Comino and Blue Lagoon: Complete Guide 2026

Blue Lagoon is the photo that has sent more people to Malta than any advertisement. Turquoise water, white rocks, sunshine. And almost no useful information about how to get there, when to go, or how to avoid the disaster of 3,000 tourists arriving at 11:00 am.

What is Comino

Comino is Malta's third island — the smallest and almost uninhabited. Permanent population: a handful of families. No cars. No cash machines. One hotel (closed in winter). The only things here are nature and two bays.

• Blue Lagoon — the bay at the western tip of the island. The water really is that turquoise colour — it's not a filter.
• Santa Marija Bay — a quieter bay on the eastern side. Less known, less crowded, equally beautiful. The walk between them is about 20 minutes — worth doing.

How to get to Comino

Access is by boat only. Three options:

1. Official ferries from Ċirkewwa (north Malta) — cheapest option, ~€15 return. Bus line 41 from Valletta goes directly to the jetty. Runs regularly year-round.
2. Boats from Sliema or St. Julian's — more expensive (~€20–25) but departing from the centre. Longer crossing, but scenic.
3. All-inclusive boat trip — with transfer, guide, sometimes lunch. Most expensive, but zero organisational stress.

WHEN to go — this is the key question

Blue Lagoon in summer is a spectacle in the wrong sense: 20–30 tourist boats anchored in the bay, hundreds of tourists on the rocks, a queue for the single portable toilet.

How to avoid the crowds:

• Leave before 8:30 — the first boat gets the best conditions
• After 16:00 — most tour groups have left, the lagoon quiets down, the water is still turquoise
• Off-season (October–April) — Blue Lagoon almost to yourself. In December you can even swim (water temperature 16–18°C)

What to bring

• Water shoes — entry to the sea is over rocks, painful without them
• Plenty of water — there's one bar on the island at tourist prices
• Umbrella or beach tent — no natural shade. In summer you will burn without one
• Cash — no ATM on the island
• SPF 50+ sunscreen — reflection off the water and rocks intensifies UV exposure significantly

How long to plan for

Ferries from Ċirkewwa have set schedules — last return usually around 17:00–18:00. If you want to see both bays and swim properly: allow at least 4–5 hours on the island.