Gozo is Malta's second island, and it has no bridge and no airport: every route goes by sea. You can take the Gozo ferry from Ċirkewwa (cars and foot passengers, 25 minutes, €4.65 return), the Gozo fast ferry from Valletta, Sliema or Buġibba (passengers only, 30 minutes to 1 hour 15, €6.50 to €8.50 one way), a guided day tour that picks you up, or a boat day trip that also stops at Comino.
Ferry times and fares were read on the operators' own websites on 8 and 9 October 2026. They change: check before you leave.
Malta to Gozo: all the ways compared
| How | Leaves from | Duration (about) | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gozo Channel ferry Takes cars. Day and night, no booking. |
Ċirkewwa | 25 min | €4.65 return |
| Gozo fast ferry Passengers only. |
Valletta | 45 min | €7.50 one way |
| Gozo fast ferry Passengers only. Since May 2026. |
Sliema, via Buġibba | 1 h 15 | €8.50 one way |
| Gozo fast ferry Passengers only. |
Buġibba | 30 min | €6.50 one way |
| Guided day tour Quad, buggy, jeep or tuk-tuk. Crossing included. |
Pick-up where you stay | full day | from €85 |
| Gozo and Comino boat day trip 2 hours on Gozo. In season. |
Sliema or St Julian's | 10:00 or 10:30 to 16:30 | €60 |
Today's times: Ċirkewwa ferry timetable on the Gozo Channel site · fast ferry timetable on the Gozo Highspeed site.
In short: with a car, or for the lowest fare, go to Ċirkewwa. Without a car, take a fast ferry. To organise nothing yourself, book a tour with pick-up.
View a larger map · © OpenStreetMap
The Gozo ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr
This is the classic Malta to Gozo ferry, run by Gozo Channel. It leaves from Ċirkewwa (also written Cirkewwa), at the northern tip of Malta, and reaches Mġarr (Mgarr) harbour on Gozo in about 25 minutes. It is the only ferry that takes cars.
- Gozo ferry timetable: every day, day and night. On the timetables we read for 8 and 11 October 2026, boats left Ċirkewwa every 15 to 45 minutes in the day, and at least once an hour at night. This timetable runs until 8 November 2026.
- Gozo ferry price: €4.65 per foot passenger, €1.15 per child aged 3 to 12, free under 3. Car and driver: €15.70.
- How you pay: there is no booking, and boarding is first come, first served. The ticket covers the round trip and is checked at Mġarr only: coming from Malta, you pay on the Gozo side, before the trip back.
Times for your date: Gozo Channel schedule.
The Ċirkewwa ferry in practice: cars, foot passengers, night fare
What follows comes from the Gozo Channel website, read again on 9 October 2026, unless another source is named.
Boarding with a car, step by step
- At Ċirkewwa: nothing to pay and no ticket to show. You join the queue in the vehicle marshalling area and follow the staff's instructions. Cars are loaded in order of arrival, as far as possible.
- On board: you leave the car on the garage deck. Staying in it during the crossing is not allowed (Gozo Channel reminder of 4 March 2024), and the operator asks you to switch off the car alarm.
- At Mġarr, for the trip back: this is where you pay. The "car and driver" return ticket (€15.70, for a car up to 5.3 m long) is sold only at the vehicle ticket booths in Mġarr, or online. It is checked in the vehicle marshalling area, before boarding.
- Your passengers: that ticket covers the car and its driver only. Everyone else needs a ticket of their own: €4.65, or €1.15 for ages 3 to 12.
A ticket bought online is valid for six months, for one round trip. It gives no priority at boarding and is not tied to any sailing: Gozo Channel takes no bookings.
Taking the Ċirkewwa ferry on foot
At Ċirkewwa you go through the passenger terminal, where staff show you where to board: no ticket is checked on the way out. For the trip back, you buy your ticket at the ticket booths of the Mġarr passenger terminal, which is open 24 hours a day: that is where it is checked. Each person needs a ticket. A ticket for a child aged 3 to 12 is sold only at the Mġarr booths; under 3, ask for a free ticket.
