Updated in September 2026, this guide to The Old Prison covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Old Prison is a former prison and dark-history site in the Citadel in Victoria, Gozo. As of September 2026, the neighbouring Gozo Museum of Archaeology has closed its doors ahead of redevelopment into the new Gozo Museum. The Ċittadella Combo Ticket used for The Old Prison remains unchanged.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Tue–Sun, 9am–5pm (March–December); Tue, Thu–Sun, 9am–5pm (January–February, closed Wed); closed Mondays year-round |
| Ticket prices | Adult €5.00, child (6–11) €2.50, as part of the Ċittadella Combo Ticket |
| Address | Cathedral Square, The Citadel, Victoria, Gozo |
| Nearest transport / parking | 8 minutes’ walk from Victoria’s bus terminus; paid car park (€2.00) next to the Citadel |
| Typical time needed | 20 to 40 minutes |
The Old Prison opening hours
The Old Prison opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm, between March and December. During January and February, it opens Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm, and is also closed on Wednesdays. It is closed on Mondays all year round, plus 1 January, Good Friday, and 24, 25 and 31 December. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
The Old Prison ticket prices
Entry to The Old Prison is sold through the Ċittadella Combo Ticket, priced at €5.00 for adults.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | €5.00 |
| Youth (12–17) | €3.50 |
| Senior citizen (60+) | €3.50 |
| Concessions & students | €3.50 |
| Child (6–11) | €2.50 |
| Infant (1–5) | Free |
The Ċittadella Combo Ticket also covers the Gran Castello Historic House and the Citadel Visitor Centre, and is valid for 30 days from first use. Heritage Malta members and Passport holders enter free.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. Book tickets on the official Heritage Malta site.
The Old Prison is not covered by an international scheme such as Go City or a CityPass, but it is included in Heritage Malta’s own Multi-Site Pass, priced at around €50 for an adult and valid for 30 days. This broader pass also covers Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra, Tarxien Temples, Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, and the Grand Master’s Palace, all in Malta.
How to get to The Old Prison
The Old Prison is on Gozo, reached from Malta via the Gozo Channel Ferry, which crosses from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr in around 25 minutes and runs roughly every 30 to 45 minutes, 24 hours a day. From Mġarr Harbour, it is about a 21-minute drive to Victoria. From Victoria’s town centre, The Old Prison is an 8-minute walk into the Citadel.
Parking at The Old Prison
A private car park next to the Citadel charges €2.00. Near Victoria’s bus terminus, there is a free main car park, plus a second private car park charging a €2.00 donation. On-street parking is also available along the streets of Victoria.
How long to spend at The Old Prison
Most visitors spend 20 to 40 minutes at The Old Prison. It is a small site, comprising an entrance hall and six individual cells, so a visit is brief but detailed.
Accessibility at The Old Prison
The Old Prison has partial accessibility. The main entrance has three steps, though visitors with mobility issues can use a step-free side door on St Martin’s Quarters Street. Six steps lead from the reception to the corridor of cells, which visitors view from outside, except for one cell reached by a single step. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome throughout.
Inside The Old Prison: what to see
The entrance hall, once a common cell in the 19th century, now displays graffiti casts, a 16th-century carrack graffito, and prison-related objects, including part of a wooden stocks.
A narrow corridor leads to six individual cells, overlooking a central courtyard, retaining much of their original features and heavy locks.
The site holds the largest known collection of historical graffiti in one place on the Maltese Islands, including ships, palm prints, crosses, names, dates, games, anthropomorphic figures, flags, windmills, and calendars.
The most notable inmate was Fra Jean Parisot de Valette, later Grand Master of Malta and founder of Valletta, who spent four months here in 1538.
A small gift shop sits by the reception, and a stone slab in the courtyard is provided for visitors wishing to leave a memento of their visit.
Practical visitor tips
| Area | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit early or mid-afternoon to avoid busier late-morning periods with day-trippers. |
| Crowds | The site is small, so even light crowds can feel busy inside the narrow corridor. |
| Layout | Expect uneven surfaces and steps typical of a historic Citadel building. |
| Entry process | Tickets are bought at the reception desk, where a small gift shop is also located. |
| On-site logistics | The exit uses the same door as the entrance, except for the step-free side door for mobility needs. |
Frequently asked questions about The Old Prison
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How were the graffiti formed? | They were engraved using hard, sharp objects such as bone points, cutlery, or pointed stones. |
| What is the significance of the “hand” symbol? | It served as a personal signature for illiterate individuals, or as a superstitious symbol of protection or luck. |
| Was torture ever practised in this prison? | There is no sufficient evidence to confirm this practice took place here. |
| Are there known individuals who were imprisoned here? | The known inmates are those who left signatures on the walls, plus others identified from judicial records. |
| Is The Old Prison wheelchair accessible? | Partially. The main entrance has three steps, though a step-free side entrance is available; six steps lead to the cell corridor. |
Things to do near The Old Prison
- Gran Castello Historic House — traditional domestic and rural life exhibits, included in the same Ċittadella Combo Ticket.
- Citadel Visitor Centre — an introduction to Gozo’s history, also covered by the combo ticket.
- Cathedral of the Assumption — the Citadel’s Baroque cathedral, on the same square as The Old Prison.
- Citadel ramparts and bastions — free to explore, with panoramic views over Gozo.
- It-Tokk (Independence Square) — Victoria’s main square, a short walk downhill, with cafés and a Sunday morning market.
Alternative attractions
Reaching these requires the Gozo–Malta ferry to Ċirkewwa, followed by onward travel in Malta.
- Lascaris War Rooms, Valletta — a WWII underground command complex beneath the city’s fortifications.
- Fort Rinella, Kalkara — home to one of the largest cannons ever built, with costumed re-enactments.
- Malta at War Museum, Birgu — WWII air-raid shelters and wartime civilian history.
- National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta — Malta’s military history from the Knights to the Second World War.
- Mdina Dungeons, Mdina — a dramatised walk-through of crime and punishment across Maltese history.
More Malta travel
Other Malta travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at the Farson’s Brewery Experience in Malta.
- Marvel at the unsupported dome at the Mosta Rotunda in Malta.
- Guides to the top sights in Mdina: St Paul’s Cathedral and Palazzo Falson.
- Plan your visit to Malta’s San Anton Gardens.
- Practical guide to visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.
