Getting to Gozo by Sea or Air
The sea link between Malta and Gozo is run by The Gozo Channel Company Ltd. (Tel: +356 21556114, 243964) and is available round the clock. The boats ply between Cirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr in Gozo, a journey of just under half an hour. Ferry tickets are available from Cirkewwa Harbour prior to departure to Malta.

Visitors to Gozo can also opt to fly direct from the Malta International Airport by helicopter, a flight of 15 minutes run by Helicopteros Del Sureste S.A. (Tel: +356 21561301). The service is available all year round and seats may be booked in advance from local and foreign travel agents.

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 Getting Around Gozo
Buses
These are painted grey with a red central stripe, the route number is on the front. The Mgarr to Victoria Bus (No. 25) services is timed with the ferry's arrival and leaves Victoria Bus Terminus half an hour before the ferry's scheduled departure to Malta. From the Heliport to Mgarr – Victoria road and bus service, there is about half a kilometer. From the Victoria Terminus, there is a fairly good bus service to the villages and beaches, however this is not very frequent. In most villages, the terminus is situated in front of the parish church.

Taxis
Taxis are identified by an all-white livery and are fitted with metres and charge controlled prices. It is possible to agree on the fare before the journey. There are taxi stands at the Victoria Bus Terminus and Pjazza Indipendenza, in Victoria and at Mgarr Harbour.

Car Hire
Is recommended and available at the harbour, at Victoria and in several villages. It is definitely the visitor with the car who will get the most out of his visit.

Driving is on the left and there is a speed limit of 80km per hour on main roads and 50km in urban areas. International and national driving licences are acceptable and a fully comprehensive insurance is compulsory.

Cycling
Ideal all year round whilst motor-bikes and bicycles may be hired from various outlets.

Guided Tours
Are available from hotels and tourist agencies. Further information can be obtained from the Tourist Information Offices at the Banca Guratale, Victoria, Mgarr Harbour and Xlendi.

Travel from Gozo to Comino
There is a scheduled ferry service from Gozo to the island of Comino all year round. It is operated by the Comino Hotels. For current timetable Tel: +356 21529821-9.

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Church Services
The majority of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic. Church services are conducted in Maltese. On Saturdays and Sundays, there are a few masses in English. Further information may be obtained from the Bishops Chancery or Curia, Republic Street, Victoria Tel: +356 21551211 Fax: +356 21551278

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Climate
Gozo and Malta have a typical climate of the Mediterranean region, hot summers, mild winters, winter rain, summer drought. The rainy season on the island starts in September and proceeds up to May. November, December, January and February are normally the wettest months. It rarely rains from mid-May to mid-September. Rain usually falls in heavy showers which do not last long. Gozo and Malta have much more sunshine than any other country further north. There is hardly a day when the sun does not shine. The coldest months are January and February when the average maximum is about 15.2ºC. The hottest are July and August which have an average maximum of 30.4ºC.

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Clothes
The visitor will need the lightest possible clothes for high summer and warm clothes for winter, a warm jacket or coat is recommended for winter.

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Cultural Office
For information concerning cultural events i.e. concerts, exhibitions etc… contact the Cultural Council, Banca Giuratale, Independence Square, Victoria Tel: +356 21556125.

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Currency and Exchange Services
The Maltese Lira is divided into one hundred cents. Notes are issued in denominations of Lm20, Lm10, Lm5, and Lm2 and there are coins of Lm1, 50c, 25c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c. There are four banks in Victoria, APS Bank, Bank of Valletta and HSBC, in Republic Street and Lombard Bank in Ninu Cremona Street, All have an ATM service and there are other ATMs and automatic exchange in Marsalforn and Xlendi. Major credit cards are accepted in most outlets. For daily exchange rates dail-a-rate Tel: +356 21493123.

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Electricity
The electrical supply is 240 volts, single phase, 50 cycles. The 13-amp, three pin, rectangular sockets are used in Malta and Gozo. For related problems Tel: +356 21556417.

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Entertainment
Cinemas
The Citadel cinemas (Tel: +356 21559955) project two different film every evening. Audience tends to increase considerably on weekends. British, American and European films are shown daily.

Nightclubs
A very popular club lies on the Victoria – Xlendi road another is on the Victoria – Gharb road and a third hovers above Mgarr Harbour. In summer they all offer open-air entertainment. There are also clubs in Victoria. Several night-spots may be found in hotels and elsewhere offering evening and night entertainment. Information is available at hotels.

Theatres
There are two theatres in Gozo, the Aurora (Tel: +356 21562974) and the Astra (Tel: 21 21559366). Once a year both theatres stage an Italian opera weekend, with famous international singers flanked by local artists. Each theatre has its own band club and stage theatrical productions and song festivals throughout the year.

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 Festa Season

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Hospital & Health
The Gozo General Hospital is accessible from the Mgarr –Victoria road by turning left at the roundabout before entering Victoria or by taking the same street from Pjazza San Frangisk, from in front of the Ministry for Gozo (Tel: +356 21561600). There is also a Government Health Centre and Clinic in Enrico Mizzi Street, just off Pjazza San Frangisk (Tel: +356 21561541).

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 Local Councils
Local Councils began functioning in 1993. They are entrusted with the running of their respective community and they would be happy to supply information related to their village.

