Ferries sail between Ċirkewwa on Malta and Mġarr on Gozo roughly every 45 minutes, around the clock in summer, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes. Vehicles queue without booking and tickets are purchased on the Gozo side for the return, so you only pay once.
title template - 2-Day Gozo Road Trip: Ferry Crossing, Victoria Citadel, Dwejra & Ramla Bay
Route Overview
A two-day island loop that puts your car on the Gozo ferry and circles Malta's greener, slower sister: a fortified citadel, sea-carved cliffs, a red-sand bay and fishing-village sunsets.
2 Days
120 KM
Coastal Escape
Cultural Sites
Perfect for Couples
Driving Gozo: The Two-Day Island Loop from Malta Airport
Gozo runs on a different clock. The 25-minute ferry from Ċirkewwa carries you and your car across a channel the colour of gemstones, and the moment you drive off the ramp the pace drops: terraced fields, honey-stone villages, and roads where the loudest sound is church bells. This two-day loop circles the island's essentials, from the ramparts of Victoria's Citadel, with views across the whole island, to the surreal rockscapes of Dwejra, the pilgrimage basilica of Ta' Pinu and the red sand of Ramla Bay, finishing with sunset at the fishing harbour of Xlendi. Travellers consistently report that driving on Gozo feels calmer than on Malta itself, and that the island truly opens up to those who stay overnight. With an Abbycar rental from Malta International Airport, the ferry queue at Ċirkewwa is under an hour away and the whole of Gozo becomes yours.
View route on map
Starting Station: Malta Airport
Trip Duration: 2 days
Mileage Distance: 120 km
Perfect For: Couples, Beach Lovers, Culture Lovers, Relaxation
Loading map...
Reddit Reviews
Visitors repeatedly say Gozo was the highlight of their Malta trip, praising the views and relaxed feel.
Driving on Gozo is described as noticeably less chaotic than on the main island.
The car ferry is called easy and frequent, with the crossing itself a scenic pleasure.
The Citadel's 360-degree views and Dwejra's Inland Sea earn constant recommendations.
Renting a car is rated the most cost-effective way for couples and groups to see the island properly.
Weekends and peak summer bring ferry queues and fuller sights, so weekday visits are widely advised.
Some rural Gozo lanes are narrow with occasional rough patches.
Ramla Bay parking fills by late morning in August.
A few travellers note that sights cluster close together, making a single rushed day feel busier than expected.
Sentiment is warmly positive: Gozo is the part of Malta travellers wish they had given more time, and the overnight car-based loop answers exactly that regret.
Positive sentiment: 86% — Negative sentiment: 14%
👍 86 % positive|👎 14 % negative
Begin Your Gozo Loop at Malta International Airport
Landing at Malta International Airport puts you 50 minutes from the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal at the island's northern tip. Collect your Abbycar rental at the airport, remember that Malta drives on the left, and take the coast road north past St Paul's Bay and Mellieħa for your first taste of the islands' limestone-and-turquoise palette. Ferries run frequently through the day, boarding is straightforward, and the crossing itself, past Comino and its lagoons, is a 25-minute preview of what awaits.
Listen to our favorite spotify Music lists for roadtrips
Loading...
Where To Stop
Recommended Stops on the Gozo Loop
Five stops that circle the island from citadel ramparts to red sand to a fishing-village sunset.
1
First stop
The Citadel, Victoria
Gozo's fortified heart rises from the centre of the island, its bastions restored to golden sharpness and its ramparts offering a complete panorama: every village, both coasts, and Malta shimmering across the channel. Inside the walls are the cathedral, small museums and silent lanes; below, Victoria's It-Tokk square hums with market stalls and cafes. Ninety minutes here anchors the whole island in your mental map.
2
Second stop
Dwejra Bay & the Inland Sea
Dwejra is Gozo's geological theatre: the Inland Sea lagoon connected to open water by a cave tunnel, the mushroom-shaped Fungus Rock guarding the bay, and wave-cut shelves where the Azure Window once stood. Fishermen run small boats through the tunnel when seas allow, an unmissable ten-minute trip. Come toward late afternoon when the cliffs glow and the tour groups have thinned.
3
Third stop
Ta' Pinu Basilica
Standing alone amid fields near Għarb, Malta's national shrine draws pilgrims to the spot where a village woman reported hearing the Virgin's voice in 1883. The neo-Romanesque basilica's pale stone glows against the sky, the mosaic-lined parvis is serene, and the ex-voto room of letters and mementoes is quietly moving whatever your beliefs. It pairs naturally with Dwejra on the island's west side.
4
Fourth stop
Ramla Bay
Ramla l-Ħamra means the red sands, and the bay delivers: a broad crescent of rust-gold beach framed by green valley slopes, with the statue of the Virgin rising from the dunes and Calypso's Cave, of Homeric legend, gazing down from the ridge. The water shelves gently and beach kiosks keep things simple. Arrive before 11am in summer for easy parking and the sand at its coolest.
5
Fifth stop
Xlendi Bay at Sunset
Xlendi folds a tiny harbour, a strip of restaurants and a swimmable inlet into a cleft between tall cliffs on Gozo's south coast. The clifftop path toward the watchtower delivers the classic view down the fjord-like bay, and dinner tables sit close enough to the water to hear it. As the day-trip crowds sail home, Xlendi at dusk is the argument for spending the night on Gozo.
Practical answers for driving Gozo with a rental car
Gozo Road Trip FAQs
Most visitors find Gozo notably calmer than Malta: traffic is light and distances tiny, with no point on the island more than 25 minutes from another. Remember to drive on the left, expect some narrow rural lanes, and treat occasional potholes with patience.
A day covers the headline sights, but the island's charm concentrates in the early mornings and evenings after the ferries empty. This route plans one overnight, which transforms the experience and lets you enjoy Xlendi or Marsalforn at dinner pace.
Weekdays year-round beat weekends, when Maltese visitors fill the ferries. May, June, September and October combine warm seas with easy parking; August is liveliest but busiest at Ramla Bay and the Citadel around midday.
Victoria has car parks below the Citadel, Dwejra and Ta' Pinu have free lots at the site, and Ramla Bay's parking area fills only on peak summer late-mornings. Xlendi parking is tight in the village core, so use the upper car park and stroll down.
Latest Articles
Stay informed and inspired for your next journey
AbbyCar Travel Experts
Car Rental & Travel Industry Specialists
AbbyCar Travel Experts are the experienced professionals behind AbbyCar, one of Europe’s most trusted and value-for-money car rental brands, operating in over 30 countries. With more than 14 years of hands-on experience in car rentals and road-trip travel, the team has helped more than 1.5 million travellers explore their destinations with comfort and confidence. Drawing on in-depth knowledge of local routes, travel trends, and driving conditions, AbbyCar Travel Experts provide reliable, experience-based advice to help every traveller enjoy a safe, smart, and stress-free journey.
For more road-trip ideas and expert travel inspiration, visit our Road Trips Section
