Comino and the Blue Lagoon from St Julian's: a day at the lagoon
The Blue Lagoon on Comino can be done as a day trip from St Julian's, the town that's home to Paceville and its clubs. In 2026, the trip sold on Malta Explorers left at 10am and came back around 5pm, for €30 per person, return boat included. Here are the essentials: the compulsory entry QR code, what to bring, how it differs from the Blue Grotto and where this day fits into a party trip. The 2026 season is over; bookings reopen in 2027.
Comino and its lagoon in brief
Comino is a small island of 2.7 km², between Malta and Gozo, with only a handful of permanent residents. The Blue Lagoon is the channel that separates it from the islet of Cominotto: it owes its name to the colour of its water.
It's also a very busy spot. Since 1 May 2025, the Malta Tourism Authority has capped numbers at 4,000 people at any one time, with a compulsory booking system.
The trip from St Julian's
In 2026, the meeting point was outside Welbee's supermarket in Pendergardens, St Julian's, at 10am every day, and you were asked to arrive 20 minutes early. The return boat was included, and you were back around 5pm: the day is for swimming and enjoying the lagoon.
The price was €30 per person, for all ages. Malta Explorers sells the ticket; the trip itself is run by an operator, which is responsible for the boat, the crew and how the day goes.
Bookings for 2026 closed on 15 September. They reopen in 2027, on a date not yet announced: the link to the trip is on our water activities page.
Comino's entry QR code is compulsory
The trip ticket isn't enough: you also need the Maltese government's entry QR code for Comino. It isn't included in the price and is booked on blcomino.com, before you set off.
When it launched in 2025, the Malta Tourism Authority presented it as free. Anyone landing at the Blue Lagoon from a private or commercial boat books one of the day's three time slots (8am to 1pm, 1:30pm to 5:30pm, 6pm to 10pm); the system instantly sends a QR code, to be shown at the access points. Without a valid booking, access isn't allowed and you may be fined.
A day from 10am to 5pm covers two of those slots: when you book your QR code, check that season's conditions on blcomino.com and, if in doubt, ask Malta Explorers.
What to bring
Swimwear and sun cream are recommended. Food and drinks aren't included: bring enough to eat and drink for the day, and a little money for extras. Masks and snorkels can be hired on site.
Keep your entry QR code handy, on a charged phone, for the check when you arrive.
Blue Lagoon or Blue Grotto: two different places
The names are similar, the places aren't. The Blue Lagoon is on Comino, between Malta and Gozo: you go there to swim. The Blue Grotto is on the south coast of the island of Malta, near the small fishing harbour of Wied iż-Żurrieq, within the Qrendi area.
The Blue Grotto is a group of sea caves where the water casts blue reflections on the rock walls, facing the islet of Filfla, a bird sanctuary. You visit it by boat, every day of the year when the weather allows. In 2026, Malta Explorers ran a guided jet ski safari there and skippered boat trips, departing from St Thomas Bay in Marsaskala.
Comino and your nights out
Staying in St Julian's makes everything simpler: the trip's meeting point is there, and so are the Paceville clubs. Getting back around 5pm leaves time to rest and have dinner before the parties, which usually start at 11pm in Paceville.
A 9:40am meeting time after a night that ended at 4am is cutting it fine. Plan Comino for the day after a quiet night instead, or the day before your big night out. And don't swim when you're exhausted: France's official travel advice (France Diplomatie) reports drownings in Malta every year, particularly in the very busy Blue Lagoon area, and points out that a red flag means high risk and strong currents.
In the evening, back to sea for a boat party
In summer 2026, the Mega Boat Party and the White Boat Party left Sliema Ferries at 7pm, back on the quay at 11:30pm, at €69 all inclusive according to their posters. Both return in summer 2027; their dates and prices haven't been announced yet.