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The island of Gozo in Malta is a beautiful oasis known for its rural landscape and laid back vibe. Visitors looking to plan a day trip to Gozo have a lot of options when it comes to attractions to see and since the island is only 8 miles long it’s very easy to get around either by public transportation or with a rental car. We spent a week on Gozo, exploring its historic sites, the stunning beaches on Gozo, and some hidden gems too.
In terms of beaches on Gozo there are a number of options to choose from, although many aren’t the beaches you may be used to. You can expect a mixture of rocky outcrops, small inlets, and the odd sandy beach on Gozo but all of them feature turquoise and crystal clear waters. In the high season Gozo isn’t as busy as other places in the Mediterranean so even the best beaches on Gozo won’t be overcrowded which is an added bonus of visiting the island.
Gozo offers visitors some of the best swimming spots in Malta and to really get a feel for the island I would recommend a minimum of 2 days on Gozo. If you only have time for a short day trip however, here’s a look at some of the top beaches on Gozo to visit that are easily accessible.
1. Ramla Beach
Let’s start off with one of the most popular beaches on Gozo - Ramla Beach. This is the largest sandy beach on Gozo and is close to attractions such as the Tal-Mixta Cave, Calypso’s Cave, the main town of Victoria, and the famous Ġgantija Temples. The red sand is a unique feature of this beach and apart from a cafe the area is completely underdeveloped.
Due to its popularity Ramla Beach gets busy in peak season so arrive early to ensure you have both a parking spot and somewhere on the beach to relax. In the off season the beach isn’t very busy as the water is too cold for most people.
2. Mgarr ix-Xini
One of the more hidden beaches on Gozo is Mgarr ix-Xini. This is an extremely small pebbled beach that was put on people’s radar when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filmed By the Sea in the area. However it’s still significantly less busy than other beaches on Gozo, with the bay being more popular with snorkelers, divers, and rock climbers.
The road leading down to this beach is quite narrow but in the off season you shouldn’t come across many cars coming the opposite way. You’ll need some luck to get down to it in the summer months though with a car!
3. Hondoq Bay
Hondoq Bay on Gozo is a beautiful swimming spot where you can gaze across the crystal clear water to the island of Comino. This bay is quite secluded and a popular spot with the locals. You’ll find a small white sandy beach here to give you access to the water but many people choose to climb down one of the ladders located along the walls of the parking lot. It’s very easy to access Hondoq Bay by car but public transportation doesn’t run down to it.
The beach at Hondoq Bay has also received Blue Flag status along with Ramla Beach and Marsalforn Bay which is one of the top eco awards for beaches globally - so you know it’s a good one to visit!
4. San Blas Bay
Not too far from Ramla Beach is San Blas Bay. When we visited it was almost sunset and the tide was in, so rather than walk down to the beach we decided to take a photo from the top of the road. This is another red sandy beach that’s a bit more rugged than Ramla Beach and more open to the elements too, so double check the wind speed before you make the trek down the hill!
5. Xlendi Beach
One of my favourite places to visit on Gozo is Xlendi Bay. Xlendi Beach is a popular swimming spot for people of all ages and the rocks along the coastline make it ideal for diving and snorkelling. The beach itself is quite small and surrounded by eateries but if you take a short walk around the coast you’ll be greeted with breathtaking views of the cliffside and you can even take a small hike up to Xlendi Tower.
6. Dwejra Bay
A famous swimming spot on Gozo is the Blue Hole which you can find near the village of San Lawrenz at Dwejra Bay. On a calm day this swimming and diving spot can become very busy and for the best view of the different colours of the water you’ll need to take a short walk to a viewpoint above. The bay is also home to Fungus Rock, Dwejra Tower, and was once the location of the Azure Window which collapsed in 2017 and is a well known Game of Thrones filming location in Malta.
Although not technically a beach in the traditional sense, you can definitely have a lot of fun swimming (carefully) in this area. You’ll also find some food trucks as well as a seafood restaurant located at Dwejra Bay and many sightseeing tours of Gozo stop here too.
7. Inland Sea
The Inland Sea is a unique feature of Dwejra Bay and Gozo as a whole. It offers visitors a small pebbled beach with shallow waters and is linked to the rest of the bay through a cave. It’s not one of the best beaches on Gozo but it’s a unique place to visit and if you enjoy diving and snorkelling there are numerous caves to explore around the Inland Sea and Dwejra Bay.
8. Marsalforn Bay
Marsalforn Bay is a must-visit on Gozo. This small fishing village offers another small sand and pebbled beach and is a bustling hub in the summer months with locals and tourists. There are a number of diving sites nearby that you can go on a tour of and the bay is filled with eateries and bars. One of the best places to eat on Gozo is Otters Bistro & Lounge and if the weather is nice you can sit outside and enjoy an unrivalled view of Marsalforn Bay.
9. Xwejni Bay
A quick 5 minute drive from Marsalforn Bay will bring you to Xwejni Bay. This is a beautiful area to visit around sunset and when the tide is out you can walk along the rocks that lead into the sea. The seafront offers some bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the view of the bay, and just around the corner is where you’ll find the famous Gozo salt pans that are definitely worth walking to or driving by.
10. Blue Lagoon (Comino)
Although the Blue Lagoon isn’t actually on Gozo, I’m going to add it to this list simply because Comino is less than 10 minutes away from Gozo by ferry making it very easy to add to your itinerary - even if you’re only visiting Gozo for a day. The Blue Lagoon is known for being one of the best beaches in Malta and is a major tourist attraction in the Mediterranean. We arrived on the first boat over from Gozo at 08:30 so we were able to avoid the enormous amount of people that showed up an hour later.
The view of the Blue Lagoon from above is incredible but you may be disappointed with the beach itself which is one of the smallest I’ve ever been to. Most people will set up their beach towels along the dock or along the hiking trail and walk back to the beach to take a dip. There are food and drink stalls set up around the Blue Lagoon as well but other than that there isn’t much on the island of Comino other than hiking trails.
If you’re a fan of the water then there are plenty of activities on Gozo to get involved in at the various beaches. Some of the beaches on Gozo are more accessible than others by public transportation so I would recommend hiring a car if possible. If you’re not sure which beach on Gozo to visit first I would suggest Ramla Bay which is more of a traditional sandy beach than the others on the island. Gozo is a fantastic alternative to Malta’s mainland and is the perfect place to get some much needed relaxation.
If you have any questions about where to stay on Gozo, things to do on Gozo, or need some advice about which beaches on Gozo to visit during your trip please feel free to reach out by using the comments section below, through Instagram, or by sending me an email. I’m always happy to help where I can!
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