Long May weekend is already gone. A poor one this year – only 3 days. Time to think about vacation. On the way, there’s still Corpus Cristi holiday which is perfect for a quick trip to some place in Poland but you know how it is… beginning of June, seaside, mountains or Mazury – it can be beautiful, sunny and idyllic, but it can also be rainy and the kids may end up at home with tonsillitis or bronchitis. Live with it, that’s our climate! Time to do some serious thinking regarding this year’s vacation. You’ve already been to Crete and Spain to and Sicily is not your cup of tea. You want to go somewhere near (a short flight), somewhere hot, with tasty food and an European vibe? Egypt and Tunisia are out of the question! You don’t like Turks and Italy is crowded and expensive. You want a place far from everything and tourist-friendly at the same time? No crowds, yet one that’s quite easy? That’s what Gozo is like.

 

Gozo. Does it ring a bell? We didn’t know much about it before we almost accidentally ended up on it for a week’s vacation 2 years ago. I only remembered (barely) a ferry trip to Gozo back in the day when me and my mom went on vacation with a tourist office to Malta. In the meantime, we and our friends decided that prices of houses and low fare flights to Malta make the tiny island of Gozo worth a try. You can easily walk Gozo trough its length and breadth as it is only 14 km x 7 km. 30 thousand inhabitants. Dreamy atmosphere and peace – perfect for vacation.

 

Why is it worth it? That’s why!

 

1) PEACE, QUIET AND RELAX

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo

 

Don’t like places crowded with tourists? Hate fighting for a folding bed next o a huge, multi-storey concrete hotel? Or maybe you’re tired of coping with irritating tourists on the streets of the resorts? Gozo is peaceful and quiet. The crowds are usually on Malta – especially around Sliema and Mellieha Bay. There, you may easily get tired of traffic jam and crowded beaches. On Gozo, you will find sleepy towns where life ceases during the day due to the heat and resumes again in the evening in cafes on squares in towns like tiny Xaghra where we stayed. You can look for a tiny bay just for you or blend in with local life and sunbathe on the rocks with locals. A perfect place for all those tired with big city life.

 

2) BLUE SKY AND SUN GUARANTEED

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo

 

Both on Malta and on Gozo have perfect weather from mid-May to mid-September. Right now, there’s already 25 degrees on Gozo! What’s more – sea temperature between mid-May and November is about 20 degrees! A paradise! It’s getting really hot on Gozo on the verge of July and August – 30-35 degrees seems quite normal. It’s a perfect place for all those who love heat, sun and blue sky. You don’t even have to pack a sweater or long trousers – there’s no weather fails here. Attention! If you’re planning on going in May or September, make sure that restaurants and cafes are open since our readers told us that it’s not a standard.

 

Gozo, where to go for vacation, where to go for vacation, Malta, why go to Gozo

 

3) CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF – THE FOOD! LOTS OF FISH AND SEAFOOD!

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, food on Gozo, what to eat on Gozo

 

Food on Gozo may be surprising! When we packed for our week’s stay we were a bit worried because Malta is designed to fit Englishmen’s likes and we never liked full English breakfast, chips and other delicacies of that sort. On Gozo, we decided to look for unique places and… we found them! Gozo’s cuisine is a combination of Italian influences (pastas!) and tonnes of fish and seafood – mussels, calamari, octopuses and the best tuna we had in our lives which we found in a tiny joint hidden from the world called Imgarr Ix Ixini somewhere in the world’s end! These are the places really worth looking for! In the evenings, even in tiny towns (remember, there’s just 30 thousand inhabitants) owners of restaurants put the tables on the sidewalk and serve local specialties such as rabbit’s liver, huge dumplings called furnaretti also stuffed with rabbit meat, bragioli looking a bit like our own zrazy. A thick aljotta fish soup is yet another good shot.

 

You can read more about the food in culinary guide to Gozo.

