Why should you visit the Blue Lagoon in Malta? Because the Blue Lagoon’s crystal clear waters can make you feel like you are in paradise. And maybe because of that, it is one of the most popular spots in Malta and a must-visit place during your holiday here. What could be a holiday in Malta without visiting Comino island?! I really can’t even imagine it. I admit that the amazing Blue Lagoon was the place I have ever wanted to visit during my stay in Malta. Below we will share our experience and recommendations on a day trip to the Blue Lagoon in Malta and what to expect from the rural Comino island. So, have your camera ready for shots, and let’s go!

At a glance

The boat ride to Comino island is awesome! Comino is part of the three-island archipelago of Malta and the smallest and least populated of them. There are only 4 permanent residents in Comino. It got its name because of the cumin (flowering plant) that grows here, and the island is classified as a wildlife sanctuary (it is really the most rural part of the archipelago).

The Blue Lagoon is located between the small islands of Comino and Cominotto (between Malta and Gozo). There is a small sandy area which gets very crowded in the summer (we hardly found a place there when we visited Comino for the first time, but we went there in the afternoon). The next time we didn’t have a problem finding an umbrella and sea lounge but we were there earlier.

So better go earlier, on a weekday, and off-season (May, June, September & October). There is also a large rocky area with caves, one of which has a sandy beach inside. Although the island is uninhabited, with no fancy resorts or bars, the Blue Lagoon makes Comino a popular day-trip destination.

How to get to the Blue Lagoon

Let’s see how you can get on the island and the Blue Lagoon. Yes, the only way is by boat and here is some information about the transport. 

By Public Transport to Comino

You can take a bus from almost anywhere in Malta to reach the Cirkewwa Gozo ferry terminal or Marfa (Marfa Castle stop) on the northern tip.

Tip: For the bus to stop, you should sign to the bus driver by raising your hand when the bus is coming. Buses in Malta don’t necessarily stop at all the bus stops. Learn more about how to get around Malta in my post.

Then, from Malta, you can take a ferry to Comino. The trip is 25 minutes on the outbound and 35 minutes on the return. The difference is that the boat takes you on a short tour to see the Comino caves on the way back from Comino. If you are in Gozo (from Victoria – bus 301 or 303), you can take the boat from Mgarr Harbour (15 min trip).

You can find more information about the schedule on the sites of both companies operating these routes – Ebsons Comino Ferries or Comino Ferries Co-Op Ltd, but there are usually boats between 8h and 18h daily. A round trip by ferry to Comino will cost you between 10 to 13 EUR. A bus ticket costs 1.50 EUR in the winter and 2.00 EUR in the summer and is valid for 2 hours.

Here are some popular departure points to Cirkewwa (Gozo Ferry Terminal is the last stop of these routes):

–Valletta – bus 41, 42 or 232

-Sliema – bus 222

-Bugibba – bus 221

-Golden bay – 101, 102

-Malta Airport – bus X1

But keep in mind that the bus trip is not short – about 1 – 1.30 hours. Suppose you don’t want to spend so much time on the bus. In that case, you may consider visiting the Blue Lagoon via private boat or boat cruise (our favorite way to travel to the Blue Lagoon – definitely a very convenient one.)

Private Charter Boats 

There are lots of boats and ferries that bring people to Comino island. Get a private charter boat if you want to have some private time and alone to decide what and when to visit. If you go with a private company, you can arrive early on Comino and enjoy the water instead of being stuck onshore. You’ll probably spend only one day boating around Comino during your holiday in Malta, so it’s best to make the most of it. The prices of these excursions are between €400 to €800 for groups of up to 10 people. Bigger groups can also be accommodated at an extra quote.

But if you’d rather leave the organization in the hands of someone else, then choose one of the popular boat cruises to Comino and Blue Lagoon.

Boat Cruise to Comino

All cruise boats sail to the Blue Lagoon’s side. There is also a tiny quay at Nicholas Bay, mainly used by the only hotel on the island and its guests. There are many boat cruises to the Blue Lagoon, offering you different amenities and services onboard their ships for a price between 25-35 EUR. There are also some more expensive fancy cruises with prices of around 50 EUR.

