Blue Lagoon Malta Pass: 2026 Access & QR Code Guide

If there is one place in Malta that lives up to the hype in every photo, it is the Blue Lagoon. Tucked between the tiny island of Comino and the even tinier islet of Cominotto, its water really is that impossibly bright turquoise — a white sandy seabed reflecting sunlight through shallow, constantly circulating water. It is Malta's single most photographed spot, and in 2026 there is one important change every visitor needs to know before they go.

The most important update for 2026: you now need a free Access Pass

Since May 2025, the Maltese government has run an Access Management System (AMS) at the Blue Lagoon, introduced to control the overcrowding that had become a real problem in previous summers. Here is what it means in practice:

Daily visitor numbers are now capped at around 4,000 people at any one time.
Anyone stepping onto land at the Blue Lagoon must register in advance for a free QR-code pass via the official government portal, blcomino.com.
It is a registration, not a paid ticket — there is no cost, just a time-slot booking.
If you stay on a boat and swim straight off the deck without setting foot on the beach, you do not need the pass at all — which is exactly what most organised boat tours let you do.

This single detail changes how most people should plan their visit: booking an organised boat trip sidesteps the whole registration process, since you swim from the boat rather than landing on the sand.

How to get there

Comino has no airport and no cars, so a boat is the only way in. You have three realistic options:

1. Organised boat tour (the easiest option). Full-day and half-day tours run from several departure points around Malta and Gozo — Sliema, Bugibba/St Paul's Bay, Cirkewwa, and Mgarr Harbour on Gozo. Most combine the Blue Lagoon with the nearby Crystal Lagoon and Comino's sea caves, and many include hotel pickup. Expect to pay roughly €35–50 for a full-day trip including snorkelling gear; private/VIP boats cost more but let you set your own itinerary.

2. Public ferry (the DIY option). Regular ferries run to Comino from Cirkewwa (Malta's northern tip) and from Mgarr, Gozo — both drop you close to the lagoon. This is cheaper on paper, but once you factor in getting to the terminal, ferry timing, and the shore access registration, it often is not meaningfully cheaper or easier than just booking a tour, especially on a first visit.

3. Private charter. For a more flexible half-day or full-day trip with your own schedule (from Malta or Gozo), typically priced per boat rather than per person — worth it for a group of 4–6 wanting to also see the Comino caves and Gozo's coast.

When to go

Season: May to October, when weather and ferry frequency are both reliable.
Time of day: Early morning or late afternoon consistently beats midday, when day-tripper boats arrive en masse and the lagoon gets genuinely crowded.
Crowds: This is Malta's busiest single attraction in peak summer — if you want a quieter experience, an early departure or a shoulder-season visit (May, late September, October) makes a real difference.

What else to see on Comino

Most full-day boat trips also stop at the Crystal Lagoon, a quieter, equally turquoise inlet on the other side of the island (seasonal on some routes, typically May–October). If you are staying on land for a while, Comino also has a short coastal walk and Santa Marija Bay worth exploring beyond the main lagoon.

Where to stay nearby

There are no hotels on Comino itself. Most visitors base themselves either on Gozo (a short ferry ride, quieter atmosphere) or on Malta's north coast near Mellieħa — both make the Blue Lagoon an easy day trip.

Practical tips

Comino is a protected Natura 2000 nature reserve and bird sanctuary — take your rubbish with you and be mindful of the marine life.
Bring cash for smaller kiosks and boat bars, though card payment is increasingly common.
Water shoes help — much of the shoreline is rock rather than sand.
If you only care about swimming in the lagoon itself and not landing on the beach, booking a boat that lets you swim off the deck is the simplest way to skip the Access Pass process entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book a ticket for the Blue Lagoon? There is no paid ticket, but since May 2025 anyone landing on the beach needs a free Access Pass, booked via blcomino.com. If you stay on a boat and swim from the deck, you do not need one.

How do you get to the Blue Lagoon? By boat only — either an organised tour from Sliema, Bugibba, Cirkewwa, or Gozo, or a public ferry to Comino followed by a short walk.

What is the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon? Early morning or late afternoon, from May to October, to avoid the midday crush of day-tripper boats.

Is the Blue Lagoon worth visiting? Yes — the water colour is genuinely as striking in person as in photos, though it is worth planning around the crowds and the 2026 access system rather than just turning up.

Can you swim at the Blue Lagoon without landing on Comino? Yes — many boat tours let you swim directly off the boat, which also means you skip the Access Pass requirement.

Ready to plan your trip? Browse the best boat tours in Malta, explore more top Malta attractions, or see what is on in Malta this week.