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The Blue Lagoon Malta is an azure-coloured bay with crystal clear water on the small island of Comino. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Maltese islands and gets crowded at the height of summer.
I’m a tourist-turned-local and I help thousands of people plan their trip to Malta every year.
In this guide, I’ll help you with the following:
The Blue Lagoon is located on the West coast of Comino Island, the smallest of Malta’s islands. It’s between the main island of Malta and Gozo and is easy to reach by boat from various locations.
Since there are currently no accommodation options on the small island of Comino, you’ll need to hop on a boat or the Comino ferry to get to the Blue Lagoon.
Only two people live on this tiny island, so there are few facilities and no paved roads. St. Mary’s Tower (referred to as Santa Marija Tower by the Maltese) and three surviving coastal batteries are among the few buildings built by the Knights of Malta to guard the channel between Malta and Gozo.
You may have read that Malta’s Blue Lagoon is a slice of paradise, and I can tell you that visually, that’s true: It’s a stunning location, not just in Malta but around the Mediterranean Sea.
However, because it’s such a beautiful place to visit, it’s not the most idyllic place, especially in the summer.
The hugely popular Blue Lagoon is easily Malta’s worth-kept secret. Its crystal clear waters attract an estimated 8,000-10,000 tourists daily at the busiest time of year (July/August).
With only a tiny sandy beach and a relatively small bay, that means it gets crowded.
Having said that, most visitors to the Maltese islands enjoy visiting the Blue Lagoon, and there are a few ways to have an enjoyable experience if you decide to visit.
The Blue Lagoon features prominently in my Malta itinerary guides, but while some choose to spend a full day there on a boat trip, most people are happy with spending a few hours or half a day.
The most common reason is that there are quieter beaches to spend a full day on.
The best time of year to visit the Blue Lagoon is May or June (usually the start of the swimming season). September and October can also be a great time to go, but weather conditions can be a little unpredictable at this time of year. (However, most tour operators offer free cancellation if you need to change plans.)
July and August are by far the busiest months – the height of the summer season in Malta.
The best time of day in summer is either before 10 am or after 4 pm to avoid most of the crowds.
You can visit the Blue Lagoon in winter (November through March) as well. Although the water temperature drops to around 16 degrees Celsius and the sea will be too cold for swimming, visiting at this time of year makes for a much more peaceful experience.
Even if you’re brave enough to enter the sea, I’d advise you to avoid swimming during the winter season, no matter how inviting the crystal clear waters are. Treacherous undercurrents are quite common in winter.
The most popular ways of getting to the Blue Lagoon Malta are:
My advice on which option to go for:
Comino ferries depart from Marfa and Ċirkewwa. Both seaside locations are located close to each other in the northernmost part of Malta.
Trips take around 15 minutes, and the ferry drops you off right at Blue Lagoon Bay.
The Comino ferry operators are:
You can get to both locations from other parts of Malta (Valletta, Sliema, St. Julian’s, Buġibba/St. Paul’s Bay/Qawra, Mellieħa, etc.) by public transport (bus), though it can be quite a lengthy trip. For example, a bus ride to Marfa/Ċirkewwa from Valletta can take 1.5 hours, depending on traffic congestion.
Alternatively, you can get an Uber for around €30-40 (from Valletta, for example) depending on demand, and you may get there in around 45-50 minutes.
Here’s a map that shows you the ferry operator locations, as well as the driving/bus routes from popular tourist locations:
Ferries from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon depart from Mġarr Harbour, right opposite as you exist the Gozo ferry terminal building and the operators here are:
Mġarr Harbour is easy to reach by bus from Victoria (and through Victoria from other places in Gozo). Getting an Uber will be cheaper than in Malta, although limited availability means you may need to wait a little while to be picked up.
You can get more detailed directions here: How to get to Blue Lagoon Malta from Sliema, Valletta, Gozo.
Taking a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon is by far the most popular and comfortable option.
I’ve personally tried various options over the past years, and these are my top recommendations to you.
