I spent fourteen years on the other side of hotel bookings, as an account manager working with hotels on how they appear and sell online. The thing I learned that matters most to families isn’t the star rating. It’s where the hotel actually sits, and what’s within walking distance of the room when your two-year-old wakes up at 6 am.
On Gozo that decision is easier than most places, because the island is only about 13 km long. But the villages are very different from each other. This is where to stay in Gozo with kids, area by area, including where we stayed ourselves: a villa with a pool in Xagħra, for five nights in May 2018.
Where to stay in Gozo with kids, in short
- Best overall for families with a car: a villa or farmhouse with a pool in a central village such as Xagħra (where we stayed).
- Best without a car: Marsalforn. It has a beach, promenade, restaurants and ice cream, all on foot.
- Best for sea views: Xlendi.
- Best central base: Victoria.
- Best resort: San Lawrenz, home of the Kempinski.
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.
These are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Gozo areas for families, compared
| Area | Best for | Beach on foot? | Car needed? | Did we stay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xagħra | Villas with pools, central, quiet | No. Ramla Bay is about 3 km | Yes | Yes, 5 nights |
| Marsalforn | Walking to the sea, restaurants, ice cream | Yes (a 2026 Blue Flag beach) | Helpful, not essential | No |
| Xlendi | Sea views, waterfront dinners | Rocky bay, swimming from platforms | Helpful | No, but we visited twice |
| Victoria | A central base, supermarkets, the Citadel | No | Yes | No |
| San Lawrenz | A full resort hotel, near Dwejra | No | Yes | No |
| Villages (Għasri, Kerċem, Għarb…) | Farmhouses with pools, space for big families | No | Yes | No |
Xagħra: a villa with a pool (where we stayed)
We stayed at Ta Leli Holiday Home, a three-bedroom country house with four bathrooms and a private pool, about 1.2 km outside Xagħra. Our stay was a collaboration with Baron Holiday Homes. Xagħra sits on a hill in the middle of the island. Ramla Bay is 2.7 km away and Ġgantija Temples are in the village itself.
Why it worked with kids: a full kitchen for a toddler’s timetable, a pool the boys used the minute they woke up, and nowhere on the island more than about 25 minutes’ drive away.
What to check: the pool depth. Ta Leli’s pool is 0.9–1.9 m deep, with nowhere for a two-year-old to stand. Baron lists it from about €143–199 a night (checked September 2026).
Check prices and availability for Ta Leli →
Marsalforn: best if you don’t want to drive everywhere
Marsalforn is a small seaside town on the north coast, with a promenade, restaurants, ice cream and a sandy town beach that holds a Blue Flag in 2026. It’s the one place on Gozo where you can have a beach day with small children without getting in the car. The Xwejni salt pans are a short walk or drive along the coast.
- Hotel Calypso: on the seafront.
- Murella Living: apartments in Marsalforn.
Xlendi: best for sea views
We didn’t stay in Xlendi, but we went twice, once just for breakfast with the view. It’s a small fishing village at the end of a narrow inlet between high cliffs, and one of the prettiest places on the island. It’s better for older children than toddlers, because swimming is off the rocks rather than from sand.
- Cesca’s Boutique Hotel: four stars, with an outdoor pool, a short walk from the bay.
- Hotel San Andrea: on the Xlendi waterfront.
Victoria: best central base
Gozo’s capital has the Citadel, supermarkets and the bus hub, and it’s the practical choice if you plan to drive to a different corner of the island every day. It doesn’t have a beach.
San Lawrenz: the resort option
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is Gozo’s big five-star resort, in the west of the island, a short drive from Dwejra. It’s the choice if you want a hotel that does everything: pools, spa and restaurants on site. We haven’t stayed there.
Farmhouses in the villages: best for big families
Gozo is known for converted farmhouses: old stone houses with modern kitchens and private pools, many in the villages of Għasri, Kerċem and Għarb. Baron Holiday Homes alone has farmhouses sleeping up to 16. With grandparents, or two families together, this is the best value on the island.
What I check before booking a family stay in Gozo
After fourteen years working with hotels on the booking side, this is my own shortlist:
- Pool depth, not pool size. A big, deep pool is useless for a toddler. Look for a shallow step or a separate children’s pool in the photos, and ask if you can’t see one.
- Parking. In Xlendi and Marsalforn, parking in high season is the real problem, not the room. Check the property has its own.
- Air conditioning in the bedrooms, not only the living room, for July and August.
- Walking distance to food. In a village villa, find out where the nearest shop and bakery are before you arrive. You’ll use them every morning.
- Cot and high chair: villas often charge for them per booking. Ask before you pay.
More Malta and Gozo
- Malta and Gozo with kids: our family guide
- Gozo with kids: 7 best things to do
- The best Gozo beaches for kids
- Malta airport to Gozo with kids
- Baron Holiday Homes Gozo review: Ta Leli
Where to stay in Gozo: your questions answered
What is the best area to stay in Gozo with kids?
For families with a car, a villa with a pool in a central village such as Xagħra, where we stayed. Without a car, Marsalforn is best, because the beach, promenade, restaurants and shops are all within walking distance.
Is it better to stay in Marsalforn or Xlendi with kids?
Marsalforn, for young children. It has a sandy town beach with a 2026 Blue Flag and flat seafront walks. Xlendi is prettier, but swimming there is mainly off the rocks, which suits older children who swim confidently.
Do you need a car if you stay in Gozo?
Yes, unless you stay in Marsalforn and are happy to use buses. Villas and farmhouses are mostly in villages, and a car is what makes the rest of the island reachable in 20–25 minutes.
Are there villas with private pools in Gozo?
Yes, many. Gozo is known for converted farmhouses and villas with private pools, especially in villages such as Xagħra, Għasri, Kerċem and Għarb. We stayed at Ta Leli in Xagħra, a three-bedroom villa with a 5.5 × 3.2 m pool.
Is there a luxury resort in Gozo for families?
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is Gozo’s main five-star resort, in the west of the island near Dwejra, with pools, a spa and restaurants on site.
Last checked: September 2026. We stayed in Gozo in May 2018. Ta Leli’s price comes from Baron’s current listing, and the Blue Flag status is for 2026. We have stayed only at Ta Leli. The other properties are listed for their location, not reviewed.
