Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Qala · South-east · 36.028°N, 14.319°E
Ħondoq ir-Rummien is the beach at Hondoq Bay, a small cove tucked below the village of Qala on Gozo’s east coast, directly opposite the island of Comino. Its strikingly clear turquoise water and its front-row view of the Blue Lagoon make it one of Gozo’s most beautiful beaches, long kept as a well-guarded secret by the Gozitans. It is not a sandy beach but a mix of pebbles, flat rocks and concrete platforms: water shoes come in handy, and you enter the sea from a small strip of pebbles, down ladders or from a diving board. The bay is also a lively launching point for Comino and the Blue Lagoon, by water taxi or by kayak. Its downsides are the remote access and the concrete development that some visitors find intrusive.
Amenities at Ħondoq ir-Rummien
- Toilets
- Showers
- Parking
- Disabled access
- Supervised beach
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Snack bar
- Sun loungers
- Umbrellas
- Kayak
- Boat trips
- Snorkeling
- Diving
- Family beach
Activities available at Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien is first and foremost a beach for swimming, snorkelling and diving, but it is also one of Gozo’s main nautical launching points. From its concrete area, water taxis, boat trips and jet skis leave continuously for Comino and the Blue Lagoon, just across the channel, often at unbeatable prices.
The bay is also home to the Gozo Kayak club, which runs guided kayak tours to Comino and the Blue Lagoon, among the finest sea outings in Malta and Gozo. Ħondoq ir-Rummien also ranks among the must-see stops of the Gozo quad tours and the jeep tours.
Where to stay near Ħondoq ir-Rummien
There is no hotel on the shores of Ħondoq ir-Rummien: the bay has stayed wild, with no accommodation on site.
To get around easily, base yourself in one of Gozo’s villages, such as Qala just above, or Victoria, the capital, about fifteen minutes away by car. The island mostly offers holiday homes, guesthouses and small boutique hotels rather than large resorts.
Location of Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien sits in a small bay on Gozo’s east coast, below the village of Qala, facing the island of Comino and its famous Blue Lagoon, from which only a narrow channel separates it. The winding descent from Qala skirts old salt pans and opens up a plunging view over the bay. The shoreline combines a small pebble beach, flat rocks fitted with ladders and a concrete area the boats leave from. Off to the side, following the rocks, hides a wild little cove that regulars swear by, and an underwater cave awaits those who swim behind the cliff.
Getting to Ħondoq ir-Rummien
By bus to Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien is on the island of Gozo: from Malta, first catch the ferry at Ċirkewwa, land at Mġarr, then take bus 303 to Qala or the Kuncizzjoni stop. From there, allow about a 25-minute walk down to the bay, with a steep climb on the way back. Not every 303 serves Kuncizzjoni: check the route beforehand, or plan a taxi to skip the climb.
* Summer fare Jun–Oct (€2.00 the rest of the year)
Calculate the current journey time on Malta Public Transport
By car to Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien is far easier to reach by car, which means taking your vehicle across on the Gozo ferry. From the village of Qala, a narrow winding road drops down to the bay, with sweeping views over Comino and the old salt pans. A free car park sits at the bottom, but it is small, unpaved and quickly full in summer; drivers then fall back on the roadside.
If you have gone for a car rental, it is by far the most convenient way to explore Gozo and its beaches, which are often remote.
Without a car, bus 303 serves Qala, but the walk down to the bay is long and the climb back steep: many end up taking a taxi. Skip Malta’s white taxis in favour of a ride-hailing app (eCabs, Uber or Bolt). Given how remote the bay is, arrange your return in advance.
Reviews of Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien is regarded as one of Gozo’s most beautiful bays, a reputation built on turquoise water of rare clarity, facing Comino and the Blue Lagoon. It is a renowned snorkelling and diving spot, dotted with caves and small coves, and a convenient, cheap launching point for reaching Comino by boat or kayak.
The reality is more nuanced than a postcard. This is not a sandy beach but a mix of pebbles, rocks and concrete platforms, whose embankment divides opinion: some find it practical, others an eyesore. Access takes some effort, with a long walk from Qala and a steep climb back, and the comings and goings of water taxis and jet skis sometimes make the bay feel like a harbour. Tiny as it is, it gets packed in mid-August, and jellyfish drift in depending on the winds.
To make the most of it, come by car, early in the morning and outside the summer peak, water shoes on. The bay then keeps all its wild charm, especially at sunset.
Strengths
- Turquoise water of remarkable clarity, among the most beautiful in Gozo
- Outstanding snorkelling and diving, with caves and small coves to explore
- Direct view of Comino and cheap departures to the Blue Lagoon, by boat or kayak
- Gently sloping entry on the beach side and a diving board for jumps: family-friendly swimming
- Well equipped for its size: sunbeds, kiosks, showers, toilets, seasonal lifeguard
- Unspoilt, quiet setting off season, with superb sunsets over Comino
Weaknesses
- No sand: pebbles and rocks, water shoes recommended
- Concrete development (platforms, embankment) that some visitors find intrusive
- Remote access: from Qala, about a 25-minute walk with a steep climb back up
- Free car park, but small and quickly full in summer
- Constant traffic of water taxis and jet skis that can make it feel like a harbour
- Very small bay, packed in mid-August; jellyfish possible depending on the winds
Frequently asked questions about Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Is Ħondoq ir-Rummien a sandy beach?
No. It is a mixed beach: pebbles, flat rocks and concrete platforms, with a small strip of pebbles and a sandy bottom once in the water. Water shoes are recommended.
Where is Ħondoq ir-Rummien?
On the east coast of the island of Gozo, below the village of Qala, facing the island of Comino and its Blue Lagoon, from which only a narrow channel separates it.
How do you get there?
The easiest way is by car (ferry to Gozo, then a winding road from Qala down to a free car park at the bottom). By bus, route 303 serves Qala or the Kuncizzjoni stop, followed by about a 25-minute walk; as the climb back is steep, many return by taxi.
Can you reach Comino and the Blue Lagoon from Ħondoq?
Yes, it is one of the most convenient and cheapest launching points: water taxis and boat trips (often around €10), and above all the Gozo Kayak club, which runs guided kayak tours to Comino and the Blue Lagoon.
Can you snorkel and dive there?
Yes, it is one of Gozo’s best spots: very clear water, seagrass meadows, small coves and caves to explore. The water gets deep quickly by the platforms, best left to confident swimmers.
Is the swimming suitable for children?
Yes on the beach side, where the entry into the water slopes gently and a lifeguard is on duty in season. Watch out, though, for the pebbles, the rocks and the sudden depth on the concrete side.
When is the best time to come?
In spring, in autumn or early in the morning in summer: avoid mid-August, when the tiny bay is packed and the car park fills up before 10 am.