Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Blue Lagoon and Gozo in Malta

What You Can Expect When Visiting The Blue Lagoon and Gozo

The country of Malta had been on our bucket list for a while and when we finally decided that it was time to go we made sure to include the Blue Lagoon and the island of Gozo on our itinerary.

We’ve captured our experience in this blog to provide you with all you can expect when visiting the Blue Lagoon and Gozo in Malta.

Highlights Of The Blue Lagoon And Gozo

Map Of Malta

Malta is actually a group of three islands – the largest island and main economic centre of the country is also called Malta.  Then there are two smaller islands just to the north of the main island.  

Gozo is the second largest (though much smaller than Malta) and Comino (where the Blue Lagoon is located) is the smallest of the three and sits nestled between its larger siblings. 

We’ve provided the Blue Lagoon and Gozo map below just to give you an idea of how close these islands are to one another as well as their respective sizes.

Best Way to Get to the Blue Lagoon and Gozo

Like most visitors to the Blue Lagoon and Gozo, we began our journey from the main island.  We had decided to stay in Sliema for our week in Malta and used it as a base to visit other parts of the country.  

We didn’t have a car during our stay in Malta, so we decided to make the most of our time by booking a boat cruise from Sliema that would take us on a Blue Lagoon and Gozo day trip.  

Since you have to take a ferry from the main island to get to Comino and Gozo regardless, taking a boat tour, as it turned out, was the best way for us to visit the Blue Lagoon and Gozo.  Not only did it get us to the two destinations, but we also got a guided tour by water of some of the other highlights of Malta along the way.

Sliema is situated right off the water at Sliema Creek which opens out to the Mediterranean.  There is a ferry terminal there that offers regularly scheduled ferries across the creek to Valletta as well as day trips to Comino and Gozo.  

Our ship, the MV Lady Shelley, was a 24 metre-long (78 feet) by 8.5 metre-wide (28 feet) wide purpose built catamaran.  It was docked at the pier and we were able to board after showing the captain our pre-purchased ticket.

The Lady Shelley has two decks – an upper, open-air deck and a lower covered deck with a total capacity of 214 passengers. Since it was relatively calm in the harbour, we decided to find a seat on the upper deck where there were plenty of empty seats available.  

✅ We chose to support a family-run business for our cruise and we had a wonderful time. They provided a well-run excursion with a comfortable ship, excellent commentary and friendly staff.

We left the pier at precisely 10:00am and began our sail out of the harbour under bright but partly cloudy skies.  

The journey out of the protected harbour was quite smooth, but the captain had warned us that as soon as we reached open water, the seas would become quite choppy.  

We decided to enjoy the views from the upper deck until we rounded the tip of Dragut Point at the easternmost part of Sliema and started heading north on the Mediterranean.  It took just over 5 minutes to leave the calm of the harbour and enter the swells of the open water.  

Our Boat Cruise to the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island

Once we reached the open water, we started sailing northwest following the coastline of Malta.  Our pace was slow but steady as we battled the headwinds and rolling surf on our 1 1/2 hour cruise to Comino Island.

At this point, we decided to move to the lower deck and found seats at the partially covered aft of the ship which still gave us views of the shoreline as we continued our sail.

Following the coast, we passed the city of Sliema with its modern buildings and mid-rise apartments.  From there we sailed past the modern city of St. Julien known for its vibrant nightlife with lots of restaurants and bars.  Here we also got a chance to see the modern beach resorts that line the coast around St. Julien’s as well as the city’s upscale casino.

Continuing along the coast we admired the rustic and rocky shoreline as we moved out of the urban area and transitioned into the less populated parts of the island. 

About an hour into our trip, we passed along St. Paul’s Bay.  This is where it is said that Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked in 60 AD and rescued by the Maltese inhabitants at the time.  A statue of the Saint has been erected at the site where the shipwreck is said to have occurred. 

By the time we passed St. Paul’s Bay and St. Paul’s Island, we were able to see the eastern edges of Comino Island which we were approaching in the distance.  

Comino Island Malta

Comino Island is the smallest of Malta’s three islands measuring just 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 square miles).  Its southern coast is barely 1 mile off Malta’s north coast and its northern coast is less than 1 mile from the southern coast of Gozo.

We approached Comino Island from the south and rounded its eastern tip arriving at a small landing area next to the island’s famous Blue Lagoon Beach.

Our captain maneuvered the boat carefully, backing into the makeshift pier and after securing the craft to the rocky landing area, we disembarked onto charming little Comino Island.

There really isn’t a whole lot on this tiny island.  At the landing area there is a public toilet and change room and a hundred metres up the rocky trail are a number of food trucks that provide a variety of fast food options for visitors.

A 17th century watchtower, a 400 year old chapel and a few other buildings are among the only man-made structures on the island.  

When you come to Comino, you are really coming here to enjoy the tranquillity, nature, Malta’s flora and fauna and ultimately, the Blue Lagoon itself.

Comino Island is a haven for hikers, backpackers and picnickers as well as swimmers and snorkelers who come to enjoy the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon. There are also quite a few caves to explore including Santa Maria Caves and Crystal Caves.  

Comino Island is also home to Crystal Lagoon, another beautiful beach that is lesser known than the Blue Lagoon. You can comfortably walk the circumference of Comino Island in about 2 hours.

