Summer gets the attention, but many Gozitans will tell you the island is at its best in winter. The fields turn green, the trails are empty and village life carries on at its own unhurried pace.
The weather
Winters in Gozo are mild. Many days are bright and sunny, perfect for walking, with occasional wet and windy spells in between. Evenings are cooler, so bring layers. The sea is too fresh for most swimmers, but the coastline is at its most dramatic.
Walking season
Cooler days make winter the best time to walk the cliffs and valleys. From Xagħra you can head out on foot straight from the door.
December to early JanuaryChristmas: cribs and Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem
Christmas cribs (presepji) are a much-loved Gozitan tradition, from small home displays in windows to elaborate scenes near the churches. The highlight is Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem: a live nativity village on farmland near Mġarr, where more than a hundred costumed villagers bake bread, work as carpenters and blacksmiths, and tend the animals. Entry is free, with donations supporting local causes.
FebruaryCarnival in Nadur
Gozo’s carnival weekend is known for the “spontaneous carnival” in Nadur, a few minutes from Xagħra: an anarchic, after-dark street party of masks and homemade costumes, quite unlike the parades elsewhere. Extra buses usually run that weekend.
And after a day out, the house is a cosy base: limestone walls, air conditioning and heating, and a quiet square outside.
Information checked in October 2026.