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 Language
The people of Malta and Gozo speak Maltese, “Malti”, a structurally Semitic language with overtones of Romance, but written in the Latin alphabet. A marked difference however is evident by the fact that the people of Gozo between themselves speak a dialect which is exclusive from Maltese. Language, is normally no barrier as the majority speak English and many can also converse in Italian. It is neither difficult to find young people speaking German, French, Spanish and Arabic. Failing this, the international language of signs will come to the rescue.

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Libraries and Archives
The Public Library in Vajringa Street is a reference library with a good collection of melitensia, that is books on Malta and Gozo and other local publications (Tel: +356 21556200). Material is partly catalogued according to the Dewey Decimal Classification,

The Lending Library at Pjazza San Frangisk issues temporary readers’ tickets to visitors (Tel: +356 21559451).

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Ministry for Gozo
The executive functions of the central Government are carried out in Gozo through the Ministry for Gozo, Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria. Tel: +356 21561482.

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Police
Besides the Gozo Police District Headquarters in Republic Street, Victoria Tel: +356 21562040, every locality has a police station.

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Postal Rates
Postal information is available at the main Post Office in Republic Street, Victoria and in village post offices. Tel: +356 21556435. Post is collected everyday from various boxes throughout the island.

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Prehistoric Sites, Museums & Historic Shows
The whole island of Gozo is a showplace of the life and customs of a typical Mediterranean community. Several specific places pinpoint different facets of this life throughout the times. The following is an alphabetical list of these places.

Cathedral Museum
(The Citadel, Tel: +356 21556087)
This is the largest single showplace in Gozo and includes the Cathedral Archives, the Picture Gallery and the Silver-Vault.
Open Mondays to Saturdays, except Public Holidays 10:00am - 4:00pm

Citadel Armory
(The Citadel, Tel: +356 21556153)
The large hall, restored by the Order to St. John in 1776 and probably used as Armoury by the Knights, houses a good cross-section of armour and other interesting items formerly belonging to the Knights of Malta.
Open Winter 8:30am - 4:30pm; Summer 08:30am - 6:30pm; Sunday closure at 3:00pm; Closed on Public Holidays

Folklore Museum
(The Citadel, Tel: +356 21562034)
HOused in a group of houses with Sicilian-Catalan architectural features - unique in the Maltese Islands - the Museum offers a most iteresting display of household goods and implements employed by the working classes of Gozo in bygone times. There is also a mill for grinding corn in its original room.
Open Winter 8:30am - 4:30pm; Summer 8:30am - 6:40pm; Sundays closure at 3:00pm; Closed on Public Holidays.

Galleria Gaulos
(Savina Square, Victoria, Tel: +356 21562384)
A cultural display encompassing the Visual Arts - paintings, ceramics and stone sculptures by local and foriegn artists, including etchings by the world famous Victor Pasmore. Admission Free.
Open Mondays to Saturdays - 10:00am - 4:00pm

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Public Holidays
Malta and Gozo have fourteen public holidays. On these days museums and most shops are closed.

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Shopping
Gozo is small, but the number of shops is certainly not wanting, they range from small shops to mini-markets. A number of renowned European chain outlets have also opened in Gozo. There is a traditional open market in Pjazza Indipendenza, Gozo’s main square in Victoria. Just off this square is Pjazza Savina, where antiques can be found. Shops generally open Monday to Fridays between 0800 – 1230 hrs and 1600 – 1900 hrs. Saturdays, most shops open only till 1200 hrs.

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Sports
There are several sports activities on the island. Most continental ball games are practiced, football or soccer, basketball, netball, volleyball, tennis, squash and waterpolo. The Gozo Stadium host 1st division football matches. Other sports are practiced in the Gozo Sports Complex in Triq l-Ewropa, Victoria, where information on all current activities is available, Tel: +356 21560677/8. Horse races are organized regularly at the Gozo Racetrack, Ta’ Xhajma, Triq Rabat, Nadur. Further along the same road one can find the Gozo Scrambling Track. A Shooting Range is situates at Ghajn Mhelhel, Triq Zebbug, Marsalforn.

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Souvenirs
The most authentic “Gozitan” souvenir is definitely Gozo lace. Knitted jackets are also on sale everywhere, small ornamental objects made of Gozo limestone are also available in shops, as are glass and clay ornaments.

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Telephone and Fax
Gozo telephone numbers are prefixed 21 55 and 21 56. Gozo is linked on the international communications network and calls may be made from hotels and Maltacom phone kiosks scattered around the island, especially in main towns and village squares.

Phone cars or ‘Telecards’ as they are commonly referred to are also sought after by collectors throughout the world. They are available from many outlets at Lm2, Lm3, and Lm5 for thirty eight, fifty seven and ninety five units respectively.

The international dialing access code is 00 and Malta’s country code is 356. Overseas telephone, telexes, telefaxes and telegrams may be made at the Maltacom p.l.c. Office, in Republic Street, Victoria. Opens: 0800 – 2000 hrs all year round. Tel: +356 21 556690, +356 21 553890.

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Time
Malta time is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight savings time is introduced as in other European countries, from last Sunday in March (0200 hrs) until the last Sunday in October (0300hrs).

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Tourist Information
Besides several private agencies offering services to tourists in Victoria, Marsalforn and Xlendi, there are two official tourist information offices, one at Pjazza Indipendenza, Victoria, Tel: +356 21564004 and another one at Xlendi.

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Water
Tap water is perfectly safe for drinking. There is also a wide range of local and imported still and sparkling waters.