Booking choice: The Blue Lagoon sunset cruise, from $33 per person. Check dates Tour details
Comino sits in the channel between Malta and Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon is the bay between Comino and the islet of Cominotto, with a white sandy base under water so clear the boats seem to float above it. Boats run there from Sliema, Bugibba, Marfa, Cirkewwa and Mgarr on Gozo, and several of them keep sailing well into November.
Two things set the timing. The season decides how warm the sea is and which stops the boats make. The hour decides how many people share the sand with you, and since 1 May 2025 that hour is also a booking: anyone stepping ashore needs a free landing slot from the Malta Tourism Authority. Below: the best months, the best time of day, a month-by-month table, sea temperatures, peak summer, autumn, winter and what the wind does to the plan.
The quick answer
June and September are the best months for the Blue Lagoon: the sea is above 20°C on average and the days are long. The best times of day are the first boats of the morning and the evening landing slot, when the sunset cruise gives you just over 2 hours in the water, from $33 per person.
What is the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon in Malta?
June and September. The sea averages about 21 to 25°C in those months, the days are long, and you miss the peak weeks of July and August.
Malta's climate does most of the work. The climate tables Wikipedia publishes for the islands show a dry summer, a mild winter and a sea that stays above 20°C on average from June to November. Here is how the seasons split for a Blue Lagoon trip:
| Season | What it is like | At the Blue Lagoon |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March to May) | Mean highs of 17.8 to 24.2°C; sea about 15 to 17.5°C | Fresh water and calmer boats; the classic cruise adds the Crystal Lagoon from 1 May |
| Summer (June to August) | Mean highs of 28.5 to 31.8°C; almost no rain; sea about 21 to 26°C | The warmest swimming and the most boats; book the landing slot early |
| Autumn (September to November) | Highs falling from 28.4 to 21°C; sea about 25 down to 20.6°C; the rain returns | Warm sea, softer light; the Crystal Lagoon stop on the classic cruise runs to 31 October |
| Winter (December to February) | Mean highs of about 16 to 17.5°C; the wettest months; sea about 15 to 17°C | Fewer departures; the ferry keeps shorter winter hours |
Our pick is September. The sea is warmer than in July, about 25°C on average, and the evenings are still long enough for a swim at sunset. June comes a close second, with the longest days of the year and a sea that has just passed 21°C.
The lagoon in the evening light: just over 2 hours to swim and slide, from Bugibba Jetty.
Check dates for the Blue Lagoon sunset cruiseWhat time of day is best for the Blue Lagoon?
Early morning or early evening: the first ferries from Marfa and Cirkewwa, or the sunset cruise in the evening landing slot, when the heat of the day has eased.
The landing booking splits the day into three slots: the morning from 08:00 to 13:00, the afternoon from 13:30 to 17:30 and the evening from 18:00 to 22:00. Which one you book depends on your boat, and each part of the day has its own feel:
- First thing. The round-trip ferry runs every half hour, starting at 8:30 AM from Marfa and at 8:40 AM from Cirkewwa, and the crossing takes 20 to 25 minutes. The trip from Marfa Jetty has an early boat at 9 AM as well. Susan, on that trip: "We took the early trip [...] and we would definitely recommend this time because it meant we had the lagoon nearly to ourselves." (Nov 2026)
- The middle of the day. The day cruises from Sliema sail the north coast first, past St Julian's, St Paul's Islands and Mellieha Bay, so they reach Comino later in the morning. On those boats the cruise up the coast is half the fun.
- The evening slot. The sunset cruise leaves Bugibba Jetty at 17:15, with check-in from 16:45, and stops for just over 2 hours at the Blue Lagoon in the cooler evening light. It is back at the jetty at 20:45. The listing is clear that you need the evening slot to go ashore.
Our advice: if the swim matters most, go late. If you want the whole island to walk as well, go early and take the ferry, which lets you stay as long as you like that day.
What is the weather like at the Blue Lagoon month by month?
Hot and dry from June to September, mild and wetter from November to March. August is the warmest month, with mean highs of 31.8°C and a sea of about 26°C.
