How to Get Around Gozo: A Complete Guide

A huge part of Gozo's appeal is its tiny size. At only 14 kilometres long and 7.25 kilometres wide, it really doesn't take too long to get anywhere you want to go on the island.

If you're still your journey to Gozo, do check out our guide on how to get to Gozo for ferry and transport tips. Once you arrive, this guide will help you navigate the island with ease.

Table of Contents

• Intro

• Public Transport

• Taxis

• Car Hire

• Bike & Scooter Rental

• Journey Planning Tools

• Practical Tips

public transport on Goz0

When it comes to public transport on Gozo, there's only one choice and that's the bus. The good news is that the buses are clean, usually not too crowded, reliable and cheap. Operated by Malta Public Transport, buses connect all the villages and attractions on Gozo with either Victoria or Mġarr Harbour.

Popular routes include:

• 301: The most direct bus to and from Mġarr Ferry Terminal and Victoria

• 302/303: Victoria to Nadur

• 311: Victoria to Marsalforn

• 322: Mġarr Ferry Terminal to Marsalforn (runs all year)

• N301: Night service between Victoria and Mġarr (00:15-01:30)

In the summer, extra buses are laid on the busier routes, usually those between Mġarr and Victoria (301, 303 and 323) and Victoria to Marsalforn (310), and two Tallijnia Direct (TD) routes are introduced; the TD30 and TD31. These run directly between Mġarr Harbour and Xlendi, and Mġarr Harbour and Marsalforn respectively. The summer services usually start in the middle of June and run until October.

You can view all the available routes and their timetables on the Malta Transport website, just scroll to the bottom for the information for Gozo. Alternatively, you can download the Tallinja App, which is an invaluable tool if you're planning on relying purely on buses. There's more about it, and other useful apps in Essential Journey Planning Tools section below.

Tallinja Bus Fares

The bus fare depends on the type of bus you're getting and at what time of year. During the summer the standard fare is €2.00 and in winter it is €2.50. If you board a night service, denoted by N before the route number such as the N301, at any time of the year then the fare is €3.00. If you can purchase your ticket directly from the bus driver when you board the bus. You can pay in cash, preferably with the exact change or by using a contactless card, or Apple/Google Pay by tapping the reader next to the driver. The reader will then issue you a ticket. Keep hold of this as you can use it on any other buses you take in the next two hours.

Tallinja Cards:

If you know you're going to take a few trips, then we recommend you purchase one of a Tallinja Cards, there are a few options available to you.

12 Single Journeys Card (€19) Ideal for short stays, it gives you 12 single journeys, so whether you jump on a Day, Night or Tallinja Direct Services, it will only cost one journey from the card.

Explore Card Adult (€25 / Children under 10 €7): This offers the best value, giving you unlimited travel for 7 days across all of Malta and Gozo.

Explore Flex Card (Starting from €6): This card definitely lives up to its name, you can use it just as a Pay-As-You-Go, with the credit being immediately available or you can boost it with a range of value add bundles. These include:

• 4-Day Package: Perfect for trips, this is €19 for unlimited travel including Tallinja Direct and night services

• Gozo Standard: €34 for 6 days unlimited bus travel plus return trip from Valletta to Gozo on the Highspeed ferry.

• Short Stay: €45 for 4 days unlimited bus travel plus a day on the Hop On Hop Off tour operated by City Sightseeing Malta

• Traveller: €49 for 7 days unlimited travel plus a day on the Hop On Hop Off tour

• ExplorePlus: €72 for 7 days unlimited travel, Hop On Hop Off tour, harbour cruise, plus a return ticket for the Gozo Highspeed ferry

Where to Purchase

You can purchase any of the Tallijnia Cards at a range of sales and information points, which are open Sunday to Monday, or at card-dispensing machines which are available 24/7. You can find the full list of locations at the Malta Transport website. You can top-up cards and add packages with the Tallinja App.

Top Tip: The bus timetables can be regarded as more of a guideline than an accurate list of when your bus might arrive, especially in some of the villages. Download the Tallinja App and not only can you find the nearest bus stop, you can also track the arrival of your bus to your location in real-time.

