To Gozo and Back

I couldn't decide whether the name Gozo was more Lord of the Rings or Harry Potterish. Curiosity made me go. Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago. Being isolated from Malta itself by a ribbon of water, it moves to a more relaxing pace. To get there rom Sliema in the south of Malta we hopped aboard bus 222 for the 1-hour ride northward along the coast. A 25-minute ferry ride deposited us on Gozo, and from the harbour a bus took us to the town of Victoria.

This vintage bus for hire wasn't our ride, but certainly looked spiffy.

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Docking at the Mgarr Ferry Terminal in Gozo

A brief stop for refreshments set us up for an afternoon of walking.

Architecture in Victoria, Gozo, had the same lovely sun-bronzed appearance as on the main island.

Entry to the Citadella (fortress) was free. Current structures were mostly built by the Knights of St. John between 1599 and 1622 when raiding pirates were charged a nasty admission price.

360 degree views from the Citadella were spectacular. We ran around the ramparts like excited kids.

Dinner and local wine at Cafe Royal, a tiny Nepalese restaurant on Victoria's main drag, was an excellent spur-of-the-moment decision. Despite appearances, we don't just eat and drink; we walk and talk too.

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Our return ferry ride at night offered a magical view of Mgarr and the town of Ghajnsielem. The alternate "fast ferry," according to a woman we spoke to, was maddeningly slow in comparison.

Photos and text

© Gary Crallé

2026