Gozo, the charming sister island of Malta, stands out as the ideal location for an unforgettable girl’s trip.
Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, this picturesque island exudes a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and a laidback, carefree ambience. The island’s intimate size and unhurried pace make it wonderfully easy to get around, so we could fully immerse ourselves in the island’s serene charms without the hassle of navigating a larger, more crowded destination. We loved the option of cosy wine bars and opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking and water sports. 23 Travels wholeheartedly believes that Gozo provides the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement to create lasting memories with your closest friends.
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1. Where to stay in Gozo
Gozo has its fair share of gorgeous farmhouse AirBnBs but it was Il-Marhab in Xewkija that caught our eye. This charming, historic farmhouse in Gozo has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and 9 beds perfect for a large group.
Il-Marhab is quite easily the BEST AirBnB we have ever stayed in, it has SO much to offer for the ideal girl’s weekend. A garden, rooftop terrace, swimming pool, dining area, BBQ, and so much more.
We did a local food shop and made a welcome dinner on the evening of arrival for all the guests. We found the kitchen to be well equipped including a coffee machine and dishwasher, very needed for some of the ladies who need their caffeine fix and can’t be bothered to wash up a pile of dishes!
If you’d like to book this gorgeous Gozo farmhouse, click here.
2. Wine Tasting
We booked a wine and tasting tour at Ta’Mena, Gozo. It’s important to note that pre-booking is an absolute MUST. These tours are usually held on Saturdays but can accommodate midweek tours. It costs €32 per person including VAT.
This went beyond just any wine tour, we were invited to learn more about who the Ta’mena family are. They have been a family-run business for many decades, and understanding their history and traditions just made the experience so authentic. We were given a tour of the winemaking facility, olive pressing, and the production of other traditional, artisanal foods. The audience were surprised at how many aspects of winemaking there are according to the region it is being produced in.
Heading down to the cellar were tables laid for each party. We were greeted with bread, cheese, sundried tomatoes, sausages and so much more – all of which had been produced in-house. Everything we tried was delicious especially as it was washed down with 4 gorgeous wines ranging from white to red. It was truly a memorable bonding experience, we loved comparing flavours, likes, and dislikes with each other around the table.
Just when we thought the fun was over, we headed upstairs to see what we could buy to take back home. Have you ever tried a Prickly Pear liqueur? Well, you can at Ta’mena!
Ta’Mena – Industry Street, Xewkija, Gozo
Open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00
Email: info@tamena-gozo.com / Telephone: (+356) 2156 4939 / Mobile: (+356) 7956 4939
3. Sunset Dinners
Showcasing the local Gozitan cuisine is Terrazzo located in Xlendi, Gozo. With views of the island’s stunning azure waters and dramatic coastal cliffs, Terrazzo offers a stunning backdrop for the perfect sunset dinner with the girls.
Now the best part, the food!
Terrazzo caters to all tastes, particularly those in our girl group who are vegan. We were given complimentary bread and dips which was a nice touch and went down really well. The starter options were so hard to pick from but fortunately having a big group meant we could order it all and share which is what we did. Imagine – calamari with squid ink mayo, pita with tomato/garlic hummus, and arancini balls on top of a creamy, truffle sauce. The mains and cocktails were even more incredible! If you’d like to see our ratings on the dishes we ordered, click here.
Terrazo Restaurant & Beach Bar – Xlendi, San Xmun, Xlendi XLN 1301, Malta
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs (12–3 pm, 6–9:30 pm) Fri-Sun (12–3 pm, 6–10 pm)
4. Day Trip to Valletta
Getting to Valetta from Gozo via ferry is so easy. You’ll be able to catch the main ferry almost every hour of the day, from first thing in the morning till late at night all year round.
There are two types of ferries that can take you across the Gozo Channel from Malta:
Main Gozo Ferries
- This sails between Mgarr Harbour in the southern east of Gozo and Cirkewwa in Northern Malta in just 25 minutes.
- This ferry can be used by both foot passengers and vehicles too.
- When boarding, you do not need to collect/pay for a ticket as the fare for the trip is paid on your return.
- Return tickets cost €4.65 for foot passengers and €15.70 for vehicles including the driver (these are the prices at the time of writing)
Gozo Fast Ferries
- A second ferry between Gozo and Malta also operates from Mgarr Harbour, Gozo but instead to Lascaris, a ferry port in Valletta in 45 minutes.
- Trips are limited especially in poor weather conditions when the trip could be cancelled. Always check the schedule before travelling.
- One-way tickets for adults cost €7.50 (current price at the time of writing).
The best and quickest way (25 seconds) to get from the Valletta waterfront to the city is by taking the Barraka lift. It’s in operation from 07:00-21:00 every day and costs €1 but can also be purchased with the ferry ticket. It was constructed in 2012 to provide an efficient way for those who have arrived by cruise to get to Valletta’s restaurants, parks, museums etc. Once at the top, we were welcomed into a very small but beautiful park called Upper Barraka Gardens. We took a moment to enjoy the view of the Three Cities, admire the flowers, and take pictures.
We spent the rest of the day walking around the city, eating and drinking cocktails in the M’dina. Also known as the ‘Silent City’, the M’dina is a fortified medieval town with narrow, honeycomb streets and gracious houses punctuated by the best doors we’re sure you would have ever seen. Something we didn’t know we needed but highly appreciated was the fact it was a car-free zone, you could roam around without the worry of a car trying to get past every 5 seconds.
We highly recommend a day trip to Valletta if you are staying in Gozo.
That’s All 23 Travellers! Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed reading through Why the Maltese island of Gozo should be your next girl’s trip destination.
23 Travels are Personal Travel Planners who have been creating bespoke travel itineraries for many years. If you would like us to plan your trip to Malta, or any other worldwide destination for you, please visit www.23travels.com.
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