CHOOSING BETWEEN MALTA OR GOZO FOR A HOLIDAY.
I recently got asked this question. And it’s a fair one – Malta and Gozo are only a 25-minute ferry ride apart, but they feel like entirely different propositions. One is a bustling island with an international airport and a UNESCO capital. The other is small, quiet, and beautiful.
We’ve spent a lot of time on both – walking the coastal trails, eating our way around the harbours, and generally trying not to leave. So if you’re trying to decide where to base yourself, or whether it’s worth crossing to Gozo at all (it is), here’s our honest take.
Malta and Gozo: The key differences
Malta and Gozo are two separate and distinct islands, but both are part of the larger “Maltese archipelago.”
Below, you can see the main differences between the two islands.
| Malta | Gozo | |
| International Airport | Yes | No |
| Beaches | Yes | Yes |
| Hiking Trails | Yes | Yes |
| Population | 547,300 | 39,000 |
| Size | 320 square kms | 67 square kms |
| Capital | Valletta | Victoria |
In short – Malta is much larger than Gozo and all travellers would need to fly into Malta as there is no international airport in the latter.
Malta: things to see and do
Malta is best known for its historic capital, Valletta. It is a compact but striking city totally filled with grand architecture, sea views, and lots of history. It is well worth spending a couple of days here wandering the streets, stopping for coffee, and exploring the fortifications and harbours.
Just across the water from Valletta are the Three Cities, Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua. These are reached in around five minutes by ferry and are ideal for a slower day of exploring. In fact, I think they are one of the most underrated places to visit in Malta. You will find quiet streets, waterfront cafés, historic buildings, and excellent views back towards Valletta.
Further inland, the towns of Mdina and Rabat offer a very different atmosphere. Mdina, the former capital, is a walled hilltop city with a timeless feel, while Rabat has a more lived-in, local character. This area is also one of the best on the island if you enjoy relaxed ambling punctuated by food – which I very much do.
Along the coast, fishing villages such as Marsaxlokk and Marsaskala are known for their colourful boats and harbourfront seafood restaurants. Marsaxlokk is perhaps the better known, and Marsaskala feels a little more of a secret to discover.
For beach stays and nightlife, St Julian’s and St Paul’s Bay are the main resort areas. They are practical bases with plenty of accommodation and good transport links, although they are much busier and more developed than elsewhere on the island.
If sandy beaches are a priority, the north west coast is your best option, particularly around Golden Bay.
For hiking and coastal scenery, Malta also offers more than many expect. The Dingli Cliffs are the most famous walking area, with sweeping views over the sea. Some of the best coastal walking can also be found along quieter stretches of coastline.
Gozo: things to see and do
Gozo is the smaller of the two islands and it does lack the “grandness” of the Valletta harbour. But, it wowed me in a totally unexpected way – I even shed a few tears as our ferry left the island and vowed to return soon. If you love the idea of small island life and getting away from it all, then Gozo may be appeal to you more than Malta.
The capital of Gozo, Victoria, has a heap of alfresco dining options, great coffee shops and fantastic cultural sights, like the Citadel.
Gozo’s coastline is one of its greatest assets, with hidden coves, dramatic cliffs, and crystal-clear waters. We spent three of our five days on Gozo walking around the coastal trail on the island, so got first hand experience of every single nook and cranny of the coast – and I can assure you, there are some gorgeous spots.
For history lovers, Gozo is also home to some fantastic sights – take the Ġgantija Temples for example – a UNESCO world heritage sight.
Finally, if you’re looking for hiking – the Gozo coastal trail – a three day walk, is one of the best examples of coastal hike we’ve experienced. It really is a treat.
Find our guide to visiting Gozo and things to do here.
Malta or Gozo for beaches
Honest answer: neither island is going to give you white sand beaches and Maldives vibes. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t beautiful swimming spots.
Malta’s coastline is fairly rocky – limestone shelves, natural swimming pools, small coves. But what it may lack in sand it more than makes up for in colour. The water is genuinely, almost unreasonably blue. If sandy beaches matter to you, head to the north-west coast, particularly Golden Bay – it’s the best Malta has to offer.
