Gozo Guided Day Tour: Explore Historic Ggantija Temples and Scenic Victoria

Immerse yourself in Gozo’s rich history and breathtaking scenery on this guided day tour. Explore the UNESCO-listed Ġgantija Temples, stroll through the charming capital city of Victoria, and marvel at the stunning Xlendi Bay and Inland Sea. Don’t miss this unforgettable adventure!

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ggantija Archaeological Park - We start our tour by visiting the megalithic temples of Ġgantija, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, this impressive archaeological site dates to c. 3600-2500 BC, along with Ta’ Ħaġrat Temples and Skorba Temples in Malta, the temples of Ġgantija are believed to be the second oldest free-standing monuments on Earth, second only to Göbekli Tepe in Turkey and predating Stonehenge in England, and the Pyramids of Egypt by approximately 1000 years! The etymology of “Ġgantija” is derived from the Maltese word for giant (“Ġgant”) because it was believed the site was built by a race of giants. This mythological idea makes sense considering that the temples are constructed from megaliths (massive limestone blocks) measuring more than five meters in length and weighing over 50 tons.
  • Victoria - After visiting the temples of Ġgantija we will proceed to visit Victoria, the delightful capital city of Gozo. Victoria is not just the geographic heart of Gozo; it is also the centre of everyday activity. It manages to combine the bustle of its market and shops with a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. It is a great place to watch the islanders go about their day, especially when the main market square comes to life.
  • The Citadel - At the heart of the city lies another majestic site; the medieval fortress known locally as “Iċ-Ċittadella” (The Citadel), with its distinctive skyline and imposing military architecture, this ancient, fortified structure stands out as Gozo’s major landmark, a beacon visible from all over the island.

The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and the site now occupied by The Citadel is believed to have been the acropolis of the Punic-Roman city of Gaulos or Glauconis Civitas. During the medieval period, the acropolis was converted into a castle which served as a refuge for Gozo’s population. A suburb began to develop outside its walls by the 15th century, and this area now forms the historic core of Victoria.

  • Xlendi Bay - Our next visit is the delightful sea inlet known as Xlendi Bay, located at the end of a deep, lush ravine, which was once a riverbed and surrounded by picturesque steep cliffs, the bay is now on the must-visit list of most day-trippers to the Island. Xlendi’s small but lively promenade is busy at all times of the day, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and a handful of souvenir shops. Though seemingly bursting with activity during summer, Xlendi bay remains a refreshingly quiet place even at the height of the season.
  • Dwejra Bay - Our last stop is at Dwejra, situated on the western shore of the island of Gozo this area is a geological and ecological haven. All the various surroundings are a blend of geology, landscape, fauna, habitats, shoreline, seascapes, archaeology, flora, and history, which makes a visit to this site an experience to remember.

Dwejra is also known for its Inland Sea, a small bay surrounded by high cliffs and connected by an impressive 65-metre-long natural tunnel which opens out into the open sea, a truly fascinating natural formation which evokes awe and leaves a striking impression. Weather permitting you will have the opportunity to take a short boat trip through the narrow tunnel and its surrounding area, this trip is available at a small fee payable on location (the boat trip is not included in your package price).

  • Island of Gozo - A tourist lunch including a glass of wine is included during one of our stops.
What's Included
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off
  • All transportation in airconditioned vehicles
  • Tourist lunch including a glass of wine
  • Admission to all sites included in the itinerary
  • Roundtrip Gozo ferry tickets
  • Licenced tour guide
What's Not Included
  • The optional boat trip at Dwejra Bay (to be paid on location), the cost is approx. €6 p/person
  • Any extra drinks consumed during lunch
  • Tips (optional)
Additional Information

Discover the allure of Gozo, a richly historic island, during this comprehensive day trip. Experience the striking heritage of Gozo, explore key sites, and uncover hidden treasures.

We begin after a brief twenty-minute ferry journey. Our first stop is the mysterious Ġgantija temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.

Next, we head to Victoria, Gozo’s bustling capital city. It’s a fantastic location to observe the local lifestyle, particularly when the central marketplace is bustling with activity.

The city is crowned by “Iċ-Ċittadella” (The Citadel) in its central location. Known for its unique skyline and impressive military construction, this ancient, fortified edifice is Gozo’s predominant landmark.

We culminate our tour by visiting Xlendi Bay and the Inland Sea in Dwejra, each framed by dramatic steep cliffs.

