Comino and the Blue Lagoon: Ferries, Booking, Tips

Comino sits in the channel between Malta and Gozo. VisitMalta describes it as only 3.5 square kilometres, car-free and virtually uninhabited. Its fame rests on one inlet, the Blue Lagoon, a sheltered stretch of pale turquoise water between Comino and the islet of Cominotto. The lagoon has appeared on screen many times, including in the film Swept Away and the mini-series Helen of Troy, and in summer it is a popular swimming spot.

That popularity led to a rule every visitor now needs to know: anyone stepping ashore at the Blue Lagoon must hold a free, timed landing pass. This guide explains how the system works as of November 2026, how to get to Comino, and what else the island offers. The Malta Tourism Authority states that the system caps visitors at 4,000 at any one time.

The Blue Lagoon landing pass: how booking works

The Malta Tourism Authority runs the Blue Lagoon Access Management System (AMS) on its booking portal at blcomino.com. As of November 2026, the official FAQ and booking terms set out these rules:

It is free. The landing pass, a QR code sent by email, costs nothing and passes are allocated first come, first served. When a slot is full, it is full.
You choose a time slot. The booking page offers a morning slot (08:00 to 13:30), an afternoon slot (13:30 to 17:30) and an evening slot (17:30 to 22:00). The FAQ quotes slightly shorter times (08:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 22:00) and explains the 30-minute difference as an allowance for boats manoeuvring in the bay.
Book ahead. Passes can be booked up to two months in advance. Same-day booking is possible if passes remain, but the authority advises booking well ahead.
Groups. One reservation covers up to four people, and the terms limit each email address to four bookings per time slot per week. Children under 5 with a parent or guardian do not need a pass.
No changes. Bookings cannot be modified. To cancel, the terms ask you to email the AMS in writing. A QR code can be passed to someone else as long as it has not been scanned.
On arrival. Staff scan your QR code before you disembark and give you a wristband. You may leave and come back within your slot, and you must hand the wristband back before you leave. Arrive early and you may be asked to wait; arrive late and you get only the time left in your slot.

The MTA's separate strategic-plan page lists 08:00 to 13:00, 13:30 to 17:30 and 18:00 to 22:00 as of November 2026; check the slot on your booking. The ferry is not included. You book and pay for your boat separately, and the AMS takes no responsibility for missed ferries or for weather cancellations. The area is not fenced, but gatekeepers patrol, and anyone ashore inside the lagoon boundary without a valid pass may be removed.

Who needs a pass, and who does not

The rule is about setting foot on land inside the Blue Lagoon area. According to the FAQ, you need a pass if you arrive by ferry, private boat or tour boat and go ashore. You do not need one to step off briefly to buy food or a drink and go straight back to the boat, or to pass through on the hard paths towards other parts of Comino without stopping in the lagoon area. Swimmers who stay on a moored tour boat do not set foot on the shore at all.

Getting to Comino

Ferries from Malta and Gozo

Comino ferries are small boats run by private operators, not by Gozo Channel. The AMS asks visitors to make sure their ferry operator is registered with Transport Malta to run to the Blue Lagoon, and links to the list of authorised vessels from its FAQ. VisitMalta's ferry listings include:

From Cirkewwa (Malta): Paradise Diving runs a daily ferry to the Blue Lagoon every 30 minutes from 1 May to 31 October as of November 2026, from the Paradise Bay end of Cirkewwa, near Paradise Bay.
From Mgarr (Gozo): Bella Comino Ferries, a family-run business based in Mgarr harbour, connects Gozo and Comino.

Comino Ferries also advertises departures from Marfa and Cirkewwa. Winter service is limited, so confirm with the operator before you set out. To reach Cirkewwa by bus, take route 41 or 42 from Valletta, 221 or 222 from Bugibba and Sliema, or the Airport Direct TD1 from the airport. Our Gozo ferry guide lists all the routes serving the Cirkewwa terminal, and the getting around Malta guide covers fares and passes.

Boat trips

Many visitors see the lagoon from a day cruise instead. Excursions leave from Sliema, St Paul's Bay and Gozo, often combining Comino's sea caves with a stop in the lagoon and sometimes a visit to Gozo. Staying on board avoids the scramble for space on the rocks, but check whether your boat provides shade. If you want to go ashore, though, you still need your own landing pass. Our Comino boat trips page compares the options, and sailing and yacht charters covers private boats.

Facilities at the Blue Lagoon

VisitMalta lists public toilets and equipment hire at the Blue Lagoon, and the AMS confirms that food and drink are sold on site. The shore is a mix of a small sandy patch and flat rock, so space for towels is tight in summer and there is little natural shade. Bring water, sun protection and shoes that can handle rock. There are no shops on Comino beyond the kiosks, so carry anything else you need from Malta or Gozo.

VisitMalta lists the Ghajnsielem Local Council in Gozo as the contact for the site.

