What it is like
A working harbour that happens to be the front door of an island. Ferries come and go on the far side, the fishing fleet fills the inner basin, the yachts sit in the marina, and a line of restaurants faces all of it across the road. Our Lady of Lourdes stands on the slope above, which is the view people photograph from the deck coming in. Mġarr is not a village in its own right: it has no parish and no festa, and belongs to Għajnsielem up the hill.
What is actually here
The fishing port, mostly. Over 70 percent of Gozo’s fishing boats berth at Mġarr, which makes it the second largest fishing harbour in the Maltese islands by number of boats, and it is one of only three places on Gozo where the seafood on the menu is reliably local; Marsalforn and Xlendi are the other two. Iż-Żewwieqa, round the coast, is where people actually swim.
Otherwise this is a transport hub with a good view. There is no old core to walk around, and the buildings behind the waterfront are mostly recent.
Getting there and onward
The Gozo Channel ferry crosses to Ċirkewwa in about 25 minutes, as often as every half hour in the daytime, and both terminals have facilities for people with disabilities. A separate foot passenger fast ferry runs to the Grand Harbour in Valletta in about 45 minutes: over 300 passengers, wheelchair accessible, pets welcome, one bag each, WiFi on board, bicycles and electric scooters carried free if you say so on arrival, and check in 15 to 20 minutes before departure. Every bus route on Gozo starts from the terminus by the quay.
When to come
Arrival times decide this more than the season. If you want the harbour at its best, come down in the early evening when the fleet is in and the light is on the fort above. Midday in August is queues, heat and coach parties.
Staying near Mġarr
Prices and availability come from the booking sites, not from us, and we have not stayed in any of these. How this site is paid for.
Questions about Mġarr
How long does the Gozo ferry take?
About 25 minutes from Mġarr to Ċirkewwa, with departures as frequent as every 30 minutes during the day. Both terminals have facilities for people with disabilities. Cars queue on the quay and foot passengers board from the terminal building.
Is there a fast ferry from Gozo to Valletta?
Yes. A foot passenger fast ferry runs from Mġarr to the Grand Harbour in about 45 minutes. It takes over 300 passengers, is wheelchair accessible, allows one item of baggage each, welcomes pets, and carries bicycles and electric scooters free if you tell them on arrival. Check in 15 to 20 minutes before departure.
Is Mġarr a good place to stay?
It suits anyone travelling without a car, since every Gozo bus route and both ferries start here and the restaurants are a short walk along the quay. It is not quiet: the harbour works early, and the hill up to Għajnsielem is steep enough to matter with luggage.
Can you swim at Mġarr?
Not in the harbour itself. Iż-Żewwieqa, a short way along the coast, is the popular local swimming spot, and Xatt l-Aħmar is the other option nearby. Both are rock entries rather than sand.