With weather maps forecasting blistering weather conditions in the next few weeks, many may be seeking sunnier pastures for a getaway.

One such region promises 22C temperatures and is found along the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

This island offers a serene landscape throughout and is also renowned for its beauty, being dubbed an incredible coastal destination.

Gozo is the second-largest of the Maltese islands in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. It is home to fascinating temples, dramatically coloured sands, and a host of activities, including snorkelling and kayaking.

The island is also home to some of the most beautiful natural sights and with perfect shades of blue from its waters and hospitable locals, Gozo deserves a spot on your next sunny break.

Gozo is more of a rural spot with roughly 31,000 inhabitants making it far less crowded than many other Mediterranean regions.

The area of Gozo was put on the map after becoming one of the world’s top diving destinations with an impressive five of the most popular diving sites found on the island.

The beaches in Gozo are ideal for families and children to swim in, with warm temperatures thanks to the azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

Attractions and plenty in this region, with one being the soaring structure of Virgin of Ta’ Pinu Basilica, a stunning church that houses a plethora of sculptures and crafts produced from Maltese stone.

The awe inspiring waters of Dwejra Bay is another popular hotspot with shallow waters that extend into a picture-perfect 60-metre-long cave with tourists and locals flocking to the waters for a spot of sunbathing, swimming and kayaking.

Other must-see attractions in Gozo include the Gozo Cittadella which dates back to the Middle Ages, the Villa Rundle Gardens and the Tal-Massar Winery, to name a few.

The Ggantija Temple is a significant archaeological landmark in Gozo and is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring huge slabs of limestone over 5 metres in length and weighing a whopping 50 tonnes.

It would be sacrilege not to try Gozo’s popular stuffat tal-fenek, which is the national dish of Malta.

The meal consists of slow-cooked rabbit in a stew of tomatoes, red wine, garlic and various other seasonings, a process producing tender, falling-off-the-bone meat.

Other popular dishes worth a taste include aubergines stuffed with meat and baked known as Brungiel Mimli, spaghetti Matli, chocolate and cherries known as Kannoli or meat and potatoes with onion jus, known as Pal fil-Forn.

Gozitan cheese is another must which is usually made from sheeps’ milk and served as small, round, mini-cheeses and is also used to fill home-made ravioli and pastizzi.

As there are no airports in Gozo, it can only be accessed by boat or by the Gozo Channel ferry from Malta. London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted and Manchester all offer flights to Malta, taking roughly 3.5 hours.