Taxis in Gozo

There are two types of taxis available in Gozo. The government licensed White Taxis which can be picked up at designated stands in places such as Independence Square, Victoria and outside the Ferry Terminal in Mġarr Harbour. They can also be booked directly using the Malta Taxi app. Uber and Bolt also operate on the island, along with the local company, eCabs. These are usually available 24/7 and arrive pretty quickly, although you may have to wait longer in some of the smaller villages or during busy periods.

Prices across the providers tend to be similar and they offer frequent discounts, so it's often worth downloading and checking all of them to see which service is going to quicker or nearer. That said, it's not unusual for drivers to be working for two or more of the companies at the same time. So don't be surprised if you order a Bolt and a car with Uber decals arrives. Just make sure you check the licence plate and the name of the driver is correct before you set off.

Estimated Costs:

• Mġarr Ferry Terminal to Victoria: €12–€20

• Victoria to Xlendi: €8–€15

• Victoria to Marsalforn: €8–€15

Car Hire in Gozo

There are plenty of options for hiring a car on Gozo, including well-known international companies like Avis and Budget, as well as local operators such as Gozo Garage and Joe's Rent a Car. Several of them have the option to pick up a car from the harbour, and costs are, on average €25–€40 per day for a small car.

If you are thinking of hiring a car don't forget that unlike most of the rest of Europe, we drive on the left-hand side in Malta and Gozo. Also bear in mind that some of the roads can be quite narrow, steep or have sharp turns. Some roads might have all of those features at the same time. So we recommend checking out your route before you set off and not always relying on your sat nav. For example, there is a road that leads from Kercem towards the main road to Xlendi that has a couple of hairpin bends which are not fun to navigate.

Apart from that, remember the speed limits tend to be 60 km/h outside villages, 20 to 30 km/h within villages, and that you'll find fuel stations in Victoria, Xewkija and Xaghra.

Bike and Scooter Hire

As a compact island, Gozo is great for cycling around and there's quite a few places, mainly in Victoria, that you can hire road bikes from including:

• On2Wheels Rentals, Marsalforn

• Mela Bike, Għajnsielem

• Victoria Garage, Victoria

Gozo may be compact but it has a lot of hills, over 30 to not be exact. So you might want to consider getting a little help in the form of an e-bike or scooter

E-Bike Options:

• Gozo Segway Tours, Victoria

• eBike MT, Victoria & Mġarr Harbour

• Tallinja Bikes, Victoria, Marsalforn & Mġarr

Daily rental rates start from around €30 and Tallijna bikes can be hired for just €3 for the first 30 minutes, then €2 per 30 minutes after. There are discounts if you are using a personalised or Explore Tallinja Card. If you are renting from a shop, they will usually provide helmets but always check.

Scooter Rental:

• Scooter Freaks, Żebbuġ

• Mġarr Tourist Services, Mġarr Harbour

• Hammerhead Projects, Xewkija

Rates start at around €30 and you must have a valid drivers licence.

essential journey planning tools for gozo

As with everything in life, a little planning can. really help make your experience smoother and these apps and websites can help make that happen.

• Download the Malta Public Transport Tallinja App for real-time updates

• Use the ferry terminal webcams to check on current conditions and traffic in to the harbour

• Google Maps provides reliable navigation for all transport modes

• Download Uber, Bolt, and eCabs, set-up your account and add your payment details

practical tips & Safety Considerations

1. Check weather forecasts before planning outdoor activities

2. Be aware of earlier sunset times in winter months

3. Carry a torch for poorly lit rural roads

4. Keep emergency numbers handy

5. Exercise caution on narrow country roads

6. Book transport in advance during peak season (June-August)

7. Allow extra time for journeys during festa celebrations or if travelling to the harbour on a Sunday afternoon

8. Consider combining transport methods for flexibility

9. Keep small change for bus fares if buying tickets onboard

Ready to start planning your trip? Check out our guide of what you need to know before you go or our village-by-village guide for where to stay across Gozo!

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