23 Amazing Things to do in Gozo with Kids + Places to Eat, Where to Stay & a Map
Earlier this summer, we visited Malta with kids for the first time and it was absolutely AMAZING. Malta is made up of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. We split our time between Malta and Gozo with a couple of trips out to Comino.
I’ve created an entire guide to visiting the island of Malta with kids that you can check out here. However, in that guide, I included a very limited amount of things to do in Gozo with kids because there is just sooo much to do! And be sure to read my post 19 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Malta. It has everything I wished we had known before our first family vacation to Gozo/Malta.
Gozo has a much more relaxed and calm vibe than Malta and it makes for an amazing, relaxing getaway as a family. There are fewer people, less construction, and less traffic- but just as beautiful (if not more).
We met many Maltese locals who own second homes on Gozo where they spend their weekends and winters. If that doesn’t tell you how lovely Gozo is, then I don’t know what will.
This Gozo travel guide is to help you learn about all of the amazing things to do on the island and to convince you to take more than a day trip to Gozo with kids (trust me, you won’t regret it).
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Is Gozo Family-friendly?
Gozo is definitely a family-friendly destination! In fact, my 4.5-year-old loved it so much that she wants to move there 😝.
Gozo has the perfect mix of things to do as a family from sandy beaches to secluded coves, easy walks, and amazing views. You can even book a speed boat trip to the Blue Lagoon from Gozo or take a family-friendly kayaking tour.
We spent 3 nights on Gozo during our trip to Malta and they were the highlight of our trip. Next time we visit, we will definitely stay on Gozo longer.
Where to stay on Gozo with Kids
By far the highlight of our entire trip to Malta was our accommodations in Gozo. I highly recommend finding a property in Gozo with either some amazing views or a pool. In our case, our Airbnb had both!
We stayed in this Airbnb in Gozo and it was absolutely incredible. The Airbnb was perched high on a hill with breathtaking views of the countryside and sea and a pool below that we often had to ourselves.
There are few things better in this life than snuggling up outside together as a family watching the sunset over the sea in Gozo. Those quiet moments as a family will be treasured forever.
You don’t need to book that exact Airbnb but I do recommend finding one with a pool or views (even if it means splurging a bit). We spent a bit more on our Gozo Airbnb and then chose a more basic Airbnb for our days in Malta to help even out the price.
How to get around Gozo as a Family
I definitely recommend renting a car for your trip to Gozo/Malta. I’ve read that bus routes in Malta (and I assume Malta) can get you to most of the main sites, however, a car is going to be a much more relaxing experience for you as a family.
Our kids often took naps in the car between activities and the air conditioning was heavenly to turn on.
Keep in mind that cars in Malta/Gozo drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right side. the car (which is opposite of the USA). And drivers in general drive quite fast on the small windy (sometimes dirt) roads. It can be a little stressful, but if you are a confident driver you’ll get the hang of it.
If you don’t want to rent a car, I’d suggest booking some of the day tours in Gozo that will take you all around the island.
Map of The Best Things to do in Gozo For Kids
*Use this interactive map to explore the best things to do with kids in Gozo. Click on the full-screen icon in the top right corner to have this map open in your own Google Maps app or click on the arrow in the top left corner to see a pullout list of all points on the map*
1. Play in the water at Wied il-Ghasri
Wied Il-Ghasri is one of the most unique swimming spots I’ve ever been to. It’s a winding gorge between two orange cliffs with stunning green water. It’s just a short walk from the parking area down a safe, rock staircase with a railing.
There is a small riverstone beach and the water is perfect for floating and snorkeling. We weren’t sure if our 4.5-year-old was going to like it since it isn’t a sandy beach, but it was actually one of her favorite places we went.
Although the area is small, it never felt too crowded (especially if you spend time in the water). But like most places, I’m sure the earlier in the day you arrive it could be even more secluded. I almost hesitate to mention Wied Il-Ghasri because it still has the protected charm of a hidden gem. It’s not somewhere that day tours to Gozo typically visit which helps keep it a bit quieter.
There are no toilets at Wied Il-Ghasri, however, there was a small smoothie stand at the top that made for a refreshing treat on our way out (our kids devoured them).
Just be sure to treat the area with respect and pack out everything you bring in since there aren’t any facilities here.
