A Guide To Victoria, Gozo: A Lesser-Known Island Of Malta

A Guide To Victoria, Gozo: A Lesser-Known Island Of Malta
Sarah
Sarah 
Updated
| 3 min read

Gozo, one of the two islands making up the Republic of Malta, is a small, lesser-known destination. But don’t let that fool you. Gozo is overflowing with things to do and see. The island itself is stunning. From the shocking blue water to the multicolored wildflowers, every corner of this island looks like something straight out of a postcard. All the action in Gozo revolves around Victoria, the island’s capital city. This old city maintains its charm while providing tourists with plenty to keep them busy and entertained. Check out this guide to Victoria, Gozo to make sure you don’t miss any of the must-see things in this awesome city.

Take in the beauty of this picture-perfect city

The streets of Victoria are lined with limestone buildings and bright, blooming flowers.

Gozo is truly a photographer’s paradise. From winding alleyways to towering churches, Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever spent time in. That’s why my first recommendation in this guide to Victoria, Gozo is to go for a walk. Seriously. Before you worry about which sites to visit, restaurants to eat in, or accommodation to sleep at, simply grab your camera and go for a walk. The city is small and can easily be walked in under an hour. So why not go for a stroll? I guarantee you will see multiple things that will take your breath away. Just make sure you bring a map! Victoria is a maze-like city… and that’s an understatement.

Enjoy the local mouth-watering cuisine

Independence Square is the perfect place to enjoy a meal!

Once you’ve walked around a little bit and worked up an appetite, why not settle in for some local cuisine? Independence Square (also known as Ir-Rabat), the plaza at the center of the city, is the perfect place to enjoy a meal. Obviously, what with it being an island and all, the seafood is spectacular. That being said, there are two other local delicacies that I would be sorry to omit from this guide to Victoria, Gozo. First is the Gozitan Ftira pizza at It-Tokk. Being so close to Italy, Gozo has delicious Italian food, but the Gozitan Ftira brings a little local flare to your traditional Italian pizza. I also recommend trying a pastizzi. You can find these pastries all over Victoria as they are a very popular (and very delicious) local pastry. A pastizzi is a flaky pastry filled with either ricotta or mashed peas. So don’t worry, you will not be leaving Victoria hungry.

Tour the Citadel and make sure to see the view from the top

The citadel is full of amazing sights, but the view is what takes the cake.

After you have filled up, it is time to head to one of Victoria’s main attractions. No guide to Victoria, Gozo would be complete without mentioning the Citadel. This newly renovated medieval fort is the perfect place to learn a little bit about the city’s history. It is free to get inside the Citadel; however, you have to purchase tickets for the Archaeology Museum, the Folklore Museum, the Natural Science Museum, the Cathedral, and the Old Prison, all of which are inside the Citadel. While these museums are interesting, they are very small and can be skipped if you are not particularly interested in the subject matter. However, one thing that cannot be skipped is walking the walls. There are multiple paths that lead to the top of the walls surrounding the Citadel. Make sure you head up there because you can walk all around the Citadel and get a 360 view of Gozo Island. It is truly spectacular.

Stay on one of the oldest streets in Gozo

Dhar Ghax-Xemx is the perfect place to end your tour of Victoria.

After a full day of eating and exploring, you are bound to want a cozy place to call home. There are lots of accommodation options within Victoria, but I recommend checking out Dar Ghax-Xemx. This vacation rental is a one-of-a-kind experience that will be the cherry on top of your visit to Victoria. Located in the oldest part of Victoria, the original farmhouse is over 300 years old. The building was renovated eight years ago and now maintains its ancient charm and authentic Gozitan architecture while offering all the luxuries a modern traveler could want. From a fully equipped kitchen to a rooftop terrace with a view of the sunset, this vacation rental is a dream home. I stayed here one night and immediately wished I could move in. At 79 EUR (86 USD) per night, it is worth every penny. If you are looking for the perfect place to rest your head, look no further. Dar Ghax-Xemx is for you.

Use this guide to Victoria, Gozo to get the most out of your visit!

Victoria is a small city and can easily be seen in a day or two. But just because it is a short-stay destination doesn’t mean it is a skippable one. This city is full of beauty, history, and delicious food. And while you can view the entire city in two days or less, I recommend staying in the city for a few days longer and using it as a home base from which to explore the rest of this incredible island.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sarah Dittmore is a freelance blogger and travel addict. Though currently living in California, she is constantly on the road and in search of her next adventure. Sarah has visited over 25...Read more

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