Explore Dwejra Bay Gozo
All you need to know about Blue Hole, Inland Sea and Dwejra Tower
Dwejra Bay is a popular spot on Gozo, and that for good reason: It’s stunning, with a mix of natural beauty and historical landmarks that are worth taking your time to explore.
During my first visit, Dwejra Bay was my final stop on the Gozo Coastal Trail. Cooling off in the Inland Sea at the end of the day was the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic hiking adventure.
On my second trip, I made sure to check out the Dwejra Tower, a highlight that I had missed before.
To help you make the most of your visit, here’s everything you need to know about experiencing the beauty of Dwejra Bay on Gozo.
*Don’t be surprised, the photos are from my different visits.
Dwejra Bay Overview
Dwejra Bay is located in the northwest of Gozo and ranks among the island’s most beautiful spots and popular attractions.
Until 2017, the bay’s star attraction was the Azure Window, a stunning rock formation shaped like an arch that collapsed during a storm.
Even without it, Dwejra Bay still offers plenty of natural wonders and a beautifully restored watchtower that’s well worth a visit.
The bay is about 2 kilometers from the nearest village, San Lawrenz. On-site amenities include two or three bars and restaurants, though they aren’t open year-round.
You’ll also find a few fishing huts, a boat rental service, a dive center, and the small St. Anne Chapel overlooking the rocky area.
Good to know: The bay is famous for its picturesque sunsets, which naturally draw a crowd in the late afternoon and early evening. Thankfully, Dwejra Bay is quite spacious, so there’s usually enough room for everyone to spread out and enjoy the view.
Natural Highlights in Dwejra Bay
Inland Sea
The Inland Sea is a small, sheltered lagoon within Dwejra Bay, connected to the open sea by a natural limestone tunnel about 80 meters long.
The tunnel, formed through erosion, allows the calm waters of the lagoon to flow into the sea.
For €5 per person, you can take a small boat through the tunnel. Personally, I preferred the easy swim to the edge of the tunnel. It was more than enough to take a look inside.
The lagoon is surrounded by towering cliffs and features calm, clear water that’s perfect for a swim. Even in mid-November, the water was still pleasantly warm.
Historically, the Inland Sea served as a safe harbor for local fishermen, who stored their traditional boats, known as luzzu, in this sheltered area.
Blue Hole
The Blue Hole in Dwejra Bay is one of Malta’s most popular diving spots. This natural underwater cave was formed over time by erosion in the limestone.
From above, it appears as a nearly circular pool of deep blue water. It has a diameter of around 10 meters and connects to the open sea through a natural tunnel.
The Blue Hole reaches a depth of up to 15 meters, and divers can pass through the tunnel to explore dramatic underwater cliffs, caves, and vibrant coral formations.
Good to know: Near the Blue Hole stood the famous Azure Window, a massive limestone arch that sadly collapsed during a storm in 2017.
Fungus Rock
Fungus Rock is a striking limestone formation located in the middle of the crescent-shaped Dwejra Bay. While you can admire it from a distance, it’s not accessible for visits.
In 1744, entering Fungus Rock was officially banned by law after a plant was discovered there, believed to have medicinal properties capable of curing illnesses like syphilis.
The Dwejra Tower, originally built to protect the coast from raids, took on a new role: guarding access to Fungus Rock.
Violations of the ban were met with severe punishments, including three years of forced labor as a galley rower for the Order of St. John, or even execution.
This harsh enforcement highlighted the importance the Knights of St. John placed on the so-called Maltese Mushroom. Ironically, its supposed effectiveness was never proven.
Dwejra Tower
Many visitors to Dwejra Bay miss out on exploring the impressive watchtower, but it’s absolutely worth a visit, and it’s free!
When the flag is flying, the Dwejra Tower is open to the public. On the lower level of the two-story tower, there’s a small room where an engaging film about its history is shown.
A stone staircase leads to the roof, where a spacious viewing platform offers stunning panoramic views of the entire bay. On the rooftop, another small room provides information about the surrounding Natura 2000 protected area.
Opening times: Monday – Friday from 9am – 2pm
Price: free (donations are appreciated)
History of the Dwejra Tower
The Dwejra Tower on the island of Gozo is one of the oldest preserved watchtowers in Malta. It was built in 1652 during the rule of the Knights of St. John to oversee the strategically important coast in Dwejra Bay.
The tower was manned by a small garrison armed with guns and cannons.
Like the prominently visible Red Tower on Malta, the Dwejra Tower was part of a network of watchtowers that communicated via visual signals to quickly raise the alarm in case of danger. These were known as the Lascaris Towers, named after their builder.
Over the centuries, the Dwejra Tower lost its military significance and was at times neglected.
Today, it is maintained by the organization Din l-Art Ħelwa and serves as a small museum that provides information about the tower’s history and its surroundings.
How to get to Dwejra Bay
Dwejra Bay is located in the west of Gozo, 2 km from the nearest village of San Lawrenz. The road ends in the bay with a free parking lot.
By Bus
The bay can be easily reached from Victoria, Gozo’s capital. Take the 311 bus, which runs every hour during the day and takes around 20 minutes to get down to Dwejra Bay.
By Car
From Victoria, you can reach the Dwejra Bay in about 15 minutes by car. There are plenty of parking spaces at the end of the road, but in summer they fill up quickly. Alternatively, you can park along the street.
By Hop-on-hop-off-Bus
The hop-on hop-off buses also stop at Dwejra Bay. These are handy if you want to see several sights on Gozo in one day.
By foot
Dwerja is a good start or end point to the Gozo Coastal Walk, a beautiful circular trail around the entire island. For me, the hiking highlight in Malta!
I highly recommend my hiking day trip: Take the bus to the bay in the morning, visit the Dwejra Tower and then hike along the coast via Xlendi to the harbour in Mgarr (⇨ GPX data and pictures on Komoot)
Good to know: If you also like to hike but don’t dare to do it alone, this small group hike from Xlendi to Dwejra might be just the thing for you.
When hiking in the other direction, Marsalforn, is a great destination for hikers.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, Dwejra Bay has so much to offer and deserves more time than just a quick stop on your day trip from Valletta.
Whether you’re interested in the history of the Dwejra Tower, want to explore the underwater worlds of the Blue Hole while diving, or take a swim in the Inland Sea, the bay offers many opportunities.
Even if you just want to enjoy nature and admire the view from the terrace of the Dwejra Tower, a visit is absolutely worthwhile.
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