The Blue Lagoon is Malta’s most visited beach — a sheltered bay between the uninhabited islands of Comino and Cominotto. The water is famously transparent, with sandy bottom visible through 3–4 metres of turquoise sea, making it ideal for swimming, snorkelling and shallow dives. In summer the bay fills up quickly: ferries from Ċirkewwa or Marfa that arrive before 9am are worth the early start. At night the island empties entirely — fewer than ten people live on Comino permanently — leaving the lagoon genuinely peaceful. For Malta’s other top beaches — Golden Bay, St Peter’s Pool, Mellieħa Bay — see the beaches guide. If you’re exploring Malta’s northwest, Popeye Village at nearby Anchor Bay is an easy add-on — the same corner of the island the Comino ferries leave from.
Photo of Blue Lagoon by eurodrifter
If you have children, they can play safely in the warm shallow lagoon while the family enjoys the Maltese sun, practises any of the water sports inside the lagoon or even water skiing in the deeper waters nearby. Visited by tourist boats that anchor in the marina-like bay throughout the day (avoid the weekends), the Blue Lagoon will remain empty at night, since the island only has an official population of less than ten people. This way, these Maltese waters are sure to remain clean and transparent for years to come.
Photo of Blue Lagoon by interlink.idiomas
In fact, Comino and its Blue Lagoon are so beautiful that film makers used this location in scenes for such productions as the mini-series Helen of Troy or the films Swept Away (featuring Madonna) and The Count of Monte Cristo.
When staying in Malta, save at least one morning or afternoon to visit the Blue Lagoon and the island of Comino — it fits well into a broader trip covering the best things to do in Malta. During summer, the sun waits for you. In winter, the small Maltese island is an excellent destination for walkers and photo enthusiasts, providing many hiking trails all around.
How to get to the Blue Lagoon in Comino Island
You can take a boat to Comino Island during the whole year using the round trips in United Comino Ferries.
- Schedule – every hour (during summer season there can be additional trips)
- Departure – Marfa (Gozo), Cirkewwa (Malta island, near the ferries to Gozo) and Blue Lagoon
- Time – 25m to Comino, 35m return (via scenic view of caves in the Comino coast)
- Prices – €10 adults, half price children 5-12, free children under 5
The Comino Hotel can also provide this service, but only when it’s open (April-October). If you’re staying at the hotel, it can even pick you up at the airport.
During summer, in the areas with more tourists in Gozo or Malta, there will be boat services that will take you to the Blue Lagoon in Comino Island. However, be careful with boat ride times because the more it takes to get there, the less time you spend in Comino. It is probably better to take the bus to Marfa or Cirkewwa and then get on the ferry.
More about Comino
The island
With an area of only 1.35 square miles (3.5 square km) Comino was named after the cumin seed that could once be found everywhere in Malta. The rocky island of Comino is a bird sanctuary and nature reserve and very few people live there permanently. The peaceful landscape consists of cliffs, two small white sand beaches, coves and creeks. There are no roads or cars in Comino, only pathways where you can hike or ride a bike.
History of Comino
Being an isolated rocky island, Comino has never had a lot of population but there are records of some farmers living there during Roman times. During the Middle Ages, pirates used to shelter and hide near the limestone cliffs in the rugged coastline and inside its caves.
Photo of Blue Lagoon by WreckedDeco
In the 13th century, Comino became a parish when the little Chapel of Our Lady’s Return from Egypt was built. We can still see this little church as well as the other ancient construction in the island, St Mary’s Tower. This fortification was built by the Knights of Malta in 1618 to keep the pirates away from Comino. The knights also ended up using the island as a reservation to hunt wild boar and hares and later on, during the 16th and 17th centuries, Comino served them as a prison or place to exile those knights who had committed minor crimes. Their punishment was taking care of the isolated St. Mary’s Tower.
Accommodation in Comino
There is only one hotel in Comino, offering nice rooms for guests seeking tranquility, isolation and a place to rest. The main building of Comino Hotel is located above San Niklaw Bay. It has two private sandy beaches and two large swimming pools, one for adults and one for children. The Comino Hotel also provides holiday bungalows in the near Santa Marija Bay. They have a private rocky swimming area and another sandy beach one hundred meters away.
The hotel is quite modern and has newly refurbished rooms with sea or garden views through a private balcony. All rooms have air-conditioning, direct-dial telephone, TV, radio and mini-bar.
This is what you can find in Comino Hotel:
- A main restaurant and several bars, including an internet café
- Water sports centers offering sailing (Hobie Cat and Laser dinghies), windsurf, canoes, pedaloes and water-skiing
- Scuba diving center with a large number of PADI Courses for every level of diver training from beginners (like Bubble Maker or Seal Team Aqua Missions for children) to activities for experienced divers like Cavern, Photography, Diver Propulsion Vehicles Specialty Courses and many more
- Mountain bike rental service
- Six tennis courts
- French Boules pitch
Blue Lagoon, Comino — FAQ
Where is the Blue Lagoon in Malta?
The Blue Lagoon is on Comino, the small island between Malta and Gozo. The famous turquoise channel sits between Comino and the islet of Cominotto, and there are no roads or hotels on the island — you arrive only by boat.
How do you get to the Blue Lagoon?
Take the dedicated Comino ferry from Ċirkewwa or Marfa on the northern tip of Malta (about a 25-minute crossing, running roughly hourly in summer), or join one of the round-island boat trips that leave from Sliema, Buġibba and Marsamxett. Many visitors combine it with a day trip to Gozo.
Is the Blue Lagoon free?
The lagoon itself is free — you only pay for the boat across and for any sunbed or umbrella you choose to rent on the rocks. Bring cash for the kiosks, which sell drinks and snacks but little else.
When is the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon?
Arrive before 10am or after 4pm in July and August to dodge the worst of the crowds. Late May, June and September give you warm, clear water without the peak-summer crush — it is one of the better things to do in Malta in the shoulder season.
Can you stay overnight on Comino?
Not really — the island has no hotels open to general tourists and almost no facilities beyond a few kiosks, so it is a day-trip destination. Take everything you need (water, sunscreen, shade) and carry your rubbish back out with you.