Gozo Ferry Guide: Cirkewwa Car Ferry and Fast Ferry
Gozo Channel from Cirkewwa or the fast ferry from Valletta? Fares, crossing times, why you pay on the Gozo side, buses to the port and day-trip tips, checked in November 2026.
By Malta 365 Editorial Reviewed by Alex Borshch, Founder & Editor
Published November 15, 2026 · 10 min read
Getting to Gozo means crossing the Gozo Channel, and there are two ways to do it. The Gozo Channel company runs large car and passenger ferries from Cirkewwa, at the northern tip of Malta, to Mgarr harbour on Gozo. Gozo HighSpeed runs passenger-only catamarans from Valletta's Grand Harbour, and from Sliema via Bugibba, to the same harbour at Mgarr. Both are year-round services. This guide compares them, with fares and timetables read from the operators' own sites as of November 2026.
Which ferry should you take?
- Take the Gozo Channel ferry from Cirkewwa if you are driving, staying in the north (Mellieha or St Paul's Bay), travelling late at night, or want the cheapest crossing.
- Take the Gozo HighSpeed fast ferry if you are staying in Valletta, the Three Cities or Sliema. It saves the long bus ride to Cirkewwa, though it costs more and carries no cars.
Both land at Mgarr, a short bus ride from Victoria, the island's capital and home of the Cittadella.
The Gozo Channel ferry: Cirkewwa to Mgarr
Gozo Channel gives the crossing time as approximately 25 minutes, and the ferry runs daily. The schedule in force (3 November 2025 to 3 January 2027) runs around the clock: Gozo Channel describes a 24-hour service, subject to weather and operational conditions. Check the operator for departures on your travel date. There are no reservations: boarding is first come, first served for both cars and foot passengers, and a pre-bought ticket gives no priority.
How payment works: you pay on the Gozo side
This is the part that confuses first-time visitors. Gozo Channel tickets are round-trip tickets, and they are validated only at Mgarr in Gozo. If you start in Malta, you board at Cirkewwa without a ticket check and buy your round trip at the Mgarr terminal before you sail back. Drivers do the same: vehicles embark at Cirkewwa without validating a ticket, and pay at the Mgarr vehicle booths before the return.
You can also buy standard tickets online in advance with a debit or credit card. They are not tied to a date or sailing, are valid for six months from purchase, and must be shown individually (one printed or phone ticket per person) at Mgarr. The Mgarr passenger terminal is open 24 hours.
Gozo Channel fares (round trip)
| Ticket | Fare (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard foot passenger | EUR 4.65 |
| Standard passenger night fare (leaving Mgarr after 20:00 and before the first morning trip, November to March) | EUR 4.05 |
| Child aged 3 to 12 | EUR 1.15 |
| Infant aged 0 to 2 | Free (free ticket needed) |
| Car and driver, vehicles up to 5.3 m | EUR 15.70 |
| Car and driver night fare (leaving Mgarr after 20:00 and before the first morning trip, November to March) | EUR 12.80 |
| Motorcycle and rider | EUR 8.15 |
| Bicycle | EUR 1.15 |
The car fare covers the driver only; each passenger in the car pays the foot passenger fare. Child tickets and infants' free tickets can only be issued at the Gozo Channel booths in Mgarr, not online. Lower fares listed for Gozo residents and senior permanent residents do not apply to visitors.
The Gozo HighSpeed fast ferry from Valletta
Gozo HighSpeed sails from the Lascaris Wharf terminal on the Grand Harbour side of Valletta to Mgarr. It also runs a route from Sliema via Bugibba. According to the operator, crossings take approximately 45 minutes from Valletta, 30 minutes from Bugibba and around 1 hour 15 minutes from Sliema via Bugibba. It is a passenger-only service; bicycles travel free (up to nine per sailing), and pets are allowed.
As of November 2026 the fixed schedule shows the first departure from Valletta at 06:45 and then at 08:45, followed by hourly sailings until 22:45, with a 23:45 sailing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November to March. The first boat from Gozo to Valletta leaves at 05:45. From Sliema the first departure is 05:45, with about a dozen sailings a day.
| One-way fare (as of November 2026) | Valletta to Gozo | Sliema to Gozo | Bugibba to Gozo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (standard) | EUR 7.50 | EUR 8.50 | EUR 6.50 |
| Child aged 4 to 10 | EUR 3.00 | EUR 4.00 | EUR 3.00 |
| Infant up to 3 | Free | Free | Free |
Unlike Gozo Channel, these fares are per direction, so a Valletta day return is EUR 15 for an adult. Tickets are sold online (bookings close 20 minutes before each departure) or at the terminal booths, by cash or card. If you hold an Explore Flex bus card, Malta Public Transport sells a Gozo HighSpeed return as an add-on bundle.
To reach Lascaris Wharf from the city centre, walk to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and take the Barrakka Lift down, then follow the signs. The operator says passengers travelling from Gozo get a lift ticket when the fast ferry ticket is purchased at the Gozo terminal. The Airport Direct bus TD4 also serves the fast ferry terminal, and the Valletta to Three Cities harbour ferry docks at the same wharf.
