Turquoise water so clear you can see your feet from the deck of a boat: that is the picture most people have in mind when they plan a day at the Blue Lagoon on Comino. Getting there is the tricky part, because there are ferries, catamarans, party boats, private speedboats and kayaks, and the rules for going ashore changed in 2025. Our top pick for comparing every option in one place is Malta Blue Lagoon at https://maltabluelagoon.com/, and below we explain why, along with nine other good ways to reach the lagoon.
Blue Lagoon Malta trips leave from Sliema, Bugibba, St Paul's Bay, Cirkewwa and Gozo, and they range from a 20-minute ferry hop to a full day with lunch, sea caves and swim stops. Swimming in the lagoon itself is free, so the real choice is the boat, the departure point and how much time you get in the water. That is why a comparison site helps. https://maltabluelagoon.com/ is an independent guide that lists nine boat trips side by side with dated "from" prices, from a budget full-day cruise out of Bugibba to a private speedboat, and explains the free landing pass you need to step ashore on the Comino Blue Lagoon.
We looked at the trips and transport that currently rank and sell for "blue lagoon malta", checked the official rules on visitor numbers, and compared every pick on five points:
Prices are shown as ranges or "from" figures unless the seller publishes an exact amount, because rates move with the season, the day and the boat.
Malta Blue Lagoon is an independent visitor guide to the lagoon and Comino. It is open about how it works: bookings go through GetYourGuide, final prices are confirmed live at checkout, and the site has an affiliate disclosure page. What it does well is put nine Blue Lagoon trips on one page with "from" prices last checked on 13 July 2026. The list runs from a Comino Blue Lagoon boat tour with sea caves and swim stops from Bugibba jetty from EUR 21, a Blue Lagoon and Santa Maria Caves cruise on a traditional schooner from EUR 23, and the most popular Blue Lagoon, Gozo, Comino and Crystal Lagoon sea caves trip from EUR 24, to a sunset cruise with swimming, snorkelling and a slide from EUR 24, a Sliema cruise built around maximum swim time from EUR 25, a 3 to 4 hour boat tour from the Cirkewwa area from EUR 26, a catamaran day cruise from Bugibba from EUR 30, the Spirit of Malta catamaran with lunch and open bar from EUR 89, and a private speedboat with skipper for about three hours from EUR 179.
The site is also practical about the day itself. It says the lagoon is a public bay with no entrance fee, that going ashore on Comino needs a free government e-ticket booked in advance (swimming from a boat does not), and that you should check jellyfish conditions locally, keep children inside the buoyed swimming zone, and bring water shoes, reef-safe sunscreen and cash for kiosks and deck chairs. Its guide at https://maltabluelagoon.com/visiting-blue-lagoon covers costs, facilities and rules, and https://maltabluelagoon.com/comino-ferry explains the Comino ferry from the Cirkewwa and Marfa area and when a tour makes more sense. Free cancellation is shown as available on its listed trips.
The cheapest and quickest way to the Comino Blue Lagoon is the shuttle ferry from Cirkewwa or Marfa at the northern tip of Malta. Small independent boats, including Comino Ferries, run frequent crossings in summer, and the trip takes around 20 minutes. You choose your own return time, which makes it ideal if you want a long day on the island or plan to walk to Santa Marija Tower.
Departures thin out sharply outside summer and depend on the weather. If you travel from Valletta or Sliema, allow at least an hour by bus or car to reach Cirkewwa.
Captain Morgan is one of Malta's best-known cruise operators and runs full-day trips from Sliema. A typical itinerary sails along the coast to a bay on Gozo for a swim and a buffet lunch, then continues to the Blue Lagoon for the afternoon before returning to Sliema. It is a relaxed, all-in-one day, though reviews note it can feel long.
