Comino has three permanent residents, no cars, no shops, one chapel, and somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 day visitors a day in the high season. The island is 3.5 km², 90% of which is fenced-off Natura 2000 reserve, which means almost everyone is funnelled to the same 200 metres of coastline — the Blue Lagoon — at the same hours of the day. Picking the right way to get there isn’t a budget question. It’s a when do you want to be in the water question.
This is the practical guide to every Comino route from Malta in 2026 — what each costs, how each is timed, and which one fits your trip. If you’ve already settled on a tour and just need the comparison of which tour, jump to Blue Lagoon Comino tours: DIY vs booked.
Some links below are affiliate links — they don’t change your price.
A 30-second map#
Comino sits in the channel between Malta (south) and Gozo (north). Ferries and boats reach it from four points:
- Ċirkewwa (Malta’s far north, 90 minutes from Valletta by bus) — the cheapest shuttle ferry.
- Sliema (Malta’s east coast) — the big-boat day cruises and most small-group catamarans.
- Buġibba / St Paul’s Bay — a smaller daily fleet, slightly cheaper than Sliema departures.
- Mġarr (Gozo’s port) — the option that beats the Sliema crowd by 30 minutes.
Each one is a different trip. Here’s the breakdown.
Option 1: shuttle ferry from Ċirkewwa — cheapest, most flexible#
Two small operators run continuous shuttle ferries from Ċirkewwa pier to the Blue Lagoon during the high season. You walk up, buy a ticket from the kiosk, queue, and get on the next boat.
- Cost: ~€15 return per adult (kids ~€7), summer; ~€10 return in winter. Cash or card at the kiosk.
- Crossing time: 25 minutes each way.
- Frequency: every 30 minutes from ~09:00 to ~17:00 in summer; reduced/weather-dependent in winter.
- What you get: drop-off at the Blue Lagoon. That’s it. No commentary, no Crystal Lagoon stop, no caves, no return-time guidance — you pick your own boat back.
How to reach Ċirkewwa: Bus X1 from Malta International Airport (~75 min) or 41/42/45/X1 from Valletta (~75–90 min). From Sliema/St Julian’s the bus chain is slow — Bolt is €25–35 and 35 minutes, which is the move on a tight day. See the Malta public bus guide for routes.
The catch: at peak crowd time (11:30–14:00 in July/August), the shuttle queue at Ċirkewwa can run 45–90 minutes in each direction. The boat itself is fine; the queue is the bottleneck. Beat it by being on the first 09:00 shuttle — and being back on land by 13:00 before the return queue forms.
Option 2: full-day cruise from Sliema — most popular, best value#
The classic Comino day — a big-boat cruise that leaves Sliema seafront around 09:30, hits the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon for ~2.5 hours of swim time, swings past Gozo’s caves, and drops you back in Sliema by 17:30. Lunch (a buffet on board) and a drink usually included.
Comino + Blue Lagoon + Gozo Caves Full-Day Cruise
Departs Sliema seafront ~09:00, returns ~17:30. Three lagoons, Gozo’s coast, lunch and a drink sorted in a single booking. Bring reef shoes — the rocks where you climb out are sharp.
Cost: €35–45 starting prices in summer. Larger boats (200+ pax) sit at the bottom of that range; mid-size boats (60–100 pax) at the top. The big boats arrive at the Blue Lagoon at peak crowd time (~11:30) and leave around 14:00 — you’re swimming with everyone else.
Pick this if: you want the headline experience without managing logistics, you like the idea of lunch on a boat, and you’re not desperate for an empty Blue Lagoon.
Skip if: quiet water matters more to you than price. Or if you’re prone to motion sickness — a 9-hour day on a sea breeze is more boat than you might want.
Option 3: small-group catamaran or RIB — quietest water#
The small-boat upgrade. Operators running 12–30-person catamarans or 12-person RIBs leave Sliema, Buġibba, or Mġarr earlier than the big cruises (often 08:30 or 09:00) and reach the Blue Lagoon at 09:15–09:45 — before the crowd. You get 60–90 minutes of nearly-empty water, then move on to Crystal Lagoon and the caves while the big boats arrive.
