Learn everything you need to know about this sizzling tourist hotspot in the Med with our 2023 guide. Ready for a heavenly day of basking in Blue Lagoon bliss? Dive in!
Table of Contents
- Interesting things to know & tips before you go
- Blue Lagoon Malta travel FAQs
Interesting things to know & tips before you go
1. What and where is Comino Blue Lagoon?
The Blue Lagoon is an expanse of brilliant turquoise-coloured seawater with a white-sand bottom off the west coast of Comino.
Comino is Malta’s smallest and largely uninhabited sister island, located further north. This car- and road-free natural reserve that’s home to just 3 people lies halfway between the mainland’s northern tip and Gozo, the second-largest Maltese island.
Hailed among the best beaches in Malta, the Blue Lagoon separates the island of Comino from the minuscule islet of Cominotto.
2. How to get to Comino Blue Lagoon
This guide covers all the various ways you can get to Comino’s Blue Lagoon to help you choose the best and most convenient option for you.
If you’re coming from Malta
Take the Ċirkewwa or Marfa ferry
The daily ferry from the north of Malta is the cheapest way to get dropped off directly at the Blue Lagoon point.
If you plan on bussing it to get to the ferry pick-up, find a route that ends at the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, where the Gozo ferry service operates. This terminal is located at the northernmost tip of Malta.
Direct public buses take you to Ċirkewwa while stopping through various localities. Here are the direct route numbers available and their departure point:
101 – Mġarr
221 – Buġibba
222 – Sliema
X1 – Airport
Here are a few options:
– Take a short bus ride from Żabbar to Valletta or the airport nearby, then catch a direct bus to Ċirkewwa from either location.
– Alternatively, you can take the journey by sea from the Three Cities to Valletta, where you can make your way to the bus terminus and look for bus numbers 41 or 42.
– If you’re feeling free-spirited and adventurous, travel on water practically all the way! Start with the Three Cities to Valletta boat ride, followed by a trip on the Gozo Fast Ferry, then a sea journey from Gozo to Comino Blue Lagoon for the last leg.
Ready for the Blue Lagoon experience?
Stay with us at Mulberries, and we’ll help you plan your holiday.
Should you need to catch a connecting bus from your accommodation, Malta Public Transport’s handy trip planner can help you find the best route and bus links for you.
The bus journey to Ċirkewwa will take you around 1–2 hours depending on your departure point, so make sure to allow enough time to get to your destination. Once you arrive, look for signs leading you to the Comino ferry terminal.
The Malta Ferries cooperative runs regular trips to Comino every half hour between 8:30am and 4pm.
You will reach Comino in about 25 minutes, and the return journey takes 35 minutes. Some scheduled trips will take you on a longer route along spectacular sea cave vistas.
Check out the Malta Ferries website to find up-to-date ferry schedules and prices and buy your tickets directly online for cheaper.
Note: Online ticket sales are suspended during the winter, as the ferry only crosses in favourable weather conditions. If you are travelling to Comino in the off season, call on +356 9940 6529 to confirm if the ferry is working, then proceed to buy tickets from Ċirkewwa.
A second operator also advertises Comino water taxi trips via Marfa and Ċirkewwa. Ferry prices start from €12 return.
Travelling to Ċirkewwa by car?
Drive directly to the Marfa Comino ferry terminal. It’s less busy than the Ċirkewwa point, and you’ll be able to park your car without any issues.
Tip: To get here, look up Google Maps directions to Labranda Riviera Hotel, which is right by the Marfa terminal.
Jump on board the hop-on, hop-off ferry
A convenient option for visiting Comino Blue Lagoon is the iSeeMalta hop-on-hop-off ferry. It’s part of a bus and ferry service covering a multitude of routes to all the main Maltese Islands attractions.
Starting from €35, adult passes aren’t cheap, but they do cover a lot of ground… and water! You can buy your hop-on hop-off passes online right here.