 

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, seafood, mussels

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, seafood, calamari

 

4) CHEESE AND TOMATOES

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, what to eat on Gozo, Gozo's cuisine

 

You also have to try their cheese, usually spiced heavily with herbs or black pepper. The most distinct ones are the tiny ones all covered in black pepper. Most of the local cheeses have strong smell but if you love cheese you know that the fouler the smell the better the flavour 🙂 Gozo in the summer is also the perfect place to fall in love with tomatoes. They are so red and fragrant that you could easily eat them by kilograms!!! We indulged ourselves daily by eating bread with spread made from tomatoes mixed with garlic and olive oil (Catalonian method ;)).

 

5) CHARMING LITTLE TOWNS

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo

 

Tiny Gozo has its own charming little towns. Rabat aka Victoria is the most important one – it’s Gozo’s capital. Here you can stroll around tiny streets, eat lunch and sometimes eve rent a car which may be helpful if you want to see the island. It must be one of the smallest capitals in the world with only 6 thousand inhabitants! You can see the citadel and baroque cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and walk around the streets of il Borgo (Old Town), eat delicious ice cream and feel the sleepy vibe. There’s more tiny towns on the island that are worth visiting and work great as a refuge with its own bays. Marsalorn and Xlendi are some good examples. You can also see some of the churches – there’s 46 of them on Gozo! Red phone booths make the sleepy towns look even more charming – that’s what’s left of the British who ruled Malta back in the day.

 

You can read more on what to see on Gozo HERE.

 

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo

 

6) CLOSE TO MALTA

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, Malta, Sliema

 

Even if you’re staying on Gozo for a week only, it’s worth going to Malta for at least one day and seeing Sliema, Valletta, the city of silence – Mdina-Rabat or fishermen’s Marsaxlokk.

When in Valletta, have a walk on Triq Ir-Repubblika, the main street of the old town that leads from the City Gate to Fort Saint Elmo, in Sliema be sure to see colourful balconies and of course look for some places that are interesting culinarly.

The trip to Malta may be fun on its own, especially when you’re travelling with children. Who doesn’t like ferries on a hot summer day??? 🙂

 

You can read more about our trip to Malta HERE.

 

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, Valletta

 

7) YOU WON’T GET BORED!

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, Ta Pinu

 

It may be small but as soon as you get tired with chilling out at the beach or at the pool, you can see the island. By bus, car or a taxi. Apart from the cities I already told you about, it’s also worth going to Ta’ Pinu and Gharb in the western part of the island.

 

Ta’ Pinu is the national temple of Malta which already looks amazing from a distance. According to the legend, local peasants heard St. Mary’s voice here in the end of 19th century and praying to her lead to a series of miraculous healings. Azure Window in Dwejra Point is yet another must see. A beautiful place, perfect for the end of your trip!

 

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, where to go for vacation, Azure Window, dwejra Point, what to see on Gozo

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, where to go for vacation, Azure Window, what to see on Gozo

8) GOZO WAY OF LIFE

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo

 

One of the things I remember from the trip to Malta with my mom in 2002 is the locals sitting together on the rocks, swimming, playing water polo or bingo. Regardless of age, they spend time together, in the open air or in the city. We should learn from them!

 

9) BEAUTIFUL BAYS

 

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, Marsalforn

 

Marsalforn or Xlendi are just a few places known for charming, turquoise bays with colourful boats. A walk or lunch in such location is always a good idea!

 

10) VACATION WITHOUT TOURIST OFFICE!

Gozo, Malta, vacation, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo, rent a house for vacation

 

This is the house we lived in in Xaghra on Gozo. It wasn’t close to the beach, more like on the street. But it had its own swimming pool on the roof and jacuzzi on the ground floor. Perfect if you’re going for vacation with another couple. It wasn’t difficult to find a flight to Malta (it wasn’t expensive either – PLN 900 two-way for 2). You can look for the house for rent on www.holidaylettings.co.uk or HomeAway. Works much better than a big hotel! You come back relaxed, free of stressful memories of folding bed fights, crowds at the pool (you’ve got your own!), irritating tourists from your office or the office rep who cannot help you in anything. It’s just you, your family, your friends. An idyll! HIGHLY recommended!

 

You can read about the advantages of renting a house HERE.

 

Gozo, Malta, where to go for vacation, why go to Gozo