Looking for somewhere similar to Gozo

[Seeingadistance]

I’m just back from my third visit to Gozo - had a great time and would be happy to go back, but am thinking I’d like to try somewhere different - but similar. Hoping that someone here can help me out. I found through Gozo through MN!

I holiday on my own, and enjoy walking/hiking and eating out. I like the good bus network on Gozo, and prefer to use public transport over hiring a car. Prefer somewhere rural, and do like to be near the sea but not interested in sitting on a beach. Like art galleries, museums, historic sites etc, but spend most of time outdoors.

Any ideas?

The only place I’ve ever been that I would never go back to is Naples - apart from that, I love visiting new places.

Have you visited Sicily? Catania ticks all those boxes...

Have you done the Samaria gorge in Crete? It's a fabulous walk, and there is loads to do in Crete that is not beaches. Knossus is touristy but interesting and I really enjoyed Heraklion museum. I've not been for a while but I got all around by bus when I was there

Somewhere like sitges in Catalonia. It's a resort but very classy and picturesque. Some lovely quiet meandering streets and great restaurants

Thanks for all the interesting suggestions!

Some happy googling and researching ahead of me now.

Has anyone been to Pantelleria? Italian island similar size to Gozo.

Unsure if you really want hot weather, but I have a bit of a plan in my head for a small tour of Zealand (the island that Copenhagen is on). The public transport is a bit like rural Italy, in that it exists but isn't too frequent, although hiking/ biking between places is very much possible. You could bookend the trip with a few days in Copenhagen which is a lovely little city.

The north coast of the island looks fabulous, with beautiful beaches and a number of castles/ museums and Viking archaeological sites to visit.

Menorca?

Small island, laid back and quiet outside the main tourist areas, not sure about the buses, but Spanish bus services are usually pretty good if you’re not in a hurry.

I too love Gozo, the first time I went, I’d been there a couple of hours before I’d decided I was retiring there.

Possibly also one of the smaller Canary Islands. La Gomera is a short flight or boat ride from Tenerife (you'd probably have to go via Tenerife from the UK) and good for hiking.

Or Madeira? The big thing there is Levada hiking, following the canals that were built through the mountains to transport water around the island. Some nice gardens and natural sea pools too.

I have never been to Gozo but if you like being outdoors then I can HIGHLY recommend Slovenia in the summer. The bus network is great - reliable and clean - and nowhere is very far away from anywhere else. You can have a city break, seaside time and a trip to the lakes and mountains all at once!

Kos (Greek Island) is similar. Has the agora (Greek ruins) and crusader castle in centre of Kos town. Good bus system. Rural areas up the mountain. Nice beaches with great tavernas. Also a Roman amphitheater and Herodotus original school of medicine was founded there by Ancient Greeks. Kos used to be the most Eastern European trading city for silk coming along the Silk Road from China.

Second Menorca.

I love Gozo and Malta too. Such easygoing holidays with the language and the public transport and the value for money. following the thread

And Madeira! Also the Isles of Scilly. I spent a lovely week there and walked round a different island most days. They feel very exotic but homely as well.

An update!

Thanks for all your advice - I’m currently in Lanzarote and loving it. It has the amazing landscape of Iceland and the warmth and villagey feel of Gozo.

Staying in Playa Blanca and have hired a car so I can explore the rest of the island. Cesar Manrique was some guy!