  • The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be anytime between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM, depending on where you are staying.
  • The tour will be guided in the language you have booked, however please note that at times, depending on operational circumstances, the commentary might be provided by a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of 2 languages).
  • The tour in Polish will be conducted by either a Polish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a native Polish host serving as a translator.
  • The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.
  • The provider reserves the right to change the order of the visits without any prior notice.
  • The boat trip at Dwejra Bay is not included in the price of your package; the boat trip is optional (to be paid on location) and can only be done subject to favourable weather conditions, the cost is approximately €6 per person.
  • Not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments
Location
Ggantija Archaeological Park
John Otto Bayer Street, Xagħra
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.8
(295 Ratings)
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Rock_m
Jun 15, 2024
Good day out - The boat trip around the caves was a highlight & should not be missed! The view from the restaurant was amazing. Guide was excellent.
Review provided by Viator
Terri_h
May 31, 2024
Spectacular Gozo - The small boat trip through the cliffs was amazing. 9 passenger boats through the tunnel for spectacular views of the cliffs from the sea side. Amazing! Long day but packed with lots of interesting activities. Medieval towns, castles, ancient temples, spectacular scenery. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
June_h
May 13, 2024
Excellent day trip and guide and driver. It - We were very well looked after by all concerned . Tessie was a well informed and engaging guide. Our bus driver Michael was excellent. The sites visited were great . Lunch was very nice. All in all a great way to visit Gozo. .
Review provided by Viator
Zypernurlaub2023
May 31, 2024
Recommended day trip to the quieter sister island of Malta - Gozo. - We booked the guided day trip for the family to learn more about the little sister island of Gozo. The shuttle bus pickup worked smoothly and on time. Our tour guide Anita was waiting for us at the ferry terminal. She gave us a very entertaining and amusing introduction to the life of the Gozanians and had lots of interesting things to tell us about all the sights: Ggantia Temple (small ruins), Dwejra Bay (rock formations and rock pools that are well worth seeing), Victoria, etc. The three-course lunch menu in a restaurant was OK. The return trip was not entirely smooth, as not everyone got on the same ferry and we therefore had to wait for the latecomers on the next ferry for the shuttle bus back to the hotels.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tracey_a
Jul 4, 2024
Gozo pretty, food not so good. - Gozo is definitely worth a visit. Unfortunately large tours are just not for us anymore. Lunch was quite poor and didn't reflect the Maltese culture at all. We were very disappointed in it and food allergies were not even a consideration. Perhaps cutting out the lunch stop and adding the stop to Victoria, where customers can purchase their own food and spend some more time in this pretty city.
Review provided by Viator
Grandtour05265750843
Jun 30, 2024
big disappointment - First of all very unprofessional and rude local representative ( Nader K ) already no one at the airport for the transfer excursion booked and deleted without our opinion however we imposed another. Very bad organization a lot of waste of time visits at the pace and not very complete, very good guides but in 2 languages so waste of time so we only make 1/2 visits very bad value for money I absolutely do not recommend it is better to do everything by yourself with Bolt taxis saving time and money
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linda_f
Jun 2, 2024
Good - It was a good trip and it was nice having some time to wander around on our own although I would maybe have preferred to see some more of the sights
Review provided by Viator
Abby_l
May 13, 2024
Good, but not great - The tour was well organised, picked us up from our hotel and coaches and ferries were arranged perfectly. However, our tour guide did not seem to know a lot of information and was often stumbling over words and repeating things so it seemed unrehearsed. She would point out things and say what they were but not really give any context or history behind the place or thing. She would point things out and spell them and that’s about it. It was a good overview of Gozo but you are a bit rushed at each stop, so you might want to try to come back to learn more if you’re not the kind of person that just wants to check it off a list. The regular lunch option was good, but the vegetarian option was no good. It is a much older crowd as well that goes on the tour, if that matters to you.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_w
Jun 7, 2024
Our visit to Gozo - This trip was not particularly good unfortunately.The guide Andrew tried his best but seemed to be a bit inexperienced. His instructions were not that clear.There was quite a bit of chaos at the ferry terminal.not Andrew's fault really but the handover from the initial guide to Andrew was a bit chaotic.There was a bit of confusion regarding the meal at the hotel.Andrew informed us we had a choice of pork or chicken.When we arrived at the restaurant,we discovered it was chicken or omelette.Also Andrew informed us that water was free.When we got to the restaurant,the staff told us we had to pay for the water In the end they relented and said we could have one bottle free per table. We would much prefer if there was an option of lunch rather than it be 'compulsory'. In addition,in the original itinerary,it stated that we were to have 25 minutes in Victoria, possibly a short guided tour? This did not appear to happen. In addition, the original itinerary stated we would have 25 minutes in Xlendi.This did not happen either.In addition,the itinerary stated we would have 45 minutes in Dwejra bay,we only ended up with 25 minutes. So on the original itinerary,we were to have 5 stops plus lunch,we appeared to end up with just 3 stops! Also,when we went to the Citadel,half way up to it,some guests turned around and went back to the coach,Andrew was seemingly unaware of this and so they didn't know where to meet the coach at the end of the visit. So unfortunately not the best trip!
Review provided by Viator
Samanthaharbison
May 7, 2024
If you like feeling like cattle all day, then this tour is for you. - I wish I knew I'd be on this tour with 45 other people. It was way too many for a tour, not to mention every tour group was like this. Im extremely disappointed. They need to make the tours with smaller groups otherwise it is not worth it. I couldnt hear our guide most of the time. Everywhere was extremely crowded and not organised. I do not recommend. If you like feeling like cattle all day, then this tour is for you. Our tour guide was lovely and was extremely knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the time with her when we could hear her.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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