Monthly averages for Malta from the tables on Wikipedia's Climate of Malta page: mean daily highs from Balzan in the center of the island, sea temperatures and rain days from MaltaWeather, and the boat notes from the listings. Comino sits a short crossing away, in the same channel.
| Month | Mean high | Sea | Rain days | On the boats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.1°C | 15.4°C | 15 | Ferry winter hours; classic cruise stops at the Blue Lagoon only |
| February | 16.0°C | 14.9°C | 12 | Ferry winter hours; Blue Lagoon only on the classic cruise |
| March | 17.8°C | 15.0°C | 9 | Ferry winter hours; Blue Lagoon only on the classic cruise |
| April | 20.0°C | 15.9°C | 6 | Ferry summer hours; Blue Lagoon only on the classic cruise |
| May | 24.2°C | 17.5°C | 3 | Crystal Lagoon stop on the classic cruise from 1 May |
| June | 28.5°C | 21.1°C | 1 | Crystal Lagoon stop; the longest days |
| July | 31.5°C | 24.1°C | 0 | Peak weeks; book the landing slot early |
| August | 31.8°C | 25.8°C | 1 | Peak weeks; the warmest sea |
| September | 28.4°C | 25.2°C | 5 | Warm sea, long evenings |
| October | 25.2°C | 23.2°C | 9 | Last month of the Crystal Lagoon stop |
| November | 21.0°C | 20.6°C | 13 | Ferry winter hours; Blue Lagoon only on the classic cruise |
| December | 17.5°C | 17.4°C | 16 | Ferry winter hours; Blue Lagoon only on the classic cruise |
Sunshine follows the same curve. MaltaWeather's figures, as Wikipedia quotes them, give about 12 hours of sunshine a day in July and just over five in December. On the longest day, 21 June, the sun rises at about 5:30 and sets at about 20:30.
How warm is the water at the Blue Lagoon?
Warm enough for most swimmers from June to November, when the average sea temperature around Malta is above 20°C. It peaks at about 26°C in August and sits at about 15°C from January to April.
Wikipedia's Climate of Malta page gives the sea around the islands an average of 20°C over the year, the highest annual sea temperature in Europe. The detail by season:
- Late April: about 17°C, the start of the holiday season.
- June to November: above 20°C on average.
- Mid to late August: the peak, about 27°C in the third week.
- Late October: about 23°C.
- Early November: about 22°C.
These are averages for the open sea around Malta, not readings taken at the lagoon itself, and a windy day can feel very different. If you feel the cold, plan the swim for June to October and keep a towel and a dry layer for the ride home.
The Blue Lagoon in the evening: just over 2 hours to swim, snorkel and ride the 10 m slide, then back to Bugibba as the light goes.
Explore the Blue Lagoon sunset cruise Tour detailsIs the Blue Lagoon busy in July and August?
Yes, these are the peak weeks. Since 2025 the Malta Tourism Authority caps the lagoon at 4,000 people at any one time, down from up to 12,000 in summer 2024, so book your boat and your landing slot as soon as your dates are set.
The cap works through the free landing booking. You pick one of the three daily slots, receive a QR code by email and swap it for a wristband at the access points; access without a booking is not permitted and can be fined. No boat ticket includes it, so it is a separate step: the free online booking run by the Malta Tourism Authority (your boat's confirmation or listing gives the link). Our landing booking guide walks through it.
Three ways to give high summer more room:
- Go early on the first ferry from Marfa or Cirkewwa.
- Go late on the sunset cruise in the evening slot.
- Live on the water. On the sunset boat you can stay on board with the slides and deckchairs, and the trip from Gozo takes 25 guests at most, with a second swim at the Crystal Lagoon.
Can you visit the Blue Lagoon in October and November?
Yes. The sea still averages about 23°C in October and 20.6°C in November, and the boats keep sailing: guests on the trips from Sliema, Marfa and Gozo were writing reviews in November 2026.
Autumn is the season we would choose for a slow day on Comino. The light is softer, the sea holds its summer warmth for weeks, and Visit Gozo calls autumn "an extended but less intense summer". What changes:
- The Crystal Lagoon stop on the classic cruise from Sliema is seasonal, from 1 May to 31 October. From November the boat stops at the Blue Lagoon only.