Night fare, motorbikes and bicycles
- Night fare: €4.05 per foot passenger, €12.80 for a car and its driver. It applies only from November to March, on boats leaving Mġarr after 8 pm and before the first morning departure.
- Motorbike: €8.15 with its rider, €6.95 at the night fare. Two wheels only.
- Bicycle: €1.15.
- Free: children under 3, and people who show a valid EU Disability Card at the ticket booths. They still need a ticket. The senior fares are for residents of Malta only.
Queues, Sunday evenings and bad weather
Gozo Channel takes no bookings, and its website does not say how early you should arrive. Before you set off, look at the Gozo Channel home page: it shows the next ferry, the number of vehicles waiting to board and live cameras on the marshalling areas at Ċirkewwa and Mġarr.
According to Newsbook (article of 4 March 2024), the chairman of Gozo Channel advised travellers to avoid crossing between 5 pm and 8 pm on Sundays, when people from Malta head home from Gozo. The day before, a Sunday with one boat away for maintenance, the wait had gone over four hours.
In bad weather, the Gozo Channel ferries may take a longer route, behind Comino, or stop for a few hours. Two examples from last winter: on 2 January 2026 they were sailing behind Comino while the fast ferry was suspended, and passengers waited up to three and a half hours at Mġarr (Newsbook); in the night of 10 to 11 January 2026 the service was suspended, then started again after 7 am (The Malta Independent).
On board the ferry
The crossing takes about 25 minutes. The Gozo Channel website lists free wifi and refreshments on board. The ferries Malita, Ta' Pinu and Gaudos have a lift, the Nikolaos has a chair lift, and both harbours have a priority lane for people with a disability. Pets are allowed on a lead or in a carrier, in the lobby and on the outdoor decks only: not in the lounge or the cafeteria.
The Gozo fast ferry from Valletta, Sliema and Buġibba
The fast ferries carry passengers only: no cars. They run under the name Gozo Highspeed (Virtu Ferries Gozo and Gozo Fast Ferry) and all arrive at Mġarr harbour.
Valletta to Gozo ferry
Boats leave from Lascaris Wharf in the Grand Harbour, below the Upper Barrakka Gardens: take the Barrakka Lift down. The crossing takes about 45 minutes and costs €7.50 one way, €3 for children aged 4 to 10. Boats leave Valletta at 06:45, then every hour from 08:45 to 20:45, all year. Later boats change with the season.
Ferry from Sliema to Gozo, via Buġibba
Yes, there is a ferry to Gozo from Sliema: the route opened in May 2026. It leaves from the Sliema Ferries terminal on The Strand, stops at Buġibba and reaches Gozo in about 1 hour 15. Fare: €8.50 one way, €4 for children aged 4 to 10. There are 11 departures a day all year, from 05:45 to 21:45, plus later boats depending on the season. From Buġibba, the crossing takes about 30 minutes and costs €6.50.
On the operator's published timetable, the 22:45 departure runs every day from April to October, and only from Friday to Sunday from November to March; the 00:45 one runs from April to October only. This is the route's first winter: check the timetable again before a trip between November and March.
Tickets are sold online until 20 minutes before departure and at the terminals, by cash or card. Fast ferries can be cancelled in rough seas. Times: Gozo Highspeed schedule.
The fast ferry in practice: tickets, luggage, bicycles, pets
From the Gozo Highspeed website and its conditions of carriage:
- Return trip: the fares page lists one-way prices only. So count two tickets: €15 from Valletta, €17 from Sliema, €13 from Buġibba.
- Children: free up to age 3, child fare from 4 to 10.
- Before departure: the operator advises arriving 15 to 20 minutes early. The ticket booth and boarding close 2 minutes before departure.
- Luggage: one bag per person, up to 50 × 40 × 80 cm, stowed where the crew tells you, plus a small bag you keep with you (37 × 45 × 25 cm, 5 kg at most).
- Bicycles: carried at no extra charge, on the outside deck only, while space lasts. E-bikes and e-scooters also travel on the outside deck, in limited numbers.
- Pets: two at most, to be declared when you book. Large dogs must wear a muzzle. The crew may refuse an animal.
