Hiking in Malta and Gozo: Coastal Walks, Cliffs and the Gozo Trail

Yes, Malta is a good destination for coastal walks and day hikes, especially from October to May. Three limestone islands sit about 90 km south of Sicily: Malta itself, Gozo at roughly 67 km², and tiny Comino. There are no mountains or forests. What you get instead is a compact, layered landscape: limestone cliffs that fall sheer into the sea, terraced fields bounded by dry-stone walls, narrow valleys called wied that channel down to small bays, and the silhouette of a Knights' watchtower on almost every headland.

Honest expectations matter. Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Many walks start in a village and use quiet roads before reaching open countryside. There is no single waymarked long-distance trail on Malta. Much agricultural land is private, and fences or "Private" signs mean exactly that. Gozo is greener, quieter and less developed, and it is the better island for multi-day walking.

The highest point in the Maltese islands is Ta' Dmejrek at 253 m, on the Dingli Cliffs plateau. There is no altitude to worry about, but the exposed limestone on cliff tops is sharp underfoot, and the same limestone becomes slippery when wet. English is an official language and the euro is the currency, which makes planning straightforward for UK walkers.

Direct flights connect many UK airports to Malta International Airport. From the airport, buses link the main villages across Malta; taxis and ride-hailing apps are available everywhere, and Malta drives on the left.

Crossing to Gozo is straightforward. The Gozo Channel ferry runs between Ċirkewwa on Malta's north tip and Mġarr harbour on Gozo frequently through the day, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes. A fast ferry also connects Valletta to Mġarr in about 45 minutes. Small boats run to Comino from Ċirkewwa, Mġarr and several resorts along the north coast.

The Gozo Trail starts and ends at Mġarr harbour, so no car is needed for the walking week itself.

The south-west: Dingli Cliffs and Buskett

Malta's finest coastal walking runs along the Dingli Cliffs plateau in the south-west. The cliff edge stretches for several kilometres, with views across to the tiny islet of Filfla. Inland, the Buskett woodland and Verdala Palace offer shade, which makes this a rewarding area for a half-day walk.

The north: Majjistral and the Marfa Ridge

The Majjistral Nature and History Park covers the north-west corner of Malta with garigue, clay slopes and short cliff sections. The Marfa Ridge continues north to the Red Tower and Aħrax Point, with open views to Comino and Gozo on clear days. Little shade: bring water and go in the cooler months.

The Victoria Lines and the Great Fault

A British fortification built between 1875 and 1899 runs along the Great Fault, the natural escarpment that runs across Malta from east to west. The walking is moderate and historically interesting, though some central sections are fragmented by roads and private land.

Comino

The smallest inhabited island in the group, Comino has almost no permanent residents. The loop around the island is short, open and easy, with the Santa Marija Tower as the main landmark. Carry all the water you need.

Gozo's coast

Gozo rewards walkers in a way that Malta cannot quite match. Victoria (Rabat) and its walled Citadel sit in the middle of the island; the coast encircles it with cliffs, salt pans, sheltered inlets and remote bays. Walking in Gozo is the island experience Malta day-trippers miss.

The walks below are listed per area.

Malta hikes range from a short stroll to a full day on exposed coastal paths. These are the hiking trails in Malta worth building a day around.

Dingli Cliffs walk

Start: Dingli village · Distance: about 4 km there and back · Type: return · Level: easy · Getting there: taxi or bus to Dingli

The Dingli Cliffs walk is the best-known walk on Malta. The plateau runs along the cliff top, with the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene as a turning point and the islet of Filfla floating in the sea below. The path is unfenced: stay well back from the edge, particularly in wind. Late afternoon light is exceptional here.

Golden Bay to Għajn Tuffieħa and Ġnejna (Majjistral)

Start: Golden Bay · Distance: about 2 to 8 km, depending on the paths you choose · Type: one way or loop · Level: easy to moderate · Getting there: bus to Golden Bay

The Majjistral Nature and History Park begins just beyond Golden Bay beach and opens into a network of clay paths, garigue scrub and cliff-edge tracks. The Għajn Tuffieħa watchtower dates from the 17th century and marks the headland. You can extend toward Ġnejna Bay for a longer, wilder version, or turn back early for an easy morning.

Marfa Ridge and the Red Tower

Start: Għadira Bay · Distance: about 14.5 km · Type: loop · Level: moderate · Getting there: bus or taxi to Għadira Bay

The Marfa peninsula is the narrow finger of land at Malta's north tip. The ridge walk takes you to Aħrax Point, the most exposed corner of the island, then inland to the Red Tower (Santa Agatha's Tower), with panoramic views of Comino and Gozo. There is almost no shade and few facilities beyond Armier Bay: carry water and go early in the day.