Hop on this catamaran with slides for a fun day out with the family.
Rough schedule:
Recommended: Enjoy the Blue Lagoon at a quieter day, with an early evening swim and a stunning sunset.
Rough schedule:
My personal favourite: This more spacious, quieter catamaran takes you to the Blue Lagoon and one or two other bays on the West coast of Malta. Top choice!
The BBQ add-on is worth the money.
An excellent choice if you’re staying in Sliema and you want an all-inclusive boat trip to the Blue Lagoon.
This large catamaran takes you to the Blue Lagoon and other places around Comino. Includes a cold buffet lunch and open bar (wine, beer, soft drinks, water). Good value!
Taking a private boat trip is by far the best way to visit the Blue Lagoon. You get a much more peaceful experience with a boat to yourself and a captain who will take you around. You also have the flexibility to explore other beaches and bays around, and you can pick a preferred start time and duration.
These are a few of the most popular trips from the best (tried-and-tested) operator that specialises in private tours. They offer more flexible options, and I highly recommend considering this option if you want the best experience.
This is the most popular option for private boat tours during the day, giving you good time and flexibility for visiting the Blue Lagoon and the island of Comino.
Price is for up to 6 people, but boat has capacity for more (on request).
This option is similar to the first, but the key difference is the timing: You’ll be enjoying the Blue Lagoon at a much quieter part of the day, approaching sunset. Highly recommended!
Price is for up to 6 people, but boat has capacity for more (on request).
Price is for up to 6 people, but boat has capacity for more (on request).
Price is for up to 6 people, but boat has capacity for more (on request).
Gozo tour specialist Yippee organises Blue Lagoon and Gozo combo tours and day trips in the summer season (15th May – 15th October). That way, you can combine a swim stop at the Blue Lagoon with a tour of Gozo (- also highly recommended).
They take care of your full day trip (transfers to/from Malta are included) and get rave reviews consistently.
These are the two options I recommend, both of which start with a swim stop at the Blue Lagoon:
The Sunset Tour by Tuk Tuk is a fun way to explore Gozo. You’ll be driven around on a 6-seater, brightly-coloured Tuk Tuk and taken to a mix of locations, from tourist attractions to landmarks and lesser-known gems. Multiple languages are catered for.
The Sunset Tour on Quad bikes offers you the option of taking a tour on self-drive (+1 passenger) quad bikes to more rugged places around Gozo. You’ll follow a lead driver, a local expert who can show you around the most stunning parts of the island at the best time of day. This tour is offered in English as well as in French.
Get my recommendations on the best day trips, boat trips, excursions and activities and book in advance!
Encounters with sharks in the Blue Lagoon in Malta are extremely rare, making it a safe destination for swimmers and snorkellers. There are various shark species around the Maltese islands, but interactions with humans are uncommon because of the shallow waters and busy nature of the Blue Lagoon. Around Malta, only a few shark attacks have been recorded since 1890, and that’s not surprising: Sharks typically inhabit deeper waters away from coastal areas with a lot of human activity.
Yes, you can swim in the Blue Lagoon Malta, but always keep an eye on the flag system that tells you whether or not it’s safe to do so. On crowded days, you can opt to swim at some of the nearby bays on Comino Island instead: The Crystal Lagoon (best accessible by boat), Santa Marija Bay and San Niklaw Bay.
Comino is the name of the island where you can find Blue Lagoon Bay.
The Blue Lagoon is located on Comino Island, which is part of the country Malta.
The ferry ride from Malta to the Blue Lagoon takes approximately 15 minutes, and you can hop onto the Comino ferry from Marfa or Ċirkewwa.
Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.
As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.
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Hi,
Lovely site! Are there any boat day trips from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon or only from Malta?
Thanks
Rita
Hi Rita, yes, I’ve listed two options in the article for combo tours with Gozo. Good alternatives for full day trips I’m not aware of but honestly, 2-2.5 hours is enough for most people.