Malta to Gozo Ferry — The Complete Guide 2026
Getting to Gozo is one of the finest short journeys in the Mediterranean.
On a clear morning, the 25-minute crossing from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr Harbour gives you Comino sitting in the channel between the two islands — the turquoise of the Blue Lagoon visible on the northern side, the limestone cliffs of Gozo growing larger ahead. It is a journey that most people who have done it once remember clearly, long after they have forgotten the details of the trip.
This guide covers everything — both ferry options in detail, current prices and timetables, every bus route from every part of Malta, what to do when you arrive at Mġarr, practical tips that most guides miss, and how to combine your Gozo ferry crossing with a private boat tour that starts the moment you arrive.
The Two Options — Which Ferry Is Right for You?
There are two completely separate ferry services connecting Malta and Gozo. They serve different routes, different passengers, and different purposes. Understanding the difference before you travel saves significant time and confusion.
| Gozo Channel Ferry | Gozo Fast Ferry | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Gozo Channel | Gozo Highspeed |
| Route | Ċirkewwa → Mġarr Harbour | Valletta Grand Harbour → Mġarr Harbour |
| Crossing time | 25 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Passengers | ✅ Foot passengers AND vehicles | ✅ Foot passengers only |
| Frequency | Up to every 30 minutes — 24hrs | Approximately hourly — 05:45 to 21:15 |
| Standard fare | €4.65 per foot passenger | €7.50 one way |
| Cars | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Bikes and e-scooters | ✅ Yes (fee applies) | ✅ Free |
| WiFi on board | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pets | ✅ Leashed or in container | ✅ Up to 2 per passenger |
| Best for | Guests with a car, most travellers | Valletta-based guests, foot passengers |
Option 1 — Gozo Channel Ferry from Ċirkewwa
The Gozo Channel Ferry is the main ferry service — the one most visitors use and the one that has been running since 1979. It operates from Ċirkewwa at the northernmost tip of Malta to Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. The crossing takes approximately 25 minutes.
Schedule
The ferry runs almost continuously — from midnight until 23:15 with departures approximately every 30 to 45 minutes during the day. In peak season the service runs more frequently. The first departure is around midnight and the last is 23:15 — making it effectively an all-day, every-day service.
Check the live timetable before you go: www.gozochannel.com
Check the Ċirkewwa ferry queue live: Ċirkewwa Webcam — shows current queue length and weather conditions in real time. Genuinely useful before driving north on a summer Sunday.
Prices — Gozo Channel Ferry 2026
Foot Passengers:
- Standard adult fare: €4.65
- Children (aged 3 to 12): €1.15
Vehicles:
- Car and driver: €15.70
- Motorcycle and rider: €8.15
- Bicycle: €1.15
Night travel discounts (for non-Gozo residents):
- Standard night passenger fare: €4.05 — departing Mġarr after 20:00, November to March
- Car and driver night fare: €12.80 — departing Mġarr, November to March
- Motorcycle night fare: €6.95 — crossing between 01:30 and 04:30 during winter timetable
Ticket purchase: Foot passengers buy tickets at the passenger terminal. Vehicle passengers proceed to the ticket booth and then join the vehicle queue where an officer scans the ticket before boarding.
What the Ferry Is Like
The Gozo Channel operates four vessels. Onboard each ship you will find an outside deck, a comfortable lounge, a snack bar serving hot and cold drinks and food, a small shop with magazines and souvenirs, and toilets on the first floor. The crossing is pleasant in good weather — particularly on the upper outside deck where Comino is visible on the left side as you cross.
What to Do at Ċirkewwa Before Your Crossing
If you arrive early or the ferry queue is moving slowly, Ċirkewwa has more to offer than most passengers realise. The Ċirkewwa Cafe next to the harbour is where the boat skippers, ferry crew, and regulars start every morning — a genuinely good coffee stop with the harbour right in front of you. Paradise Bay is a two-minute walk south — a small sandy cove that is one of the finest quick-swim spots in north Malta.
Furthermore, Ċirkewwa is the departure point for all private boat tours to the Blue Lagoon and Comino. If your Gozo trip includes a boat experience, this is where it begins. For everything about Ċirkewwa, read our complete Ċirkewwa Malta guide here.
Option 2 — Gozo Fast Ferry from Valletta
The Gozo Highspeed Fast Ferry is the newer of the two services — launched in 2021, it operates exclusively for foot passengers between Valletta Grand Harbour and Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. The crossing takes approximately 45 minutes.
Schedule
The fast ferry runs from 05:45 to approximately 21:15 on weekdays — with approximately 23 crossings per day. On Saturdays and Sundays, an additional final crossing runs at 22:45. The service operates approximately hourly throughout the day.