2. Boat Ride to the Blue Lagoon
By far, one of the most popular things to do in Malta/Gozo is to take a boat ride to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is located on a smaller, mostly uninhabited island between Malta and Gozo.
It’s a beautiful area with striking blue water, rocky outcroppings, a *small* white sandy beach, food carts, and rentals. Because of the Blue Lagoon’s location, you have to catch a ferry ride or boat trip from either Gozo or Malta to visit.
You have a few different options on how to get to the Blue Lagoon from Gozo:
- Ferry from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon: The least expensive option, some return trips include the caves on Comino. We’ve taken this option (amongst others) and it’s an easy, no-frills option.
- Speedboat ride from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon (including caves): Another inexpensive option. You get a speedboat ride, a tour of the Comino caves then get dropped off at the Blue Lagoon where you can indicate what time you want to be picked up.
- 3-Hour Private Boat Trip to the Blue Lagoon: Ride on a small boat with just your family to visit the caves, the Crystal Lagoon, and the Blue Lagoon. Jump right from the boat to snorkel and play in the water. We took this private boat trip but we didn’t take advantage of jumping in the water (which we were most looking forward to) because there were just too many jellyfish. But that is kind of random and you can’t really know if there will be a lot of jellies or not at the time of your trip. However, it is really nice to have the boat to yourself and a great option if you have a little money to spare or are traveling with extended family. Otherwise, the much less expensive speedboat ride or ferry ride are good options.
- Full-Day Large Boat Trip to the Blue Lagoon: 4-7 hour day on a large boat with many passengers, sun decks, music, and sometimes food. Could be an option for older kids/teenagers, otherwise, I think the previous options are better.
Keep in mind that in the summer months, the Blue Lagoon gets EXTREMELY crowded. The shore is definitely the most crowded area full of sunbathers but the water isn’t so bad.
The huge amount of people didn’t bother us much because our kids were more interested in playing in the water and there was plenty of room actually in the water. However, if you want a little bit of wiggle room at the Blue Lagoon, I recommend getting there before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
3. Enjoy Watersports from Hondoq ir-Rummien Beach
Hondoq Ir-Rummien Beach is located at one of the many beautiful bays in Gozo. It’s a small, sandy beach that is frequented by locals with amazing blue water.
One thing that makes Hondoq Ir-Rummien Beach unique is that it is the home of Joyride Watersports where you can rent kayaks, canoes, jet skis, and more! But no worries if you don’t want to rent anything, it’s also a popular swimming spot!
4. Take in the Views from Tal-Mixta Cave
Tal-Mixta cave felt like a little hidden gem perched up on the hill overlooking Ramla Bay. You drive down a dirt road to a small ‘parking area’ (if you can call it that) and then take a short walk to the cave. Along the route are signs reminding you to be respectful of the private property you are passing and to be respectful in the cave.
You first walk down a few stone steps where you’ll find the back entrance to the cave which gives you a lovely peek preview of the view you are about to get. Once through the door, it opens up to a large cave opening with sweeping views of Ramla Bay.
It was surprisingly quiet and peaceful in the cave with just a gentle breeze. The pictures I had seen really didn’t do it justice. I felt like I could sit and take in the views for at least an hour, but of course didn’t have that much time since were were traveling with little kiddos.
We visited Tal-Mixta Cave after spending hours playing at Ramla Beach (which you can see from the cave). Our kids actually fell asleep in the car so my husband and I took turns walking to the cave while our kiddos napped. It’s a pretty short walk which made that very doable, and it would also have been a very doable walk for them had they been awake.
5. Play in the Sand at Ramla Beach
If your kids love sand, then Ramla Beach is the place for you! Ramla Beach is a large, red-sand beach with beautiful blue water (like most of the water in Gozo/Malta 🙃). It’s perfect for playing in the sand but also a great place to play in the water as there are small waves and it doesn’t get too deep too fast.
Although the beach is super sandy, there are actually a lot of river stones in the water which makes it hard to walk. I recommend bringing water shoes for a nicer experience.
Ramla Beach has umbrellas and lounge chairs you can rent for a reasonable price that they set up for you and a snack bar in case you want some lunch or you just didn’t pack enough snacks. There is also a boardwalk along a large section of the sand which makes it a bit easier to walk with young kiddos.
This beach was definitely the largest and busiest beach we visited in Gozo, but it was so big that there was still plenty of room for everyone. If you plan to bring your own small, beach tent for some shade, they will ask you to be far back from the water so as to not block anyone.
