Malta's Blue Lagoon: Your Essential Guide for Summer 2026

If you’ve ever wanted to float in a pool of neon-turquoise water, Malta's Blue Lagoon is the place. This world-famous bay is located on Comino (Kemmuna), a tiny, rugged island situated between the larger islands of Malta and Gozo. Its incredibly clear water and white sandy seabed are sheltered by the small islet of Cominotto.

Measuring just 3.5 square kilometers, Comino is virtually car-free and fiercely protected. The island is designated as a Natura 2000 site, a nature reserve, and a bird sanctuary, creating a delicate balance between preserving its raw beauty and managing the massive influx of summer visitors.

To combat years of intense overcrowding, a strict Visitor Management Plan is in effect for the summer 2026 season. If you plan to set foot on Comino's shore, you must book a free "Landing Pass" QR code in advance.

This mandatory pass is available from the official portals at bluelagooncomino.mt or blcomino.com. Onshore visitors are capped at 4,000 people at any one time, with the system strictly enforced by landing agents.

When booking, you must select one of three daily time slots:

• Morning Window: 08:00 – 13:00
• Afternoon Window: 13:30 – 17:30
• Evening/Sunset Window: 18:00 – 22:00

Upon arrival, your QR code is scanned and you receive a color-coded wristband for your designated slot. Staying onshore without a valid wristband can lead to fines. However, if you remain entirely on a boat and do not land or swim to shore, you do not need a visitor pass.

Reaching the Blue Lagoon always involves a boat trip, with several options available depending on your starting point and budget.

Local Shuttle Ferries offer point-to-point service from mainland Malta and Gozo. From Malta, the Comino Ferries Co-op departs from Cirkewwa and Marfa every 30 minutes, with return tickets costing around €13-€15. From Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, operators like Bella Comino Ferry and Ebsons Comino Ferries offer frequent trips for €7-€13.

Be aware of the ticket trap: shuttle tickets are not transferable between operators. You must return with the same company you arrived with. Take a photo of your boat to remember it!

Large Day Cruises depart from Sliema and Bugibba. These vessels act as a floating base with food, restrooms, and waterslides, allowing you to bypass the crowded shore. These trips cost between €20 and €40.

For more freedom, you can rent a self-drive speedboat from Mellieha or charter a private skippered yacht from various harbors. This allows you to explore quieter coves away from the main crowds.

The waters around Comino offer some of the best underwater visibility in the Mediterranean, often exceeding 30 meters. The main lagoon's shallow, sandy bottom is perfect for casual swimming and snorkeling, where you can see schools of Saddled Seabream and Damselfish.

Crystal Lagoon, a 15-minute walk south, is a deeper bay enclosed by cliffs. Its emerald-sapphire water is a premier spot for snorkeling and features a spectacular 30-meter sea cave that glows with neon-blue light.

For divers, the P31 Wreck is a must-see. This former minesweeper was scuttled in 2009 and now sits upright at a depth of 18-20 meters. Following a cleanup in early 2026, it is safe for wreck penetration, allowing exploration of its bridge and engine room.

On the northern coast, the Santa Marija Caves are a network of ten caverns and arches popular with divers and snorkelers, known for the beautiful light effects filtering through cracks in the ceilings.

Beyond the water, Comino's rugged interior reveals its history as an outpost for the Knights of St. John. The Comino Perimeter Loop is a 7-8 km coastal trail that takes about 3 hours to walk, offering stunning views. Use an offline GPS map, as the trail is not marked.

St. Mary's Tower, built in 1618, is the island's most imposing landmark. With 6-meter-thick walls, it offers panoramic views of Malta and Gozo. It famously served as the Château d'If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo. The tower is open seasonally with a €2.50 entry fee.

Other historical sites include St. Mary's Battery, a coastal fortification from 1715 with restored cannons, and the Comino Chapel, which contains a neo-gothic iconostasis unusual for the region. You can also find abandoned British Isolation Hospital buildings, once used for quarantine.

To escape the high energy of the Blue Lagoon, a short hike will take you to Comino's quieter northern shores.

Santa Marija Bay is a 20-minute walk away and features a shallow, sandy beach with a grove of tamarisk trees for shade. It's one of the few places on the island with basic public toilets and showers.

Nearby, San Niklaw Bay offers quiet, sheltered twin coves. However, there are currently no public amenities here, so visitors must be completely self-sufficient for the day.

Comino's protected status comes with strict rules managed by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).

Following public protests, deckchair reforms are now enforced. Deckchairs and umbrellas are banned from the sandy beach. On rocky areas, operators can only set them up on-demand for paying visitors, preventing them from pre-laying gear across public spaces.

Recreational drones are also banned across the island without a special permit. In a major victory for environmentalists in May 2026, a court ruling annulled the development permit for a controversial luxury hotel project at San Niklaw Bay, halting all construction for the summer 2026 season.

A number of sporting and environmental events are scheduled for the areas around Comino during the summer 2026 season.

• Aquaman Open Water Races (August 29–31, 2026): A premier open-water swim event with routes from 1km to 5km in the waters around Gozo and Comino.
• Round Comino Swim (September 11–12, 2026): A grueling 8km open-water marathon that circumnavigates the entire island.
• XTERRA Comino SwimRun & Trail (September 21, 2026): A multi-discipline race challenging athletes to run across Comino and swim through the Blue Lagoon.
• Islands Cleanup Campaign (October 2026): A volunteer effort to remove debris and rehabilitate the island's ecosystem after the peak season.

To make the most of your day on this rugged island, a little preparation goes a long way. Keep these practical tips in mind before you head out.

• Bring Water Shoes and Sun Protection: Comino's terrain is sharp, uneven limestone. Sturdy water shoes are essential for navigating the rocks. There is almost no shade, so reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are non-negotiable.
• Bring Cash: There are no ATMs on the island, and connectivity for card machines is highly unreliable. Bring enough cash for your ferry, food, and any rentals like sunbeds or lockers.
• Jellyfish Safety: The pinkish-purple Mauve Stinger is common. To treat a sting, do not rub it or rinse with fresh water, vinegar, or alcohol. Rinse the area with clean seawater, gently remove any tentacles with tweezers, and apply a paste of baking soda and seawater.

• Malta Expat Tourism Guide for Comino
• Court Annuls Comino Mega-Project Permit (The Shift News)
• Blue Lagoon on Google Maps
• P31 Wreck on Google Maps
• Santa Marija Caves on Google Maps
• St. Mary's Tower on Google Maps
• St. Mary's Battery on Google Maps
• Comino Chapel on Google Maps
• Santa Marija Bay on Google Maps
• San Niklaw Bay on Google Maps