Paradise Bay to Ċirkewwa

Start: Paradise Bay · Type: one way, short · Level: easy · Getting there: taxi or bus

Malta's northern edge, this short coastal section ends at the Gozo ferry terminal at Ċirkewwa. It makes a natural warm-up walk before the crossing, especially if you are starting the Gozo Trail that afternoon.

The Victoria Lines

Start: Binġemma or Mosta · Distance: the full trail is about 16 km one way with around 400 m of ascent; most walkers choose a section · Type: one way · Level: moderate · Getting there: taxi to the start, bus from the finish

The Victoria Lines follow the Great Fault scarp across Malta. Built by the British between 1875 and 1899 to protect the harbour area against an invasion from the north, the walls and small forts are still visible along much of the route. Some central sections are difficult to follow where roads interrupt the route: check your progress on the map as you go.

Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk via St Thomas Bay

Start: Marsaskala · Type: one way · Level: easy · Getting there: bus to Marsaskala, bus back from Marsaxlokk

The quieter south-east coast offers easy walking past St Thomas Bay and along low rocky shores to Marsaxlokk, known for its colourful luzzu fishing boats. This is one of the most accessible Malta walks for those who want a half-day without serious terrain.

Comino round walk

Start: Blue Lagoon · Distance: about 6 km · Type: loop · Level: easy · Getting there: small boat from Ċirkewwa or Mġarr

The Santa Marija Tower (1618) is the centrepiece of the Comino loop, set on open garigue with views in every direction. There are almost no facilities on the island: carry enough water. Since 2025 the Blue Lagoon has a free online booking system with time slots, so check the current access rules before you go.

Gozo is smaller, greener and considerably quieter than Malta. Victoria (Rabat) and its walled Citadel sit at the heart of the island; the coast around it is the territory of Gozo walks. The Gozo coastal walk follows the coastline round the entire island: our trail does exactly that, day by day, in the section below. For those with just one or two days on Gozo, these day hikes are the best starting points.

Ta' Ċenċ cliffs and Mġarr ix-Xini

Start: Sannat · Type: return · Level: moderate · Getting there: taxi from Victoria

The high south cliffs of Ta' Ċenċ are among the most dramatic in the Maltese islands. On the plateau above, dolmens and cart ruts survive from the prehistoric period. The path descends to Mġarr ix-Xini, a sheltered inlet with a Knights' watchtower dating from 1661, before returning the same way.

Xlendi to Dwejra

Start: Xlendi · Type: one way · Level: moderate · Getting there: bus or taxi from Victoria

Xlendi Tower (1650) guards the entrance to the bay; the path beyond it follows cliff edges west toward the Inland Sea at Dwejra. The Azure Window collapsed in March 2017 and no longer exists, but the surrounding landscape remains extraordinary: the Inland Sea, the rock arch of Wied il-Mielaħ and the open cliffs of the west coast make this one of the finest Gozo hikes.

Xwejni salt pans to Wied il-Għasri

Start: Xwejni Bay, near Marsalforn · Distance: about 4.5 km there and back · Type: return · Level: easy · Getting there: taxi or bus to Marsalforn, then walk to Xwejni

Rock-cut salt pans line the shore at Xwejni and are still harvested by hand each summer. Continuing west along the coast brings you to the narrow gorge of Wied il-Għasri, which cuts back into the plateau and ends at a tiny pebble beach. This is a gentle and historically interesting half-morning.

Ramla Bay and San Blas

Start: Nadur · Type: loop or one way · Level: easy to moderate · Getting there: bus to Nadur

Ramla Bay is known for its red sand and is reached through terraced valleys with citrus groves. The Calypso Cave viewpoint above the bay is accessible (the cave itself is closed), and the path continues to the small, steep bay of San Blas. A satisfying Gozo half-day.

The principle is simple: a different village each night, all nights booked in advance, and you walk the coast round Gozo entirely on your own at your own pace with our app for navigation. No guide, no group, no set departure time each morning. The Gozo Trail covers 58.2 km over five walking days, with roughly 1,310 m of total ascent. The trip takes seven days: an arrival day, five walking days and a departure day. You start and finish at Mġarr harbour, where you spend the first and last night, so the ferry from Malta is the only transfer you need.

Day 2, Mġarr to Nadur takes you east along the coast past Ħondoq ir-Rummien bay and through Qala to the rock-cut boathouses of Daħlet Qorrot. Expect short scrambles and one exposed coastal stretch; this is the longest day and the one to take steadily.