Because of this, I’d recommend renting the umbrella and lounge chair instead of bringing your own beach tent ( I think it’s kind of nicer anyway).
6. Admire the Beautiful Salt Pans
One of the most beautiful areas to me in all of Gozo is Triq Ix-Xwjeni road leading to Xwenji Bay. There are salt pans after salt pans carved into the rock lining the sea and it’s just gorgeous. It’s a lovely place to walk where you can then play in the water or grab a bite to eat at Xwenji Bay.
The same family has been working these salt pans since the 1860s, but the salt pans have been cut for over 350 years with salt pans probably existing in the area for much longer than that.
If you’re lucky you will see the family out sweeping and harvesting their salt to be sold locally at the shop across the street and in local grocery stores.
While we were at the salt pans we saw an ATV (quad) tour drive by that looked super fun. If you have kids ages 5+ that could be super fun- you can check out the Gozo ATV tour here.
Besides these salt pans by Xwenji Bay, you can also find salt pans on the other side of Gozo near Xlendi and the Sanap Cliffs.
7. Buy Local Salt from Leli Tal-Melh Salt Shop
I absolutely loved stopping by the Leli Tal-Melh salt shop across from the salt pans by Xwenji Bay. You can taste and buy salt from the salt pans just outside the shop door. Plus the shop is run by the family that harvests the salt and they are happy to tell you about how the salt is made and how the harvesting works. It’s so lovely!
We bought plenty of salt to take home with us as reminders of our time in Gozo. It’s flaky and delicious and such a good topping on our dinners and a good salty crunch on desserts. The shop is open 10 am-4 pm every day except Sunday.
8. Play at Qbajjar playground with sea views
If your kids need to get some wiggles out but you’re tired of beaches, then head to the Qbajjar playground. It’s a small playground along the Qbajjar Promenade with sea views.
However, if you want a bit of a bigger playground, just five minutes from the Qbajjar Playground is the Three Hills Garden Playground with a few different play structures for the kiddos.
9. Enjoy the Views and Play at Xwejni Bay
Xwejni Bay is one of those places that you seem to stumble upon and are just amazed at its beauty. Just around the corner from the salt pans is a small bay with gorgeous blue water surrounded by stunning white rock. There are also a few eateries located along the small road where you can get food and drinks.
Although there is no sandy beach, there is a pebbly beach and a pier with a ladder where you can enter the water. The contrast of the blue water and white rock was extraordinary and the area felt like a really local place to hang out.
10. See The Limestone Rock Arch at Wied il-MielaH
Wied Il-Mielah is an epic limestone rock arch in Gozo with a nice viewing area. You can get closer to the arch via a stairway with a railing or you can stay on the rock across from it and take in the views from there.
The arch is just a very short walk from the parking area. This was another stop we made where our kiddos were napping in the car after hours of playing in the water so my husband and I took turns walking out to the viewpoint.
However, the stairs do have a railing so it should be generally okay to take the kids with you.
11. VIsit the Inland Sea ANd take a boat through a cave
The Inland Sea is most commonly known as a popular diving destination, however, you can also take a ride on a small fisherman’s boat through the tunnel and out to the Meditteranean.
It’s a short boat ride (maybe 30 minutes) but it only costs a few euros. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this place as a spot for swimming and hanging out, although, if you have an extended amount of time in Gozo it’d be worth it to spend more time here than just the boat ride.
There are also a few food trucks selling food (not the healthiest of options) and treats if you do want to make more of a day at the Inland Sea.
12. Hang out at MGarr ix-Xini Beach
Mgarr Ix-Xini Beach is a great local beach in a secluded bay with a watchtower looking over dating back to the 1600s. The beach is pebbly (which means no cleaning sand off an entire family when you’re done), and the water blue and perfect for playing.
There are also a few picnic tables up some stairs on the side of Mgarr Ix-Xini Beach if you are looking for a good picnic spot. This beach also happens to be the filming location for the Angelina Jolie/ Brad Pitt film, ‘By The Sea’.
13. See Ancient monuments at Ggantija Archaeological Park
If you’re into history (especially ancient history) then the Ggantija Archaeological Park is for you! We opted to not take our kiddos there as I think they’d appreciate it a bit more once they are older. However, it does sound pretty impressive.