Cost: €60–100 depending on boat type and duration. RIBs are faster, more thrilling, and shorter (3–4 hours) — better for swim quality, worse if you wanted a long lazy day. Catamarans are slower and longer (5–7 hours), with more shade.
Pick this if: the quality of the swim matters more to you than the cost, you want fewer people in your photos, or you’ve been to Malta before and the brochure version isn’t your speed.
Skip if: you’re on a tight budget or you actively want a big-boat party day with a buffet.
Option 4: from Buġibba / St Paul’s Bay#
A smaller fleet of cruise operators leave from Buġibba’s marina instead of Sliema. Itineraries are usually identical to the Sliema cruises (Blue Lagoon + Crystal Lagoon + Gozo caves + lunch), but prices are €5–10 cheaper because Buġibba is closer to Comino so the operators run fewer hours of fuel.
Pick this if: you’re staying in northern Malta (Buġibba, Qawra, Mellieħa, or St Paul’s Bay) — the pickup is closer and the cruise gets to Comino faster.
Skip if: you’re staying in Sliema, Valletta, or St Julian’s — the bus to Buġibba (route 12 or 222) is slow enough that the saving evaporates against your morning.
Option 5: from Mġarr (Gozo) — the early-arrival hack#
The least-discussed Comino route: book a small-group boat from Mġarr, Gozo’s harbour. Mġarr-to-Comino is 15 minutes by water; the boats leave at 09:00–09:30 and reach the Lagoon before any of the Sliema or Buġibba cruises. Empty water for 45–60 minutes.
This is the move on Day 5 of the 5-day Malta and Gozo itinerary, where you’re already on Gozo and crossing back to Malta after Comino. As a one-off day-trip from Malta it’s harder to justify (you’d take the Gozo ferry across, take the boat, then ferry back) but worth knowing about.
DIY vs booked — what each route really costs#
| Route | Time on Comino | Cost (per adult) | Quiet water? | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ċirkewwa shuttle (DIY) | As long as you want, up to last boat ~17:00 | €15 + bus/Bolt | Only if you go 09:00 or 16:00 | Medium (queue + bus) |
| Sliema full-day cruise | ~2.5 hours | €35–45 | No (peak window) | Low |
| Buġibba full-day cruise | ~3 hours | €30–40 | No | Low |
| Small-group cat / RIB | 1.5–2 hours | €60–100 | Yes (early arrival) | Low |
| Mġarr small-group | 1.5 hours | €30–50 + Gozo ferry | Yes (earliest arrival) | Medium |
For the deeper apples-to-apples comparison of the boat options (which catamaran, which RIB, what’s included) see our Blue Lagoon Comino tours post.
When to go — by hour#
Crowd density at the Blue Lagoon, July/August, on a typical sunny day:
| Time | What it’s like |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:00 | Quiet. Maybe 2–3 small boats. The water looks like the brochure. |
| 10:00–11:30 | Busy but workable. Big boats arriving. |
| 11:30–14:00 | Peak. 30+ boats moored, hundreds of swimmers. Photos do not look like the brochure. |
| 14:00–16:00 | Thinning. Day-cruise lunch service ending; boats heading off to caves. |
| 16:00–18:00 | Quiet again. Last shuttle back to Ċirkewwa around 17:00. |
May, late September and October bring the crowd window in by an hour each side and the water stays photogenic for longer. November–March, the Blue Lagoon is mostly yours — but the water is cold (15–18°C) and many cruise operators run reduced schedules.
What to bring#
- Reef shoes or sturdy water sandals. The rocks where you climb out at the Blue Lagoon are sharp limestone, and the bottom near the entry steps is uneven. Worth €15 from a Sliema shop.
