Malta — Gozo & Comino

Best Anchorages in Gozo & Comino

Gozo is greener, quieter, and less developed than Malta — with the spectacular Mġarr ix-Xini fjord, red-sand Ramla Bay, and the dramatic geology of Dwejra. Comino's Blue Lagoon is the Mediterranean's most famous anchorage. These 9 verified locations cover every anchorage across Gozo and Comino.

About Gozo & Comino

Mġarr ix-Xini — The Jewel of Gozo

Mġarr ix-Xini is a narrow fjord on Gozo's SW coast — once used by Knights of St John galleys and a James Bond film location (Thunderball, 1965). Sheer limestone cliffs on both sides, 3–8m sandy bottom with excellent holding, no wind penetration. Space for only 8–10 boats — arrive before 10:00 in summer. A seafood restaurant operates at the head of the fjord. The most photogenic overnight anchorage in Malta.

Blue Lagoon — Most Famous, Most Crowded

The Blue Lagoon between Comino and Cominotto is Malta's most famous anchorage — turquoise water, white sand, excellent holding. In July–August, 200+ boats crowd the lagoon during the day. The magic happens after 17:00 when day-tripper ferries leave: the lagoon transforms into a peaceful overnight anchorage. Pick up yellow mooring buoys on the Cominotto side for overnight. Cominotto is a nature reserve — no landing.

Dwejra — Azure Window Legacy

Dwejra Bay on Gozo's west coast is where the famous Azure Window arch collapsed in March 2017. It is now one of the Mediterranean's most popular dive sites. Dramatic sea stacks, the Inland Sea (a tidal lagoon accessible by tender through a rock arch), and the Blue Hole dive site. Dive site buoys mark the restricted area — anchor well clear. Exposed to W/SW Atlantic swell; best in settled E/NE weather.

Mġarr Harbour — Official Entry Point

Mġarr Harbour is the main port of Gozo and the official non-EU customs clearance point (open 24/7). Malta-Gozo ferries run every 30–45 minutes — ferry vessels have right of way at all times. Anchor outside the ferry lane in 4–8m mud/sand with good holding. The town of Mġarr has restaurants, fuel, and provisions within walking distance of the quay.

Gregale NE Gale — North-Facing Bays Exposed Nov–Mar

The Gregale is a violent NE gale that affects Gozo particularly hard — Ramla Bay and Marsalforn Bay on the north coast are fully exposed and must be vacated immediately at any Gregale forecast Nov–Mar. Warning signs: rapidly developing NE swell, falling barometer. In Gregale conditions, the safest shelters in Gozo are Mġarr ix-Xini (completely enclosed fjord) and Xlendi Bay (protected from NE). Mġarr Harbour provides good shelter from NE. In summer (May–Sep) the Gregale is rare; prevailing wind is the NW Majjistral.

Mġarr ix-Xini — Limited Space, Arrive Early

Mġarr ix-Xini has space for 8–10 boats maximum. The fjord is narrow — no room to swing, boats must be stern-to rocks or anchor fore-and-aft. In July–August arrive before 10:00 to secure a position. Latecomers are turned away. The entrance is narrow (stay centre-channel); depth increases rapidly inside — reduce speed immediately after entering. No anchoring in the innermost section near the restaurant quay.

9 Verified Anchorages

Mġarr Harbour, Gozo

(Mgarr Harbour)Good holdingGozo & Comino

Mġarr Harbour is Gozo's main ferry port and the island's official non-EU customs clearance point, operational 24 hours a day.

Depth

48m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

90m

Crowds

Moderate

Protected: N NW W SW S SEExposed: NERestaurantFuel

Full anchoring guide →

Mġarr ix-Xini

(Mgarr ix-Xini)Excellent holdingGozo & Comino

Mġarr ix-Xini is Gozo's finest anchorage and one of the great jewels of the central Mediterranean — a narrow limestone fjord used by the Knights of St John as a galley harbour since the 16th century.

