There is no airport on Gozo. Whatever you do, the trip from Malta airport to Gozo means a road journey to one end of Malta and a ferry across. With a five-year-old, a two-year-old and all our luggage, that sounded like the worst part of the holiday. It turned out to be the part the boys remember best: their first ferry.
We did it in May 2018, and it took about an hour and a half door to door. Here are the five ways to get from Malta airport to Gozo with kids, compared honestly, with every fare checked in September 2026.
Malta airport to Gozo, in short
- Easiest with small kids: a Gozo car hire company that meets you at the airport and takes you over (what we did), or a pre-booked transfer.
- Cheapest: the bus to Ċirkewwa, then the Gozo Channel ferry as foot passengers.
- Fastest without a car: the bus or a taxi to Valletta, then the 45-minute fast ferry.
- The ferry is paid only once, when you leave Gozo. Children under 3 travel free.
Short on time? Our top 3 family stays in Malta & Gozo
Ta Leli Holiday Home – Xagħra, a private 3-bedroom villa with its own pool, 2.7 km from Ramla Bay.
Grand Hotel Excelsior – Floriana, a waterfront resort with pools, walking distance to Valletta.
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz – San Lawrenz, Gozo’s big five-star resort, a short drive from Dwejra.
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The 5 ways compared
| Option | Route | Rough time to Mġarr | Good with small kids? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gozo car hire pick-up | Driver meets you at arrivals → Ċirkewwa → car ferry | About 1.5 hours to Victoria (our trip) | Best. No luggage handling, no navigating |
| 2. Hire a car in Malta | Drive to Ċirkewwa → car ferry | About 1–1.5 hours, depending on traffic | Good, but you drive on the left straight after a flight |
| 3. Taxi or transfer to Ċirkewwa | Taxi to the ferry → walk on | About 1–1.5 hours | Good. Book child seats in advance |
| 4. Bus to Valletta + fast ferry | Bus to Valletta → lift down to the harbour → fast ferry | About 1.5–2 hours with connections | OK with light luggage |
| 5. X1 bus to Ċirkewwa + car ferry | Direct bus to the ferry → walk on | Allow 2 hours or more | Hard with a toddler and suitcases |
Option 1: a Gozo car hire company that picks you up (what we did)
We landed at about 10:15. A driver from Mayjo Car Hire was waiting outside arrivals with our name on a sign. He drove us about 45 minutes north to Ċirkewwa and onto the Gozo Channel ferry, and roughly 25 minutes later we were driving up from Mġarr to their office in Victoria to collect our car. About an hour and a half in total, and we didn’t carry a single bag onto the ferry.
Our car and transfer were provided free by Mayjo as a collaboration. We paid for our fuel. Airport transfers are a separate paid service with most Gozo companies, so ask for one quote covering the car, the transfer and child seats.
Why it’s the best option with small kids: no airport car-hire queue, no driving on the left straight after a flight, and no finding the ferry terminal yourself. At the end of the trip they collected the car from our villa.
Option 2: hire a car in Malta and take the car ferry
Drive from the airport to Ċirkewwa, at the far north-west tip of Malta, and queue for the Gozo Channel car ferry. There’s no booking: you drive on in the order you arrive.
- Ferry cost (Sept 2026): €15.70 return for the car and driver, plus €4.65 for each adult passenger and €1.15 for each child aged 3–12, all paid on the way back.
- Watch out for: driving on the left, and summer weekend queues at Ċirkewwa.
Option 3: taxi or pre-booked transfer to Ċirkewwa
A taxi or a pre-booked transfer takes you to the ferry terminal, and you walk on as foot passengers. It’s simple with luggage. The one thing to arrange in advance is child seats: ask for them when you book, as not every taxi carries them. Some transfer companies go all the way to your Gozo accommodation, using the car ferry.
Option 4: bus to Valletta, then the fast ferry
The fast ferry runs from Valletta’s harbour to Mġarr in about 45 minutes, for foot passengers only. In 2026 a single ticket is listed at around €7.50 for adults and €3.00 for children aged 4–10, and younger children travel free. Book ahead in summer.
- Take the bus from the airport to Valletta, which drops you at City Gate. A single ticket is €2.50 in summer and €2.00 in winter (2026), and under-4s travel free.
- From Upper Barrakka Gardens, the Barrakka Lift takes you down to the harbour, which saves a very steep walk with bags. It costs €1 return for adults and is free for children.
- Good if you’re spending a day in Valletta first, or you’re travelling light.
Option 5: the X1 bus direct to Ċirkewwa
The X1 bus runs between the airport and the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal. It’s the cheapest option, at the price of a normal bus ticket plus the foot-passenger ferry fare. But it’s a long ride right across Malta. With a toddler, a car seat and suitcases, I wouldn’t choose it. Check the current timetable on Malta Public Transport before relying on it.
Tips for the Gozo ferry with kids
- Go up on deck. Comino and the Blue Lagoon pass on one side, and the Gozo cliffs rise ahead. For our boys it was the highlight of the day.
- You only pay on the way back, at Mġarr. The crossing over is effectively free until you leave.
- Under-3s travel free on the car ferry. Child tickets (3–12) are €1.15 return.
- Snacks and water: there’s a café on board, but with a hungry child, bring your own for the wait at Ċirkewwa.
More Malta and Gozo
- Malta and Gozo with kids: our family guide
- Where to stay in Gozo with kids
- Gozo with kids: 7 best things to do
- Mayjo Car Hire Gozo review
Malta airport to Gozo: your questions answered
How long does it take to get from Malta airport to Gozo?
About an hour and a half door to door by car. It took us around 45 minutes by road from the airport to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal and about 25 minutes on the Gozo Channel ferry. By public transport, allow two hours or more.
How much is the ferry from Malta to Gozo?
As of September 2026 the Gozo Channel return fare is €4.65 per adult, €1.15 for children aged 3–12, free for under-3s, and €15.70 for a car with its driver. You pay only once, when you leave Gozo at Mġarr.
Do you need to book the Gozo ferry?
Not the Gozo Channel car ferry from Ċirkewwa, which runs 24 hours a day on a first-come, first-served basis. The fast ferry from Valletta should be booked in advance, especially in summer.
Is there a fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo?
Yes. A fast ferry for foot passengers runs from Valletta’s Grand Harbour to Mġarr in about 45 minutes. In 2026 a single ticket is listed at around €7.50 for adults and €3.00 for children aged 4–10.
What is the easiest way to get to Gozo with young children?
A Gozo car hire company or transfer that meets you at Malta airport and takes you across on the car ferry. That is what we did with a five-year-old and a two-year-old: no luggage to carry and no driving on the left straight after the flight.
Last checked: September 2026. Our journey was in May 2018. Gozo Channel and bus fares come from the operators. The fast ferry fare comes from a 2026 guide, as the operator’s site wouldn’t load, so check it when you book.
