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Explore Malta and Gozo on a Budget

Explore Malta and Gozo on a Budget 1 Comment

Esther Bajada is Director for Tourism and Economic Development at the Ministry for Gozo and is part of the team at visitgozo, that promotes Gozo as a holiday destination for all kind of travelers.

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It’s time to begin planning your family holiday, but where can you go when you are on a budget? The Mediterranean sounds nice, but maybe that’s a little more than your wallet can handle? Maybe not! Have you thought about an affordable stay on Gozo, the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago? With Malta quickly becoming a sought-after tourist destination, you can have the best of both worlds. You can stay on little sister Gozo on budget easily, whilst being close enough to big sister Malta to explore both islands.

Yes, and even on a budget! Here is how you can do it.

A Tempting Proposition

If you’ve always wanted an extended stay in the Mediterranean, but haven’t quite figured out how to do it, Gozo is the ideal destination. It’s a family-friendly island and the residents are a welcoming lot. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be made to feel welcome and there really is much to see and do that won’t break the bank. Also, you can rent a self-catering farmhouse in Gozo so that you can prepare family meals at home and only eat out occasionally to sample the local cuisine.

Fresh-from-the-farm produce is readily available at grocery stores, and if you want truly amazing locally sourced food. Try the street foods in Victoria – inexpensive and mouth-wateringly delicious!

Many families have found it possible to spend a month in Gozo for the same price as they would spend for a week elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Now, that’s a tempting proposition if ever there was one!

Affordable Transport in Gozo

You’ll also find that Gozo is a small enough island that you can actually walk to many of the sites you’d like to explore whilst on holiday. Consider for just a moment that the entire island is only 67 square kilometers, or 25.7 square miles, whichever unit you are more comfortable with. The length of the island is only 14 km (8.7 mi) while it is only 7.25 km (4.5 mi) wide. By car, you can travel from end to end or side to side in mere minutes. That’s why so many holidaymakers simply rent a bike for their stay or take public transport, which is extremely inexpensive.

During Winter time you can hike all around Gozo and discover its natural beauty

Seeing the Sights on a Budget

What you won’t find on the island is a preponderance of expensive tourist traps. You won’t be caught off guard facing pricey entertainment like theme parks, which can cost a week’s wages for a family ticket. What you will find is an amazing amount of outdoor activities suitable for the entire family most days of the year. One of the biggest attractions when touring Gozo are the sightseeing buses that run through the island for a panoramic view of all Calypso Island, the original name of Gozo.

You’ll also find that the capital city, Victoria, is referred to as Rabat, the Maltese name for the city, but don’t be alarmed.

Both Maltese and English are official languages throughout Malta and most residents speak both. You’ll find exciting places to visit from archaeological remains to amazingly beautiful beaches, which are free to access. And thus, perfect for a holiday on a budget! Even the island’s museums and tours are quite affordable as well. So keep that in mind when budgeting for your holiday.

Take a stroll through Victoria’s beautiful little streets and discover the beautiful local architecture

Free Things to Do in Gozo on a budget

Whilst some families like to pay for an ‘official’ tour, others simply come to the island armed with a paperback tour guide. Since many of the historic and archaeological places of interest are free to see from the outside.You can take a tour of the island to learn the of the rich heritage of the Gozitans. For example, you can pay to eat at a restaurant near the Cittadella whilst learning of its history. You can also pack a lunch and eat outside on the benches of the Cittadella Ditch whilst viewing the historic fortified walls.

Free things to do in Gozo include:

  • A day at the beach – and there are several nice ones in Gozo.
  • A first-hand view of how sea salt is traditionally harvested.
  • Strolling the historic streets and alleys in Victoria.
  • Photo ops at several natural rock formations.
  • Hiking, biking and walking the cliffs.

Remember, Gozo may be quickly growing as a tourist hotspot. But underlying all that is the fact that this is an island that is family-centric. Residents have, for the most part, been on the island since time immemorial, so this home and visitors are treated like guests. You are treated like a friend stopping by for tea or an afternoon chat by most of the locals. So don’t be amazed that anyone will willingly take a few moments out of their busy day to give you directions or explain what you are seeing.

Affordable Ferries to and from Malta

Since Gozo has accommodations which are typically more affordable than on big sister Malta. Many families take the ferry back and forth between islands. The ride takes less than half an hour and the funny thing is, you only pay for the Gozo-to-Malta ride. For example, when you get on the ferry to Gozo, you won’t be asked to pay a fare. However, on your return trip to Malta, you will pay. So, when you want to spend a day on Malta, you only need to pay to get there. Your ride back to Gozo is free. Many travelers jokingly say that since they didn’t need to pay to get to Gozo, they were tempted to stay forever and ever.

It isn’t the free ferry ride, however, that is so alluring. It’s the island itself that is so impressive. If ever there was a place that is the perfect blend of antiquity and modern technology, it would be Gozo. You really can have a spectacular holiday on Gozo & Malta on a budget if you know where to stay and what to do.

Malta and Gozo on a Budget Will Be So Amazing!

If you would like to learn more about Gozo, go to visitgozo.com, the official tourism portal. This is one family holiday you won’t soon forget. With such reasonable prices and so many free things to see and do, you may even have a bit of excess to spend on souvenirs to take home for your friends. (Don’t forget to bring a few treasures home for yourself, as well!)

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Esther Bajada is Director for Tourism and Economic Development at the Ministry for Gozo and is part of the team at visitgozo, that promotes Gozo as a holiday destination for all kind of travelers.

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