A Solo Day Trip to Comino Island (Blue Lagoon), Malta ⋆ everlastingwandering

A solo day trip to Comino Island (Blue Lagoon) was hands down one of my favourite experiences when visiting Malta. From the bustling Blue Lagoon to the tranquil trails with dreamy views, Comino caught my heart.

Comino is a little gem of an island belonging to the Maltese archipelago, situated between Malta and Gozo. It may be small, but it sure is mighty. Like stunning nature, crystal-clear turquoise water and hiking trails with views? You’ll love Comino.

The main highlight of Comino, and the reason most visit, is the Blue Lagoon. It is a bucket list Malta attraction. But if you believe that is the only desirable aspect of Comino, you are mistaken. That’s to say, the scenes around the Lagoon are vibrant and beautiful, yet it was the island on a whole that left me marveling at my solo day trip to Comino.

In this post I’ll give you a little insight into taking a (solo) day trip to Comino, helping guide you with your trip and showing you how I spent my day.

(This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a small commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you).

Should I visit Comino on a solo day trip?

Travelling solo and wondering if it’s worth taking a trip to Comino alone? 100% it is.

Your day will fly by whether solo or with others. You won’t get bored thanks to the walking trails and beautiful spots worth visiting over the island. It’s not a case of just going to The Blue Lagoon (unless that’s all you desire of course!).

In general the trails aren’t dangerous, nothing difficult to follow or too remote, so walking around and exploring alone is absolutely fine. Do be smart though, I did still rely on Google Maps to ensure I got back to the boat and on time – don’t forget a portable phone charger!

A little reminder for when at the Blue Lagoon on a solo day trip:

Due to how busy this area is, please be extra vigilante with your belongings, especially if you’re on a solo day trip. With no one to watch your stuff but the desire to swim in the lagoon, you don’t want to end up with your necessities gone. Be smart and keep the important things on you – get a little waterproof bag or even just a phone pouch, where you can put phone, money/cards, keys etc and take in the water.

How to get to Comino Island?

Comino Island is straightforward to reach, just what you want for a solo day trip (or non solo!). You can visit Comino from either Malta or Gozo.

Visiting Comino from Malta

Take the ferry from Cirkewwa, at the north of Malta
Ferry company: Ebsons Comino Ferry
€15 round trip
Around 25 minutes from Cirkewwa to Comino (Blue Lagoon)
The downside is that it can take a while to get here by bus if coming from the popular areas of Valletta/Sliema/St.Julian’s, where it’s likely many of you will be staying while in Malta. There is a direct bus there, but it takes 1.5 hours or more, and can be very busy. If you are staying around Mellieha however, then it’s just a quick and easy bus ride to Cirkewwa ferry terminal.

There are various other options for visiting Comino from Malta, but the ferry from Cirkewwa is the most independent, and cheapest, option.

If you are looking to head to Comino from the Sliema area and don’t want to dedicate so much time to taking the bus to Cirkewwa, there are plenty of options available from there. It’s just these tend to be a bit more expensive and are more in the form of tour boats. They might suit you though!

If you walk along Sliema waterfront there are little ticket booth stalls with different tour companies selling tickets for visiting Comino. Some give plenty of time on the island, others may just be a short stop over at the Blue Lagoon (not giving much time to see other areas), with a trip to Gozo added on. The trips on offer vary! You can take a look at some of these options here:

Visiting Comino from Gozo

Travelling from Gozo to Comino is also super simple. I chose this option as it was way less time consuming (I was staying in Sliema in Malta and didn’t want to waste 1.5 hours getting to Cirkewwa). From Victoria on Gozo, where I was staying, it was only a 20 minute bus ride to the ferry port.

Ferries leave from Mgarr Harbour
Option of two ferry companies (Ebsons Comino Ferries + Bella Comino)
€15 round trip
Around 15 minutes to the Blue Lagoon (around 25 minutes on the way back if they take you via the caves)
Easily buy a ticket from outside the Gozo Ferry Terminal before boarding

There is also the opportunity to visit Comino from Hondoq Bay in Il-Qala, Gozo. You can take a speedboat from here, operating like those from Mgarr with various time options throughout the day, allowing you to spend as much time as you wish on the island. You can check this option out here:

Gozo: Comino’s Blue Lagoon Roundtrip Speedboat Transfer

How to get around Comino?

Comino deserves to be explored – the whole island is beautiful. Don’t just stick to the Blue Lagoon, DO venture further to experience other beaches and bays. But how to get around the island? Easy, on two feet!

Walking Comino

The paths around the island are amazing for a little walking adventure.
Non strenuous, easy to follow paths. Proper shoes (trainers) are best for walking as the paths can be a little uneven underfoot at times.
There are not many vehicles on the island, so you don’t need to worry about traffic – the paths are made for walking on!