Getting to Cirkewwa by bus
Cirkewwa has its own bus terminal next to the ferry. As of November 2026, Malta Public Transport lists these routes serving it:
- 41 and 42 to and from Valletta (41 via St Paul's Bay, Naxxar and Msida; 42 via Burmarrad, Mosta and Birkirkara).
- 221 to Bugibba via Mellieha, and 222 to Sliema via St Paul's Bay, Bugibba and Pembroke.
- 101 towards Mgarr (Malta) via Popeye Village, Golden Bay and Ghadira Bay.
- X300 to Valletta via Mellieha, St Paul's Bay and Pembroke, and X299 to Mater Dei Hospital.
- TD1 to and from Malta International Airport via Mellieha, Bugibba and Rabat.
From Valletta the bus crosses the whole island, so leave plenty of time and check the journey planner in the tallinja app. A day-route ticket costs EUR 2.00 on the winter fare as of November 2026 (EUR 3.50 on TD1). Our getting around Malta guide explains bus passes.
Buses on Gozo
Malta Public Transport also runs the Gozo network, with the same fares and cards. From Mgarr, routes 301 and 303 run to Victoria bus terminal, and route 322 runs to Marsalforn via Qala and Nadur. Victoria is the hub, and as of November 2026 the key routes from it include:
- 310 to Marsalforn.
- 311 to Dwejra via Gharb and San Lawrenz, for the Inland Sea at Dwejra.
- 312 to Gharb, near the Ta' Pinu Basilica.
- 330 to Xlendi Bay via Fontana.
- 323 back to the ferry at Mgarr via Xewkija and Ghajnsielem.
Services on Gozo are less frequent than on the main island, so check the timetable in the tallinja app and plan your day around the bus. Gozo HighSpeed also mentions a connecting shuttle bus between Mgarr and Victoria. Alternatively, take your car across, or see cycling in Gozo.
Rough weather and disruption
The channel is short but exposed. Gozo HighSpeed states that its services may be cancelled or delayed in unfavourable sea conditions, asks passengers to check live updates on its website or social media, and does not cover the cost of alternative transport. If the fast ferry is cancelled, the Gozo Channel ferry from Cirkewwa is the usual alternative, though it can be disrupted too. Gozo Channel posts updates on its website and can be reached on +356 2210 9000. If you have a flight to catch, do not plan to return from Gozo on the morning of departure. For seasonal planning, see Malta in winter and the Malta weather page.
Tips for a Gozo day trip
- Start early. The first fast ferry from Valletta leaves at 06:45 as of November 2026, and Gozo Channel sails through the night, so an early start buys you a full day.
- Choose a theme. A day is enough for Victoria and the Cittadella, the Ggantija Temples and one coast, such as Ramla Bay or Dwejra, but not for all of them by bus.
- Consider a car for Gozo only. Taking a car across costs EUR 15.70 with the driver as of November 2026, and it turns a rushed bus day into an easy loop.
- Avoid the evening rush back. Boarding is first come, first served, so on busy summer weekends and around the Feast of Santa Marija on 15 August, drivers should allow for a wait at Mgarr.
- Add Comino. Small ferries run to Comino from Mgarr and from Cirkewwa; see our Comino and Blue Lagoon guide.
Two or three nights on Gozo is better than a rushed day. Our Gozo travel guide and the Malta and Gozo two-week itinerary show how to split a trip, and San Blas Bay and Mgarr ix-Xini reward the extra time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ferry from Malta to Gozo?
The Gozo Channel ferry from Cirkewwa to Mgarr takes approximately 25 minutes. The Gozo HighSpeed fast ferry takes about 45 minutes from Valletta, 30 minutes from Bugibba and around 1 hour 15 minutes from Sliema via Bugibba.
Do you pay for the Gozo ferry both ways?
On Gozo Channel you pay once, for a round trip, and the ticket is validated only at Mgarr on the Gozo side. Starting from Malta, you board at Cirkewwa without a ticket and pay before your return. As of November 2026 a standard foot passenger pays EUR 4.65. The Gozo HighSpeed fast ferry charges per direction.
How much is the Gozo ferry with a car?
As of November 2026 the Gozo Channel standard fare for a car and driver (vehicle up to 5.3 metres) is EUR 15.70 for the round trip, or EUR 12.80 when leaving Mgarr after 20:00 and before the first morning trip between November and March. Each extra passenger pays the foot passenger fare.
Do I need to book the Gozo ferry?
Gozo Channel has no reservation system: boarding is first come, first served, and online tickets are not tied to a sailing. Gozo HighSpeed sells tickets online up to 20 minutes before departure and at the terminal, so booking ahead is sensible on busy days.
Does the Gozo ferry run at night?
Yes. The Gozo Channel timetable in force as of November 2026 includes sailings through the night in both directions. The last fast ferry from Valletta leaves at 22:45 from Monday to Thursday in winter, with a 23:45 sailing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Can I take a hire car to Gozo?
Gozo Channel carries cars, and you pay the car and driver fare at Mgarr before returning. Check your rental agreement first, since some companies set conditions for taking cars off the main island.
How do I get from Valletta to the Gozo ferry?
For the fast ferry, take the Barrakka Lift down from the Upper Barrakka Gardens to Lascaris Wharf. For Cirkewwa, buses 41, 42 and X300 run from Valletta, and TD1 runs from the airport.
Gozo
This guide covers Gozo. Explore more about this destination.
View Destination