Check the live timetable and book online: gozohighspeed.com
💡 Tip: Book online in advance — it guarantees your spot and gives you a discounted return ticket price.
Prices — Fast Ferry 2026
- Standard one-way fare: €7.50
- Special online return offer: €9.50
- Gozo residents: €2.25
- Seniors and disability card holders: €3.00
- Children (4 to 10 years): €3.00
- Infants (up to 3 years): Free
- University and MCAST Gozitan students: €4.50
- Bicycles, e-scooters, and e-bikes: Free (notify on arrival)
What Makes the Fast Ferry Different
The Gozo Highspeed vessels accommodate over 300 passengers and are significantly more modern than the Gozo Channel ships. WiFi is available throughout the crossing. Pets are welcome with advance declaration — up to two pets per passenger. Bicycles and electric scooters are free. Wheelchairs are fully catered for with dedicated accessibility provisions throughout.
The 45-minute crossing from Valletta is longer than the Ċirkewwa route — however, for guests staying in or near Valletta, it eliminates a 45-minute drive to Ċirkewwa. The approach to Mġarr from the Valletta fast ferry — crossing the open sea from the south — is a spectacular crossing with excellent views of the Gozo coast as you arrive.
Check in 15 to 20 minutes before departure.
Getting to the Valletta Fast Ferry Terminal
- By bus: Take any bus to Valletta bus station. From there, the fast ferry terminal is a 10-minute walk, or take the free shuttle service on bus X133 directly to the Grand Harbour terminal
- From Malta International Airport: Take route TD4 — departs hourly from the airport from 05:30 to 00:30 — and it takes you directly to the Gozo Fast Ferry at the Grand Harbour
- By taxi or ride-hailing: eCabs, Bolt, and Uber all drop off at the terminal. Note that car parking near the Grand Harbour terminal is limited
- On foot from Valletta: 10-minute walk from the main bus station
How to Get to Ċirkewwa — Every Option
By Bus from Anywhere in Malta
Every major area in Malta is connected to Ċirkewwa by direct bus. These are the routes:
| Route | Starts From |
|---|---|
| Route 41 | Valletta |
| Route 42 | Valletta |
| Route 101 | Mġarr, Malta |
| Route 221 | Buġibba |
| Route 222 | Sliema |
| Route X1 | Malta International Airport |
| Route TD1 | Malta International Airport |
| Route X300 | Valletta |
Journey times from key areas:
- From Valletta: approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
- From Sliema: approximately 1 hour
- From Buġibba and St Paul’s Bay: approximately 30 minutes
- From Malta International Airport: approximately 1 hour (route X1)
Tickets are purchased from the bus driver on board. These are single journey cash tickets. Rates vary between summer (mid-June to mid-October) and winter months. A single journey is €2.50. A 7-day unlimited travel card (Tallinja card) costs €21 and is excellent value for a week-long Malta visit.
💡 Bus tip: Summer buses to Ċirkewwa fill quickly on weekend mornings. If you have a fixed departure time for a ferry, boat tour, or other booking — take a taxi or Bolt rather than relying on the bus. Missing a boat tour because the 42 was full is genuinely frustrating.
By Car
Ċirkewwa is at the northern end of Malta’s main road. Follow any road sign to Gozo from anywhere on the island — the signage is consistent and clear. No navigation required.
Parking is available at the terminal. It fills quickly on summer weekend mornings. Arriving before 09:00 on Saturday and Sunday in July and August gives you the best chance of a terminal-side space. If the terminal car park is full, there is additional parking along the approach road.
Check the queue before you leave using the live Ċirkewwa webcam — particularly important on summer Sunday evenings when the return queue from Gozo to Malta can be extremely long.
By Bolt or Taxi
Ride-hailing services (Bolt, eCabs, Uber) operate across Malta and are significantly cheaper than traditional white taxis:
- From Valletta: approximately €15 to €22
- From Sliema: approximately €14 to €20
- From St Julian’s: approximately €13 to €19
- From Mellieħa Bay: approximately €4 to €8
- From Buġibba: approximately €10 to €15
Traditional taxis cost significantly more — always agree the price before getting in.
Arriving at Mġarr Harbour — What Happens When You Get Off the Ferry
Both the Gozo Channel ferry and the Gozo Fast Ferry dock at Mġarr Harbour on Gozo’s southeast coast. This is your first view of Gozo from the sea — and it is an extraordinary one. Fort Chambray rises on the headland above, the Gothic spire of the Lourdes Chapel stands on the hill to the right, and the colourful fishing boats bob in the marina below.
