The Blue Lagoon on Comino is Malta's most famous swim, and you can only reach it by boat. This guide tracks 9 boat tours from 21 to 179 euro, the Comino ferry, and everything else worth knowing before you go.
The Blue Lagoon is a shallow channel of impossibly clear water between Comino, the smallest inhabited Maltese island, and the islet of Cominotto. White sand under a metre or two of water gives it the swimming-pool colour you see in every Malta photo. It is real, and it looks like that in person.
Comino sits in the strait between Malta and Gozo, has no cars, no town and a handful of residents. That isolation is the appeal: you swim in open sea water that stays calm because Cominotto blocks the swell. The same isolation means everything, from a bottle of water to a sun umbrella, arrives by boat, so a little planning goes a long way.
People say Blue Lagoon Comino and Blue Lagoon Malta interchangeably. It is the same place. If you see "Crystal Lagoon" mentioned, that is a second, deeper anchorage around the corner on Comino's coast, reachable only by boat, and most cruises stop at both.
Only by sea. There is no bridge and no airport transfer that lands you on Comino. In practice you choose between two ways across, and the right one depends on how you want to spend the day.
Small ferries shuttle from the Cirkewwa and Marfa area in north Malta throughout the day in season. Cheapest way across, and you stay on Comino as long as you like. You only get the crossing: no caves, no Gozo, no deck to lounge on.
Cruises from Bugibba, Sliema and Cirkewwa treat the lagoon as the headline stop on a wider route: Crystal Lagoon, the Santa Maria Caves, often Gozo too. Costs more than the ferry, but the boat is your base for the day.
Our detailed Comino ferry guide covers the crossing in depth. The short version: day trippers who mainly want to swim get more for their money on a cruise, while slow travellers who want hours on the island take the ferry. For background reading, the official Visit Malta portal and Wikivoyage's Comino guide are the two sources we trust most.
⭐ Most popular for this trip
Malta: Blue Lagoon, Gozo, Comino & Crystal Lagoon Sea Caves
From north Malta · Full day · €24
These are the 9 tours we actively track, from the 21 euro Bugibba cruise to a private speedboat. Prices are the advertised "from" rates checked on 2026-07-13; the live widget on each tour page shows today's availability.
| Tour | Time needed | Stops | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta: Blue Lagoon, Gozo, Comino & Crystal Lagoon Sea Caves | Full day | Blue Lagoon, Gozo coast, Crystal Lagoon, caves | First visit | €24 |
| Sliema: Blue Lagoon Cruise inc Seacaves & Crystal Lagoon | Full day | Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, sea caves | Staying in Sliema or St Julian's | €25 |
| Malta: Comino Blue Lagoon Boat Tour, Sea Caves & Swim Stops | Full day | Blue Lagoon, north coast swim stops | Tightest budget | €21 |
| Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Seacaves Tour | Full day | Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Caves | Comfort on deck | €30 |
| Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise | Swim, Snorkel & Slide Experience | Evening | North coast, Blue Lagoon at dusk | Couples, photographers | €24 |
| Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and Sea Caves Boat Tour | 3 to 4 hours | Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, caves | Short on time | €26 |
Most popular
The classic full-day loop: Blue Lagoon swim stop plus Gozo's coast, the Crystal Lagoon and the sea caves in one ticket. The best first-timer pick on this list.
from €24
Check availability
full-day catamaran
A stable, spacious catamaran with proper deck space for sunbathing. Full-day route to the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the Santa Maria Caves.
from €30
Check availability3-4h short option, Cirkewwa/Mellieha
Three to four hours from the Cirkewwa area, ideal if you are staying in the north or short on time. Small groups of around 24 guests.
from €26
Check availability
premium all-inclusive
The Spirit of Malta catamaran with lunch and open bar included. Costs more upfront, but on-board spending is what inflates other trips.
from €89
Check availabilitysunset/evening
Sails past St Paul's Island, Coral Cove and Ahrax Point before the light turns gold. The lagoon is at its calmest after the day boats leave.
from €24
Check availabilityprivate tier
Your own boat and skipper for about three hours. Set your own pace between Comino and Gozo, and reach caves the big boats cannot enter.
