99 straight answers to the things people genuinely search for about visiting Malta.
The main way to reach Gozo is the Gozo Channel car ferry, which runs between Ċirkewwa at Malta's northern tip and Mġarr harbour on Gozo. To get to Ċirkewwa without a car, take bus route 41 or 42 from Valletta, or the X1 from Malta International Airport, all of which terminate at the ferry terminal. In summer months a separate Gozo Fast Ferry service also runs directly between Valletta and Mġarr, cutting out the bus journey but on a more limited schedule.
The Ċirkewwa to Mġarr crossing takes around 25 minutes. Ferries run frequently, often every 45 minutes to an hour depending on the season, with extra sailings added in summer. The direct Valletta to Gozo fast ferry takes longer, closer to an hour, since it covers a greater distance by sea.
For foot passengers, booking ahead is not usually necessary as the Ċirkewwa-Mġarr ferry runs often and rarely sells out. If you are bringing a car, especially in July and August or around public holidays, it is worth checking whether the Gozo Channel website allows or recommends pre-booking a vehicle space. One quirk worth knowing: you generally are not charged to travel to Gozo, only when you leave, so keep this in mind and check current fare details with the operator.
One day lets you see Gozo's main sights, but it means moving quickly. A typical day trip covers Victoria (Rabat) and its Citadel, the Ġgantija temples near Xagħra, and the Dwejra coastline, with maybe a stop in Xlendi or Marsalforn for lunch. If you want time to actually relax on the island, swim, or explore on foot rather than tick off sights, two or three days works better.
April to June and September to October tend to be the most comfortable months, with warm weather but less heat and fewer crowds than August. August is the busiest month, since it coincides with Maltese and Gozitan festas and summer holidays, and can get very hot for walking around places like Dwejra or the Citadel. Winter is mild and quiet, though some restaurants and smaller attractions may reduce their hours, so check ahead if visiting between November and March.
Gozo and Malta offer different experiences rather than one being simply better. Gozo is smaller, greener, and more rural, with fishing villages like Xlendi and Marsalforn, terraced fields, and a slower pace, while Malta has the bigger historic centres such as Valletta and Mdina, more museums, and more nightlife. Many visitors base themselves in Malta and take a day or two on Gozo for a change of scenery, particularly if they enjoy walking, diving, or quieter coastline.
You can get around Gozo without a car, but it takes more planning than driving yourself. Buses run from the main terminus in Victoria out to villages like Xlendi, Marsalforn, and Dwejra, but services can be infrequent, especially outside peak season, so check the Malta Public Transport app or website before relying on a timetable. Taxis and Gozo's hop-on-hop-off buses cover the main sights, and many visitors find it easier to rent a small car or scooter for a day or two, which tends to be inexpensive compared to car hire elsewhere in Europe. If you're staying more than a couple of days or want to reach quieter spots like Ta' Ċenċ or the Victoria Lines area, having your own wheels makes a real difference.
Two to three days is enough to see Gozo's main sights: Victoria's Citadel, the Ġgantija temples, Dwejra (where the Azure Window used to stand), and a swim at Ramla Bay or Xlendi. If you enjoy hiking, diving, or simply a slower pace, four or five days lets you explore the coastal paths around Wied il-Għasri and the salt pans near Marsalforn without rushing. Many visitors base themselves in Malta and take a day trip via the Mġarr–Ċirkewwa ferry, but staying overnight lets you enjoy Gozo once the day-trippers have left.
Most churches in Malta, including the cathedrals, expect shoulders and knees to be covered for both men and women, and bare midriffs, short shorts or sleeveless tops are generally turned away at the door. Some churches, such as St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, keep paper or fabric wraps at the entrance for visitors caught out. It's worth carrying a light scarf or shawl in your bag if you're planning to visit several churches in a day, especially in villages where no wrap may be offered.
St John's Co-Cathedral charges an entrance fee for tourists, while Maltese residents and those attending Mass or prayer are usually admitted free. The fee has been in the region of €10–€15 for adults in recent years, with reduced rates for students and seniors, but it has risen over time so you should check the current price on the Co-Cathedral's official website before visiting. Audio guides are typically included in the ticket price.