Some companies that offer tours to Comino are Hornblower Cruises, Sea Adventures, Captain Morgan Cruises, Supreme Cruises, Seahorse, Luzzu Cruises. There are also Sunset cruise options if you prefer to visit Comino in the afternoon when it will be less crowded, and you could relax better. Of course, don’t forget the gorgeous sunset views.

Comino’s Blue Lagoon gets pretty busy, especially in the summer from June to September. Therefore, when choosing your boat cruise, keep in mind some things and look for them in the offers:

– It is essential to know where the tour departs because different tours leave from various harbors all around Malta (Sliema, Bugibba, Qawra, St. Paul’s Bay). If your hotel is a fair distance away from your departure point, be sure to give yourself enough time to get there. For an additional fee, the tour providers organize shuttle buses to pick you up.

– It will be better if you can arrive at Comino early before it gets too crowded. Choose a cruise departing earlier so you can get your desired spot on the island and have more time for swimming in the crystal waters. Maybe you will visit Comino only once during your stay in Malta, so better to get up earlier this day.

– Check if your boat docks at the Blue Lagoon and lets you hang on the board. Or it drops you off on Comino before cruising away for a few hours. The island of Comino is rocky and offers little shade. Being able to stay and lounge on the ship can be a great opportunity on hot summer days…Or you can just take your umbrella with you. Of course, there are chairs and umbrellas available for rent too (but if you go late, it is more complicated to find a free spot).

– Ask if you can swim from the ship. Some ships have a slide that dips directly into the turquoise lagoon. It is also great for tours passing Crystal Lagoon, where there is no beach, but you can slide or jump from the ship and swim in the waters and caves around.

– Find out if there are meals and drinks included. On some tours, they are in the price, but drinks and snacks should be bought additional on others. Of course, you can prepare some snacks and take them with you.

Day trip to the Blue Lagoon with a boat cruise

Yeah, different people, different wishes. You should choose the trip that fits you best. Here are some of the things that we were looking for and Luzzu Cruises offered us.

We live in Sliema, so taking a cruise from here is the best option for us. We don’t want to travel an hour or more to some of the other harbors on the island. Actually, many companies depart from Sliema Ferries terminal to Comino, so you have enough options to choose from – Luzzu Cruises (on a glass-bottom catamaran), Captain Morgan Cruises, Hera Cruises (on a Turkish Gulet), etc.

On our trip, I also wanted to see another exciting point of the island – the Crystal Lagoon, which is included only in a few tour offers (Sea Adventure, Luzzu Cruises). So we spent about an hour there having the chance to slide, jump, and swim in the waters around.

Also, I like glass bottom boats because it is exciting to see the marine life and the sea bottom while sailing. And Luzzu Cruises have them (I remember our trip to Zakynthos when we saw the famous Caretta Caretta turtles through the glass bottom.)

When we arrived at Comino, the ship stopped at the Blue Lagoon for about 3 hours, which gave us enough time to swim around and explore Comino (they departure at 10.00 and return at 17.30 during the summer season.) The ship stayed here the whole time except for the 30 minutes it took to drop off a few tourists on Gozo’s island. So, if you want you could stay on the ship and won’t need to search for a place on the beach.

On the trip to the Blue Lagoon and back, Luzzu’s ship passed and identified a whole variety of Malta’s and Comino’s landmarks. You can see St. Paul’s Islands, the Elephant’s Head, Santa Maria Cave, and the most famous resorts on the island, collecting additional impressions of the archipelago’s landmarks.

Note: When we visited Comino last time (August 2021), we traveled with iSeeMalta fast ferries (the big red ferries). The trip cost 15 EUR, between 45 – 1 hour (depends on the stops), but you can’t stay on board because the ferry doesn’t stay on Comino during the day. So, choose what you prefer.