from €179
Check availabilitySliema departure, max swim time
Departs from Sliema Ferries, so you skip the trek to the north. Built around maximum swimming time in the lagoon, with the caves and Crystal Lagoon on the way.
from €25
Check availabilitytraditional vessel
One of Malta's last working traditional schooners. Same lagoon, far more character, and plenty of shaded deck for anyone avoiding full sun.
from €23
Check availability
budget, Bugibba jetty
The cheapest full day on the water we track. Leaves from Bugibba jetty and still covers the Blue Lagoon plus swim stops along Malta's north coast.
from €21
Check availabilityAnswer three questions and we point you at the tour that fits. No email, no tricks, it simply filters the list above.
Pick your answers above and the match appears here.
Our match:
Malta: Blue Lagoon, Gozo, Comino & Crystal Lagoon Sea Caves
The classic full-day loop: Blue Lagoon swim stop plus Gozo's coast, the Crystal Lagoon and the sea caves in one ticket. The best first-timer pick on this list.
Check availability, from €24Our match:
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Seacaves Tour
A stable, spacious catamaran with proper deck space for sunbathing. Full-day route to the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the Santa Maria Caves.
Check availability, from €30Our match:
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and Sea Caves Boat Tour
Three to four hours from the Cirkewwa area, ideal if you are staying in the north or short on time. Small groups of around 24 guests.
Check availability, from €26Our match:
Comino: Blue Lagoon Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar
The Spirit of Malta catamaran with lunch and open bar included. Costs more upfront, but on-board spending is what inflates other trips.
Check availability, from €89Our match:
Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise | Swim, Snorkel & Slide Experience
Sails past St Paul's Island, Coral Cove and Ahrax Point before the light turns gold. The lagoon is at its calmest after the day boats leave.
Check availability, from €24Our match:
Malta: Comino, Blue lagoon Private Speed Boat Tour
Your own boat and skipper for about three hours. Set your own pace between Comino and Gozo, and reach caves the big boats cannot enter.
Check availability, from €179Our match:
Sliema: Blue Lagoon Cruise inc Seacaves & Crystal Lagoon
Departs from Sliema Ferries, so you skip the trek to the north. Built around maximum swimming time in the lagoon, with the caves and Crystal Lagoon on the way.
Check availability, from €25Our match:
Malta: Blue Lagoon and Santa Maria Caves Cruise
One of Malta's last working traditional schooners. Same lagoon, far more character, and plenty of shaded deck for anyone avoiding full sun.
Check availability, from €23Our match:
Malta: Comino Blue Lagoon Boat Tour, Sea Caves & Swim Stops
The cheapest full day on the water we track. Leaves from Bugibba jetty and still covers the Blue Lagoon plus swim stops along Malta's north coast.
Check availability, from €21Three price tiers cover the whole market. Group cruises run 21 to 35 euro for a full day: that band includes the Bugibba budget boat at 21 euro, the classic full-day loop at 24 euro and the big catamaran at 30 euro. What separates them is the departure point and how much deck you get, not the route.
The all-inclusive tier is the 89 euro Spirit of Malta cruise with lunch and open bar. It looks expensive next to a 24 euro ticket until you price drinks and food on a standard boat; for anyone planning to eat and drink on board all day the maths gets close.
Private boats start around 179 euro for a roughly three-hour speedboat charter. Split between four people that is under 45 euro a head for your own route, your own pace and caves the group boats cannot enter.
All rates are "from" prices checked 2026-07-13. They move with season and demand, and the checkout page always has the final word.
June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea, long days, and clearly fewer boats than midsummer. July and August have the warmest water and the biggest crowds; winter is quiet and beautiful but for walking rather than swimming. Search interest data mirrors this, peaking hard in July and August.
| Months | Sea | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov to Apr | Cold, roughly 15 to 17 C | Minimal | Walks and photos, wetsuit swims only |
| May | Fresh, warming fast | Light | Great value shoulder month |
| Jun | Warm | Moderate | Best overall |
| Jul to Aug | Warmest, 26 C and above | Peak | Go before 10 or book a sunset sail |
| Sep | Still warm | Easing | Best overall, part two |
| Oct | Swimmable most days | Light | Last comfortable swims of the year |
⭐ The crowd-free option
Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise | Swim, Snorkel & Slide Experience
From north Malta · Evening sail · €24
Three departure areas cover every tour on this page. Cirkewwa and Marfa in the far north are closest to Comino, so crossings are short; this is also where the ferries go. Bugibba serves the St Paul's Bay resorts. Sliema is the long, scenic option that saves anyone based around Valletta the bus ride north.