Day 3, Nadur to Marsalforn is the shortest stage. Citrus terraces lead north through the valley to red-sand Ramla Bay, then up to the Calypso viewpoint before descending to the seaside town of Marsalforn on the north coast.

Day 4, Marsalforn to Għarb follows the north coast west past the Xwejni salt pans and into the dramatic gorge of Wied il-Għasri, then inland past the basilica of Ta' Pinu to Għarb. En route you pass the natural rock window of Wied il-Mielaħ above the sea.

Day 5, Għarb to Xlendi has the most technical descent of the trip: a limestone descent into the Inland Sea at Dwejra, the Dwejra Tower on the promontory above, then south along wild cliff paths via Ras il-Wardija to the sheltered bay of Xlendi.

Day 6, Xlendi to Mġarr closes the Gozo coastal walk. The path passes Xlendi Tower and climbs to the high plateau of Ta' Ċenċ, then descends through the sheltered valley of Mġarr ix-Xini, with views of Fort Chambray and the coast of Gorgon Bay, before arriving back at Mġarr harbour.

Hiking in Malta is moderate rather than alpine. Individual day hikes last from an hour to half a day on terrain that is mostly easy to follow. The Gozo Trail asks for five walking days of between 8 and 14 km each.

The terrain is harder than the numbers suggest. Sharp karst limestone on the cliff tops is rough underfoot and hard on thin-soled shoes. Days 2 and 5 of the trail include short scrambles and genuinely exposed coastal sections where concentration matters. There is very little shade on the Maltese islands, so the sun and wind work against you even in October. Wet limestone is noticeably slippery: take extra care on cliff paths after rain.

A few practical points for all walking in Malta and Gozo. Stay on the paths: many fields are private and "Private" signs should be respected; crossing walls is not acceptable. Some coastal sections use roads without a pavement, so stay well in from the edge and wear bright colours. During the autumn and winter hunting season, which runs from 1 September to 31 January on Malta and Gozo, you may encounter hunters in the countryside; on Sundays shooting stops at 1 pm.

For navigation, our app shows the route on the map with your GPS position, an elevation profile and GPX files, all of which you can download for offline use before you leave.

October to May is when hiking in Malta makes the most sense, and each season within that window has its own character. Autumn brings warm sea temperatures, stable weather and the first green returning to the fields after the summer drought. Late winter and spring are the best months for wildflowers: by February the terraced valleys are alive with colour, and by April the garigue is in full bloom. Winter days are mild, often sunny and calm, making Malta a good winter walking destination when the Alps are buried in snow.

From June to September, walking is uncomfortable. Temperatures are high, there is almost no shade on the coastal paths, and the dryness turns the landscape brown. If you find yourself on Malta in summer, walk early in the morning or save the hiking for another season.

Most of the rain falls in late autumn and winter, usually in short, heavy showers, with long sunny spells in between. A light waterproof layer is worth packing even in spring.

For context: hiking on Madeira and hiking in Tenerife are the closest comparisons: warm-climate islands that work as winter walking destinations, though both have the altitude that Malta lacks. If you want real mountains in the same season, hiking in Mallorca and hiking in Crete offer gorges and peaks in spring and autumn. For a broader overview of where to go when, see our guide to walking holidays in Europe. You choose your own start date for the Gozo Trail in the booking calendar on the trip page.

The trail uses hotels, guesthouses and small boutique hotels in Mġarr, Nadur, Marsalforn, Għarb and Xlendi, all booked for you in advance. You get a private room, with an en-suite bathroom where possible; your first and last nights in Mġarr are included in the package. Where the accommodation provides breakfast, it is included; lunch and dinner are your own choice and cost, with shops, hotel restaurants and local restaurants available along the route.

There is no luggage transfer on the Gozo Trail. You carry your own bag throughout: a 30 to 40 litre rucksack is the practical size for a week's walking.

What is not included in the package: flights to Malta, the Gozo Channel ferry, local buses and taxis, lunch, dinner, travel insurance and tourist tax where it cannot be prepaid. Cancellation is free up to eight weeks before your departure date.

Full details and dates are on the Gozo Trail, 7 days trip page.

The Gozo Trail costs from 750 euros per person when two or more travel together, and 1,400 euros if you travel alone; prices can differ per date.

If you enjoy island walking and want to compare the options: hiking on Zakynthos is gentle and accessible; hiking in Sardinia adds more rugged terrain; hiking in Corsica takes you into genuinely alpine country. Each step along that range is a bigger commitment in terrain and preparation.

Ready to walk a whole island? The full route, dates and booking details are on the Gozo Trail page.