Things to do on Comino and the Blue Lagoon

Yes, Comino is a small island, but it offers you some real natural experiences and incredible views (especially for Instagram influencers). Once you get there, choose what you want to do:

– Swim all day in the Blue Lagoon.

Look at this place! Do you want to get out of these waters? Me not! I spent most time swimming or just chilling with my friends in the sea. Clear waters, warm but still cool enough to refresh yourself on the hot summer days. Go snorkeling or diving and explore more from the Blue Lagoon.

– Take some vitamin D and get tanned.

As a crowded tourist spot, it can be a little bit hard to find the perfect place for your towel around the Blue Lagoon. Coming earlier, of course, increases your chances. But why not staying in the water instead?

-Go for a Speedboat Tour into Comino’s Caves.

Some boat cruise companies offer also speedboat tours around Comino. During this ride, you get the chance to enter some of the island’s stunning sea caves.

-Try watersports. 

Jetski, waterskiing, crazy sofa and banana rides, wake- and kneeboarding, parasailing, kayaking – definitely you can find something for you.

-Fancy Scuba diving?!

Diving is also an option with the excellent diving conditions around the island. There is a wreck of an old German boat at about 12 meters depth just outside the Blue Lagoon. A recommended location is the coral reef located near the tiny islet of Kemmunett. Check the website of Paradise Diving School Malta for more information and ideas.

-Explore Comino Island.

If you are more adventurous and like hiking, grab a pair of sturdy shoes and go for a walk on the island of Comino. As an uninhabited island, it shows you the natural beauty of the Maltese archipelago. On your way, go to the vibrant Crystal Lagoon, which is over half a kilometer away from the Blue Lagoon. It is not such a crowded spot, and not so many ships dock here, which makes it the perfect place to go to if you want to escape the tourists at the Blue Lagoon. Choosing a cruise with Luzzu company, you will have a stop in the crystal waters of this Lagoon as well. 

You can also check this adventurous Comino cruise and Gozo Jeep safari tour and combine the best from both islands.

-Visit Santa Maria Bay.

If you want to explore other beaches on Comino and get some quiet, you can walk over to Santa Maria Bay on the opposite side of the Blue Lagoon. You will find shallow, clear waters and not-so-crowded spots. St. Nichola’s Bay is another beach around a 20-minute walk and is suitable for snorkeling.

As a popular location for filmmakers, Comino appears in the movies Troy, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Swept Away. For example, Santa Maria’s Tower on Comino appeared in the film The Count of Monte Cristo as the Chateau d’If.

Tips for the day trip to the amazing Blue Lagoon 

Let’s note some things you should definitely bring if you want to make your trip to Comino and the Blue Lagoon as enjoyable as possible (Tick the box if you have them in your bag):

□ Bathing suit and flip-flops to go to the beach (be careful – some areas are rocky)

□ Sunscreen to protect you from the sun (and to get a golden tan)

□ Hat and sunglasses to have fancy Instagram pics (and to protect yourself from the heat)

□ Beach towel to lay on while you are getting your tan (but it is better to stay in the refreshing water)

□ Big water bottle to refresh yourself (hey, don’t drink the seawater)

□ Snacks and lunch to bite something because on the beach the prices are higher (but the pizzas and cocktails here are not to be missed (from an instagrammable point of view ;))

□ Camera for all those gorgeous views (Say Cheese!)

□ Running (hiking) shoes if you’re planning on walking around Comino (but be prepared for the scorching sun, too. So, better do it during springtime when the weather is perfect for exploring the island)

□ A floaty if you are not the best swimmer or just want to chill around the Lagoon (Ops, that’s me!)

You can find food and souvenir kiosks everywhere on the cliffs offering all you need for a day on Comino – pizzas, sandwiches, fruit salads, cocktails in pineapples, lockers, floats, and lots of other stuff. But it’s not bad to be prepared!

For more awesome beaches in Malta, you can find detailed information here.

We hope you have enjoyed our tips on a day trip to the Blue Lagoon in Malta, and the guide to Comino will come in handy.

Have you been to the Blue Lagoon? We will be happy if you share your Malta stories with us below.

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