The archaeological park consists of two stone monuments that date back to around 3500 BC (yes, BC). You can walk through the monuments on a walkway created for visitors. Plus you can visit the interpretation center to learn more about life at that period and see a selection of the most significant historical artifacts from various prehistoric sites in Gozo.
The same entrance ticket can be used to enter both the Ġgantija Archaeological Park and Ta’ Kola Windmill (which I talk more about below).
14. Explore the Medieval CITADEL IN VICTORIA (Rabat)
The first fortifications built on the hill in Victoria date back clear to 1500 BC with the current structure dating back to the 1600s AD. It sits high on the hill in Victoria and can be seen from many spots in Gozo.
The Victoria Citadel makes for a great place to get some views of the island, plus you can tour different rooms of the Citadel like the Old Prison, The Battery, and the Old Grain Silos.
There are also multiple museums that call the Citadel home like the Museum of Archaeology, Folklore Museum and the Gozo Nature Museum.
15. Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village
I so wish we would have been able to swing by Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village, but our available hours, unfortunately, didn’t correspond with the opening hours.
However, we wanted to go because it’s a great place to see locally made artisan crafts like handmade lace, pottery, and more. You can oftentimes see the artisans at work. It seems like the perfect place to buy high-quality, local souvenirs.
16. See The colorful Boat Houses at Daħlet Qorrot Beach
If you love a few good pops of color, the boat houses at Dahlet Qorrot Beach are here for you. This could be a quick stop for a photo op or depending on the water level, it could also be a fun place to play in the water at the small pebbly beach.
17. Chill at San Blas Beach
San Blas Beach is basically Ramla Beach but on a much smaller, more intimate, and less crowded scale. It has beautiful red sand rocks for playing on and the usual gorgeous turquoise Maltese water. If you’re looking for a sandy beach without the crowds, this is the one for you.
In the summer months, there is usually a snack truck parked here. You will need to walk down and up a steep incline to get to the parking area (driving all the way to the bay is not recommended) hence the fewer visitors.
18. Tour the Ta’ Kola Windmill
Gozo has a few beautiful windmills harking back to the days of breadmaking on the island. The Ta’Kola windmill was built around 200 years ago and was used to grind grain to make flour. Today you can take a tour of the inside. of the windmill to see the workshop, dwelling area, and other rooms.
One neat thing is that the same entrance ticket can be used to enter both the Ġgantija Archaeological Park and Ta’ Kola Windmill.
19. Take A Short Walk to the Sanap Cliffs
The walk at Sanap Cliffs is a perfect place to be at sunset or at any time of day to take in the views of the huge white cliffs. It’s an easy paved path suitable for strollers and short legs.
Some portions of the walk have a short brick wall lining the path, however, that’s not the case everywhere so keep kids close when needed.
20. Take a guided ATV Ride around the island
While we were visiting the salt pans by Xwenji Bay, we saw a guided tour group riding ATVs through the area. I later looked up the tour and it actually looks pretty great.
The tour makes stops ALL over Gozo (like the salt pans, Sanap Cliffs, Inland Sea, Tal-Mixta Cave, and way more). You can check out all of the stops on the ATV ride here. Plus lunch at a seaside restaurant is included!
Sounds like it’s more of a ride and vista tour than getting to spend a lot of time in one location, but they do fit a lot into one day!
Anyone over the age of 5 is welcome as long as the driver is over 21 years old. So if you have kids over 5, taking a quad/ATV tour in Gozo may be the fun adventure you’re looking for!
21. Take a full-day Jeep or tuk-tuk Tour to see top Gozo Sites
If you want to see a lot of Gozo but you don’t have much time (and you don’t want to drive) then you may want to consider booking a guided Jeep tour or guided tuk-tuk tour around the island. We saw a handful of these during our time in Gozo and it’s definitely a good option if you want to make the most of a day trip from Malta.
The private E Jeep tour definitely looked the most comfortable (some Gozo roads are pretty rough) but the private tuk-tuk tour does have a bit of charm to it. But both tours seem to cover a lot of the same main sites and last 6-7 hours and include a transfer from Malta if needed.
There is also a sunset tuk-tuk tour of Gozo that includes a stop for a dip in the Blue Lagoon on your way to Gozo, plus you get to see some of Gozo at sunset which could be fun if you have older kids.
22. Take a family-friendly Sea Kayaking Tour
If you’re looking for an adventure and you have kids over the age of 8 then you may want to book a family-friendly sea kayaking tour (anyone under 15 must sit in a double kayak with an adult).