Blue Lagoon Malta

Most people who come to the island of Comino are here to visit Blue Lagoon.  This sought after location is tucked into a cove on the island’s northwestern shore.  The white sandy beach and translucent sea gives the water its iconic turquoise colour. This reminded us of the colour of the beaches when we visited Nakupenda Island in Zanzibar.

The beach is set down from the low rocky cliff along the shoreline and there are access points that allow you to walk down to the sandy beach.  While we didn’t see any change rooms right on the beach, there is a public toilet and changing area near the boat landing area which is not very far away at all.

Even though it was early March and the air temperature was in the low teens brave souls were frolicking in the refreshing water.  In fact, our tour boat stopped here specifically to drop off a group of people who were here to swim while the rest of us would continue on to Gozo Island.

And while it was a bit early in the season for the food trucks to be open, there were a half dozen or so that were parked along the road above the beach that listed pizza, hamburgers, ice cream and cocktails as a sampling of some of the things they serve up.

This looks like a great area to spend an afternoon just enjoying Malta’s sunshine and spending time in the crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.

We spent about an hour here before we resumed our boat trip to Gozo Island which we could see in the distance.  Had we come later in the spring or in the summer, we would have stayed here with the other group that had come specifically to swim and snorkel.  

After we boarded the Lady Shelley to prepare for the short ride to Gozo, the captain suggested that we descend the steps from the lower deck into the ship’s hull which had a glass viewing area under the water line.  

Here we got a chance to see the lagoon’s sandy bottom as well as a variety of fish that darted all around the boat.  It was a great way to explore the Blue Lagoon without getting into the chilly waters.  

Onward to Gozo Island

We left the protected waters of the Blue Lagoon and began our short 10-minute passage to the island of Gozo which is less than one mile from Comino and serves as the backdrop when standing on the beach of the lagoon.

We landed at Mgarr Harbour (Gozo’s main harbour) where the tour company had arranged for mini-busses to pick us up and take us around the island of Gozo.  

We boarded our 14 passenger minibus and the driver, Edward, introduced himself as well as his 3 miniature Yorkshire Terriers, who occupied the front passenger seat. Needless to say, both Edward and his companions provide quite a bit of entertainment on the 1 1/2 hour tour of Gozo.

Our first stop took us from Mgar Harbour in the the southeast part of Gozo to Xlendi Bay, on the Southwest part of Gozo.  The 10 kilometre drive took us about 20 minutes through the hilly landscape of the island.  

At Xlendi Bay we stopped and walked down the concrete path to the rocky shoreline that looked out onto the blue waters of the Mediterranean.  The sheer limestone cliffs of Xlendi Bay reach out into the sea on the right side of the bay.  

From Xlendi Bay we drove 4 kilometres inland, to the highest point in the middle of the island, where we stopped at the famous Citadel of Victoria.  This is the main attraction and historical site of Gozo.  It is at the epicentre of Victoria, Gozo’s largest urban centre.  

The Citadel began as a fortified acropolis in the Roman Times and was transformed into a fortified castle in the Middle Ages.  During the 16th and 17th centuries it was transformed again and became a gunpowder fortress.

The vistas from the citadel are quite stunning and provide 360 degree panoramic views of the whole island.  

A key feature of the citadel is the Cathedral of the Assumption, built on top of an earlier Medieval Church in the late 1600s.

After spending some time at the Citadel, we walked to the downtown part of Victoria where we had some free time in the square.  

We picked one of the charming cafês across from the square to enjoy a glass of wine and appetizer before heading back towards Mgarr Harbour.  

We made one last stop at the Church of Our Madonna of Lourdes, which sits on a hill overlooking Mgarr Harbour and offers great views of the harbour below.

After saying goodbye to Edward and the Yorkies, we reboarded Lady Shelley for our trip back to Sliema.  As we sailed by Comino Island, the captain took us into a Bay where we got a close-up look at the Santa Maria caves that are prevalent around the island.  

We even sailed partway into one of the large cavernous openings that line the shore.

Finally, we made our way back to Sliema where we arrived just after 5:00pm.

FAQs

Are Blue Lagoon And Comino The Same?

The Blue Lagoon is an area of water located in front of Comino Island.

Why Is The Blue Lagoon Malta Famous?

People come to enjoy the Blue Lagoon because of its incredible blue waters. It is a wonderful place for swimming and snorkeling. Or if you aren’t a water enthusiast it is still a lovely natural place to explore from the land.

Can You Go To Blue Lagoon From Gozo?

You can take the ferry from Gozo to Comino to visit the Blue Lagoon.

Is The Blue Lagoon Worth Visiting?

Malta’s Blue Lagoon is a stunning area with beautiful, clear blue water. There aren’t many remaining unspoiled areas like this around anymore. It is a special place to experience in Malta and we think it is worth visiting.

The Final Word…Exploring the Blue Lagoon and Gozo

For a tiny country in the Mediterranean, Malta has a lot to offer.  And it’s not jut all on the main island of Malta.  If you want to spend some time away from the crowds of Valetta, venture out to Comino Island and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.  

And while you’re there, ferry across to nearby Gozo and explore the historic Citadel and enjoy some traditional Maltese cuisine.  You won’t regret it!