Do Not Walk Straight to the Car Park
Most visitors step off the ferry and walk directly to the car park or the bus stop. This is the wrong move.
Mġarr Harbour is worth at least 30 minutes of exploration before driving north. The marina promenade has the 1948 Tragedy Monument (commemorating Gozo’s worst maritime disaster — 24 lives lost), the extraordinary Dghajsa tal-Latini traditional boat monument, and the mosaic murals at the ferry terminal entrance. Furthermore, Żewwieqa Bay — a small rocky swimming cove directly beside the harbour with wooden decking and showers — is the finest quick-swim stop on arrival in Gozo.
And most importantly — Gleneagles Bar (known locally as Barraka, meaning “blessing” in Arabic) is directly on the harbour front. This is a Gozo institution — a harbour bar that has been here since the early 1960s, with a terrace looking directly over the harbour, Fort Chambray, and the Comino channel. The screenplay for Man on Fire (2004, Denzel Washington) was written here. Order a Cisk or a Pimm’s and take fifteen minutes to absorb the fact that you are in Gozo. You have earned it.
For the complete Mġarr Harbour guide including all restaurants, the history, and private boat tour departures, read our complete Mġarr Harbour guide here.
Getting Around Gozo from Mġarr
By bus:
- Route 301 and Route 323 connect Mġarr Harbour to Victoria (Gozo’s capital) and the rest of the island
- Buses depart from directly outside the ferry terminal
By taxi or ride-hailing:
- eCabs, Bolt, and Uber operate across Gozo
- Traditional taxis are available at the harbour — agree the price before getting in
By car hire:
- Several car hire operators serve Gozo — pre-booking is strongly recommended in summer
By private boat:
- If your Gozo day includes a boat tour, Outdoor Explorers Malta departs directly from Mġarr Harbour — no additional travel required after the ferry crossing. Contact us here to arrange pickup at Mġarr.
Combining the Gozo Ferry with a Private Boat Tour
This is the combination that most visitors to Gozo overlook — and it is genuinely the finest single day available in the Maltese islands.
Take the morning fast ferry from Valletta or the Gozo Channel from Ċirkewwa. Arrive at Mġarr. Walk 50 metres to the slipway. Board your private boat with your skipper waiting at the dock. Spend six or eight hours on the Gozo and Comino coastline. Return to Mġarr. Have dinner at Kcina tal-Barraka (fresh fish — the lampuki, tuna, and scorpion fish soup are unmissable) or at Ta’ Tonna for genuine Gozitan pasta. Take the evening ferry back.
The day covers more of the Maltese islands — from more extraordinary angles — than almost any other single day available anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Private boat tours departing from Mġarr Harbour:
| Tour | Duration | Price | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Hour Tour | 3 hours | €289 per boat | South Gozo + Blue Lagoon ⭐ Most Popular |
| 4-Hour Tour | 4 hours | €369 per boat | Full south Gozo circuit |
| 6-Hour Tour | 6 hours | €519 per boat | Comino + complete south Gozo |
| 8-Hour Tour | 8 hours | Contact us | Complete Gozo circumnavigation |
For the complete Gozo private boat tour guide, read here.
Accessibility
Both ferry services are fully accessible for passengers with mobility requirements:
Gozo Channel: Ramps and elevators on all vessels. Dedicated crew available to assist. Terminal facilities include accessibility provisions at both Ċirkewwa and Mġarr.
Gozo Highspeed: Wheelchair accessible throughout. Dedicated accessibility provisions on all vessels.
Both terminal operators encourage guests with specific accessibility requirements to contact them in advance so the crew can provide the appropriate assistance.
Pets on the Gozo Ferry
Gozo Channel: Pets are welcome — must be leashed or in a pet container. Pets are allowed in the lobby area and all outdoor spaces of the vessels.
Gozo Highspeed Fast Ferry: Up to two pets per passenger — must be declared during the online booking stage.
Travel Tips — What Most Guides Do Not Tell You
Check the queue before you drive north. The Ċirkewwa webcam shows the current car queue in real time. On summer Sunday evenings, the return queue from Gozo to Malta can exceed an hour. Knowing this before you leave Gozo can save significant frustration.
Sunday is the busiest day. The Gozo ferry on a summer Sunday morning — families heading to Gozo for the day, tourists, day-trippers — is at maximum capacity. Arrive at Ċirkewwa before 09:00 if you want a car space on an early crossing.
The fast ferry fills up. The Gozo Highspeed can be sold out for specific crossings in peak season. Book online in advance, particularly for the first morning crossings and the last evening return crossings.
Night crossings are extraordinary. The Gozo Channel runs through the night. The midnight crossing from Ċirkewwa — the channel dark, the lights of Mġarr ahead, Comino a dark silhouette to the left — is one of the finest short sea journeys in the Mediterranean.