Book a boat tour or cruise
Fancy more than a relaxed day of sunbathing and dipping your toes in the Blue Lagoon’s azure waters, but don’t feel like doing all the prep work? Just look online for a sheer variety of private boat tour options to suit every requirement and budget.
The more mainstream tours will likely have multiple, limited stops at various locations along the way, packing in as many spectacular sights, swimming and snorkelling spots, and as much on-board merriment as possible.
You could spend the entire day on an all-inclusive tour featuring a pretty packed boat, complete with all the fun, amenities, and a Blue Lagoon stopover. Or gaze out at the copper skies and dance the night away on a panoramic sunset cruise with all the trimmings.
If you’re ready to splash out, book a bespoke yacht charter. You’ll get to customise your morning or afternoon boating itinerary with your very own captain.
While you’ll have no problem booking a boat trip in late spring, summer peak season, and early autumn, make sure you check in advance about availability in the colder months.
Prices start at €20 per person for a trip with the more commercial, large-capacity cruise operators, and can run into the hundreds for a limited group on board a private sailing boat. For luxury yacht charter options, the sky is truly the limit.
Top Comino Blue Lagoon boat tours
The best boat tour suggestion we can give you is to check out offerings on reputable travel sites like TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide, where you’ll always find the latest prices and offerings.
Narrow down your search by selecting the kinds of experiences you’re interested in within the price range you’re willing to pay. See what options come highly rated, then go through the reviews until you find what you’re after.
As you sift through the myriad of recommended operators and activities on offer, there’s bound to be something that takes your seafaring fancy.
Starting your journey from Gozo
If you’re in Gozo, your departure point to the Blue Lagoon in Comino is the ferry terminal in Mġarr Harbour.
Ferry all the way
The local shuttle boat ferry option once again takes pole position for the most economical way to reach the smallest Maltese island.
A couple of operators depart the ferry point at least every hour on the hour starting 8am, with the last ferry heading back to the port of Mġarr at 6:15pm. You’ll arrive right at the heart of the Blue Lagoon and back for a nominal €7–8.
An optional add-on to your trip comprises a tour of Comino’s Santa Marija sea caves, while one of the ferry companies also offers a convenient return trip option straight to Malta. As with the Marfa and Ċirkewwa ferries, you’ll get a ticket discount when you buy it online here and here.
The hop-on-hop-off ferry pass gives you an alternative way to get to the Blue Lagoon from Gozo.
Splurge on a private boat tour
Ferry operator Comino Ferry Service runs a private boat charter service for a flexible trip duration of 2 to 7 hours, with prices ranging from €200 to €500. And if you feel like being captain of your ship for the day, self-drive boat options are available.
Visit Gozo, the national tourist board’s official website for the sister island, recommends Outdoor Explorers for Comino private boat tours leaving from Gozo.
With a customisable 3-hour guided itinerary costing €269 for a group of up to 6 people on TripAdvisor, this highly-rated private boat tour promises endless Insta moments and more bang for your buck.
Kayak it to Comino
How about swapping your boat seat for an upper-body workout all the way to the Blue Lagoon?
Kayak Gozo offers guided full-day, afternoon, and crowd-beating morning programs for touring around attractions that are inaccessible on foot. Among their most popular kayak routes is the Comino trip, which begins at the stunning Ħondoq ir-Rummien beach right across the channel.
Starting from €47 per person, kayaking from Gozo to Blue Lagoon is an original way to witness Comino’s wonders from the sea perspective.
3. What can you expect from a visit to Blue Lagoon Malta?
Astounding natural scenery from the get-go
The boat ride to Comino and the Blue Lagoon is breathtaking, so have your phone ready for Instagram-worthy backdrops the minute you step aboard.
Idyllic waters for swimming and exploration
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Comino every summer to bathe in the Blue Lagoon and adjacent bays and coves, dive or snorkel in creeks and sea cave formations, and revel in water sports activities.
