Dwejra Bay, Gozo: One of the Mediterranean’s Most Filmed Locations

A Bay With More Screen Time Than Most Actors

Dwejra’s appeal to filmmakers is easy to understand. The bay combines a protected inland sea, a fortress tower and, until March 2017, one of the most dramatic natural sea arches in the world. All within a few hundred metres of each other. For a location scout, it’s an extraordinary hand of cards. The landscape might be bare but it’s incredibly flexible, portraying Greece (modern and ancient), the coast of Africa, Turkey, the south of France, north America, plus Pentos and other mythical lands.

Sailor of the King put Dwejra on the map in 1953, as the first international productions to film on Gozo. What followed over the next seven decades was an eclectic mix: Byron, Coronation Street, Iron Warrior, The Odyssey, Sweeney 2, Fort Ross, Two Weeks in August, Fck Valentine’s Day, The Dive, Enola Holmes 3. Wickie the Viking filmed here. So did a Belgian children’s film, a French thriller, and an Indian box office hit.

The production that brought the most attention, however, was Game of Thrones. The Dothraki wedding, the ceremony between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, from the very first episode in the first season, was filmed at Dwejra, and it remains one of the most-searched filming locations on the island. Fans still come looking for the spot, and the landscape, even without the Azure Window, still delivers.

The Azure Window Site

On 8 March 2017, after days of storms, the Azure Window collapsed into the sea. Malta and Gozo woke up to find one of its most recognisable landmarks gone.

It’s worth saying clearly, because searches still suggest some visitors arrive without knowing: the arch no longer exists. What remains is the Azure Reef, comprising massive limestone boulders and parts of the arch, ranging from 5 to 57 metres in depth. Together with the Blue Hole, a natural circular pool connected to the open sea, which is directly adjacent, and is considered one of the best dive sites in the Mediterranean.

The Azure Window appeared in numerous productions before it fell, most notably in Game of Thrones, but also in several others including The Count of Monte Cristo. In that sense, the films that used it have become its record, and you can track how the arch diminished over the years.

The Inland Sea

The Inland Sea is a sheltered lagoon connected to the open Mediterranean through a short tunnel in the cliff. Small fishing boats have worked this water for generations, and a handful of local boatmen still offer trips through the tunnel and out along the coastline. The short ride is inexpensive and one of those Gozo experiences that stays with you.

For filmmakers, the enclosed quality of the space and the contrast between the calm lagoon and the sea beyond have made it a recurring choice. The Dive was filmed here. So were scenes from The Boat and several other productions. The surrounding clifftop path offers elevated views back across the bay.

Top Tip: The Inland Sea is at its best early in the morning, before the diving schools arrive to train new students. With their black wetsuits, it can resemble a seal colony at certain times of day.

The Gozo in a Day guide covers the Inland Sea as one of the four areas of the Dwejra circuit, with notes on timing, what to look for, and how it connects to the wider route.

Fungus Rock

The towering island that guards the mouth of the bay is Fungus Rock, named for a plant that once grew on its surface and was considered so medicinally valuable that the Knights of Malta made it illegal to land on it. The prohibition still applies today; Fungus Rock is a protected nature reserve and landing is not permitted.

It has appeared as a brooding presence in the background of various productions, and its profile is distinctive enough that regular viewers of Gozo-set television will likely recognise it without knowing its name. The viewpoint from the path above the bay gives the best angle.

Dwejra Tower

The tower standing guard over the bay is one of a series of coastal watchtowers built by the Knights of Malta in the 17th century. Dwejra Tower was constructed in 1652 and is one of the best-preserved on the island.

It’s made cameo appearances in plenty of productions, and has been the centre of the action in a couple of productions, including Wickie the Viking and the Strong Men and Treasure in Malta. The tower is not always open to the public, but the exterior and the views from the surrounding path make it worth the short walk.

Planning Your Visit

Dwejra is on the western coast of Gozo, near the village of San Lawrenz. There is a car park at the bay, but it fills quickly in summer, so arriving before 9am is advisable if you’re visiting between June and September. The walk between all four areas is short, but the path is uneven in places and the clifftop sections are exposed. Flat shoes and a water bottle are sensible.

Facilities are a little limited at Dwerja Bay, there are public toilets and a restaurant that is open all-year round, the Azure Window restaurant. It gets busy, so if you’re planning lunch here then do book ahead. There are also a couple of kiosks that open for the summer season (May-ish to September-ish).

Top Tip: Dwejra faces west, which makes it one of the best sunset spots on Gozo. If you’re building a day around the bay, plan to still be there around 7pm in summer.

The Gozo in a Day Guide

Dwejra is one of four key areas covered in the Gozo in a Day guide — the complete curated route for seeing the island’s most cinematic locations in a single day. The guide covers the exact sequence, the specific filming spots, what to look for at each location, and how to make the most of the time you have.

If you’re serious about doing Dwejra properly — and it deserves the time — the guide is the place to start. You can find it here.