A day in Comino

Going for a swim in the turquoise waters of the island of Comino, north of Malta, seemed like a must for anyone coming to Malta! Despite the fairly long journey time from Valletta, we decided to go there to admire the Blue Lagoon.

Getting to Comino from Valletta

From Valletta’s bus station, allow a little over an hour and a half by bus to reach the ferry terminal. Buses 41 and 42 are direct, but with nearly 70 stops: you’ll have to be patient!
Arriving at the jetty, we bought our tickets for the island of Comino, at the ticket office of the company Comino Ferries Co.Op: the return trip costs 13€ per person. As the last ferry is at 8pm, you have to organise yourself well to be on time for the boat in the evening.

What to see in Comino

Even going there at the end of August, there were enormous numbers of people around the Blue Lagoon and the jetties… if you hate crowds of tourists, you can do what we did and take the higher path that leads to the island’s other viewpoints! We came back to the Blue Lagoon a bit later in the day, around 6pm.

The heat was dreadful: whatever you do, don’t forget water and sunscreen to protect yourself. There is indeed very little shade on the island, all the plants are scorched by the sun.

St Nicholas Bay (St Niklaw Bay)

From the Blue Lagoon, you have to climb up and then head left to reach St Nicholas Bay where the island’s only hotel is. There are far fewer tourists on this part of the island and the water there is still very clear for swimming.

St Mary’s Bay (Santa Maria Bay)

St Mary’s Bay is also ideal for enjoying the sea without too many people. The beach has lifeguards and is lined with a few bushes that give shade: perfect for spreading out your towel! A bit further on is the island’s only church, on the way to the Crystal Lagoon.

Crystal Lagoon

To the west of the island is a second lagoon, just as beautiful as the famous Blue Lagoon, but without a horde of tourists. The Crystal Lagoon is in a slightly hidden cove: you have to climb down the cliff a bit to be able to swim. We found a lovely spot to lay our towels and enjoyed the turquoise water!

Blue Lagoon

We still wanted to swim in the famous Blue Lagoon: so we waited until the end of the day to do it, even though there were still lots of people on the island. We had never seen water so clear and of such a vivid turquoise colour! You understand why the place draws such crowds, especially in summer. The sea is incredibly beautiful!

After a long swim, we took the boat back around 7.30pm. The evening light on the lagoon is very beautiful: a chance to take lovely photos!

What we thought of Comino

We don’t regret spending time in transport to come to the island of Comino, even though we think it isn’t quite the right time of year to go there, because of the crowds! It’s certain that you have to go round the island to discover it more thoroughly and swim in beautiful coves.
We recommend going off season if possible, to enjoy the turquoise waters in complete peace.

In the middle of planning a trip to Malta? Read our articles about this beautiful island.