Hugely popular summer beach destination
During the high season, the Blue Lagoon all comes to life from the late morning. In the blink of an eye, the lagoon bay becomes dotted with visitors’ boats that drop anchor for the day. Ashore, sunbathers take up sandy pockets along the mostly rocky beach, ready for a chilled day ahead.
An island to discover all year round
During the cooler months, tourists and locals alike love to hike or bike around the 3.5km2 of unspoilt terrain. Tranquil pathways run along the stunning rugged coastline, commanding the most scenic sea, cliff, and island views.
The designated bird sanctuary and nature reserve of Comino is budding with wildlife and heady with the scents of dense garigue at this time.
4. Top things to see and do at Comino Blue Lagoon
Beaches and swimming spots
Beyond the Blue Lagoon, the island of Comino is blessed with several seaside gems where you can spend a day at the beach in pure, sun-kissed bliss.
Santa Marija Bay
The small and peaceful sandy bay of Santa Marija in the north lies 2km away from Comino’s main pier. You can reach it on foot in under 30 minutes from where the Blue Lagoon ferry disembarks.
San Niklaw Bay
Halfway between Comino Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay, and reachable in under 10 minutes, is the pretty beach of San Niklaw. It is home to the only hotel on the island, and the site of a popular snorkelling creek.
Comino Hotel is currently not in operation, with resort redevelopment plans in the pipeline. Unfortunately, access to the bay is temporarily closed off to the public as a result.
Crystal Lagoon
A half-kilometre walk southwest of Blue Lagoon Malta will lead you to brilliant-blue waters and magnificent sea caves lining the cliffside. Welcome to the diver’s and snorkeller’s paradise of Crystal Lagoon.
You can access this secret haunt by boat. If you’re feeling daring, take an adrenaline-rushing, 3-storey cliff dive into the infinite blue beneath. Have fun, safely.
So many splendid sights are packed into this hidden gem. Swim along a 30-metre-long tunnel cave, wade in the shallow-water grotto’s wide sands, and gaze up at the azure skies from Popeye’s Cave.
Cominotto beach
Swim or paddle a few hundred metres right across Comino Blue Lagoon, and you’ll reach an even smaller, much quieter islet. You will fall in love with Cominotto, where the distinctive crystal-clear aquamarine waters flow with a calmer vibe.
Water-based activities
Give diving and snorkelling a go
Comino is a true underwater wonderland. With a vast array of sea caves, creeks, and coves hugging the coastline, and a thriving marine life, there’s plenty to explore beyond sun, sand, and cocktail in hand.
Stand in awe of Santa Marija Caves
The Santa Marija Caves on the east coast of Comino are a true marine underworld spectacle. Hop aboard a small boat and sail through the caves’ narrow openings. Once inside, witness the most dazzlingly bright water and a habitat brimming with colourful sea species.
Raise the fun factor with aquatic sports
If water sports fun is your jam, take your pick from round-the-island kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding through Comino’s sea caves, and thrilling jet ski rides with pick-up points in Marfa, Mellieħa, or St Julian’s.
Hiking, biking, and exploring
Walk along Comino’s paths
There’s so much more to Comino than the Blue Lagoon. Pack a good pair of walking shoes, gear up with bottled water, sun protection cream, and a hat, and get exploring.
Roaming the 10km of coast across perfumed garigue, rugged red-soil terrain, and steep, dramatic cliffs at a leisurely pace shouldn’t take you more than 3 hours. Follow the marked trail paths, or don your explorer’s hat and venture off the beaten track.
For a recommended route, Visit Malta’s circular walk map with accompanying guide is worth checking out.
Remember: Public access to the part of the coast where Comino Hotel is situated is currently restricted.
While wandering the terrain, you’ll come across a handful of historically significant buildings that have stood the test of time.
Santa Marija Tower
This imposing stone watchtower in the southwest hails back to 1618, when it formed part of a defence system to protect the island from attack. The edifice doubled as the Château d’If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo.
