Comino has no airport, no roads, no scheduled ferry. Boat is the only access, and the choice of boat operator largely determines what kind of day you have on the island.
From Cirkewwa (north Malta)
Small private operators run boats from Cirkewwa harbour to Comino throughout the day in season, typically:
- Fare: €15 to €25 return.
- Departures: from 08:00 to roughly 17:00, every 30 to 60 minutes depending on demand.
- Drop-off: the Blue Lagoon (some smaller operators drop on the Crystal Lagoon side, a 10-minute walk away).
- Pickup window: usually fixed (e.g. “back at 12:00 or 15:00”). Confirm yours before disembarking.
This is the better option than the Sliema/Bugibba cruises. The boats are smaller, the experience is less party-tour, and the operators tend to know their regulars.
To reach Cirkewwa, see the North Malta transport page.
From Mgarr (Gozo)
The small Comino ferry runs from Mgarr (Gozo) to Comino throughout the day.
- Fare: €10 return.
- Crossing time: 10 minutes each way.
- Frequency: every 60 to 90 minutes in summer, less frequent in shoulder season.
- Drop-off: typically on the east side of Comino, a shorter walk to the Blue Lagoon than the Malta-side boats.
This is the strongest route for travellers serious about avoiding the midday crowd. The Gozo-side morning boats arrive at the Blue Lagoon before the Malta-side boats reach it (the geography favours an earlier arrival from Mgarr than from Cirkewwa).
From Sliema or Bugibba (avoid)
The large day-cruise boats sold from the Sliema and Bugibba waterfronts:
- Fare: €25 to €40 including “onboard lunch and music”.
- Departures: late morning (boats arrive at Comino between 10:30 and 11:30).
- Capacity: 80 to 200 passengers per boat.
These are the boats that fill the Blue Lagoon during the midday peak. The music, the crowd, and the timing combine to create the version of Comino most travellers regret visiting.
Skip these unless you specifically want the party-cruise experience. The marginal saving over a small-operator boat is small; the experiential difference is significant.
Choosing your strategy
Three workable approaches:
- Early morning from Cirkewwa: take the 08:00 or 08:30 boat from a Cirkewwa small operator. Arrive at the Blue Lagoon by 09:00, when 2 to 6 boats are in the cove. Leave by 11:00 to dodge the wave.
- Via Gozo, morning crossing: take a 09:00 Mgarr-Comino ferry. Arrive between 09:10 and 09:20, similarly empty. Return between 11:30 and 12:30.
- Late afternoon (summer only): take a 17:00-17:30 small-operator boat from Cirkewwa, on the limited number of operators that offer this slot. Arrive at the Blue Lagoon after the day boats have gone, when the cove is empty and the light is warm.
What does not work: arriving on a Sliema/Bugibba cruise boat at 11:00 expecting the photographs in the brochures.
Booking
Small-operator boats from Cirkewwa or Mgarr typically do not require advance booking outside July-August. Walk up to the harbour, find an operator with a board listing the timetable, pay cash or card, and board. Returning operators (the ones doing this for several seasons) tend to be at the same berth from year to year.
For the late-afternoon Cirkewwa boats, book directly with a known operator (Charlie’s Boats, Captain Morgan, smaller charters via the Cirkewwa marina office) the day before, not at the Sliema waterfront kiosks.
For Mgarr-side crossings, the Gozo Channel-operated small ferry has a posted timetable at the Mgarr terminal. Walk on, pay at the kiosk.
Where you land
The Blue Lagoon boats drop passengers at the inner edge of the lagoon on Comino’s western side. From the landing you walk 50 metres of concrete steps onto the limestone path that runs around the cove.
The Gozo-side ferry typically drops at the east side, a 5-minute walk from the Blue Lagoon and 10 minutes from the Crystal Lagoon.
There is no dock infrastructure on the Crystal Lagoon side; access is on foot from the Blue Lagoon landing.
Once on the island
The island is 3.5 km² with no roads, no shops outside the seasonal Blue Lagoon kiosks, no permanent population (officially two residents), and a network of unmarked walking paths. Wear shoes that can handle limestone scrub; bring water; do not expect any infrastructure beyond the lagoon-side kiosks.
The basic island loop is 4 km, takes 45 minutes, and is the best way to see beyond the Blue Lagoon. See the things-to-do page for the full picture.
Accessibility
Comino is not wheelchair-friendly. The boat-to-shore transition involves small steps off the boat onto a wet concrete dock. The walk to the Crystal Lagoon and to Santa Marija Tower is over unmaintained limestone paths with low loose stones. The kiosks at the Blue Lagoon have basic facilities, including a single accessible toilet (unreliable; check on arrival).
For travellers with mobility limitations, the realistic Comino experience is to land at the Blue Lagoon, sit on the platform near the boats, swim from the steps, and return on the next boat. The wider island is not accessible without significant assistance.