The downside of walking on Comino is that in the warmer months, it may not be so enjoyable to walk around. There is no shade on this wild and wonderful island, so do take this into consideration especially if visiting in summer. Whatever the season, be sure to have plenty of water with you (you won’t find anywhere to buy any on the trails).

Beaches on Comino

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the most renowned beach area on Comino. It’s one of the, if not the, most picturesque, postcard perfect scenes in all of Malta.

The hustle of the boats bringing visitors to and fro the island, people swimming in the lagoon or relaxing on the very small beach, others failing to find a spot there so opting for the rocky surroundings, while the food trucks await the hungry, the area of the Blue Lagoon is the hub of Comino.

The water of the Blue Lagoon is amazing for swimming in. It really is like a big swimming pool in this area. You see exactly what is promised to you – the BLUE lagoon (on a sunny day at least – I was very lucky with the weather!). I was very impressed with the colours – some things are hyped up to much but it lives up to its name.
There is a sandy beach but is very small, as in, tiny. If you head to Comino on one of the first boats of the day you have a chance to find a spot on the beach here. However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a nice peaceful beach spot when more boat loads arrive – there is no avoiding others on the little beach.
Despite the lack of proper sandy beach, there are many other spots on the rocks surrounding the lagoon where you can (and likely will) base yourself for the Blue Lagoon.
Food vendors are available here. This is the only place on the island you can buy food and/or drinks, including drinking water. Unsurprisingly the food is over-priced, so I would recommend bringing snacks/lunch with you. But it’s nice that there is the option if you’re super hungry or don’t get the chance to bring anything.

The busyness, in part, can take away from the overall enjoyment – this is your warning to mentally prepare yourself for how busy it can be! But hey its understandable, its a beauty that deserves to be seen. If I was to go again, I would take an early morning boat to get to experience it as quiet as possible for a short while.

Santa Marija Bay

Santa Marija Bay is a perfect paradise spot for those wanting to escape the crowds of the Blue Lagoon. It’s quite a contrast and offers more of a serene beach experience on Comino. For me, Santa Marija Bay takes the crown for an overall beach experience on this island.

Located on the north of Comino around a 20-25 minute walk on the most direct route from the Blue Lagoon.
A good-sized sandy beach – there is space to comfortably relax and enjoy a sunbathing experience.
Clear, calm, shallow waters. Not ‘as’ impressive as the water of the Blue Lagoon but still very tempting.
Stunning scenes of the bay looking out from the beach.
Perfect spot for a picnic lunch, offering a more serene atmosphere. You will need to bring food with you as there is no food or drink available to buy here.
Just past the main beach there are some small, even quieter sandy bay areas.
Toilet facility available

As a solo traveller especially, I found Santa Marija Bay more comfortable and pleasant overall. I actually chose to spend more time at Santa Marija Bay than the Blue Lagoon – too busy was too busy, and I wanted to explore the island. I didn’t really want to just sit around the lagoon after arriving off the boat – there was an island to see! So after a walk around I was ready for beach time at Santa Marija Bay, which I thoroughly enjoyed and could have stayed even longer than I did, but the last boat was calling!

My solo day trip to Comino Island (how to spend a day on Comino)

During my Malta trip, I spent three nights on Gozo. From Gozo, I went on a much anticipated solo day trip to Comino. It made more sense, timing wise, to go from Gozo. From my accommodation in Victoria it was so easy and quick to hop over to Comino, more so than from Sliema, where I was staying in Malta.

Booking.com

I was really looking forward to taking this day trip, and knew all along it was one I was going to take. I chose the perfect day weather-wise (the perks of longer term travel – you have time to do that – I was in Malta for over three weeks).

Anyway, I made sure to head to the supermarket before leaving Victoria. Food, aka lunch to take, was an essential. This was super convenient for when I got there since I wasn’t near the food vendors when I wanted to eat. As a solo budget traveller, I of course also wanted to save money on the heightened food prices on Comino.

Taking the ferry to Comino

Once I had my ‘packed lunch’, I took the bus from Victoria to Mgarr Harbour, where the Gozo Ferry Terminal is. I bought a ticket from one of the Comino Blue Lagoon ferry ticket vendors just outside the terminal. The boat was waiting so I got straight on and soon we were en route. The bus and ferry worked out perfect timing wise despite pretty much winging it – there’s no need to over-plan!

The ferry is a ‘fast ferry’, not a large, smooth sailing boat… After a speedy and bumpy ride, Comino was soon in view, and we arrived into the port at the Blue Lagoon.

Arriving at the Blue Lagoon, Comino

From the initial approach, the island radiates good vibes.

The water was crystal-clear, as in CRYSTAL-clear. And blue. So blue. It immediately was like the dreamy picture perfect spot you might imagine. Minus the people. So many people!

Once the boat docked there wasn’t far to go as we were already at the most renowned spot on the island – The Blue Lagoon.

Despite the beautiful scenes of the blue lagoon itself, I was unaware there would be such a lack of beach here so was underwhelmed by that. But the beautiful lagoon makes up for it! I took a little walk along the rocky area by the lagoon and chilled with many others around me doing the same – much more pleasant than trying to squeeze onto the beach.

