Zebbug is located in the northern section of Gozo on a plateau that connects two of the island's highest peaks, Ta' Abram and Iz-Zebbug. Zebbug is Maltese for Olive Tree, hence one would believe that the name comes from the abundant wild olives that thrived in the area. Zebbug's history dates back to the Bronze Age (1500-700BC), as evidenced by the discovery of a Bronze Age town atop the flat-topped hill of Ta' Kuljat. Several Punic graves can be seen on the road going from there to Qbajjar, an inlet near Marsalforn (700-218 BC).

The modern hamlet began to form in 1282, and in 1688 it was recognized as an autonomous Parish, with a Church dedicated to Santa Marija, the Assumption. The neighboring popular coastal resort of Marsalforn also contains a modest church dedicated to Saint Paul Shipwrecked, due to the ancient legend that he embarked for Sicily and Rome from the Maltese islands from here, and the feast is observed on February 10th. The robust traditional culture prevalent in the village reflects the community's lengthy history.

This is evident in the villagers' deep devotion to their Church, in the careful maintenance of the street niches that house holy figures to guard the village streets, in local clubs such as the Bocci Club, Shooting Range, and Band Club, which form the heart of community social interaction, and in the high quality traditional crafts such as lace, basket weaving, and woollen blankets produced by the Zebbugin. Agriculture, wool, and weaving were the major professions in Zebbug until recently. While Zebbug provides a charming glimpse into historic Gozo towns, you are also likely to want to explore neighbouring Marsalforn, a popular fishing village and tourist resort in Gozo's northwestern corner that is an intrinsic component of Zebbug. The name refers to the harbour (Marsa), with a reference to either the type of vessel that would seek refuge there (Lifurna) or the caves hollowed out by the sea ('l Forna) that are abundant in the vicinity. Marsalforn's importance faded with the creation of Mgarr Harbour, and it remained a modest fishing community for centuries.

Today, an overdevelopment of holiday apartments and restaurants has strangely transformed Marsalforn, a formerly calm and picturesque sanctuary that remains one of Gozo's main attractions. Marsalforn's gorgeous crystal-clear blue waters, unsurprisingly, draw a large number of Gozitans and tourists, and there are also some decent diving locations here. The entire coast near Marsalforn is magnificent, with several nice bays and bathing areas.

Along the seashore from Xwejni to Wied il-Ghasri, you can see scores of salt pans cut into the soft limestone and filled with seawater before summer to collect salt left behind by evaporation by the hot sun.