What most people call simply "the Island of Malta"
is, to be accurate, a group of islands
consisting of Malta, Gozo, Comino and Cominotto.
The existence of these smaller
islands was quite unknown to most holiday-makers. The
Gozitans who are the friendliest of people are quite
conservative as regards the natural environment of their
island. Gozo, they feel, should stay as it was or as
it is now. The tourist who decides to choose Gozo will
benefit from this Gozitan attitude because he will find
himself in a little paradise, away from the hustle and
bustle of today's hectic life, transposed into a world
of peace, serenity and cleanliness.
Whereas the Maltese have always
been in contact with the rest of the world and made
a living from trade, Gozo was always an island of farmers
and fishermen. Those who visit Gozo find much more green
fields, flowering plants and
wild flowers ...
The Maltese Islands are within easy reach of most countries
by means of frequent and direct sea and air services.
By Air
Air Malta, the national carrier, operates an extensive schedule
of air services linking Malta with many of the main gateways
in Europe and the Middle East. For further details please contact
Air Malta's Head Office or any of its overseas offices, or visit
the Air Malta
home page
By Sea
Regular and frequent car-ferry, catamaran and hydrofoil services
are operated between various Italian and Sicilian towns and
Valletta, Malta’s Capital City.
How to reach Gozo from Malta
The Malta and Gozo are within easy reach of each other by means
of frequent and direct sea and air services.
By Sea
A regular ferry service carries passengers and cars between
Malta and Gozo. You take the boat at Cirkewwa at the far north
of Malta and land at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. The crossing takes
about 25 minutes. The ferry service is available round the clock
from July to September and from 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. from
October to June.
The Gozo Channel Company is responsible for the running of these
services. For Summer
and Winter
timetables click respective link.
By Helicopter
A helicopter service links Malta International Airport and the
heliport in Xewkija, Gozo. It is a daily, year round service,
managed by Malta Air Charter Limited, an Air Malta subsidiary.
The helicopter service is ideal if you wish to go to Gozo directly
after your arrival in Malta. The flight takes 15 minutes. Advance
booking is possible through your travel agency. A Malta-Comino
link is available on demand. You can also do some sightseeing
by helicopter. Daily return flights, which include car hire,
are available. Reservations and tickets from Air Malta offices
world-wide and
locally at:
The Gozo Heliport:
Tel: (00356) 557905 or 561301
Air Malta and Air Charter Offices:
Pjazza Indipendenza at Victoria:
Tel: (00356) 559341/2
Air Malta Systems:
Tel: (00356) 662211/6
Places to visit in Gozo
No visitor has ever been to Malta and left without visiting
her sister islands, Gozo and Comino. Gozo, aptly termed as the
island where time stands still because of the tranquility it
exudes, is greener than Malta and more rural allowing for sweeping
views of terraced fields, glimmering shore-lines, and imposing
churches. Comino, a mile long and uninhabited, is a veritable
paradise with a lagoon bluer than turquoise.
The Island of Gozo has often been referred to as the island
of sunshine and history and with good reason. With a history
boasting 6,000 years of civilization, every square inch of its
land, its temples and monuments bear witness to these past civilizations.
For those of you with an appetite for culture, Gozo is strewn
with fascinating historical and archaeological sites, some of
which date back earlier than the Pyramids!
Museum lovers will find a variety of treasures to discover on
Gozo. Each museum houses fabulous artifacts from various fields
and eras be it art, archaeology, natural history, wartime, the
temples or our celebrated maritime history. And more treasures
can be found in one of the 55 churches built on the island of
Gozo!
And for those who wish to take it easier on Gozo, simply stroll
around our charming towns and villages and enjoy the uniqueness
and tranquility that is so very typical of the Island of Gozo.
Beaches
Gozo- Marsalforn Bay, Ramla Bay, Xlendi Bay, Hondoq Ir-Rummien
Bay, San Blas Bay, Imgarr ix-Xini Bay, Dahlet Qorrot Bay
Comino- Blue Lagoon, Sta. Marija Bay, St. Nicholas Bay, Crystal
Lagoon
Weather in Gozo
The climate is warm and healthy. There are no biting winds,
fog, snow or frost. Rain falls for only very short periods averaging
about 578 mm (20 inches) in a whole year. The temperature averages
14C (57F) in winter (November - April) and 32C (90F) in summer
(May - October). The sun shines for an average 6.46 hours each
day in winter and 10.11 hours in summer. The hottest period
is from mid-July to mid-September. The island of Gozo is seldom
too hot even in the height of summer as hot summer days and
nights are regularly tempered by cool breezes from the sea.
The table gives monthly
averages taken over a period of 30 years
for hours of bright sunshine temperature and rainfall
Geography of Gozo
Malta and Gozo enjoy a healthy climate, with mild winters and
a hot summer season. Cold winds, snow, frost and fog are unknown.
Rain falls between September and April. It seldom rains after
April, and nearly never in summertime.
The temperature averages 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit in winter (Nov-Apr)
and 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer (May-Oct). The
hottest period is from mid-July through mid-September although
the islands seldom get too hot, as hot summer days and nights
are regularly tempered by cool sea breezes.
There are no mountains or rivers. The majority of fields are
small and terraced, but despite lack of rain and other adverse
terrain conditions, agriculture is well developed.
Electricity in Gozo
The electrical supply is 240 volts, single phase, 50 cycles.
