Fungus Rock, Dwejra Bay Travel Guide

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Discover Fungus Rock: a Gozitan landmark steeped in history, natural beauty, and unique biodiversity. Explore its shores and underwater wonders.

Fungus Rock, or Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, is a 60-meter-high limestone islet guarding the entrance to Dwejra Bay in Gozo. Once prized by the Knights Hospitaller for a purported medicinal plant, it's now a nature reserve offering stunning views and diving opportunities.

A brief summary to Fungus Rock

25WQ+P9R, Unnamed Road, St Lawrence, MT

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Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Fungus Rock.

The shoreline near Fungus Rock is accessible for swimming and sunbathing, offering a great way to enjoy the beautiful Dwejra Bay.
Consider visiting during the cooler months for pleasant weather and vibrant natural surroundings.
Divers should be aware that the open sea side of Fungus Rock has depths exceeding 60 meters, making it suitable for advanced divers only.
Bring your camera! The sunset can be photographed through the opening in Fungus Rock from the inlet anchorage during certain seasons.

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Getting There

Walking

From the Dwejra Bay parking area, follow the paved path towards the coast. The path leads directly to the area overlooking Fungus Rock. The walk is short and relatively easy, taking approximately 5-10 minutes. There are no costs involved.
Public Transport

From Victoria (Rabat), Gozo's capital, take bus 311 or 312 towards Dwejra. Get off at the Dwejra bus stop, which is a short walk from the bay. From the bus stop, follow the signs towards Dwejra Bay and then walk towards Fungus Rock. A single bus ticket costs around €2 [about $2.15 USD as of July 28, 2025] and is valid for two hours.
Taxi

From Victoria, a taxi to Dwejra Bay will take approximately 15-20 minutes. Taxis are readily available in Victoria's main square. Expect to pay around €20-€25 [about $21.50-$27 USD as of July 28, 2025] for a one-way trip. There are no additional costs to access the Fungus Rock viewing area.

Discover more about Fungus Rock

Rising dramatically from the azure waters of the Mediterranean, Fungus Rock is a prominent landmark on Gozo's west coast. Known locally as Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral (The General's Rock), this 60-meter-high limestone islet boasts a captivating history intertwined with medicine, power, and natural beauty.During the rule of the Knights Hospitaller, the rock's flat summit was the sole European source of a peculiar plant, Cynomorium coccineum, mistakenly believed to be a fungus. This parasitic plant, also known as the Maltese Fungus, was highly valued for its supposed medicinal properties, believed to cure everything from dysentery to anemia and erectile dysfunction. The Knights used it as a styptic dressing for wounds and even gifted it to distinguished visitors.Grand Master Pinto, recognizing the plant's value, declared the rock off-limits in 1746. Trespassers risked three years as oarsmen in the Knights' galleys. He ordered the sides of the rock smoothed to prevent climbing and established a permanent guard. A precarious cable-car basket system was even constructed to transport the harvested plant to the mainland.Today, Fungus Rock is a protected nature reserve. While its medicinal myths have been debunked, the rock remains a fascinating symbol of Gozo's rich history and unique biodiversity. The surrounding waters offer excellent snorkeling and diving, with diverse marine life and underwater rock formations to explore. Divers can experience vertical walls, caverns, and swim-throughs. The islet is also home to a unique subspecies of the Maltese wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis ssp. generalensis.