Blue Lagoon Comino with Kids: 2026 Booking, Boats & Tips

We arrived at the Blue Lagoon early on a Sunday morning, thinking we had beaten the crowds. We hadn’t. By eleven there was hardly a free rock to sit on. The water, though, was exactly what you’ve seen in the photos: so clear you can see your children’s toes from the boat.

We went to Comino in May 2018 from Gozo, with Damian (5) and Marc (2). A lot has changed since then, most importantly you now need a booking to set foot on the Blue Lagoon. This guide gives you the current rules first and our family experience after them.

Blue Lagoon Comino with kids, in short

• Do you need to book? Yes. Since 1 May 2025, everyone landing at the Blue Lagoon needs a free booking at bluelagooncomino.mt.
• Best time slot with kids: the morning slot, 08:00–13:00. It’s cooler, calmer and less crowded before lunchtime.
• How to get there: a short boat ride from Mġarr on Gozo, or from Ċirkewwa or Marfa on Malta.
• Is it good for small children? The water is shallow in places and calm, but there is almost no sand. It’s rocks, crowds and very little shade.
• Our verdict: worth one morning, on a weekday, with a booking. Not a whole day.

Do you need to book the Blue Lagoon in 2026?

Yes. The Malta Tourism Authority introduced a mandatory, free booking system on 1 May 2025 to control overcrowding. At the peak of summer 2024, around 12,000 people were recorded at the lagoon.

• Cost: free.
• Where: bluelagooncomino.mt. You receive a QR code, and a wristband when you land.
• Time slots: 08:00–13:00, 13:30–17:30 and 18:00–22:00.
• Cap: 4,000 people at the lagoon at any one time.
• Who needs it: anyone arriving by boat, private or commercial, who wants to set foot at the Blue Lagoon. Landing without a booking can mean a fine.
• The rest of Comino (the walking trails, Santa Marija Bay) is not covered by the booking. Only the Blue Lagoon area is.

Book as soon as you know your date, especially for July and August weekends, and pick the morning slot if you have young children.

How to get to Comino with kids

Comino sits between Malta and Gozo, and the only way there is by boat. Several operators run shuttle boats. The crossing takes 10–25 minutes depending on where you start:

• From Gozo: Mġarr harbour. This is what we did, as we were staying on Gozo. It’s the shortest trip.
• From Malta: Ċirkewwa or Marfa, in the far north of Malta.
• Organised cruises leave from Sliema and Buġibba and usually include the caves. They’re slower and more expensive, but you don’t need a car.

What it costs now: shuttle boats generally run about €10–15 return per adult in 2026, and roughly double that for organised cruises. When we went in 2018 we paid €5, and children under five travelled free, which shows how much has changed. Check the current fare at the harbour, and have cash just in case.

Is the boat to the caves worth it with small children?

On the way over, the boats pass sea caves and cliffs around Comino. On the lagoon we also booked a short jet-boat trip into the caves (in 2018: €10 per adult, €5 per child). The caves were beautiful, with rock formations and orange coral under clear water.

Marc, who was two, hated it. The jet boat was fast and loud, and it took us a while to calm him down afterwards. Damian, at five, loved every second. My advice: with a toddler, skip the fast boat and take a slower cruise that passes the caves instead, or leave the toddler on the rocks with one parent.

What is the Blue Lagoon actually like with kids?

• The water: crystal clear, calm and shallow in places. It’s perfect for snorkelling and for children who can wade.
• There’s hardly any sand. You sit on rock. Bring water shoes for the children and a proper towel or mat.
• Shade is scarce. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented, but the numbers are capped and they go early. In 2018 we saw 2 sunbeds and 1 umbrella for €20–25.
• Food: kiosks sell drinks, snacks and cocktails in pineapples, at island prices. Bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen and sunglasses. Buying them there costs much more.
• In May, the water was cold. We all went in anyway, for about thirty seconds each.

Can you walk around Comino with kids?

Comino has walking trails with spectacular views, and the booking isn’t needed for them. We didn’t try them. The paths are rocky and exposed, and with a two-year-old and no proper shoes it would have been miserable. If your children are older and you bring good trainers, the walk up to the Santa Marija Tower is a popular route.

Is the Blue Lagoon worth it with kids? Our honest verdict

Yes, for one morning, and on a weekday. We made the mistake of going on a Sunday, and by 11:00–12:00 it was so crowded that even with rented chairs we had very little space. The water is still one of the most beautiful things we have seen in the Mediterranean.

If we went again, we would book the 08:00 slot on a weekday, bring shoes, food and shade, skip the jet boat with the youngest, and be back on Gozo for lunch.

Staying on Gozo? Our Gozo with kids guide covers the rest of the island and where to stay. Our 5-day Gozo itinerary shows how Comino fits into a week.

More Malta and Gozo

• Gozo with kids: 7 best things to do, beaches and where to stay
• 5 days in Gozo with kids: our itinerary
• Valletta with kids: one day in Malta’s capital
• Mayjo Car Hire Gozo review

Last checked: September 2026. Our visit was in May 2018; our 2018 prices are labelled as such. The booking rules come from the Malta Tourism Authority. Boat fares are set by private operators and change every season, so check them locally.

 

Blue Lagoon Comino: your questions answered

Do you need to book the Blue Lagoon in Comino?

Yes. Since 1 May 2025, anyone landing at the Blue Lagoon needs a free booking made on bluelagooncomino.mt. There are three daily time slots, 08:00–13:00, 13:30–17:30 and 18:00–22:00, with a cap of 4,000 people at a time, and landing without a booking can lead to a fine.

How much does it cost to visit the Blue Lagoon?

The booking itself is free. You pay only for the boat, which in 2026 generally costs about €10–15 return per adult on the shuttle boats from Gozo or northern Malta, and more for organised cruises from Sliema or Buġibba.

How do you get to Comino from Gozo?

Take a shuttle boat from Mġarr harbour, the same port the ferry from Malta arrives at. Several operators run the crossing, which takes only a few minutes. From Malta, boats leave from Ċirkewwa and Marfa.

Is the Blue Lagoon good for toddlers?

For a morning, yes, with preparation. The water is calm and shallow in places, but there is almost no sand, very little shade and a lot of people. Bring water shoes, shade, food and water, and skip the fast jet-boat cave trips — our two-year-old found it frightening.

What is the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon with kids?

The 08:00–13:00 morning slot on a weekday. We went on a Sunday, and even arriving early it was very crowded by 11:00–12:00.

Is the water warm at the Blue Lagoon in May?

No. We visited in May and the water was cold, and everyone in our family managed only a quick dip. For comfortable swimming, go from late June to early October.