Sannat Holidays
Sannat Holiday – Relaxed village life
Sannat is an attractive little village in the south of Gozo, Malta’s little sister island where even the Maltese go to relax. The village is only a couple of kilometres from the island’s capital, Victoria, but the countryside around it is Gozo’s most dramatic. Sannat sits on the edge of the rocky Ta’ Cenc plateau which tops Gozo’s highest cliffs rising up to 145m sheer out of the sea. This is great walking country with stunning views.
The village itself has a traditional central square with an early eighteenth century parish church and a handful of shops, bars and restaurants. Mid-July sees the village come alive for the annual festa with bunting and fireworks, otherwise Sannat is a quiet place to soak up the relaxing atmosphere of Gozo or use as a base to explore the island’s sights and beaches.
When to go
Gozo’s villages are welcoming at any time of year and Sannat is no exception. Walking is best in spring and autumn. Spring is fresher and dryer and the vegetation is at its lushest, while autumn is generally warmer and the sea temperature higher. Summer is of course peak time for sun and sea, and also busiest – though Sannat itself is never overcrowded. If you are more into sightseeing than beaches, winter can be very pleasant and is by far the cheapest time for a Sannat holiday.
The weather in Sannat
Summers are hot and dry with temperatures often reaching 30ºC in July and August, and into the twenties throughout September and October when sea temperatures also stay well warm enough for swimming. Spring is fresher but still warm with the daytime high averaging 23 ºC in May. Even in January you can expect five hours a day of sunshine and highs in the mid-teens.
Getting the best deal
The best priced Sannat holidays are to be had in the winter when there are some real bargains and there are great prices too at any time outside the peak summer months and Maltese school holidays (which in summer run until mid-September). Booking well in advance or at the last minute can also bring down the cost so have a look at our best deals below and our special late offers.
Airport and transport need to know
Gozo is easy to get to and starts with a short three hour flight to Malta International Airport. You can depart from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds-Bradford, Edinburgh or East Midlands Airport.
From Malta airport it is under an hour’s drive to the Gozo Ferry at Cirkewwa. Taxi fares from the airport are regulated and this trip should cost €32 (about £25). Agree this with your driver before getting in. cheaper and only a little slower is the express bus costing €2.20 (under £2).
The Gozo Ferry runs every forty-five minutes and takes 25 minutes to make the pleasant crossing to Gozo. The return fare is just €4.65 (under £4). and you arrive at Gozo’s Mgarr port.
Gozo has a reasonable bus service with a two-hour ticket costing €2.20 (under £2). Routes centre on the island’s capital Victoria and to get to Sannat you have to change there. You may find it more convenient to order a taxi or hire a car. Agree all charges before travelling.
Best Beaches in Sannat
Gozo has some great swimming spots. There are two small seaside resorts, Marsalforn and Xlendi, but the best sandy beaches are relatively undeveloped beautiful red-sand bays on the north coast. Gozo also has plenty of rocky coves and inlets, perfect for secluded swimming, snorkelling and diving.
The lovely Ramla Bay is Gozo’s most popular beach. A broad sweep of red sand, backed by protected dunes, it is perfect for families as well as adults of all ages. It gets crowded in summer but there is always space for your sunbed. Drinks and food are available at two shady open-air cafes hidden at the western end of the beach.
The closest resort beach to Sannat is at Xlendi, a bay of perfectly clear blue water with a tiny sandy beach - offering shallow waters perfect for children - and lots of rocky foreshore where Maltese and visitors alike gather in summer to sunbathe and swim. The seafront is backed with restaurants and diving and boat trips are both readily available.
If isolation is more your thing, just along the coast from Sannat is Mgarr Ix-Xini, once a hiding place of smugglers and pirates. The drive down to it is narrow and potholed and the final stretch very steep. There is no sand, but the water is crystal clear – perfect for snorkelling and diving – and the rocks are made for jumping off. In the peak summer months there is also a little hut kitchen that serves delicious fresh fish at shaded outdoor tables.