Find your guide to the best beaches and swimming spots in Malta here.
Gozo surprised us completely on this front. For such a small island, the variety is remarkable – hidden coves, dramatic rocky inlets, and Ramla Bay, which is a long stretch of reddish-gold sand that genuinely is unique. We walked the entire perimeter of the island and dipped into the water in February, which tells you something. The beaches feel wilder and less visited than Malta’s, and if you’re willing to walk a little, you’ll often have a spot entirely to yourself.
Find our guide to the best beaches and swimming spots in Gozo here.
Verdict: Gozo. It’s not even close. But, the water is incredible on both islands.
Malta or Gozo for cultural sights
Malta wins this one, and it’s not a fair fight really, when you consider the size of the islands. Valletta alone could absorb several days – it’s one of the most historic capitals in Europe. The prehistoric temples at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra date back to 3600 BC. Add in Mdina, the Three Cities, and the general sense that every corner has something old behind it, and you have an island that history lovers will adore.
That said, Gozo holds its own for a small island. The Ġgantija Temples are older than Stonehenge and genuinely a bit awe provoking to stand beside. Victoria’s Citadel is compact but quite commanding – and the views to the city are vast.
Verdict: Malta, easily. But don’t write Gozo off, it’s more than just a peaceful island.
Malta or Gozo for hiking
Both islands are better for walking than most people expect. On Malta, the coastal path around the entire island takes around ten days at a relaxed pace – we did it in ten and could have done it in seven.
The Dingli Cliffs section is the one everyone talks about, and rightly so, but there are quieter stretches of coastline that are just as good and far less visited. For example, we loved the walk into St Paul’s Bay.
Malta also has a number of inland hiking trails. Many enjoy walking the prehistoric cart rut trails across the island.
Gozo’s three-day coastal trail is something we’d recommend to almost anyone who loves hiking. The path is well-defined, the scale feels manageable, and by the end of it you’ve seen every corner of the island at close range. And it is a beautiful island.
The stretch into Xlendi alone is worth making the crossing for.
Verdict: Gozo for the trail experience. Malta for variety and length.
Malta or Gozo for food & nightlife
For nightlife, Malta has a few different hubs. St Julian’s is a bit of a party hub for tourists: beach clubs, late bars and restaurants. Valletta also has some lovely restaurants and wine bars – I can’t say that we experienced any raving, but I imagine there are some hot spots. Rabat is worth a mention as well – a few fine dining spots and some characterful wine bars that most visitors never find.
On the food side, both islands share the same Maltese staples and they’re worth seeking out. Pastizzi – flaky pastry parcels stuffed with ricotta or peas – are everywhere and cost almost nothing. I’m slightly ashamed by how many I ate during our three weeks in Malta.
Kinnie, a bittersweet soft drink made from bitter oranges and herbs, is one of those very specific local things that you either love or hate. I was a lover.
Gozo’s food scene is smaller and slower, which suits the island entirely. Long lunches, harbour-side dinners, alfresco everything with sea views. It’s not the place for a big night out (in our experience), but it’s a very good place to eat well without trying too hard. We found lovely restaurants in Xlendi, Victoria and Marsalforn.
Verdict: Malta for nightlife, no question. For food, both deliver.
Visiting both Malta & Gozo
In all honesty, the two islands are so close to one another that you really don’t need to visit just one – unless you’re really short on time.
If you have 7 days or more, you can find our suggested itinerary for seeing both Malta and Gozo in a week.
If you’re visiting from a cruise, you can find our guide to the best day trips on Malta and Gozo.
Malta & Gozo Coastal Trails eBook
If you want all the information you need in one place, why not get hold of our eBook. This book gives you 152 pages of information about the route, including daily stages guides and how to prepare.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
British travel writer and long-distance hiker, native to Kent. Emma has walked the Camino de Santiago more than ten times, completed trails across Europe from the Corfu Trail to the Fisherman’s Trail, and covered thousands of kilometres on foot. She always writes from first-hand experience. Her goal? Inspire just one person to go on their first long-distance hike.
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