Gozo Ferry — Everything You Need to Know | Journal Malta

The crossing to Gozo takes 25 minutes. But if you're driving, there's one question everyone dreads: how long is the queue? Good news — you can check before you even start the car. Here's the complete guide with live cameras, a vehicle counter, and a real-time ferry tracker.

Check the Queue Before You Leave

Gozo Channel provides three live tools on their website. You can see exactly how many cars are waiting, watch cameras at both terminals, and track every ferry's position in real time.

Live Camera — Ċirkewwa (Malta)

View of the marshalling area at Ċirkewwa terminal — exactly where cars queue up to board. Camera runs 24/7.

Ċirkewwa Marshalling Area (Front) — LIVE

Live Camera — Mġarr (Gozo)

View of the marshalling area at Mġarr on the Gozo side. Useful when returning from Gozo to gauge the return queue.

Mġarr Marshalling Area (Front) — LIVE

All 7 Gozo Channel Live Cameras

Gozo Channel has 7 cameras covering both terminals. All accessible at gozochannel.com or directly:

Location	Side	Link
Mġarr Marshalling Area (Front)	Gozo	Live →
Shore Street (Upper Part)	Gozo	Live →
Shore Street (Middle Part)	Gozo	Live →
Shore Street (Lower Part)	Gozo	Live →
Mġarr Road	Gozo	Live →
Ċirkewwa Marshalling Area (Front)	Malta	Live →
Ċirkewwa Marshalling Area (Side)	Malta	Live →

Live Ferry Tracker — Where Are They Now?

The official Gozo Channel map shows real-time positions of every ferry: MV Malita, MV Gaudos, MV Ta' Pinu and others. See whether a ferry is loading, crossing, or mooring.

Gozo Channel Ferry Positions — LIVE

If the map doesn't load: open ferry tracker directly →

Getting to Ċirkewwa

Option	Time	Cost	Notes
Bus (lines 41/42 from Valletta)	1–1.5 hrs	€1.50–2	Cheap but slow. Limited luggage space.
Bolt / eCabs	30–45 min	€20–25	Fast and stress-free. Best from the airport.
Own car	30–45 min	Paid parking	Peak season: parking fills up — arrive early.

Two Crossing Options

Gozo Channel — Car Ferry

Large white ferry carrying vehicles and foot passengers. Runs 24/7, approximately every 45 minutes (every 20–30 min at peak season). Crossing: 25 minutes. Capacity: approx. 50–55 cars per sailing.

Ticket	Price
Foot passenger (return trip)	€4.65
Car + driver (return trip)	€15.70
Motorcycle + rider (return trip)	approx. €6

Important: You pay on the RETURN crossing from Gozo to Malta — not on the way out. Boarding from Malta to Gozo is free. Foot passengers always board immediately, no matter how long the car queue is.

Gozo Fast Ferry — High-Speed Boat

Seasonal passenger-only service from Grand Harbour (Valletta) or Sliema direct to Mġarr, Gozo. More expensive (approx. €12–15) but no drive to Ċirkewwa and no car queue.

When to Avoid the Queue

⚠️ When NOT to go (peak queues)

Friday 3–7 PM — Maltese heading to Gozo for the weekend
Sunday 5–9 PM — mass return from the weekend
July–August, every morning after 9 AM — tourists heading to the Blue Lagoon
Morning after a long weekend — especially when it rains

✅ When to go (minimal queue)

Morning 6:00–8:30 AM — empty roads and almost no queue
Midday on weekdays — especially off-peak season
Evening after 8 PM — relaxed, ferry runs through the night
Off-season (October–April) — queue barely exists

Night Ferry

Gozo Channel runs around the clock — approximately every 45 minutes through the night. If you stay for dinner on Gozo, you can return on an evening or late-night crossing. Zero queues, and the night crossing has an atmosphere all its own.

25 minutes, watching Gozo's cliffs emerge from the sea, wind in your hair — this crossing isn't transport, it's an attraction in itself.

Head to the upper deck. The view back over western Malta with Gozo approaching stays with you. Strong winds up there even in summer — bring a light jacket.