It is open for visitors between April and October, and the views from the top are sensational.
Santa Marija Chapel
Close to Santa Marija Tower lies a small 16th-century chapel dedicated to the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. Weekly religious services are still held here for the island’s inhabitants.
Santa Marija Battery
This 1715 building on the southeast coast once guarded the island’s south sea channel. It is among three coastal batteries in the archipelago that survive to this day and house original cannons.
Isolation hospital
Erected in the last decade of the 19th century while under British rule, this now-abandoned structure housed military soldiers who were required to quarantine on their return from plague-infected lands.
Cominotto rambles
If you have swum all the way to Cominotto, it would be a pity not to hike up the islet’s cliffs and take in the views. In case you needed another reason to make the trek worth your while, head on over to Cominotto Cave, made famous in the 2004 movie Troy starring Brad Pitt.
The Elephant Rock
Bearing a striking resemblance to an elephant’s head, this staggering natural sculpture is hewn into Comino’s eastern cliffs. This popular photo spot also featured in The Count of Monte Cristo.
Camping
Tal-Ful, Comino’s sole functioning campsite, is to the east of the Blue Lagoon. With the hotel no longer operational, a tent is your only option for an overnight stay.
Provided you bring your own tent and equipment, you can camp and use the restroom and shower facilities for free.
Sold on the idea of sleeping in the Mediterranean outdoors? Just make sure you read the camping site rules first.
5. Practical tips for visiting Comino’s Blue Lagoon
Best time to go
Dreaming of swimming in the sparkly and tranquil Blue Lagoon as seen in the adverts? Here are some tips to experience the real Blue Lagoon deal:
Arrive as early or as late as you can
Depart Malta or Gozo with the first ferry to beat the queues and arrive at the Blue Lagoon before 9am, particularly during peak season. You can arrange to reach Comino even earlier if you book a private boat.
Take a late afternoon trip to Blue Lagoon if you’re not a fan of the scorching Maltese summer sun. People will be setting off on their return journey, so the beach will be a little less busy. Make sure you don’t miss the last ferry back!
Tip: Check out Comino’s quieter bays. Don’t overlook the more rocky areas or one of the lesser-known bays – the sea is still the same brilliant turquoise tone wherever you lay your towel. You’re probably better off picking a more remote and tranquil nook, away from the hustle and bustle of the lagoon’s people-packed white sands.
Choose a weekday trip
Unless you want to feel like a sardine on sand, avoid weekends, especially in summer. This is when locals join holidaymakers at one of their favourite beach destinations. The waters will be filled to capacity with swimmers and anchored pleasure boats, and space will be equally limited ashore.
Avoid peak season if possible
With far fewer visitors around, May, June, September, and even October will still be warm enough for beaching it, and the sun won’t be as extreme. It also means the heat won’t discourage you from hiking around the island. April and November can also work if you’re willing to forgo the swimming part.
What to bring
Sun and jellyfish protection
With UV index levels over 10, the Maltese summer is no joke. Protect yourself with 50+ sunblock, hat and sunglasses, and maybe even an umbrella. Also have a jellyfish repellent and a sting cream handy. A hard plastic card can also work to scrape the poison off your skin if you’re stung.
Water for hydration, and maybe food
You need to stay hydrated on a summer day out in Comino, so make sure to drink lots of water. You can buy drinks from the kiosks and food trucks, which also sell the Insta-famous pineapple cocktails, fast food, salads, snacks, and ice creams.
Prices are quite “touristy” here, so you might want to pack a lunch with you. Cruises often include lunch on board.
Swimming and snorkelling gear
Bathing costume? Beach towel? Goggles? Check, check, check!
What to avoid
Enjoy your time at the Blue Lagoon while staying safe at all times. Here are some things you shouldn’t ignore when entering the water:
Exercise caution with all water activities
Obey all snorkelling and diving instructions and protocols so you don’t put personal or group safety at risk. Stay extremely alert underwater: cave diving can be a real adventure, but strong currents challenge even the most experienced swimmers. Cliff jumps can be risky, so play responsibly.
