How to get from Malta to Gozo – Ferry options, prices & travel tips

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Getting from Malta Airport to Gozo is straightforward, but if it’s your first time, especially travelling with kids or a toddler, luggage or a hire car, it helps to know your options before you arrive. We took the Gozo ferry with a toddler, late at night, and it couldn’t have been easier. This guide covers ferry routes, ticket prices, timings and toddler tips. If you’re still deciding whether to visit Gozo, check our Gozo travel guide.

How to get from Malta to Gozo

There are two ways to make the crossing. The Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa is the most popular option, it takes cars, runs frequently and is the cheaper of the two. If you’re based in Valletta and travelling without a car, the fast ferry is quicker and more convenient. Both are straightforward and neither will cause you any stress.

What is the fastest and easiest way to get from Malta to Gozo?

Fastest: The fast ferry from Valletta at around 45 minutes, though you’ll need to factor in getting to Valletta first.
Easiest: The Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa – it runs every 30 to 45 minutes, no booking needed and takes cars.
Cheapest: The Gozo Channel Ferry at around €4.65 per adult.

Which ferry should you use?

Gozo Channel Ferry: Best if you’re bringing a hire car, travelling with a lot of luggage, or want the flexibility of jumping on without pre-booking.
Fast Ferry: Best if you’re based in Valletta and travelling on foot, or visiting Gozo for the day without a car.

Which ferry is best depending on where you’re staying in Malta?

> Valletta: The fast ferry is the obvious choice – the terminal is close and it’s the quickest crossing.
> Sliema or St Julian’s: Either option works. The fast ferry adds a short transfer to Valletta; the Gozo Channel Ferry means heading north to Ċirkewwa.
> North Malta: The Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa is the easiest and most direct option.
> Malta Airport: The Gozo Channel Ferry is usually the most straightforward – get a taxi or bus to Ċirkewwa and you’re on your way.

How long does it take?

Expect the full journey to take around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on route and waiting time.

Gozo ferry

Option 1: Gozo Channel Ferry (Car and passenger)

The Gozo Channel Ferry is the route most visitors take. It runs between Ċirkewwa at Malta’s northern tip and Mġarr, Gozo’s main port, and is the only option if you’re bringing a hire car across.

> Journey time: 25 minutes
> Frequency: Every 30-45 minutes, daily
> Cost: Around €4.65 per adult, paid on the return crossing from Gozo
> Children: Under 3 travel free; ages 3-12 around €1.15
> If you’re bringing a hire car across, the cost is around €15.70 for the car plus driver. After 8pm, the fare drops slightly – €4.05 for foot passengers and €12.80 for a car and driver.
> Booking: No advance booking needed for foot passengers

If you’re travelling with a buggy, the Gozo Channel Ferry is well suited for it. We left ours downstairs with the luggage and carried our little one up to the passenger deck. There was plenty of space and no need to fold it up.

If you’re hiring a car and need a car seat, check directly with your hire company before you travel, availability can vary and it’s not worth leaving to chance with little ones.

Getting to Ċirkewwa from Malta Airport:

> Taxi or private transfer: 45-60 minutes
> Public bus: Around 90 minutes; route TD1 runs directly to Cirkewwa The Moovit app is useful for planning bus routes and checking real time timetables while you’re on the move.

Option 2: Fast ferry from Valletta (Foot passengers only)

The fast ferry is worth considering if you’re based in Valletta or just visiting Gozo for the day. We didn’t take this route ourselves, we came in via Ċirkewwa, but here’s what you need to know:

> Journey time: 45 minutes
> Operators: Gozo Highspeed and Virtu Ferries
> Cost: Around €6 to €7.50 per adult each way
> Children: Under 4 travel free; discounts often available
> Booking: Recommended online during peak

Getting to Valletta Fast Ferry Terminal from Malta Airport:

> Taxi: Around 20 minutes
> Public bus: 30-40 minutes (routes X4 or X1)

You can bring luggage and pushchairs, but space is more limited than on the Gozo Channel Ferry, so bear that in mind if you’re travelling with a lot of kit.