When to go

The lagoon is at its most crowded on summer weekends and in the middle of the day, when boat trips arrive. If you are swimming, check the wind and sea conditions for your chosen slot, and the evening slot catches softer light. Early and late summer are usually less crowded than August; our best time to visit Malta guide has the month-by-month picture.

Out of season Comino is a different place. VisitMalta notes that it is worth a visit in winter for walkers and photographers, when you can smell wild thyme on the hillsides. Check that a ferry is running before you go, and see Malta in winter.

What else is on Comino

Santa Marija Bay on the north coast is the island's other main bathing spot, a sandy bay that VisitMalta calls one of the most popular on Comino. San Niklaw Bay is another beach listed by VisitMalta.

St Mary's Tower (Santa Marija Tower) stands on the high ground of the island, some 80 metres above sea level according to VisitMalta. Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt decided to build it in 1618, as part of the chain of towers linking the Cittadella in Gozo with Mdina. The square tower is about 12 metres high on an 8-metre plinth, with walls about 6 metres thick and a turret at each corner. It also appears in the film The Count of Monte Cristo. The heritage organisation Din l-Art Helwa is listed as its contact; check its opening days before you plan a visit inside.

The walks. With no cars and no towns, Comino is easy to cross on foot along its dirt tracks between the lagoon, Santa Marija Bay and the tower. The terrain is open garigue with little shade, so carry water and avoid the midday heat in summer. History adds interest along the way: VisitMalta records that the Knights kept Comino as a hunting ground after 1530, and that anyone caught breaking the hunting ban could be sentenced to three years rowing on a galley. For more walking ideas on the other islands, see coastal walking and hiking.

Below the water, Comino's coast suits snorkelling and scuba diving, and paddlers can explore the caves by sea kayak.

Safety in the water and sun

GOV.UK warns that people drown in the sea in Malta every year, that some beaches have strong undercurrents and that hidden rocks or shallow water can cause serious injury. Its advice applies fully at the Blue Lagoon:

Do not dive into water you do not know. The lagoon is shallow in places and the rocks edging it are uneven.
Swim inside the marked bathing area. Boats and other craft move constantly around the bay.
Learn the flags. GOV.UK notes that lifeguards patrol most beaches in summer using a flag system, and that a red flag means dangerous conditions. Take extra care when there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.
Follow local advice if jellyfish are present.
Respect the sun. Shade on the shore is scarce, so bring a hat, high-factor sunscreen and plenty of water.

In an emergency, call 112. Our emergency contacts page lists other numbers.

What to do when the slots are full

Try another slot or day. Passes open two months ahead, and same-day passes are released when available, so check again later or pick a weekday.
Stay on the boat. A boat trip lets you swim in the lagoon from the deck without going ashore.
Head for Santa Marija Bay. Passing through on the hard paths towards other parts of Comino does not need a pass, as long as you do not stop in the lagoon area.
Swim somewhere else. On Gozo, Hondoq ir-Rummien looks straight across to Comino. In northern Malta, Paradise Bay, Armier Bay and Mellieha Bay are all near Cirkewwa. Our best beaches in Malta guide has more.

Comino fits easily into a stay in Mellieha or on Gozo. See the 5-day Malta itinerary and the Gozo travel guide for where it slots in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to book to visit the Blue Lagoon in Comino?

Yes, if you want to go ashore. As of November 2026 the Malta Tourism Authority requires a free landing pass, booked online for a morning, afternoon or evening slot. You show the QR code on arrival and receive a wristband. Without a valid pass you cannot stay on land in the lagoon area.

How much does the Blue Lagoon cost?

The landing pass is free as of November 2026. You pay only for the ferry or boat trip that takes you there, which is booked separately with a licensed operator.

What are the Blue Lagoon time slots?

As of November 2026 the booking page offers 08:00 to 13:30, 13:30 to 17:30 and 17:30 to 22:00. The FAQ gives 08:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 22:00 for the morning and sunset slots, the 30-minute gap being an allowance for boats arriving and leaving.

Do children need a Blue Lagoon pass?

Children under 5 accompanied by a parent or guardian do not need one. Everyone else going ashore does, and one reservation covers up to four people.

Do I need a pass on a boat trip?

Only if you step onto land at the lagoon. Swimming from a moored boat does not involve going ashore. A brief stop to buy food or a drink and return straight to the boat is also exempt, according to the official FAQ.

How do I get to Comino from Malta?

Licensed ferries cross from Cirkewwa on Malta's northern tip, for example the Paradise Diving service every 30 minutes from 1 May to 31 October as of November 2026. From Gozo, Bella Comino Ferries runs from Mgarr harbour. Buses 41, 42, 221, 222 and TD1 serve Cirkewwa.

Is Comino worth visiting in winter?

Yes for walkers and photographers, as VisitMalta notes: the island is quiet, the tracks to Santa Marija Bay and St Mary's Tower are pleasant and the landscape smells of wild thyme. Ferries are much less frequent, so confirm one is running first.