It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, Summer on Gozo is rather wonderful: the beautiful blue sea, the festa celebrations, the glow of limestone buildings during golden hour, and those seemingly endless hot, sunny days. Christmas, however, is an absolutely magical time to visit Gozo. It might be 17°C (63°F) with clear blue skies, but it has everything you need to get into the Christmas spirit. The celebrations start in late November and carry on right through to the Epiphany and the arrival of the three kings (by Gozo Channel Ferry on horseback, if you were wondering).

There are markets, concerts, carols by candlelight, a living nativity, panto, Christmas parades, and every town and village is festooned with lights. It’s even warm enough to swim in the sea (with a sea surface temperature around 18°C), while also being cool enough for some truly outstanding hikes if that’s your thing. If you’ve ever considered a sunny Christmas getaway, Gozo is a wonderful spot to pick.​

Below, you’ll find our recommendations on where to stay, alongside our top picks of what’s happening and when. For the full event lists, visit Events in Gozo.