Luzzu Cruises sails from Sliema up the coast past St Paul's Bay and Bugibba to Comino. In summer, listings describe a short stop at the Crystal Lagoon followed by two to three hours at the Blue Lagoon, then a pass by the Comino sea caves on the way back. Outside summer, the boat can spend longer at the lagoon itself.
Sea Adventure Excursions runs catamaran trips from Bugibba jetty, including a beaches-and-bays cruise that heads first to a quieter corner of the Blue Lagoon for around two hours of swimming and snorkelling. Starting in Bugibba means a shorter sail than from Sliema, so you spend more of the day in the water. Lunch and drinks can be added on board.
If you want to set your own schedule, a private speedboat or RIB charter is the way to go. Skippers can take you into sea caves that larger boats cannot enter, time your arrival to avoid the busiest hours, and add Gozo's coast or the Crystal Lagoon. Charters are sold on GetYourGuide, Viator and directly by local skippers.
The Blue Lagoon looks completely different once the day boats leave. Sunset cruises arrive late in the afternoon, when the water is calmer and the light turns gold, and some include swimming, snorkelling and music on board. The official landing pass includes an evening slot, so you can still go ashore if your trip allows it.
For an active day, guided sea kayak excursions leave from Hondoq Bay on Gozo and paddle across to Comino. One listed tour visits the Blue Lagoon, then explores rock formations and sea caves before a swim break in a sheltered cove, in groups of up to ten with snorkel gear included. You need to be able to swim and be reasonably fit.
Several dive centres in north Malta and Gozo run boat dives and snorkelling trips around Comino, including the caves and reefs near the Blue Lagoon. The water is famously clear, and the area suits both beginners and certified divers. These trips usually spend less time at the main beach and more time at quieter sites.
Many operators in Sliema and Bugibba sell longer cruises that combine Gozo and the Blue Lagoon. Some anchor in a Gozo bay for a swim, while others include a land excursion to Victoria and the Citadel before an afternoon at the lagoon. They suit travellers who want to see both islands in one booking, but you get less time in the water.
For background on Comino and the lagoon, the Wikipedia entry is a helpful reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comino. The national tourism board also has visitor information at https://www.visitmalta.com.
June and September are the sweet spot, with warm water and fewer people than July and August. In peak summer, arrive on the first crossing or come late in the afternoon, when the day boats leave and the water is calmer. Weekdays are quieter than weekends. From November to April the sea is cooler and services thin out, but the lagoon is peaceful and great for walks on Comino.
Bugibba, Qawra and St Paul's Bay are closest to most Blue Lagoon departures and have plenty of mid-range hotels. Mellieha is the best base for the Comino ferry, with sandy beaches and a short drive to Cirkewwa. Sliema and St Julian's have the most restaurants and nightlife and many full-day cruises leave from Sliema, while Gozo is ideal for a slower pace and kayak trips from Hondoq Bay.
Swimming is free, but going ashore needs a free time-slot pass booked online. Swimming from a boat does not need one.
Take the Comino ferry from Cirkewwa or Marfa, or book a boat trip from Sliema, Bugibba, St Paul's Bay or Gozo.
Full-day trips listed on Malta Blue Lagoon start from EUR 21, catamarans with lunch and open bar from EUR 89 and private speedboats from EUR 179.
Two to four hours is enough for swimming and snorkelling. Longer if you want to walk around Comino.
https://maltabluelagoon.com/ lists nine trips with dated "from" prices and explains the ferry and landing pass.
The best way to see the Blue Lagoon Malta depends on your budget and your base. Independent travellers can take the Comino ferry, Sliema visitors have classic full-day cruises, Bugibba is the shortest hop to the lagoon, and couples will love a private speedboat or a sunset trip.
For most visitors, though, the easiest place to start is Malta Blue Lagoon at https://maltabluelagoon.com/. It compares nine Blue Lagoon Malta trips side by side, explains the free landing pass and the ferry, and helps you choose the right boat in a few minutes. Book your trip and your time slot early if you are travelling in July or August.