the larger Gozo Channel Ferry, so avoid peak times if you want to stretch out.

 

How to Buy Gozo Fast Ferry Tickets

Tickets for the Gozo Fast Ferry can be purchased at the Valletta Ferry Terminal on the day of travel.

You can pay using cash or card, or you can get them online in advance.

The fare is 7.50€ one way. Seniors and children aged 4-10 can travel for 3€. Children 0-3 sail free.

If you book online at least 1 hour before travel, you can bag a return ticket for 12€.

The Fast Ferry runs less often than the Gozo Channel Ferry, so be sure to view the schedule to ensure you don’t miss out.

 

Which Ferry is Best for You?

Which ferry to Gozo is better for you really depends on where you are based in Malta and therefore which ferry terminal is most convenient.

Other factors to consider include whether you have a vehicle, ticket costs, weather and journey durations (especially if you’re not good on boats!)

Here’s a quick rundown to help you decide…

Gozo Channel Ferry: The only option if you’re bringing a vehicle, the most budget-friendly option, the quicker sail and the better choice in uncertain weather!

Gozo Channel Ferry: Best if you’re staying in Valletta, or nearby, without a vehicle and want convenience and speed.

 

Practical Tips

Malta, Gozo, Yippee Tuktuk

Use The Gozo Channel Website

The Gozo Channel website is a must-visit for up-to-the-minute useful information when planning your ferry trip to Gozo.

It provides the latest departure times for both Gozo and Malta and has live cameras at the ports, so you can check out real-time conditions and queues before setting off.

You can also read the latest news updates, view special offers and check the time of the next ferry.

Make sure to bookmark the site for quick access.

 

Mgarr Harbour

Both Malta to Gozo ferries arrive at Mgarr harbour.

As you approach Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour, have your camera ready – the view of the picturesque harbour, with its beautiful fishing boats and colourful buildings, is just gorgeous!

Once you disembark, taxis and bus stops are right by the ferry terminal, so getting to your accommodation or the main sights is a breeze.

 

Exploring Gozo

Get ready for some serious island magic!

Don’t miss Xlendi Bay, a picturesque coastal spot, or a boat trip to the stunning Blue Lagoon.

Ramla Bay, with its unique red sand beach and its famous lookout above, at Tal-Mixta Cave, are other must-do’s.

And you can’t skip a visit to the ancient Ggantija Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), or the fortified Cittadella in Victoria for panoramic island views.

 

Getting Around Gozo

Once you’re in Gozo, you’ll find getting around super easy.

Bus services from Mgarr Harbour connect to the island’s main sights, or you can hire a car to explore at your own pace.

Both public buses and sightseeing buses operate on Gozo, meaning car hire isn’t hugely necessary in my opinion.

You can also rent tuktuks on Gozo, as I did through Yippee – ask for Mike’s barbie pink one if you want to travel in style!

Plenty of taxis are also available, and there are lots of boat trips on offer to show you around the island too.

Guided tours are also an excellent option to see all the main sights, especially if you’re not spending long in Gozo.

 

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Quick Travel Guide to Malta & Gozo

Malta, Gozo, Salt Pans

When to Visit Malta?

The shoulder season months of May or September are best for cooler temperatures, thinner crowds and better prices.

 

How to Get There?

Arrivals at Malta’s only international airport are frequent from across Europe.

Check out Skyscanner for the best deals.

 

How Long to Stay?

7 days is a good amount of time to explore Malta and Gozo.

 

How to Get Around?

Use the free local Tillanja app for bus timetables and journey planners.

Bolt journeys average around 15€ for 20 mins.

Otherwise it can be a good to hire a car if you want to explore independently. Check out these great car rental deals.

Check out the best Gozo day trips, if you’re looking for a guided tour, here.

 

Travel Insurance

World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

 

Travel Money

Malta uses the Euro as its currency.

I always travel in Europe with my Wise card, which makes spending abroad cheaper with real exchange rates and no sneaky transaction or ATM fees.

Wise cards works just like a debit card and links easily with Google and Apple pay – grab yours here.

 

eSIM for Malta

I recommend Holafly.

Get 5% off with my exclusive discount code: BIGWORLDSMALLPOCKETS.

 

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Catching the Ferry from Malta to Gozo All You Need to Know

 

And there you have it, my complete guide for catching the ferry to Gozo from Malta.

Have you made this journey?

Have any tips to add?

Then please drop them into the comments box below…

 


My trip to Gozo were sponsored by Malta UK Tourism but, as always, all views are my own.

This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.


 

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