Day tours from Malta to Gozo

If you’d rather have everything arranged, several companies run day trips from Malta to Gozo that include hotel pick up, ferry tickets and a guided itinerary. Some also combine a stop at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, so you get two islands in one day.

👉 Check prices on Viator
👉 Check prices on GetYourGuide

Gozo ferry terminal

Ferry timetables at a glance

Route

Operator

Frequency

Duration

Car access

Ċirkewwa – Mġarr

Gozo Channel Line

Every 30–45 mins

25 min

Yes

Valletta – Mġarr

Gozo Highspeed / Virtu

~15 daily sailings

45 min

No

Always check official timetables before you travel, schedules can change seasonally.

What to know before you go

A few things worth knowing before you travel:

> Buses are cheap but can be slow and crowded, particularly in peak season. If you’re carrying a lot of luggage or travelling with young kids, a taxi or private transfer to the terminal is much less stressful.
> During busy periods you may have a short wait for the Gozo Channel Ferry, but it runs frequently enough that it’s rarely more than 30 to 45 minutes.
> The fast ferry can get choppy in windy weather. Worth knowing if you’re travelling with little ones or are prone to seasickness.
> There is a café on both ferries, but queues can be long, so it’s worth taking snacks for little ones.
> Both ferries and the terminal buildings have free wifi, which makes it easy to let your accomodation know you’re on your way.
> In peak season there’s usually a small luggage trailer parked outside the terminal where you can leave your cases to be loaded on board. Useful if you’re travelling with a lot of kit and don’t want to lug it all up the stairs yourself.
> Worth checking the live ferry queue webcam on the Gozo Channel website before you set off, if cars are queuing it gives you a realistic idea of waiting time.

Our experience travelling from Malta Airport to Gozo

We took the Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa, getting a taxi from the airport to the terminal. We had time to grab a drink before boarding, which with a toddler in tow felt like a small victory.

Our crossing was after midnight and it was still completely straightforward, no pre-booking needed, no stress. The ferry was quiet at that hour which actually worked in our favour. Eloise had slept on the plane and arrived with a full second wind, so having space to run around was a blessing. I kept her inside rather than out on the open deck, too dark and too nervous for that, but there was plenty of room and it was relaxed.

The crossing itself took just 25 minutes to Mġarr. On the way back we went straight from Gozo to the airport and made our flight comfortably, so even on a travel day it’s very manageable.

Arriving at Mġarr – what to expect

Mġarr is a small, quiet port and if you’re arriving late it will be very quiet. There’s no obvious taxi rank waiting for you when you step off the ferry, so if you don’t have a hire car arranged, we’d strongly recommend pre-booking a transfer rather than assuming you’ll find one on arrival. It’s a small island and you won’t want to be stranded at the port at midnight with a toddler and a pile of luggage.

If you are hiring a car, most rental companies will arrange a pickup point at or near the port, worth confirming with them before you travel.

Once you’re through the port, getting around is straightforward. Gozo is a small island and nowhere takes long to reach, Victoria, the capital, is around 15 minutes from Mġarr, and most beaches and villages are within a similar distance. We’d recommend hiring a car for flexibility, but the distances are short enough that it never feels like a trek.

FAQs about getting from Malta Airport to Gozo

For foot passengers, no booking is needed for the Gozo Channel Ferry, just turn up. For the fast ferry from Valletta, booking online is recommended during busy periods.

Yes, but only on the Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa. The fast ferry from Valletta is foot passenger only.

Allow at least 90 minutes to 2 hours total, including travel from the airport to the terminal, ferry crossing, and any waiting time.

No – you’ll need to travel to either Ċirkewwa or Valletta ferry terminal first.

The public bus to Ċirkewwa plus the Gozo Channel Ferry is the most budget friendly option.

Yes. See my full guide on whether Gozo is worth visiting for help deciding.

Final thoughts: Choosing the best route

Both routes are straightforward and neither will cause you any stress. If you’re bringing a car or travelling with young kids and lots of luggage, the Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa is the easier option. If you’re based in Valletta or just going for the day, the fast ferry makes more sense.

Once you’re there, our Gozo travel guide covers everything you need – if Gozo is worth visiting, its beaches, things to do, where to eat, getting around and more.

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