There is no overnight accommodation on Comino. The single Comino Hotel and the adjacent bungalow village have been closed for years pending redevelopment that has been announced and delayed repeatedly. Travellers who want to visit Comino sleep elsewhere and cross over for the day.
Two practical bases.
North Malta (Mellieha)
The closer of the two options. Mellieha is 12 minutes by car from the Cirkewwa ferry terminal, where the small-operator boats to Comino depart.
The case for basing in Mellieha:
- Earliest possible Blue Lagoon arrival: drive from Mellieha to Cirkewwa in 12 minutes, catch the 08:00 boat, arrive at the Blue Lagoon by 08:20.
- Combined with beach days: Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay are 10 to 20 minutes’ drive from the village.
- One-time Comino visit: if Comino is one of several day trips in a north Malta-based stay, Mellieha works.
Full guidance on Mellieha accommodation on the North Malta where-to-stay page. The summary:
- Mellieha village for character (€110 to €180 a night for boutique hotels or restored townhouses).
- Mellieha Bay beachfront for resort hotels (€160 to €350).
- Bugibba/Qawra for budget (€60 to €110 but loses the village atmosphere).
Gozo
The smarter option for travellers prioritising the Comino visit specifically.
The case for basing on Gozo:
- The Mgarr-Comino small ferry (€10 return, 10 minutes each way) lets you visit Comino in the morning and be back on Gozo by lunch.
- Smaller boats, less crowded entry: the Gozo-side boats tend to drop you at the eastern side of Comino, slightly less crowded than the Malta-side landing.
- A multi-day Gozo + Comino itinerary: if your trip includes 2 to 3 nights on Gozo, the Comino visit becomes a half-day excursion at no extra travel cost.
Full guidance on Gozo accommodation on the Gozo where-to-stay page. The summary:
- Converted farmhouses (€140 to €280) for the slow-Gozo experience with car.
- Cittadella boutiques in Victoria (€130 to €220) for the town base without a car.
- Xlendi or Marsalforn (€80 to €180) for the bay-base experience.
How to choose between the two
Choose Mellieha if:
- You are basing in north Malta anyway (for sandy beaches and the Mediterranean coast)
- You want a one-time Comino day from a Malta-side trip
- You have a tight 4 to 5-day itinerary
Choose Gozo if:
- You are spending 2+ nights on Gozo regardless
- The Comino visit is a priority and you want the small-ferry route
- You want a slower trip with the Mediterranean island feel
For a 7-day Malta-and-Gozo trip, the recommended pattern is: 2 nights Valletta, 2 nights Mellieha (with a Comino daytrip), 3 nights Gozo. This covers the country properly and visits Comino without compromising on the rest.
What about basing in Sliema and daytripping to Comino?
Possible but not recommended. The drive from Sliema to Cirkewwa is 40 to 60 minutes one way, plus the boat crossing (10 to 25 minutes), plus a half-day on Comino, plus the return. A full Sliema-Comino-Sliema daytrip is 10+ hours from front door to front door, with most of the early-morning advantage lost in transit.
If Sliema is your base for other reasons (Valletta access, family logistics), the Comino daytrip remains technically possible. Take the 07:00 X1 bus from Sliema to Cirkewwa, the 09:00 small-operator boat, the 12:30 return boat, and you can be back in Sliema by 14:00. But the experience is rushed.
A final word on the no-overnight rule
The pending redevelopment of the Comino Hotel has been a saga since 2019. Reopening dates have been announced and missed multiple times. As of mid-2026 there is still no public timetable for reopening accommodation on the island.
If you read elsewhere that “Comino Hotel” or “Comino bungalows” are bookable, verify directly with the operator before paying. Several travel sites still list the pre-closure properties without indicating their current status.
For now, plan around the no-overnight rule. Comino is and remains a day-visit destination, no exceptions.