- A microfibre towel. Quick-drying, packs small, and sand from Crystal Lagoon sticks to a regular towel for the rest of the trip.
- Reef-safe sunscreen. Stronger than you’d think — limestone and water are reflective, and there’s almost no shade on Comino unless you bring it.
- Cash for the kiosks. Two food kiosks operate on Comino in summer; both take cash only. Bottled water is €3, sandwiches ~€7.
- A waterproof phone pouch. The Blue Lagoon photo doesn’t take itself, and you’ll regret bringing your phone into the water without one.
Common mistakes to avoid#
- Booking the cheapest big-boat in August. The €25 mega-catamaran is full at the Blue Lagoon’s worst hour. Pay the upgrade for a smaller boat or take the early Ċirkewwa shuttle instead.
- Skipping reef shoes. The rocks shred bare feet. Every summer the kiosks sell out of replacements by mid-morning.
- Treating the shuttle ferry like a tour. It isn’t. You won’t get a Crystal Lagoon stop or any cave time.
- Forgetting cash. Card readers on Comino are unreliable. Bring €30 in small notes.
- Trying to do Comino on your last day. If the sea cancels, you’ve lost the experience and possibly some operator’s deposit. Book Day 2 of any short Malta trip.
- Not checking the wind. Comino tours cancel on heavy north-westerly days. Operators usually rebook for free; check the morning forecast on Met Office Malta.
FAQ#
How do you get to Comino from Malta?#
By boat — there’s no airport, no bridge, and no swim route worth attempting. The four options are: the Ċirkewwa shuttle ferry (cheapest, ~€15 return), a full-day cruise from Sliema or Buġibba (€30–45, includes Crystal Lagoon and lunch), a small-group catamaran or RIB (€60–100, quieter water), or a boat from Gozo’s Mġarr harbour (the early-arrival hack).
How much does it cost to get to Comino?#
The shuttle ferry from Ċirkewwa is ~€15 return in summer, walk-on, no booking. Big-boat cruises from Sliema run €35–45, Buġibba a few euros less, small-group boats €60–100. Add €2.50 per Tallinja bus single if you’re using public transport to reach the pier.
How long does it take to get to Comino?#
The crossing itself is 25 minutes from Ċirkewwa, 35–45 minutes from Sliema or Buġibba, and 15 minutes from Mġarr. Add the time to reach your departure pier — from Valletta to Ċirkewwa is 60–90 minutes by bus, or 35–45 by Bolt.
What’s the cheapest way to reach the Blue Lagoon?#
The Ċirkewwa shuttle ferry, by a wide margin. €15 return + €2.50 bus to reach the pier = €17.50 all-in versus €30–45 for a guided cruise. Trade-off: no Crystal Lagoon stop, no cave detour, no lunch, and you’re on your own for the timing.
Are there hotels on Comino?#
One — the Comino Hotel and Bungalows, which closed in 2017 for redevelopment and remains under refurbishment as of 2026. There’s no other accommodation on the island. Day trip only, until further notice.
Do you need to book the shuttle ferry?#
No. The Ċirkewwa shuttle is a turn-up-and-pay operation. The booking layer is only for the cruise tours. Showing up at 08:30 means you’ll be on the 09:00 boat; showing up at 11:30 in August means you’ll wait 45–90 minutes.
What’s the best time of year to visit Comino?#
Late May, June, late September, early October. Water is warm enough to swim, the cruise schedules are full but the crowds haven’t peaked, and the wind is usually friendly enough that boats run on time. Avoid the July–August midday window unless you’re on a small-group boat that arrives early. November–March is calm and uncrowded but cold, with reduced cruise schedules.
Can I take a private boat to Comino?#
Yes — private boat charters from Sliema, Buġibba, or Mġarr run €400–800 per half-day for up to 8 people, depending on boat size. Worth it for a small group that wants its own pace and to skip the cruise crowds entirely.
Last verified: April 2026. Ferry timetables, cruise schedules and starting prices change seasonally — always confirm with the operator before booking.
