Two different companies sail to Gozo and they suit different trips. The Gozo Channel car ferry crosses from Ċirkewwa at Malta's northern tip around the clock; the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry carries foot passengers from Valletta all year, and from Sliema and Buġibba in season. Most confusion we hear comes from mixing the two up, so start with which one is yours.
Which ferry is yours
Driving a car
Gozo Channel from Ċirkewwa. The fast ferry carries no vehicles. Board with the car, pay at Mġarr on the way back.
No car, staying in Valletta
Fast ferry from Lascaris Wharf, about 45 minutes direct, all year round.
No car, staying Sliema, St Julian’s or Buġibba
Fast ferry from The Strand (Sliema) or the Buġibba terminal, March to October. In winter, bus or taxi to Ċirkewwa instead.
No car, staying Mellieħa or the north
You are already close to Ċirkewwa: short bus or taxi hop, then the Gozo Channel across.
The Gozo Channel car ferry
The workhorse: every car crosses here, it never stops running, and you cannot book it. The part that surprises everyone is pay-on-return: you board at Ċirkewwa with no ticket at all, and buy plus validate at Mġarr before the return crossing (the full mechanics are in the questions below). In summer, check the live marshalling-area webcams on the Gozo Channel homepage before driving up; the vehicle queue is real on peak weekends. You cannot stay in your car on the vehicle deck during the crossing.
Gozo Channel at a glance
Verified July 2026- Route
- Ċirkewwa ⇄ Mġarrthe only car ferry
- Crossing time
- ~25 minutes
- Runs
- 24 hours, dailyevery ~30 min daytime, ~45 min overnight
- Booking
- Noneno reservations system; first come, first served
Source: gozochannel.com schedule + FAQs
Gozo Channel fares (return, per person / per vehicle)
Verified July 2026- Foot passenger
- €4.65return; ticket valid 6 months, any sailing
- Foot passenger, night fare
- €4.05departing Mġarr after 20:00, Nov to Mar only
- Child 3 to 12
- €1.15sold only at the Mġarr booths
- Infant under 3
- Freeask for the free ticket at the booth
- Car + driver (up to 5.3 m)
- €15.70passengers in the car each pay the foot fare
- Car + driver, night fare
- €12.80departing Mġarr after 20:00, Nov to Mar
Source: gozochannel.com official fares
The Gozo Highspeed fast ferry
Passenger-only, bookable online (sales close 20 minutes before departure) or at the terminal booths. The Valletta boat leaves from Lascaris Wharf below the Upper Barrakka Gardens; the Barrakka Lift connects, and lift tickets are free for fast-ferry customers heading up to town from the Gozo boat. Bikes travel free (nine racks per sailing, reserve ahead); pets are welcome declared at booking; terminals and vessels are wheelchair accessible. Two honest caveats: rough sea can cancel sailings, and works at the Mġarr fast-ferry terminal until the end of October 2026 mean a few extra minutes on the Gozo side.
Gozo Highspeed routes (foot passengers only)
Verified July 2026- Valletta ⇄ Gozo
- ~45 minall year; Lascaris Wharf, below the Upper Barrakka
- Buġibba ⇄ Gozo
- ~30 minMarch to October
- Sliema ⇄ Gozo
- ~1 h 15 minMarch to October, calls at Buġibba
- First / last from Valletta
- 06:45 / 20:45late boats to 22:15+ in summer and weekends
Gozo Highspeed fares (one-way, adult)
Verified July 2026- Valletta ⇄ Gozo
- €7.50child 4 to 10 €3.00; under 4 free
- Buġibba ⇄ Gozo
- €6.50
- Sliema ⇄ Gozo
- €8.50€6.50 with a Tallinja Card
- Luggage allowance
- 1 bag + 1 handstowed bag to 80 cm; hand bag to 5 kg
Source: gozohighspeed.com official fares
Getting to the ferry
Without a car, Ċirkewwa is an easy bus ride from the north and a longer one from Valletta or Sliema; if you are near a fast-ferry terminal, the boat is usually the simpler door-to-door choice. Parking exists at the Ċirkewwa port complex, but the operator publishes no rates or capacity, so check locally if you plan to leave a car behind.
Getting to Ċirkewwa by bus
Verified July 2026- From Valletta
- 41 or 42each ~every 20 minutes
- From Sliema
- 222via St Paul’s Bay and Buġibba
- From Buġibba
- 221
- From the airport
- TD1direct, hourly
- On the Gozo side
- 301 / 303Mġarr to Victoria; 322 to Marsalforn
Moving your stay to Gozo?
Cross with your luggage first thing and drop it at your Gozo base before any sightseeing; hauling bags around Victoria is nobody's holiday. With a hire car, take an early crossing to beat the marshalling queue. Xemxi plans multi-island trips this way automatically: the transfer day gets a lighter schedule and the ferry leg is picked to match your base and transport.
Ferry questions, answered
Do I need to book the Malta to Gozo ferry?
Not for the Gozo Channel car ferry: there is no reservations system at all, boarding is first come, first served, and it sails around the clock. The Gozo Highspeed fast ferry can be booked online (booking closes 20 minutes before departure) but tickets are also sold at the terminal booths.
How does pay-on-return work at Ċirkewwa?
You board at Ċirkewwa without a ticket. Tickets are bought and validated on the Gozo side at Mġarr, before the return crossing. Vehicle tickets are sold only at the Mġarr booths or online, never at Ċirkewwa, so do not hunt for a ticket office before your outbound crossing.
Can I take a car on the fast ferry?
No. Gozo Highspeed is a passenger-only service. Cars cross with the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa.
Which ferry runs in winter?
The Gozo Channel car ferry runs 24 hours a day all year. Of the fast-ferry routes, only Valletta to Gozo runs year-round; the Sliema and Buġibba routes operate March to October.
Is there a night ferry to Gozo?
Yes. The Gozo Channel sails through the night, roughly every 45 minutes overnight, and night fares (departing Mġarr after 20:00, November to March) are slightly cheaper. The fast ferry runs late boats to 22:15 and later on summer weekends.
Can I bring my dog?
On the fast ferry, yes: up to two pets per passenger, declared at booking, on a short fixed leash and carrying a muzzle. For the Gozo Channel, the operator does not publish a pets policy, so check with Gozo Channel before you travel.
Let Xemxi plan the Gozo day for you.
Tell the planner where you're staying and whether you have a car, and it picks the right ferry, times the crossing, and builds the Gozo day around it.
Plan my trip→