As summer approaches and countries gradually ease travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, many are itching to leave the island for a long-awaited holiday.
But this can get complicated as different countries have different restrictions and entry requirement – depending on which country you are travelling from.
Airlines are gradually increasing their routes for this summer, and you can expect more destination options to become available if countries begin lifting pandemic restrictions. All routes will be displayed on Malta International Airport s departure schedule.
In the meantime, we’ve listed a few of your options here, with a focus on three- or four-day trips spanning weekends.
The standard cost of a return fare between Valletta and Gozo with Virtu Ferries will cost €12 for adults, €6 for children, the company announced on Tuesday.
With a Tallinja card, the cost will go down to €11 for adults and €5.50 for children.
The cost for Gozo residents will be €5 for adults, €3 for children and for Gozo residents with a Tallinja card the return trip will cost €4.60 for adults, €2.70 for children.
In all cases, infants will travel for free.
Trips will be on the company’s vessels San Franġisk and San Pawl, which used to operate on the Malta – Sicily route. They recently returned to Malta from the company’s international route between Venice and Adriatic ports.
Virtu Ferries has announced that it will be operating a fast ferry service for between Malta and Gozo from June.
The company, which has operated a Malta-Sicily service for more than 30 years, announced the new passenger ferry on Saturday, having applied for a licence in March.
Details on schedules and pricing have not yet been announced.
Virtu announced its intention to start a service across the Gozo channel last month after the government issued an open call for operators interested in running a service between the Grand Harbour, Valletta and the Mġarr Harbour, Gozo.
Under the Transport Malta plan, the trip should last not longer than 45 minutes and will be provided only for passengers.
Virtu Ferries applies for licence to operate Gozo-Malta fast ferry service
Photo: Miguela Xuereb
Virtu Ferries has announced that it has applied for a licence to operate a fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo, as it welcomed the government’s announcement that it will be liberalised.
In February, Transport Minister Ian Borg and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri jointly announced that operators will be able to provide direct fast ferry service between Mġarr in Gozo and Valletta. The traveling time between the two islands is just under 45 minutes.
According to Virtu Ferries, the feedback from the transport authority was ‘positive’ and ‘encouraging’.
Virtu Ferries seeks licence to operate Malta-Gozo fast ferry service
Virtu Ferries files licensing application with Transport Malta for fast ferry service which will commence on 1 June
8 March 2021, 12:57pm
by Karl Azzopardi
Virtu Ferries, which operates a catamaran service between Malta and Sicily, has applied for a licence to operate a fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo.
Government wants a fast ferry service to be operational by 1 June. Virtu said that given the short timeframe it will initially use one of its existing vessels to operate the Valletta-Mġarr service and review the possibility of commissioning a specific vessel for the route in the future.