We had a plan for our first full day in Gozo: drive around the whole island and see everything. By lunchtime we had seen exactly one place, because we couldn’t leave Xlendi. That set the rhythm for the rest of the trip, and it’s the reason this itinerary has fewer stops than most.
This is the real five days we spent on Gozo in May 2018 with Damian (5) and Marc (2): where we went each day, what we’d keep, and what we’d change. For the overview of the island (the best things to do, the beaches and where to stay), see our Gozo with kids guide.
Short on time? Our top 3 places to stay in Gozo with kids
Ta Leli Holiday Home – Xagħra, a private 3-bedroom villa with its own pool, 2.7 km from Ramla Bay.
Hotel Calypso – Marsalforn, on the promenade, with restaurants and ice cream a few steps away.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz – San Lawrenz, the island’s big five-star resort, a short drive from Dwejra.
Our Gozo itinerary at a glance
| Day | Where | Highlight for the kids |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta → ferry → Xagħra | Their first ferry, and the villa pool |
| 2 | Xlendi and Dwejra | Cliffs, caves and boats in Xlendi |
| 3 | Comino and the Blue Lagoon | The boat, and the cave trip (for Damian) |
| 4 | Xlendi, Ramla Bay, Citadel, Dwejra sunset | The red sand at Ramla |
| 5 | Dwejra, Wied il-Għasri, salt pans | Watching the divers at Dwejra |
| Last day | Valletta, then the airport | A playground by Fort St Elmo |
Our base: a villa in Xagħra, in the middle of the island. Nothing in this itinerary is more than about 25 minutes’ drive from there. You need a car to do it this way.
Day 1: Arrival, the ferry, and Xagħra
We landed in Malta at about 10:15. Mayjo Car Hire picked us up at the airport and drove us to Ċirkewwa for the Gozo Channel ferry. Door to door, from arrivals to their office in Victoria, took about an hour and a half.
The ferry was the boys’ first, and it was the highlight of the day for them. Take the upper deck: Comino and the Blue Lagoon pass on one side, and the Gozo cliffs rise ahead.
We were staying at Ta Leli Holiday Home, a villa with a private pool just outside Xagħra. The obvious plan was to sit by the pool. Instead we went straight out to explore the village: the parish church on the main square, streets of honey-coloured stone, and red telephone boxes, the same as in London, which the boys kept pointing at.
What we got wrong: Ġgantija Temples are in Xagħra, older than the pyramids of Egypt, and we only found out how close they were after closing time. If you arrive early enough, go on day one.
Our villa stay was a collaboration with Baron Holiday Homes, and our car was provided free by Mayjo Car Hire (we paid for fuel). Opinions are our own.
Day 2: Xlendi and Dwejra
Morning: Xlendi. The plan was a quick look on the way round the island. We stayed about two hours. Xlendi is a small fishing village at the end of a narrow inlet, with huge cliffs on both sides and the water changing colour from green to deep blue. The boys watched the boats, climbed on everything, and nobody wanted to get back in the car.
In May the water was too cold to swim for small children. Paddling was the limit.
Late afternoon: Dwejra. This is where the Azure Window stood until it collapsed into the sea on 8 March 2017. The rocks, the Inland Sea and the view out to Fungus Rock are still spectacular. We aimed for sunset and missed it. Don’t make our mistake: check the sunset time and arrive 30 minutes before.
What we’d keep: doing only two places. With a two-year-old, the island tour was never going to happen.
Day 3: Comino and the Blue Lagoon
We took a boat from Mġarr harbour, which is where the Malta ferry arrives, so it’s easy to find. It was a Sunday, and even though we were early, the Blue Lagoon was packed by 11:00–12:00.
The water is exactly as clear as the photos, and in May it was very cold. We all went in for about thirty seconds. Damian loved the fast jet-boat trip into the sea caves. Marc, at two, was terrified of it.
Important, and new since our trip: since 1 May 2025 you need a free booking, in a time slot, to land at the Blue Lagoon. Everything you need is in our Blue Lagoon Comino with kids guide.
What we’d change: a weekday, the 08:00 slot, and back on Gozo for lunch.
Day 4: Xlendi again, Ramla Bay, the Citadel, and sunset at Dwejra
A full day, and the best of the trip.