The Rotunda of Mosta, better known as the Mosta Dome, is generally open to visitors on most mornings and afternoons, but it closes to sightseers during Mass times and on Sunday mornings when services are held. Hours can shift seasonally and around religious feast days, particularly the Feast of the Assumption in mid-August, which is Mosta's own village festa. Check the parish's notice board or website for the current schedule before making the trip, as it's a working parish church rather than a museum.
Entry to Ta' Pinu Basilica in Gozo is free, as is the case with almost all parish churches and basilicas in Malta and Gozo. A donation box is usually available for those who wish to contribute towards the upkeep of the building, and the small museum of votive offerings attached to the basilica may ask for a modest donation as well.
St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta houses Caravaggio's "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist," the artist's largest known work and the only painting he ever signed. It hangs in the Oratory, a side chapel within the Co-Cathedral, along with his painting of Saint Jerome. Malta is the only country outside Italy with two of Caravaggio's works on permanent public display in the same building.
On 9 April 1942, a German bomb pierced the dome of the Mosta Rotunda during a Mass attended by around 300 parishioners and skidded across the floor without detonating. It's usually described as a dud, a bomb that failed to go off due to a fault rather than any deliberate design, though the event is still remembered locally as a miracle. A replica of the bomb is on display inside the church, and the story is one of the most repeated pieces of wartime history on the island.
Visiting is possible, but Sunday morning is when most parishes hold Mass, so tourist entry to many churches is restricted or paused during services. St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, for example, closes to sightseeing visitors on Sunday mornings and reopens for tourism in the afternoon. Smaller village parish churches often stay open between Masses, but it's worth checking locally rather than assuming full access all day.
Malta has well over 300 churches and chapels across the islands, including Gozo, which is a striking number given the country's small size. Almost every town and village has its own parish church, and many also have smaller wayside chapels dotted along roads and countryside.
You'll often hear that Malta has 365 churches, one for every day of the year, but this is a popular saying rather than a verified count. The real number is somewhat lower, though still remarkably high for the size of the islands, reflecting how central the parish church has historically been to Maltese village life. It's best treated as a charming bit of local folklore rather than a statistic to quote precisely.
St John's Co-Cathedral requires shoulders and knees to be covered, so shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless tops are not permitted for either men or women. Staff at the entrance in Valletta do enforce this, though they typically offer disposable cover-ups or wraps for visitors who arrive underdressed. Comfortable, modest clothing is the safest approach given Malta's warm climate.
The Co-Cathedral is generally closed to tourist visits on Sunday mornings because Mass is held then, opening later in the day for sightseeing. Exact Sunday hours can shift around religious feasts and holidays, so check the official St John's Co-Cathedral website before planning a Sunday visit.
St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta is usually the answer most visitors and Maltese people alike would give, thanks to its Caravaggio paintings and the marble-inlaid floor covering the graves of Knights of Malta. The Mosta Rotunda, with its huge unsupported dome, and the Rotunda of Xewkija in Gozo are also frequently mentioned. Beauty is subjective here, so it's worth visiting a couple of these rather than relying on a single favourite.
On 9 April 1942, during the height of the Siege of Malta, a German bomb pierced the church's famous dome while Mass was being celebrated inside with a congregation of several hundred people. The bomb skidded across the floor without exploding, and no one was hurt. A replica of the bomb is kept inside the church, and the story is one of the most retold events of wartime Malta.
Most parish churches around Malta and Gozo, including village churches in places like Mosta, Żebbuġ, or Żejtun, are free to enter outside of Mass times, though a donation box is usually near the door. Some of the more heavily visited sites charge an entrance fee because they function as museums as well as places of worship — St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta is the main example, with a ticket price that covers the museum and the crypt. Dress codes apply almost everywhere: shoulders and knees should be covered, and some churches turn away visitors in beachwear.
The most straightforward way is by public bus: routes 51, 52, and 53 run from the Valletta bus terminus outside City Gate to Mdina/Rabat, with the journey taking roughly 40 minutes depending on traffic. Once in Mdina, St Paul's Cathedral is a short walk inside the city walls, while St John's Co-Cathedral is a similar short walk from City Gate once you're back in Valletta. Many visitors do Valletta in the morning and take the bus to Mdina in the afternoon, since Mdina is quieter and more atmospheric closer to sunset — check the Malta Public Transport site or app for current timetables and fares before you go.