I had big plans to explore more than just the lagoon, I was on Comino ISLAND, not just here for the Blue Lagoon. Escaping the crowds for a while also seemed like a good idea. I like to be around the bustle but I also like to go a little further than most do and explore!

It was time to take to the walking trails. I took a little walk back along past the main area of the Lagoon, by the food stalls which people were beginning to flock to as it had not long gone midday. As soon as I started to head away from the Blue Lagoon, the atmosphere changed to one of serenity.

The atmosphere changed, but the beauty certainly didn’t.

Not far from the Blue Lagoon beach was another very small beach, busy, but a more chill busy vibe. I stayed up on the trails however, captivated by the views over the beaches, the Blue Lagoon and beyond.

A couple of girls stopped me and asked for some photos, and as a solo traveller, I took advantage of this. Photo exchange anyone? Much easier than the solo travel life setup (if you know you know). It was, of course, a beautiful spot for it!

I continued following the walking path round the coast and the scenes around me were just stunning! The further I went the quieter it got too – if only everyone else knew what they were missing. There are plenty of ‘unofficial’ beach spots aka big ‘rocky’ areas which you can make your beach spot. Much like the areas pictured below:

San Niklaw Bay

San Niklaw Bay was a prominent spot I came across. This beautiful bay was (is) home to Comino Hotel, which lies empty and blocked off after shutting for good several years ago. San Niklaw Bay is super beautiful. However, there is restricted access thanks to the hotel barriers. You can no longer access the beach here. It was therefore super tranquil, with just a few boats passing through and a couple of people kayaking. I can only imagine how vibrant this area once would have been.

I won’t go into all the details, I’ll just leave some pictures of of the beautiful coastal walk Comino offers.

There’s a super view across to Gozo too from the northern side of the island.

I did hit a few ‘dead ends’ on the trails – areas which were shut off, no entry for whatever reason. No stress though, just a little reroute and more time on the trails!

After a while just enjoying the trails, taking my time, stopping for photos and to admire the view, I decided to make Santa Marija Bay my official port of call. I was ready for some beach time!

Santa Marija Bay

I ended up loving Santa Marija Bay so much more than I initially thought I would. On first glance, I didn’t think ‘WOW’. However, as soon as I got on the sand and settled for beach chilling, I was on the ‘this is PERFECT’ vibes. It just was so beautiful looking out from there. The beach itself lovely white sand, the water again crystal-clear, the bluest of blue.

I fully had the chill island vibes. The atmosphere here was perfect. Good times, good vibes. A good level of busy. I had to make this my lunch spot of the day because well I was very hungry by this point, but also because it just was the most perfect lunch spot! My solo day trip to Comino was creating real contentment. There was no place I’d rather have been.

I could have stayed here ALL day. But alas, I had more exploring to do and didn’t want to miss the last boat!

I didn’t take the most direct route back to the Blue Lagoon. The western side of the island called me for another little explore.

Crystal Lagoon

I found myself at the area of Crystal Lagoon, another stunning scenic spot. This lagoon is known for it’s cliffs and hidden caves, showcasing again the natural beauty of Comino. Divers can explore this area best, or there are opportunities to take a boat tour here. But even just to see the scenes from the trails as I did is another Comino highlight.

Back to the Blue Lagoon

From Crystal Lagoon, it wasn’t long before I was back to where my island adventure began and would end – The Blue Lagoon. I had walked somewhat of a loop of the western part of the island, and was very satisfied with it.

On returning to the Blue Lagoon, I had an extra bit of time to chill down by the beach and rocks, before the boat departed.

Awaiting the boat back to Gozo

It was a little chaotic around the boat departures, everyone making sure they don’t miss the last boat and get on the right one. It’s pretty simply though, each boat company has a different colour on the ticket – just listen for your colour. Or just ask if unsure – don’t miss the last boat you’ve got a ticket for (boat times are on the ticket).

Caves tour and return to Gozo

On the way back to Gozo the ferry took us on a little tour of the caves. Some, not all, boats are scheduled to do this. I actually thought the one I was getting wasn’t, but we went by them. This can be a nice little bonus to end the day! After another speedy and bumpy ride, the arrival back to Gozo signaled the end of a great solo day trip to Comino Island!

So, is Comino worth visiting?

All in all, I absolutely loved my solo day trip to Comino Island. In hindsight, I should have gone earlier in the morning. Maybe don’t wing it as much as I did with no plans timing wise – get all the hours there that time allows you! Overal, I had such a good solo day trip. I absolutely recommend taking a trip here, whether solo or with others.

Remember: explore COMINO, not simply the Blue Lagoon!

A Solo Day Trip to Comino Island (Blue Lagoon), Malta

Contents:

Should I visit Comino on a solo day trip?

A little reminder for when at the Blue Lagoon on a solo day trip: