Blue Lagoon, Comino island, Malta

The Blue Lagoon is the most famous natural wonder in the Maltese Islands and one of the most beautiful swimming spots in the whole Mediterranean — a shallow channel of astonishingly clear, luminous turquoise water lying between the tiny, almost uninhabited island of Comino and the even smaller islet of Cominotto. The colour comes from sunlight reflecting off a white sandy seabed through the crystal water, giving the lagoon its dreamlike, tropical appearance. Comino itself, set in the strait between the main island of Malta and Gozo, has almost no permanent residents and no cars, so despite the summer crowds the lagoon remains a place of pure sea and rock.

What to See

The lagoon is above all a place to swim, snorkel and soak up the scenery: the water is warm, shallow and sheltered, ideal for families and for floating over the pale sand, and you can swim across to Cominotto or explore the rocky coves and small sea caves nearby. Around the shore there are flat rocks to sunbathe on and, in season, kiosks and boat operators offering drinks, deckchairs and trips. Many visitors come as part of a boat tour that also takes in the neighbouring Crystal Lagoon — a deeper, cliff-framed inlet with equally clear water — and the sea caves along Comino’s coast. Away from the water, walking trails cross the little island to the 17th-century Santa Marija Tower and quiet clifftops, offering a complete escape once the day-trippers thin out.

How to Get There and Practical Information

The Blue Lagoon is on the island of Comino, reached only by boat. In the season, regular ferries and shuttle boats run across from Ċirkewwa in the north of Malta and from Mġarr on Gozo, taking well under half an hour, and there are countless organised boat trips and cruises from resorts such as Sliema and Buġibba. Access to the lagoon itself is free; you pay only for the boat transport and any sunbeds, umbrellas or refreshments. It is worth knowing that the Blue Lagoon becomes extremely crowded in July and August, so an early start, a late-afternoon visit or a trip in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn makes for a far more magical experience. Bring water, sun protection and swimming gear, as there is little natural shade.