Car rental at Mgarr, Gozo

Mġarr is Gozo's harbour, in the locality of Għajnsielem on the south east of the island, and almost every visitor passes through it. The car ferry from Ċirkewwa on the northern tip of Malta takes around 25 minutes and sails all day, all year, including night crossings. Both rental offices in our list are at the harbour, so renting on Gozo means you can cross as a foot passenger and leave the Malta traffic behind.

Why rent on Gozo rather than in Malta

Taking a Maltese rental car across is possible, but the queues for the car deck build up on summer weekends and Maltese holidays. Renting at Mġarr is often simpler for a stay based on Gozo. Ċirkewwa itself is easy to reach without a car, as direct buses run there from Valletta, Sliema, Buġibba and St Paul's Bay. For British and Irish visitors there is a bonus: Malta drives on the left, so the car will feel familiar.

Where to drive

• Victoria, also called Rabat, is the island's capital, with the Citadella on its hill in the middle of Gozo.
• Dwejra on the west coast has the Inland Sea; the famous Azure Window there collapsed in 2017.
• Ramla Bay in the north is one of the few sandy beaches, while Xlendi and Marsalforn are small seaside villages.
• Fort Chambray, built by the Knights of St John in 1749, overlooks the harbour itself.

Distances are short and the island is rural, but roads can be narrow and village centres tight. Parking near popular spots such as Ramla or Dwejra fills up by late morning in summer.