What to See in the Citadel

The Bastions and Walkways: The walkway around the top of the walls is free and gives you views across the whole of Gozo, with Comino and Malta visible in the distance on a clear day. The light at sunset is particularly good from the western bastions.

The Cathedral of the Assumption: Worship has taken place on this location for over 1,500 years, with the site originally being a Roman temple dedicated to Juno, queen of the gods.

It’s a must-see landmark within Victoria. Go inside to see the trompe l’oeil ceiling. Stand at the entrance and look up to get the full effect of the painted dome The side chapels are also worth exploring.

There is a small fee to enter the Cathedral but it also includes entrance to the Cathedral Museum.

The Cathedral Museum: Separate from the Heritage Malta museums, the Cathedral Museum, Vestry and Cathedral are managed by the Cathedral parish. Entry is from the Cathedral Gift Shop and you exit via the Cathedral itself.

Open Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 17:00. Closed Sundays.

Top Tip: Visitors to the Cathedral must cover shoulders and knees, and avoid low-cut tops or very short clothing. Occasionally there might be disposable coverings are available at the entrance but it’s not guaranteed, so come prepared.

Ticket type	Price
Adult	€5.00
Senior (60 and over)	€3.00
Student (with valid card)	€3.00
Children aged 11 and over	€3.00
Children under 10	Free
Combination ticket (includes Gozo 360 film)	€7.00

The combination ticket includes entry to Gozo 360, an audio-visual film about Gozo’s culture and history available in 16 languages, screened at the Citadel Theatre, which is on the road up to the Citadel. Worth considering if you are visiting with children or want more context before exploring the Citadel.

More information at gozocathedral.mt.

Gran Castello Historic House One of the more atmospheric spaces in the Citadel, this museum brings together several centuries of Gozitan domestic life in a restored historic building. Included in the Heritage Malta combined ticket.

The Old Prison The Citadel’s old prison dates to the 16th century. The walls are covered in graffiti carved by prisoners over hundreds of years, including names, ships, dates and crosses scratched into the limestone. It is one of the more quietly affecting spaces on the island. Included in the Heritage Malta combined ticket.

The Citadel Visitor Centre A good starting point for your visit, with background on the Citadel’s history. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 09:00 to 16:30, with last admission 30 minutes before closing.

The Nature Museum (partially open) The Gozo Nature Museum is in the process of closing as it transitions into the new Gozo Museum. Most of the museum closed in March 2025, but the Natura 2000 displays on the upper floor and the back garden remain open free of charge Tuesday to Sunday.

The Museum of Archaeology (now closed) The Gozo Museum of Archaeology closed on 13 April 2025. The museum shop remains open temporarily and tickets for the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum are still available from these premises. The building will eventually become a new Heritage Malta attraction as part of the Gozo Museum project.

Top Tip: Both museum closures are part of the preparations for a new Gozo Museum that will bring together the island’s collections in one place. It is worth checking the Heritage Malta website for updates before your visit.

Opening Times and Entrance Fees

The Citadel itself is free to enter and open at all times. The museums and attractions within the walls are managed separately by Heritage Malta and the Cathedral parish.

Heritage Malta combined ticket Covers the Gran Castello Historic House, The Old Prison and the Citadel Visitor Centre. Valid for 30 days from first use.

Ticket type	Price
Adult	€5.00
Senior citizens and students	€3.50
Children	€2.50

Gran Castello Historic House, Old Prison and Nature Museum: Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays.

Citadel Visitor Centre: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00 to 16:30. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays and Thursdays.

Opening times and fees are correct at the time of writing. Check the Heritage Malta website before your visit for the most up to date information.

Events in the Citadel

The Citadel hosts several events throughout the year that are worth planning around if you can.

Science in the Citadel An annual science festival held within the Citadel’s walls, usually in late April or early May. A good option if you are visiting with children.

Lejl Imkebbes A night market and cultural event held in the Citadel after dark, with local food, crafts and music. The date moves each year. It fell in June in 2024 and March in 2025, so it is worth checking closer to your visit.

Historical Re-enactments: The Citadel hosts historical re-enactments, usually in late September. These bring the Knights of St John period to life in a setting that lends itself naturally to the subject.

Santa Marija Feast, 15 August: The feast of the Cathedral of the Assumption falls on 15 August and is one of the most important events in the Gozitan calendar. The statue of Our Lady is paraded out of the cathedral and through the streets of the Citadel. All of Victoria is decorated for the occasion. If you are on Gozo in mid-August, this is worth staying for.

Gozo Film Festival: A three-day festival now in its 8th edition, taking place between the 21st and 23rd August 2026. Expect a mix of feature-length and short films, sourced from local filmmakers and those around the world. Free to attend, it has to be one of the most iconic settings for a film festival in the world.

Top Tip: The Santa Marija feast draws large crowds. If you want to see the procession clearly, arrive early and find your spot before the streets fill up.

The Citadel on Screen

The Citadel’s streets and buildings have been used as a filming location for several productions over the years:

• Byron — the BBC biographical drama used the Citadel’s streets and historic buildings
  
• Brideshead Revisited — the 1981 ITV adaptation filmed scenes within the Citadel
  
• Coronation Street — the UK soap opera filmed on Gozo with the Citadel featuring in several scenes
  
• Christopher Columbus: The Discovery — the 1992 historical film used the Citadel for period location shots
  
• Death is a Woman — the 1966 British film used the Citadel’s streets
  
• Ainsley’s Taste of Malta — Ainsley Harriott filmed at the Citadel for his Malta food series
  
• Treasure in Malta — the Citadel featured in this production

A note on Game of Thrones Posts on TikTok have claimed the Victoria Citadel was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones. We can find no evidence this is the case. The confirmed Game of Thrones location on Gozo is Dwejra Bay, which doubled as the Dothraki village for the wedding scene between Khal Drogo and Daenerys in Series 1. If you have a reliable source for a Citadel connection we would be interested to hear from you.

Where to Eat in the Citadel

There are two restaurants inside the Citadel walls. They are worth knowing about before you visit.

Ta’ Rikardu A Gozo institution. Ta’ Rikardu specialises in local cheese, wine and simple Gozitan food, exactly the kind of lunch that suits a morning spent exploring. It is rated #8 of 64 restaurants in Victoria on Tripadvisor with 594 reviews. One important note: access involves very steep and winding stairs, which makes it difficult for anyone with limited mobility.

Cittadella Restaurant The other dining option inside the Citadel. We will leave you to draw your own conclusions from its Tripadvisor rating of 2.4 and its position at #61 of 64 restaurants in Victoria.

For more options a short walk away, our Victoria village guide covers the best places to eat and drink in the city.

Where to Stay

Stay Inside the Citadel For a genuinely unusual stay, there is an Airbnb property inside the Citadel walls. Waking up inside a 17th century fortified city is a different experience from a standard hotel stay, and the location means you can explore the Citadel before and after the day visitors arrive.

Browse accommodation in Victoria:

How to Get There

The Citadel is at the centre of Victoria. From Mġarr Harbour the journey by bus takes around 15 minutes. There is parking in Victoria town centre and the Citadel entrance is a five-minute walk uphill from the main square, Pjazza Indipendenza.

Check our guide on how to get around Gozo for the best travel option for you.

Top Tip: The streets inside the Citadel are steep and uneven. Comfortable footwear is worth wearing, particularly in summer when the limestone gets hot underfoot.