- Cancellations: if the operator cancels a sailing, it refunds the unused part of the ticket, less port charges. If you cancel or turn up late, there is no refund, but the ticket can be rebooked. According to Newsbook (26 March 2026), the operator suspended its crossings that evening and the next day because of strong winds.
- Terminals: in Valletta, Lascaris Wharf, at the foot of the Barrakka Lift; in Sliema, on The Strand, by the "Ferries" bus stops; in Buġibba, on Dawret il-Gżejjer; on Gozo, at Mġarr harbour.
Bus and fast ferry on one card: Malta Public Transport sells the Explore Flex card with one return trip to Gozo on the fast ferry. On 9 October 2026: €36 with 4 days of unlimited bus travel, €42 with 7 days (bus only: €21 and €27).
A guided day tour with pick-up
A guided day tour spares you the buses and the ferries. On the full-day Gozo tours we sell, the operator states that pick-up from your accommodation in Malta and the crossing are included. For your pick-up area, check the tour page or ask us.
- Quad or buggy: you drive and follow a guide. €97.50 per person for the full day, with two sharing one vehicle. The driver must be 21 or over and bring the original driving licence.
- Jeep or tuk-tuk: a driver takes you round. €85 per adult, €60 per child aged 3 to 12.
These are guided tours, not rentals without a guide. Prices can change: see the Gozo tours and today's prices.
Gozo and Comino by boat from Sliema or St Julian's
A boat day trip (by powerboat, not a ferry) also goes to Gozo. It leaves Sliema at 10:00 or St Julian's at 10:30, gives you 2 hours of free time on Gozo, then goes to the Blue Lagoon and the Comino caves. It is back at 16:30 in St Julian's, where all boats return. Price: €60 per adult, €40 per child under 10. Prices can change.
Two hours is a taste of Gozo, not a full visit. Landing at the Blue Lagoon needs the free pass, which you book yourself. The trip is not open to pregnant women or to people with heart or back problems. In 2026 it stops for winter at the end of October.
The pass is a free QR code for a time slot: everyone who steps on land needs one, except children under 5 with a parent. The boat leaves Gozo at 13:00 and leaves the Blue Lagoon at 16:00; the official afternoon slot runs from 13:30 to 17:30. The steps are in our guide Blue Lagoon Malta: the free pass and how to book it.
Gozo and Comino day trip from Sliema · Gozo and Comino day trip from St Julian's · all Comino boat trips
How to get to Gozo from where you are staying
Bus times are from the Malta Public Transport timetables read on 8 October 2026. A single ticket costs €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer. At night, bus N11 links St Julian's to Ċirkewwa via Buġibba, every day: on the timetable read on 9 October 2026, a departure every 30 minutes between 00:05 and 03:05 (night ticket: €3).
How to get to Gozo from Valletta
Take the fast ferry from Lascaris Wharf. For the lower fare, or with a car, go to Ċirkewwa: by bus, routes 41, 42 and X300 from the bus terminus take 1 hour to 1 hour 40.
How to get to Gozo from Sliema
Take the fast ferry from the Sliema Ferries terminal, or bus 222 to Ċirkewwa (1 hour to 1 hour 25). The Gozo and Comino boat trip also starts on the seafront.
How to get to Gozo from St Julian's
No ferry leaves from St Julian's. Bus 222 to Ċirkewwa stops at Balluta and Spinola (about 1 hour to 1 hour 15), and the Sliema fast ferry is a short ride away. The Gozo and Comino boat trip leaves from St George's Bay.
How to get to Gozo from Buġibba and St Paul's Bay
The fast ferry from the Buġibba terminal reaches Gozo in about 30 minutes. Bus 221 goes to Ċirkewwa in 40 to 50 minutes.
How to get to Gozo from Mellieħa
You are close to the ferry: buses 41, 42, 221, 222 and X300 reach Ċirkewwa in about 20 minutes.
From Malta airport to Gozo
Gozo has no airport. You land at Malta International Airport, the only airport in the country, then make your way to a ferry. Airport Direct buses leave from the airport: you pay on board, in cash or by contactless card.
- Via Ċirkewwa: the Airport Direct bus TD1 goes to Ċirkewwa every hour, from 05:00 to midnight: €3.50, 1 hour to 1 hour 30. Then the ferry, 25 minutes. With the wait for the ferry, allow about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 from the airport to Mġarr harbour.
