16 Best Sights in Gozo and Comino, Malta

Imagine domes rising from the heavy stone walls of eastern Xagħra's 5,800-year-old Ġgantija Temples, and you will get a sense of their original power. Each bears the classic five-apse plan that is the signature of Maltese megalithic temples. This is currently considered to be the oldest free-standing man-made structure in the world, created more than 1,000 years before the first stone was laid of the Pyramids of Giza. Much of it has been reconstructed from sketches by European travelers who visited over the centuries, as locals slowly picked away at its stones. An adjoining museum puts it all in context and shows many of the carvings discovered here.

Housed in the 17th-century palazzo Bondi, the museum exhibits objects from various ancient periods through the early 20th century.

Ticket includes admission to The Old Prison, Gran Castello Historic House, and the Natural Science Museum.

A natural inlet of languid azure waters sheltered by golden-hued rocky islets, its white sand and clear waters make this one of the finest spots for swimming and snorkelling in Malta. A lack of silt results in excellent water clarity and a good range of sea life means there's always something of interest even in the shallows.

Blue Lagoon is regularly used as a film location, most famously for the naval scenes in the Hollywood blockbuster Troy (2004) with Brad Pitt. Today the area has become a must-visit day trip by boat from Malta and the numbers of visitors—thousands in a single day—can overwhelm the site during peak season (July and August).

To escape the crowds, try kayaking trips from the mainland, which drop in on the lagoon but then go on to explore less crowded coves and inlets, with plenty of time for snorkeling.

The original city here is the hilltop Cittadella, which was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John at the turn of the 17th century, after 200 years of attacks by marauding Turks and Berber corsairs. In one raid in 1551, some 6,000 Gozitans (most of the island's population) were abducted into slavery. At night, the villagers on the island could sleep behind the citadel's walls, knowing they were safe. These days barely a handful of people still live here, but its steep, winding streets yield great views from its ramparts. As you enter you'll see the Cathedral of the Assumption to the right; its dome collapsed in an infamous earthquake in 1693 and the event is marked by an excellent trompe l'oeil painting on its interior (€3.50). Several small museums in the Citadella offer displays relating to the history of the settlement that developed within; the pick of these is the recently opened Visitor's Center, which is situated in two disused cisterns and has a fine audio-visual presentation.

For years, the site that drew visitors to Dwejra Bay was the Azure Window, a huge rock arch steeped in mythology—it even made an appearance in the first season of Game of Thrones (as did a lot of Gozo). In 2017, it collapsed into the sea during a storm and inadvertently became one of the most popular diving sites on the island. But it wasn't the only lure to Dwejra, where a rather touristy series of cafés and stalls has built up. The Blue Hole, a spectacular inland sea pool lures swimmers and divers alike, while just to its west stands Fungus Rock, famed during the days of the Knights of St. John for a rare parasitic plant that grew on its summit. They banned all locals from the rock, as they believed the plant had powerful medicinal properties—it didn't. These days, the Inland Sea, a lagoon connected to the ocean by a 100 m-long rock tunnel is perhaps the biggest draw to the bay. Once a busy haven for fishermen, now boatmen ferry visitors (€4) through the tunnel in a loop around Dwejra Point to get the best view of the unusual rock formations and to peer down to try and see the remains of the arch.

This intriguing museum was formerly known as the Folklore Museum and occupies three 16th-century houses, featuring displays relating to the traditional crafts and rural lifestyle of the island.

Your ticket also includes admission to The Archaeology Museum, The Old Prison, and The Natural Science Museum.

On an island characterized by cliffs and a rocky coastline, this is one of Gozo's prettiest coastal inlets. The clear waters and many small caves along the waterline attract snorkelers, divers, and kayakers who can access the site from the shore. This is also the launching point for kayaking trips to Comino. A whole range of sea creatures live in and around the rocks including sea urchins, crabs, and small- to medium-size fish. There's a tiny sandy stretch but this is not a sunbather's beach. Several metal stairways lead directly from the rocks into the water. It's busiest on summer weekends when local families come to spend the day. Best for: snorkeling; swimming. Amenities: food and drink (summer only); parking (no fee).

Gozo's widest beach has fine ocher-color sand interspersed with areas of pebbles and boulders. The water conditions are good for children and nonswimmers. It's calm with an easy entrance into the sea and a wide stretch of shallow water. There are stones underfoot in the shallows, so beach shoes are a good idea. There's no natural shade but a concession rents sun umbrellas. The beach is especially busy on summer weekends when local families spend the day. Best for: swimming. Amenities: food and drink (summer only); lifeguards (summer only); parking (no fee).

Offers PADI courses ranging from beginner to technical, and has a comprehensive list of dive sites that it visits around the islands of Gozo and Comino.

The splendid baroque St. George's Basilica has the most beautifully ornate interior on Gozo, hence its nickname as the "Golden Basilica." It also has the only bronze door on the island, and is home to some superb artwork, including two works by the prolific Mattia Preti. The adjoining Heart of Gozo museum (free entry) is also worth exploration and houses a rich collection of historic, religious, and artistic artifacts gifted by various popes and wealthy benefactors over the centuries.

The 3-square-km (1-square-mi) island is populated by a handful of people year-round. Day-trippers walk the dirt paths and swim in the beautiful but overcrowded Blue Lagoon.

The baker at Mekren's Bakery makes some of Gozo's best bread in the traditional way—hand shaped and cooked in a limestone wood burning oven—and the most delicious wood-fired pizza that you can take away.