3 Best Sights in Gozo and Comino, Malta

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).

Gozo is famed for its salt, which is still produced in time-honored fashion on the coast west of Marsalforn. Here it is collected from salt pans cut directly into the rock, where seawater gathers and is slowly evaporated in the hot sun. During the summer months (June–September) you will see locals scraping up salt crystals and selling it in small bags for €2 each. The area is well worth exploring further, and just a 20-minute walk west you'll find Wied il-Għasri, a fantastic secret beach with steep rock-cut stairs leading down to a hidden inlet. The coast here—especially the Cathedral and Billinghurst caves—are particularly popular with divers.