- Via Valletta, without a car: TD4 runs every 30 minutes, from 05:20 to 00:50 on weekdays, to Valletta and stops at Lascaris, by the fast ferry: €3, about 15 minutes. Then a 45-minute crossing: check the time of the next fast ferry first.
- By taxi or hire car: according to Visit Gozo, the official tourism website for Gozo, taxis wait outside the arrivals lounge, and a booth in the hall sells the ride in advance, at a fixed rate. You can also pick up a hire car at the airport and take it to Gozo on the Ċirkewwa ferry.
If you land late: the last TD1 leaves the airport at midnight, and the first one at 05:00. The Ċirkewwa ferry itself also runs at night, with at least one boat an hour on the October 2026 timetables. After midnight, that leaves a taxi, or a night in Malta and the first bus in the morning.
Getting around Gozo once you are there
Every ferry arrives at Mġarr harbour. From there:
- Bus: route 301 links the harbour and Victoria, the capital, in about 15 minutes, from early morning to late evening.
- Taxi: white taxis wait at the ferry terminal. Bolt, eCabs and Uber also work on Gozo.
- Hop-on hop-off bus: sold together with the fast ferry crossing.
- Guided tours: on quad tours and buggy tours you drive and follow a guide. Jeeps and tuk-tuks come with a driver.
For what to see on the island, read our guide: what to do in Gozo.
Small ferries to Comino and the Blue Lagoon also leave from Mġarr harbour: times and fares are in our guide How to get to Comino.
FAQ: getting to Gozo from Malta
How long is the ferry from Malta to Gozo?
About 25 minutes from Ċirkewwa. By fast ferry: 45 minutes from Valletta, 30 minutes from Buġibba and 1 hour 15 from Sliema.
How much is the Gozo ferry?
From Ċirkewwa: €4.65 per foot passenger for the round trip, €15.70 for a car and its driver. Fast ferry, one way: €7.50 from Valletta, €8.50 from Sliema, €6.50 from Buġibba.
What are the Gozo ferry times from Ċirkewwa?
It runs every day. In October 2026: a boat every 15 to 45 minutes in the day, and crossings through the night.
Does the Gozo ferry run at night and in winter?
The Ċirkewwa ferry runs every day, and through the night on the October 2026 timetables. The published timetable ends on 8 November 2026; from November to March, a lower night fare applies on boats leaving Mġarr after 8 pm. The fast ferry runs all year; its late-evening boats depend on the season.
Do I need to book the Gozo ferry?
Not at Ċirkewwa: Gozo Channel takes no reservations. For the fast ferry, buy online until 20 minutes before departure, or at the terminal.
Where and when do you pay for the Ċirkewwa ferry?
At Mġarr, before the trip back: the ticket covers the round trip and is checked on the Gozo side only. Foot passengers buy it at the passenger terminal, drivers at the vehicle ticket booths; you can also buy it online.
Is there a ferry from Sliema to Gozo?
Yes, since May 2026: a fast passenger ferry via Buġibba, about 1 hour 15. No car ferry leaves from Sliema.
Can I take a car to Gozo, including a hire car?
Yes, on the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa only: €15.70 for the car and its driver. The Gozo Channel website says nothing about hire cars, and Visit Gozo writes that you can pick one up at the airport and drive it over to Gozo. Your rental contract decides: ask the rental company first.
Is there an airport on Gozo, and how do I get there from Malta airport?
No, Gozo has no airport: you land in Malta. From the airport, bus TD1 goes to Ċirkewwa (€3.50, 1 hour to 1 hour 30), then the ferry takes 25 minutes: allow about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 in all. Without a car, bus TD4 also reaches the Valletta fast ferry in about 15 minutes.
How long do I need for a day trip to Gozo?
A full day. Via Ċirkewwa from Sliema, allow about 1 hour 30 to 2 hours of travel each way: bus 222, then 25 minutes on the ferry. By fast ferry the crossing takes 45 minutes from Valletta; our guided tours take the full day, and the boat day trip gives you 2 hours on the island.