The 13 amp, three-pin rectangular sockets are used in Malta.
Health Information
Malta and Gozo enjoy a well-earned reputation for its health
standards. Medical facilities, running along modern lines, are
available through the regional health centres and two general
hospitals.
Nationals of Australia and the UK staying for less than six
months and one month respectively, are entitled (through reciprocal
health agreements) to a free medical and hospital care. Comprehensive
health insurance policy for all travellers is, nevertheless,
recommended.
A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for
travellers over nine months of age, arriving from infected areas.
Tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised and
available daily in cartons and bottles. All dairy products are
safe for consumption.
State hospitals telephone and fax numbers:
Malta Tel: 21241251 Fax: 21240176
Gozo Tel: 21561600 Fax: 21560881
Language in Malta and Gozo
The people speak their own tongue - Maltese, a language of Semitic
origin. Through the ages, many foreign words, particularly Italian,
became part of the language, and Maltese is the only Semitic
language written in Latin characters. English is one of two
official languages and is widely spoken in Malta and Gozo.
If you are interested to learn the English Language, there are
various exciting programmes and schools ready to welcome you
aboard. Most schools offer accomodation with Maltese families
so to practice your English during the day. Culture and education,
what a wonderful mix.
Money Matters
Currency
Malta's currency is decimal. The Maltese Lira (Lm) is the unit
of currency and is divided into 100 cents; each cent is again
divided into 10 mils. You can check the value of your currency
against the Maltese Lira(Lm) here.
Importation into Malta of foreign curreny Non-residents may bring in any amount of foreign currency.
Exportation from Malta of foreign currency Non-residents may also export any amount of foreign
currency provided this amount does not exceed the amount of
foreign currency they brought in. Where a non-resident intends
to export an amount in excess of Lm1000 in foreign currency
he/she may be requested to present proof of the amount of foreign
currency that he/she brought in, in which case it is advisable
that all foreign currency is declared upon arrival in Malta.
Importation into Malta of local currency Up to Lm1000 in Maltese currency notes and coins may
be imported into Malta by any resident/non-resident.
Exportation from Malta of local currency Up to Lm1000 in Maltese currency notes and coins may
be exported from Malta by any resident/non-resident.
Banks
Banking hours usually are between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. Mondays
to Fridays; they are open until 11.30 a.m. on Saturdays. Some
banks are open to the public for longer hours. Opening hours
change for the winter and summer seasons. Foreign exchange facilities
are available at the International Airport on a 24-hour basis
all year round. There are also a number of automated foreign
exchange machines scattered around the islands as well at automated
teller machines (ATMs). Also, a number of exchange brokers operate
on the islands.
Credit Cards Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club
International, Master Card and Visa are accepted by most hotels
and restaurants and a good number of retail outlets. Card-holders
should check with their credit/charge card company for details
on merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.
Shopping in Gozo
All shopping arcades and shops in Gozo are situated in very
central places and visitors may easily reach these localities
either by private or public transport. Shops are open daily
from 08.30hrs to 12.00hrs and from 16.00hrs to 19.00hrs.
In commercial areas frequented by tourists however, most shops
remain open until approximately 10.00 pm. The shops in these
localities offer all that customers may need such as food, fashionable
clothes for all types of occasions and clients, souvenirs, shoes,
hifi equipment and household accessories. Shops are not open
on Sundays and public holidays.
Major credit cards, travellers cheques and eurocheques are accepted
at most leading shops and restaurants. Card-holders should check
with their credit/charge card company for details on merchant
acceptability and other services that may be available.
There is an open-air market, open Monday to Saturday, in Victoria
the capital city
of Gozo.
Telephones
Local and international telephone calls can be made from hotel
rooms, and credit and charge cards are normally accepted. Telex
facilities, as well as facsimile machines, are also available
at most hotels.
Maltacom plc
provides a 24-hour international telephone, telex and facsimile
service at its St George's Branch. A similar service is available
from the Valletta Branch in South Street. However, the service
is only available during office hours and from Mondays to Saturdays.
The services of overseas telephone calls, telex and facsimile,
are available from Maltacom's Branch Offices at Bisazza Street
and Plaza Shopping Complex in Sliema, Malta
International Airport , at Qawra and at St Paul's Bay. These
Branch Offices are open daily between 8.00 am and 10.30 pm.
There are 520 card phones in Malta and Gozo in the streets,
public areas, Malta International Airport , Maltacom branches
and tourist frequented areas. At least one card phone in each
village of Malta and Gozo is available. Phone cards are on sale
from Maltacom Branches, HSBC Bank branches, Post Office branches
and over 400 other retail outlets, which display the Telecard
sign.
Important telephone numbers:
00 International Direct Dialling Access Code
from Malta 356 Malta Country Code
191 Police 196 Ambulance 199 Fire
150 Star Services 133 Telephone Faults 190 Directory Enquiries 194 Overseas Operator 195 Time check
153 Government Information Service 179 Support line for abused children &
adults
Malta and Gozo are on central European Time (CET), that is one
hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and two hours
from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.
The islands are six hours ahead of Eastern Seaboard Time (EST)
in winter and seven ahead from the last Sunday in March until
the last Sunday in September.
Gozo Pride Holidays, 27, Anton Buttigieg Street Qala Gozo Malta.
Tel: (00356) 27 564776, Fax: (00356) 21 564200, E-mail: info@gozoprideholidays.com