The sea kayak tour leaves from Hondoq Bay where you’ll then travel along the coast to see the stunning salt pans, gorgeous rocks, a 700-year-old hermit hut, and even a stop on shore to take a swim in the water.
It’s just a 2-hour tour advertised as an easy adventure perfect for beginners or families who want to try something new. If we had older kids we definitely would have taken this sea kayaking adventure– it sounds amazing.
23. Relax at Xlendi Bay
Xlendi Bay is another one of Gozo’s stunning bays, however, this one is lined with a few more restaurants and hotels than other spots in Malta. The beach is a small sandy beach that leads out to shallow water making it great for families and snorkeling.
There are also picnic tables nearby if you fancy a picnic without getting sand in all of your food.
6 Places to Eat in Gozo with Kids
1. Mekrens Bakery
Mekrens Bakery was one of our absolute favorite local spots to discover! Driving back from the beach one day we passed Mekrens Bakery and knew immediately that we needed to stop.
I walked in and immediately knew we had made a great choice. You walk through the entrance and are basically immediately in the kitchen surrounded by what appears to be a family-run operation. There are racks and racks of freshly baked savory goods to the right and a wood-burning oven to the left.
They recommended we try the traditional Gozo ftira (not to be confused with ftira sandwiches you can get in Malta).
So we took with us the potato and cheese ftira which is sort of like a pizza but also not at all. It has a flaky crust that wraps around the top edge and is filled with potato and tangy cheese. Other popular Gozo ftira toppings are sausage, anchovies, or tuna. We were super satisfied with the potato and cheese ftira and highly recommend swinging by Mekrens Bakery to try it!
They also bake up pizza and local qassatat (which is a savory pastry usually with ricotta or mushed peas). Because it’s such a small establishment there is nowhere to sit and eat. You’ll either need to take it away or eat it on a step outside on the street.
2. SaltSide
Saltside is this absolute gem of a casual, outdoor eating establishment located right at Xwenji Bay. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after exploring the salt pans. You can also play in the water just across the small street from Saltside.
The atmosphere is relaxed and the views are absolutely gorgeous of the striking blue water and white stone. They have an extremely reasonably priced menu of breakfast dishes, burgers, salads, and ftiras/wraps.
Plus they have loads of delicious drinks. We only had time to try a raspberry lemonade and hang out for a few minutes but it was so delightful. I wish we could have stayed for much longer!
3. Dr. Juice Gozo
Whenever we travel we always try to find a yummy smoothie spot to get some healthy food in all of us. We know that our kids will always eat a smoothie and it’s a nice change of pace to the pizza and lunch sandwiches they consume day in and day out.
Dr. Juice is a super good smoothie and food spot with a few locations throughout Malta and Gozo. We have only tried their smoothies, but their food menu has a lot of great healthy, and unique items.
You can do their quick counter-service option. ordo takeaway if that works better for you.
4. Oakberry Acai
Oakberry is another smoothie-type joint (as I said, we really love finding spots like this). Unlike Dr. Juice, Oakberry only serves acai cups and no other food. However, they have loads of mix-ins and you can create the perfect acai cup just for you.
5. Karamelli Brunch Cafe
We didn’t have a chance to make it to Karamelli Brunch Cafe, however, we drove past it multiple times and it looked so cute. If you’re looking for a great spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch then Karamelli is for you! They are also open late for dinner some days.
You can get open toast, Maltese Ftira sandwiches, smoothies bowls, and American breakfasts (amongst other yummy-looking items). They also have a fridge full of delicious-looking goodies.
6. Xlendi Picnic Tables
The Xlendi picnic tables are less of a place to get food and more of a scenic spot to picnic. There are a handful of picnic tables located right along the water with amazing water and cliff views. If you are someone who loves a good picnic spot (with no sand at the beach getting in your food) this is the spot for you. Find it on Google Maps here.
And those are all of the things I recommend to do in Gozo for kids. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about taking a family holiday to Gozo! I love to talk all things travel and I’ll be sure to get back to you. And check out my other guides related to Malta/Gozo below!
Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:
- 23 Amazing Things to Do in Malta with Kids + Top Tips, Itinerary & Map
- 19 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Malta
- 5 Ways to get to the Blue Lagoon in Malta + Things to Know Before you Go
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