- Ferry hours shorten from November: the first boat leaves Marfa at 9:00 AM, with Cirkewwa ten minutes later, the last leaves at 4:00 PM, and the last ride back from the lagoon is also at 4:00 PM.
- The rain comes back. MaltaWeather counts about 9 rain days in October and 13 in November.
Two guests from this month. Andrea, on the classic cruise: "as a complete surprise on the way home, we got to see dolphins!!" (Nov 2026). Carolyn, on the trip from Gozo: "Amazing day with a great crew, informative and extremely helpful captain, and a great itinerary." (Nov 2026)
The classic day from Sliema: the north coast, free time at the Blue Lagoon and the Santa Maria caves on the way back.
Check dates for the classic Blue Lagoon cruiseIs it worth going to the Blue Lagoon in winter?
Yes, for the color of the water and a quiet Comino, less so for a long swim. The sea averages about 15 to 17°C from December to April, and the boats run shorter winter schedules.
Winter on Comino is about the view: cyan water against bare limestone, Cominotto across the channel and St Mary's Tower on the ridge. Daytime highs in Malta still average about 16°C, and Wikipedia notes that winter days sometimes reach 20°C. What to know before you book a winter trip:
- Fewer boats. Wikipedia's Comino article says group tours run mainly between March and December. Check the calendar on each listing.
- The classic cruise stops at the Blue Lagoon only from November to April, and it runs rain or shine.
- The ferry keeps its winter hours from November to March, with the first boat from Marfa at 9:00 AM and the last at 4:00 PM.
- Daylight is about 10 hours in December and January, with sunset around 17:00 at midwinter, per Wikipedia.
- The landing booking applies to any visit ashore, so book the free slot whatever the month.
In winter a walk across Comino can be the best part of the day; Visit Gozo says you can hike the whole island in about three hours. Our day on Comino covers the paths and the tower.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day?
The captain decides. The boats sail in most weather, but crews change or reorder the stops for wind and waves, and every trip on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before.
What the listings say:
- Classic cruise: it takes place rain or shine, and the captain may change or cancel the trip, or the pick-up and drop-off point, for the weather. The Crystal Lagoon stop is weather permitting.
- Catamaran: there is no fixed plan, because the crew picks the bays on the day.
- Trip from Gozo: the captain may change the route and the swimming stops for the weather.
- Trip from Marfa: the longest option can run in either order, Gozo first or the lagoon first, whichever suits the conditions.
For you, that means two things. Check the forecast the day before, while free cancellation is still open. And book the landing slot that matches your boat's timing. A calm morning in the channel is the classic Blue Lagoon picture, the white sand clear under the hull.
Boats every 30 minutes from Marfa or Cirkewwa: go when the sea looks right and stay as long as you like that day.
Check dates for the Comino ferryFrequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit the Blue Lagoon in Malta?
September: the sea averages about 25°C, warmer than in July, and the peak weeks of July and August are over. June is a close second.
What time of day is best for the Blue Lagoon?
The first boats of the morning or the evening landing slot. The sunset cruise from Bugibba stays just over 2 hours at the lagoon in the evening light.
Can you swim at the Blue Lagoon in winter?
You can, but the sea averages about 15 to 17°C from December to April. Most visitors swim from June to November, when it is above 20°C on average.
Do the Blue Lagoon boats run in November?
Yes. The classic cruise, the trip from Marfa and the trip from Gozo all had guests in November 2026. From November the classic cruise stops at the Blue Lagoon only, and the ferry keeps winter hours.
Ready to book
Choose your boat
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Swim & Slide
- 3.5-hour cruise from Bugibba
- Just over 2 hours at the Blue Lagoon
- Slides and deckchairs on board
Round-Trip Ferry to the Blue Lagoon
Boats every 30 minutes: stay as long as you want
Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Cruise
- 5.5 or 7.5-hour cruise from Sliema
- Blue Lagoon stop and Comino sea caves
- Crystal Lagoon swim stop (May to October)