Morning: breakfast in Xlendi. We went back purely for coffee and breakfast with that view. That tells you what we thought of it.
Midday: Ramla Bay. The red beach, and the biggest sandy beach on Gozo, only a few minutes’ drive from Xagħra. The sand really is a deep orange-red, which the boys found hilarious.
Afternoon: the Citadel in Victoria. Gozo’s capital, with a fortified hilltop Citadel that goes back to the Bronze Age. The recently restored walls stand above the town. The streets up are steep, so with a two-year-old someone carries someone. At the top you can see most of the island.
Evening: Dwejra, second attempt. This time we got the sunset, and it was worth going back for. A local man with an owl let the boys stand next to it for photos, which is the thing they still remember.
Day 5: Dwejra in the morning, Wied il-Għasri, and the salt pans
Morning: Dwejra, third visit. Yes, again. We took coffee and walked over the rocks the scuba divers use. It is one of the best-known dive sites in the Mediterranean, and watching divers disappear into the water held the boys’ attention longer than most things on the island. The rocks are uneven, with no railings, so hold small hands.
Midday: Wied il-Għasri. The boys fell asleep in the car, so we found this one by ourselves: a narrow creek between high cliffs, with very clear water at the end. It’s reached by steps cut into the rock and has no facilities. It’s beautiful, and not a place for toddlers.
Afternoon: the Xwejni salt pans, just past Marsalforn on the north coast. Square pools cut into the rock, about 3 km of them along the shore, harvested by Gozitan families for around 350 years. Flat, walkable and strange, and good for children who have had enough of beaches.
Last day: Valletta, then home
We handed back the car and our bags at the airport and took the bus into Valletta for our last afternoon. We spent the time at the City Gate, in the streets around St John’s, at a playground by Fort St Elmo, and on the ferry to Sliema. It’s the easiest way to see Malta’s capital without a car. Our full day is in Valletta with kids.
Only 3 days in Gozo? Do this
- Day 1: ferry over, Ġgantija, and Ramla Bay in the afternoon.
- Day 2: Xlendi in the morning, the Citadel after lunch, and sunset at Dwejra.
- Day 3: Comino, with the morning booking slot, then the salt pans on the way back.
What we’d change about this itinerary
- Ġgantija on day one, before it closes.
- Comino on a weekday, never a Sunday.
- Sunset times checked in advance. We needed three trips to Dwejra partly because we kept arriving late.
- Come in June or September if you want to swim. May was perfect for exploring and cold for the sea.
More Malta and Gozo
- Gozo with kids: 7 best things to do, beaches and where to stay
- Blue Lagoon Comino with kids: booking, boats and tips
- Valletta with kids: one day in Malta’s capital
- Ta Leli villa review, Baron Holiday Homes Gozo
- Mayjo Car Hire Gozo review
Last checked: September 2026. Our trip was in May 2018. The Blue Lagoon booking rules were checked in September 2026 and are set each season.
Gozo itinerary: your questions answered
How many days do you need in Gozo with kids?
Three days as a minimum, five for a relaxed pace. We spent five days on Gozo with a five-year-old and a two-year-old and never felt rushed, which with small children is the point.
Is Gozo worth a day trip from Malta?
It is possible, but with children you lose the best parts. Sunset at Dwejra, breakfast in Xlendi and an evening swim at your accommodation all need you to stay on the island for at least one night.
What is the best base for a Gozo itinerary?
Somewhere central, such as Xagħra or Victoria. We stayed in a villa just outside Xagħra, and nothing on our itinerary was more than about 25 minutes’ drive away.
Can you fit Comino into a Gozo itinerary?
Yes. Boats to Comino leave from Mġarr, the same harbour the Malta ferry arrives at, and the crossing takes only minutes. Since 1 May 2025 you need a free booking to land at the Blue Lagoon, so book a morning slot on a weekday.
How long does it take to get from Malta airport to Gozo?
About an hour and a half door to door. It took us roughly 45 minutes by road to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, about 25 minutes on the Gozo Channel ferry, and then the short drive up from Mġarr.
It’s a wonderful place to live!
Beautiful photos! Malta looks like a very fun experience.
Author
Malta was a nice experience. But, in our heart remains Gozo, it is an amazing island of Malta.