Delta Flies Direct from New York to Malta. Here’s Why You Should Go to Gozo.

What Is Gozo?

Gozo is Malta’s smaller sister island, sitting just north of the main island and reached by a 25-minute ferry crossing. At roughly 8.7 miles long and 4.3 miles wide, it is technically bigger than Manhattan — though the population of around 33,000 is where that comparison ends. There is no airport, no motorway, and genuinely no sense of urgency once you arrive.

From Malta International Airport to most Gozo accommodation, allow around two hours door to door.

Why Gozo Over the Usual Mediterranean Options?

Most American travellers heading to Europe gravitate toward Italy, Greece or France. All are excellent choices, and all will be considerably more crowded, more expensive in peak season, and more familiar than Gozo.

Although Gozo might appear familiar anyway, as a significant portion of what you may have already seen on screen as ancient Greece, classical antiquity or the sun-baked Mediterranean was filmed right here. Clash of the Titans filmed the iconic Kraken scene here in the 80s. More recently Fck Valentine’s Day and Two Weeks in August used the island’s landscape. The Count of Monte Cristo has returned to Gozo and nearby Comino across multiple adaptations spanning decades. Upcoming production Psyche is among the latest to film here. More than 100 productions in total since the 1950s, most of them needing Gozo to look convincingly like somewhere else entirely.

That versatility comes from the landscape. The Ġgantija Temples, just outside the village of Xagħra, were built around 3600 BC. They predate the Pyramids of Giza and most of what passes for ancient in the places tourists usually go. The Citadel in Victoria has its origins in the Bronze Age, and has been fortified since medieval times. It gives you the whole island in one panoramic sweep from its bastions. The coastline at Dwejra, where Game of Thrones filmed the wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, looks the way you imagined the ancient world before you knew what it actually looked like.

To be honest, I’m disappointed every time I’m at the coast and Jason and the Argonauts don’t row into view from around the base of a cliff.

The villages, Għarb, Sannat, Xagħra, Nadur, have been largely unchanged for generations. Which is precisely why the film crews keep coming back.

Is Malta Friendly to American Tourists?

Yes, and genuinely so. English is one of Malta’s two official languages and is used in everyday life across Gozo: signs, menus, transport information, conversations in shops and restaurants. No phrase book required, though saying grazzi (thank you, pronounced grat-see) is always appreciated.

What currency do I need?

Euros. US dollars are not accepted anywhere in Malta or Gozo. ATMs are available at the airport, the Gozo Channel Ferry terminal, in Victoria and some of the larger villages. Card payments are widely accepted in larger restaurants, hotels and shops, but smaller village cafes, bakeries and market stalls tend to prefer cash, worth having some on you, particularly once you get away from Victoria.

What about tipping?

Very different from home. Rounding up or leaving around 10% for good service in a restaurant is considered generous. There is no expectation of 20%, and no social awkwardness attached to leaving less. In taxis, rounding up is standard.

What Plug Adapter Do I Need?

Malta and Gozo use UK-style three-pin plugs at 230V. You will need a travel adaptor, and depending on your devices, possibly a voltage converter too. Both are worth packing before you leave rather than tracking down in Victoria after you arrive.

Do I need a visa?

No. US citizens do not need a visa to visit Malta. Standard passport entry applies. Malta is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, and US visitors can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Is it safe?

Yes. Crime rates are low by any European standard, and violent crime is rare. Solo travellers, including women travelling alone, consistently report feeling at ease across the island. Normal common sense applies, as it does anywhere.

Which Is Better, Malta or Sicily?

They make different trips. Sicily is larger, with more major cities, a more complex transport network and considerably heavier tourist traffic in high season. Malta and Gozo are compact, English-speaking and easier to cover thoroughly in a week or less. If your time is limited, Malta and Gozo give you more per day. If you want a longer, more varied itinerary, both are worth doing separately — they sit around 90 miles apart, which is a short flight, or a slightly longer ferry ride.

How Long Do You Need on Gozo?

A day trip from Malta is doable, but you will leave knowing you have barely started. Two nights changes the experience significantly. Three or four nights gives you time for the Citadel, the Ġgantija Temples, the west coast, a beach, a village meal and at least one afternoon and evening with no particular plan — which turns out to be some of the best time you spend here.

A common pattern is a couple of nights on Malta, then two or three on Gozo. If Gozo is your main draw, base yourself here and treat Malta as the day trip rather than the other way around.

When to Visit

The Delta service runs June through October. June, September and October tend to hit the right balance — warm enough to swim, not so hot that sightseeing becomes a test of endurance, and busy without being overwhelming. July and August are the liveliest months: village festas run all summer, the harbours fill up and the energy is its own reward if you are comfortable with the heat. All are worth the trip; it is a matter of what you are after.

Getting Around

A hire car is the most practical option for anything beyond the main villages. Several agencies operate on the island, including at Mġarr Harbour. Driving is on the left and roads can be narrow, choosing the smallest car that fits your luggage is not false modesty, it is good advice.

For shorter trips, Bolt is the most reliable app-based option on both Malta and Gozo. The bus network is cheap and covers every village, with almost all routes passing through Victoria at some point.

Top Tip: Download the Tallinja app before you travel. It covers buses across Malta and Gozo, including real-time tracking and fare information.

The Film Locations

Game of Thrones filmed at Dwejra on the west coast, the landscape around the Blue Hole and Fungus Rock is still exactly as it appeared on screen, although the Azure Window collapsed in 2017. The Madame Blanc Mysteries, a British drama with a loyal international following, uses locations across Victoria, Għarb and Sannat that visitors regularly recognise on arrival.

You can find filming location guides elsewhere on the site. If standing in the right spot matters to you, that is where to start, you could also buy Gozo in a Day: Film & TV Guide which covers 80+ filming spots across 3 key locations, with lots of practical insider tips too.

Before You Go

Our free Essential First-Timer’s Guide to Gozo has the practical side sorted before you land: ferries, getting around, what to see, what to bring, tipping and a few things that only come up once you are actually here. Sign up below and we will send it straight to you.

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