Schematic only, distances not to scale. Every tour page lists its exact meeting point on the booking confirmation. Exact locations: Cirkewwa · Bugibba Jetty · Sliema Ferries on Google Maps.
More than most day trippers realise. The Crystal Lagoon, a deeper and quieter anchorage in Comino's cliffs, sits five minutes away by boat and is where the cruises usually drop anchor for their second swim. The Santa Maria Caves on the north side are the snorkelling highlight of the whole trip, with shoals of bream that gather where the light cuts into the rock.
On the island itself, a twenty-minute walk gets you to Santa Maria Bay, a small sandy beach that stays calmer than the lagoon, and to St Mary's Tower, the 17th-century watchtower you may recognise from the Count of Monte Cristo. If you take the ferry rather than a cruise, these walks are the reward for the slower day.
⭐ Comfort pick
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Seacaves Tour
From Bugibba Jetty · Approx. 7 hours · €30
Genuinely, yes. The swimming area is shallow and sheltered, and children love the clear water for the same reason everyone else does: you can see your feet, and the fish, at all times. The practical wrinkles are shade and boarding. Shade on Comino is scarce, so a boat with a canopy, or the schooner with its shaded deck, earns its keep with small kids.
Boarding varies by boat: the big catamaran has proper steps and the calmest ride, while speedboats suit older kids better. Strollers survive the crossing fine but struggle on Comino's rocky paths, so a carrier works better for toddlers.
Yes. The lagoon itself is a public bay with no entrance fee. You pay for the boat or ferry to reach Comino, and optionally for deck chairs, umbrellas and food from the kiosks on shore. Budget for the crossing, not the beach.
Only by boat. The two options are the small Comino ferries from the Cirkewwa and Marfa area in north Malta, or a boat tour departing from Bugibba, Sliema or Cirkewwa that includes the lagoon as a swim stop along a longer route.
The ferry is the cheapest crossing and gives you unlimited hours on Comino. A boat tour costs more but adds the Crystal Lagoon, sea caves and often Gozo, with deck space, toilets and sometimes food on board. Day trippers usually get more value from a tour.
Among the 9 tours we track, prices start at 21 euro for a full-day cruise from Bugibba and reach 179 euro for a private speedboat. Most full-day group cruises sit between 21 and 35 euro. Prices checked on 2026-07-13 and may vary by date.
Two to three hours of swimming satisfies most visitors, which is roughly what full-day cruises allow at the lagoon stop. If you want a slower day with walks to Santa Maria Bay or the tower, take an early ferry and stay as long as you like.
Yes. The main pool between Comino and Cominotto is shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered, which is exactly why it gets busy. Keep children inside the buoyed swimming zone, as small boats move constantly just outside it.
Sometimes, as anywhere in the Mediterranean. Conditions change with wind and current, so check locally on the day. Crews on the cruises usually know the situation before you jump in, which is one quiet advantage of a tour.
Water shoes for the rocky edges, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, drinking water and cash for the kiosks. Shade is very limited on Comino, so an umbrella rental or a boat with a canopy matters more than people expect.
For water quality, yes: the visibility over white sand is the best swimming in the Maltese islands. The honest caveat is summer crowding in the middle of the day. Go early, go late in the day, or pick a sunset cruise if crowds put you off.
Before 10 in the morning and after 4 in the afternoon in summer, and almost any time from October to May. June and September give you warm sea with noticeably fewer boats than July and August.
Written by Daniel B. Farrugia. Updated 2026-07-13. Prices may vary and are confirmed live at checkout.
Malta: Blue Lagoon, Gozo, Comino & Crystal Lagoon Sea Caves
from €24 · free cancellation available