Depth

38m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

65m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: N NE E SE S SW W NWRestaurant

Full anchoring guide →

Xlendi Bay

(Xlendi)Good holdingGozo & Comino

Xlendi Bay is one of Gozo's most spectacular anchorages — a narrow inlet flanked by vertical limestone cliffs rising 50m+ on both sides, with a charming village at its head.

Depth

36m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

70m

Crowds

Moderate

Protected: N NE E SExposed: WRestaurantMooring buoys

Full anchoring guide →

Ramla Bay

(Ramla il-Hamra)Good holdingGozo & Comino

Ramla Bay is Gozo's finest beach — a wide open bay of distinctive reddish-orange sand, the largest beach on the island.

Depth

38m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

100m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: S SW SE WExposed: N NE NWRestaurant

Full anchoring guide →

Marsalforn Bay

(Marsalforn)Fair holdingGozo & Comino

Marsalforn is Gozo's main tourist village on the north coast — a lively waterfront community with restaurants, bars, a dive centre, and the spectacular salt pans at Qbajjar immediately to the W.

Depth

36m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

90m

Crowds

Moderate

Protected: SE S SW WExposed: N NE NWRestaurant

Full anchoring guide →

Dwejra Bay

(Dwejra)Fair holdingGozo & Comino

Dwejra Bay on Gozo's west coast is home to one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic dive sites — the underwater remains of the Azure Window arch that collapsed in March 2017.

Depth

412m

Bottom

rock

Alarm Radius

110m

Crowds

Busy

Protected: E SE NEExposed: W SW NW

Full anchoring guide →

Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay

(Hondoq Bay)Good holdingGozo & Comino

Hondoq ir-Rummien is a small, relatively undiscovered bay on Gozo's SE tip — a peaceful alternative to the busier tourist anchorages.

Depth

36m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

75m

Crowds

Quiet

Protected: N NW W SWExposed: SE E

Full anchoring guide →

Blue Lagoon (Comino)

(Blue Lagoon)Excellent holdingComino

Blue Lagoon is Malta's — and arguably the Mediterranean's — most famous anchorage.

Depth

25m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

60m

Crowds

Very Busy

Protected: N NE E SE SExposed: W SWMooring buoys

Full anchoring guide →

Santa Marija Bay, Comino

(Santa Marija Bay)Good holdingComino

Santa Marija Bay on the NE coast of Comino is the quieter, more peaceful alternative to the famous Blue Lagoon, 500m to the W.

Depth

37m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

85m

Crowds

Moderate

Protected: S SW W NWExposed: N NE

Full anchoring guide →

Gozo — Anchoring Rules

  • !EU / not Schengen: No customs for EU boats. Non-EU boats: Mġarr Harbour is the official 24/7 customs clearance point for Gozo. Fly yellow Q flag. EES biometric for non-EU crew since October 2025.
  • !Mġarr Harbour ferry traffic: Malta-Gozo ferries operate every 30–45 minutes. Ferry vessels have absolute right of way in the harbour. Stay clear of the ferry lane at all times. Monitor VHF Ch 16 for Gozo Radio.
  • !Mġarr ix-Xini — space limited: Maximum 8–10 boats. Arrive before 10:00 in July–August. Stern-to or fore-and-aft anchoring — no swinging room. No anchoring near the restaurant quay at the fjord head.
  • !Blue Lagoon buoys: Transport Malta has laid yellow mooring buoys on the Cominotto side for overnight stays. Use buoys where available. Cominotto island: no landing — nature reserve. Daytime crowding Jul–Aug is extreme; arrive after 17:00 for overnight.
  • !Posidonia & Dwejra dive buoys: Posidonia EU protected throughout Maltese waters — anchor in sand/mud only. At Dwejra, dive site buoys mark restricted areas — keep well clear when anchoring.

For a full overview of Mediterranean anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Monitor Your Anchor Overnight

Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — essential at Mġarr ix-Xini where stern anchoring and limited swing space make precise radius monitoring critical, and at the Blue Lagoon where boat wakes from ferries can drag anchors overnight.

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