Stay safe within the designated swimming zones
Do not get in the way of boat traffic, deep waters, and open-water currents. You avoid danger if you don’t go beyond the sheltered bathing spots.
Blue Lagoon Malta travel FAQs
How long does it take to get to Comino Blue Lagoon?
The journey by ferry from Marfa or Ċirkewwa ferry point in Malta to the Blue Lagoon takes between 25 and 35 minutes. Remember to factor in your bus, car, or taxi ride duration. Public transport from Valletta to Ċirkewwa harbour can take well over 1 hour.
Trips starting from Gozo will take much less – roughly 15 minutes – as the Mġarr port lies closer to Comino.
How much does a trip to the Blue Lagoon cost?
The cheapest way to get to the Blue Lagoon is by ferry. A return ticket via Malta will cost you €12–15 on average. From Gozo harbour, it’s half the price at €7–8.
A hop-on-hop-off ferry pass will set you back at least €35, while boat cruises with a Comino Blue Lagoon stop can fetch anywhere from €20 to a couple of hundred quid per person for a more intimate affair.
Comino private yacht charters will charge considerably more.
How much time should I spend on Comino?
This ultimately depends on what you intend to do and see.
You can walk from Blue Lagoon and across to the east side of the island in about half an hour, which gives you just enough time to check out the place and take a few snaps. For a quick swim as well as a look around, you need an hour or so.
Add another hour or two if you want to stay on for something to eat and work on your tan. Or, if you intend to trek around the island, half a day should also be sufficient.
For swimming as well as hiking, it’s best to allocate a whole day on Comino. Start with a refreshing swim early in the morning before the crowds arrive, take your time to explore the island, head down for a dip in one of the more secluded bays, and snorkel at Santa Marija Caves or Cominotto. Bring a packed lunch so you’re not restricted to the lagoon area, where the busy food establishments are.
Don’t forget to take into account travel time and your hour of arrival and departure!
What facilities and accommodations are available?
There is no hotel accommodation available on the island at present. Comino Hotel and Bungalows, located around San Niklaw and Santa Marija bays, closed down its premises in 2020 for redevelopment. Your only option for overnighting in Comino is the Tal-Ful campsite facility – just remember to bring your camping equipment.
You’ll find kiosks and trucks selling food and drinks, but no restaurants since the hotel’s closure. Public toilets are open for visitors, while an umbrella and deckchair hire service operates during the busier months.
How deep and how safe is the Blue Lagoon in Malta?
The lagoon area is sheltered and safe to swim in at around 1.5m deep.
Beyond this shallow designated swimming zone, depths increase to over 10m. While widely popular with experienced snorkellers and divers, these areas can experience strong currents, so stay alert and be safe.
Comino has lifeguards stationed at the Blue Lagoon to ensure swimmers’ safety. They will warn beachgoers about strong currents and jellyfish presence via a flag system, explained here.
Is the Blue Lagoon really worth visiting?
It certainly is, especially in the quieter months! Comino’s laid-back lifestyle, car-free pathways, and natural reserve status all contribute to a unique relaxed atmosphere that’s hard to find on the other much busier Malta and Gozo.
The pristine seascapes and unspoilt coastline of this largely uninhabited island offer a taste of local authenticity. But you must venture beyond the bustling Blue Lagoon to truly experience it all.
When should I visit Comino and the Blue Lagoon?
For the full Mediterranean experience minus the crowds, come to Comino island in late spring, early summer, or early autumn. In July and August, the Blue Lagoon will be at its busiest, welcoming thousands of visitors a day.
Ideally, board the first ferry of the day in the month of June or September, or even in late May and early October if you don’t mind the cooler water temperature. The earlier you get here, the more likely you will be able to beat the crowds. Alternatively, visit in the late afternoon, when most tourists will be making their way back.
