Fact Sheets & Video - Malta

The island of Gozo has much more of a laid-back lifestyle compared to its sister island, Malta.

Here everything moves at a leisurely pace. Fewer tourists travel to Gozo's shores, not because it is lacking in beauty, but because the island has always been shadowed by the larger neighbouring island of Malta.

Despite this, Gozo is great place to visit, and one of many contrasts.

Much emphasis is placed on food and wine here, and everything sold in the markets or at restaurants is fresh from the fields or the sea. The fields are abundant with Mediterranean produce like green peppers, eggplant and zucchini, and each day a wide variety of fish is brought in to the tiny harbours only an hour or so after the catch.

Gozo is a tiny island, only about 14 kilometres long and eight kilometres wide.

Whether you intend to explore it in a day or over a few days, the best way to do it is by moped. For only $25 a day you can pick one up from Frank's Garage, but first it's a good idea to make sure your travel insurance covers you riding a moped.

While some islands appear to have no road rules at all, the locals here are very serious about road safety. The blood alcohol level is zero, and the speed limit is 65 kilometres per hour on the main roads and 40 kilometres per hour around Victoria, the island's capital.

Victoria is where you'll want to kick-start your journey, and there are plenty of sights to check out.

You can visit a glass making workshop and watch the professionals shape molten glass into bottles that sell for around $50.

Or you can always visit the citadel. The citadel is built on one of the many flat-topped hills in the centre of Gozo, and its origins can be traced to the latter part of the Middle Ages. Up until 1637 the people of Gozo had to take shelter within the Citadel's walls after sunset, due to the frequent Turkish assaults on the island.

Today the citadel is a major tourist attraction, with the main point of interest being the Gozo Cathedral.

But if it's food you're after, head to the Ta Rikardu. This is what the locals call a cheese bar, and for about $14 you can buy a gbina, which is a typical Maltese lunch.

Riding out of town, you'll soon come to the Ggantija Temples. These temples are thought to be the oldest freestanding structures in the world, and are certainly the most visited historical site on the Maltese Islands. The temples give a fantastic view across Gozo and for only $4 entry, it's well worth a visit.

Then get back on your bike and head a further 15 minutes to Marsalforn salt pans. The Romans were the first to use these ponds to harvest sea salt more than 2000 years ago.

For accommodation, Hotel Ta Cenc is the perfect resting place and a favourite among the likes of Brad Pitt and Sharon Stone.

The facts

Cathay Pacific flies to Frankfurt with connecting Air Malta flights to Gozo. Prices start from $3249 from the west coast and $3572 from the east coast.

Jetset

Tel: 13 63 83

You can live like a movie star at the Hotel Ta Cenc. Rooms start from $115 per person with breakfast included.

Hotel Ta Cenc

Tel: 0011 356 2155 6819

Location Malta

Visit Malta