Bus to ferry is not always reliable for time-sensitive plans. If you have a boat tour, diving session, or any other fixed departure time in Gozo, take a taxi or Bolt to Ċirkewwa rather than the bus. Summer buses fill quickly and run late. Missing a private boat tour because the bus was delayed is entirely avoidable.
Bring the Gozo Highspeed booking confirmation. If you booked online, have the confirmation ready on your phone. The boarding process is efficient but requires the booking reference.
The Gozo ferry is free for Gozo residents travelling to Malta. This is relevant context when you see the queues — Gozo residents commute to Malta for work and education daily, and the free crossings mean the early morning ferries carry a significant number of commuters alongside tourists.
Frequently Asked Questions — Malta to Gozo Ferry
How do I get to Gozo from Malta?
Two options. The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa — 25 minutes, runs almost 24 hours, takes cars and foot passengers. Or the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry from Valletta Grand Harbour — 45 minutes, foot passengers only, approximately hourly. For more on choosing which is right for you, the comparison table above covers both clearly.
How much does the Gozo ferry cost?
The Gozo Channel ferry costs €4.65 for foot passengers and €15.70 for a car and driver. The fast ferry from Valletta costs €7.50 one way. For full pricing including night fares, discounts, and special categories, see the prices sections above.
How often does the Gozo ferry run?
The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa runs approximately every 30 to 45 minutes throughout the day and night — from midnight to 23:15. The fast ferry from Valletta runs approximately hourly from 05:45 to 21:15, with a later sailing at 22:45 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Which bus goes to Ċirkewwa for the Gozo ferry?
Routes 41 and 42 from Valletta run directly to Ċirkewwa. Route 222 from Sliema also connects. Route X1 and TD1 connect from Malta International Airport. Full bus route list above.
Can I take a car on the fast ferry to Gozo?
No — the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry from Valletta is for foot passengers only. Cars must use the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa.
How do I check the Gozo ferry queue at Ċirkewwa?
The live Ċirkewwa webcam shows the current queue and weather conditions in real time. Check it before leaving for Ċirkewwa, particularly on summer weekends.
What can I do when I arrive at Mġarr Harbour in Gozo?
More than most visitors realise. The marina promenade has historical monuments. Żewwieqa Bay is a 2-minute walk for a quick swim. Gleneagles Bar on the harbour front is a genuinely extraordinary stop. Kcina tal-Barraka serves the finest fresh fish on the Gozo waterfront. And private boat tours to the Blue Lagoon and Gozo coastline depart directly from the Mġarr slipway. Read our complete Mġarr Harbour guide here.
Can I do a private boat tour from Gozo?
Yes — Outdoor Explorers Malta departs from Mġarr Harbour for all private boat tours. No need to travel back to Malta. Step off the ferry and board a private boat directly. Contact us here to arrange pickup at Mġarr.
Does the Gozo ferry run at night?
Yes — the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa runs continuously from midnight to 23:15. Night fare discounts apply on certain crossings during winter months.
Are pets allowed on the Gozo ferry?
Yes — on the Gozo Channel ferry, pets must be leashed or in a container and are allowed in the lobby and outdoor areas. On the fast ferry, up to two pets per passenger are allowed — must be declared at online booking.
How long is the ferry crossing from Malta to Gozo?
The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa takes approximately 25 minutes. The Gozo Highspeed fast ferry from Valletta takes approximately 45 minutes.
Further Reading — More Local Malta and Gozo Guides
- Mġarr Harbour Gozo — Complete Guide
- Gozo Boat Tour — Complete Guide
- Best Beaches Gozo Malta — Complete Guide
- Mellieħa Bay Malta — Complete Guide
- Blue Lagoon Malta — Complete Guide
- Comino Private Boat Tour — Complete Guide
- Private Boat Tour Malta — Complete Guide
- Xwejni Bay Gozo — Complete Guide
- Ramla Bay Gozo — Complete Guide
- Dahlet Qorrot Gozo — Complete Guide
- 5 Days in Malta Itinerary — Including Gozo
- 3 Days in Malta Itinerary
- Valletta Cruise Port Malta — Shore Excursion Guide
- Discover Gozo Guide
External Links:
- Gozo Channel Ferry — timetables and fares: www.gozochannel.com
- Gozo Highspeed Fast Ferry — timetables and online booking: gozohighspeed.com
- Ċirkewwa live webcam — ferry queue and weather: skylinewebcams.com
- Malta Public Transport — bus routes and timetables: www.publictransport.com.mt
- Blue Lagoon Comino access pass: blcomino.com
