Although Comino’s Blue Lagoon is advertised as paradise on earth to visitors heading to the Maltese Islands, mass tourism remains a real problem, particularly during the summer months.
For years, this has been a long-standing issue that has never been resolved and has gotten worse as tourism to Malta continues to increase.
What’s the situation like in 2026?
While 4,000 people per time slot seems right on target for the system, it’s still a large number of visitors due to the size of the Blue Lagoon. To give you more context: the area is smaller than a football pitch.
Following the introduction of the Blue Lagoon Access Management System in 2025, you need a free visitor pass to access the Blue Lagoon (more info below). The cap is intended to limit the number of visitors to 12,000 a day (4,000 per time slot: morning, afternoon, evening).
In June 2026, a team from local news outlet Newsbook Malta visited Comino to see what the situation feels like this year. Not much has changed, since reports of overcrowding are received daily.
I believe the number is actually higher than 4,000 people per time slot, since if you buy a ferry ticket at the Ċirkewwa or Marfa kiosks, you are given a full-day, unlimited-access ticket.
While Comino is meant to be a Natura 2000 site, many visitors describe it as a chaotic party destination, like Ibiza or Magaluf, due to the huge crowds still present, around 15 food trucks selling fast food, and loud music and noise coming from the watersport rentals and food truck generators.
From early in the morning, the main entry point to the Blue Lagoon, as well as other rocky nearby areas, are filled with umbrellas and sunbeds.
If you’re going to the Blue Lagoon by yourself (ferry services), ideally arrive before 10:00 AM. These hours tend to be a little more peaceful before the bigger boats start arriving and more passengers arrive by ferry.
July and August are the busiest months. Especially during the St. Marija public holiday (15th August), there is a higher spike in the number of people visiting Comino.
With the introduction of the booking system in May 2025, visitor numbers at the Blue Lagoon dropped by 68%. The highest number of people recorded between July and August was 3,830 on the afternoon of 22nd August.
According to a press release from the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), an average of 1,979 people visited the Blue Lagoon per time slot (Morning/Afternoon/Evening). Only 34 out of the 189 available time slots in July and August registered more than 3,000 visitors.
Moviment Graffiti activists argue that despite the introduction of visitor access passes, more than 10 large boats make stops at the Blue Lagoon at any one time, with several operators making multiple trips throughout the day, ultimately contributing to further mass tourism and environmental damage to the area’s ecology.
Activists from various NGO groups, including BirdLife Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth Malta, and Din l-Art Ħelwa, are insisting that a carrying-capacity study for Comino Island in its entirety needs to be published. The visitor booking system currently only applies to the Blue Lagoon.
Crowds at the Blue Lagoon in summer.
What is the government doing?
In May 2025, the Maltese government introduced measures to cap visitor numbers heading to the Blue Lagoon. Astoundingly, this amounted to around 12,000 daily.
Both locals and tourists who wish to set foot on Comino Island must now pre-book their access by selecting one of the three daily time slots: 8:00 AM– 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM, and 6:00 PM– 10:00 PM. Following registration, visitors receive a QR code via email. Once this is scanned upon disembarkation at the Blue Lagoon, you are given a wristband.
Nevertheless, Moviment Graffitti, a local NGO group, raised concerns that this idea proved ineffective, since 4,000 visitors per slot is still a considerably large number of people for such a small island measuring just 3.5 km².
Further to this, the government fails to address another problem the Blue Lagoon and its surroundings are facing: it is completely overrun by the unbridled commercial activity from multiple businesses operating on the island, including several kiosks selling food and offering water-based activities, operators cramming the shoreline with deckchairs and umbrellas, as well as the arrival of large boat trips that remain unmetered.
While one cannot deny that the Blue Lagoon is one of the top destinations that put Malta on the map, the right balance to preserve and safeguard a Natura 2000 site hasn’t yet been struck.
As a local, I have visited Comino several times in the past couple of years; however, I only go once a year, just before the high season is in full swing. Many fellow locals echo the same sentiments; as much as we all wish to visit more frequently, it’s simply not worth it. What should be a peaceful day by the sea is, in reality, an overcrowded, noisy, and stressful one.
Whenever I go to the Blue Lagoon, I take one of the first local ferries departing from Marfa on a weekday; I always avoid weekends and public holidays. Until around noon, the small bay is relatively quiet; however, as the day unfolds, more people arrive via local ferry services and boat trips. Gradually, even the sea feels overcrowded, and it’s no longer enjoyable to stay for a full day.
Everybody is packed in like sardines on the main beach area; finding a spot with your own towel and umbrella near the Blue Lagoon is practically out of the question. Put simply, you have no option but to pay for a sunbed and umbrella if you want to stay in the shade.
Additionally, you can’t enjoy a sense of tranquillity; the loud music and unsustainable commercial operations ruin the public’s enjoyment, ultimately causing more disruption and serious harm to a small island that’s meant to be a protected nature reserve. It’s also sad to see so much rubbish dumped everywhere: overflowing bins and the infamous pineapple drinks lying around on the shore and even in the sea.
In short, what you see in the pretty pictures posted online is a far cry from the present-day situation, especially during the summer months. What was once a true paradise many moons ago is now a paradise lost.
People queuing for the Blue Lagoon or Comino ferry at Ċirkewwa.
Overcrowding at the Blue Lagoon in Comino
Advice and Tips
While the azure waters are indeed beautiful and the island is more peaceful off-season, a visit to the Blue Lagoon may not be for everyone. Check out this article to help you weigh the pros and cons: Is the Blue Lagoon (Malta) worth it? A Local’s Guide.
Don’t go for the DIY option (ferry services). You will still have to put up with some of the crowds; however, you can have a quieter experience by opting for one of these Blue Lagoon (Malta) boat trips.
If you think a day trip to Comino isn’t suitable for your itinerary, you can skip it and opt to spend more time exploring other places, or decide to combine a visit to the two islands on a Gozo and Comino day trip, or take one of the other Malta boat trips available instead.
Best Time to Go to the Blue Lagoon
Plan your visit during the off-peak months (end of April – early June, end of Sep-Oct) with temperatures still warm enough for swimming (21–24°C)
If you’re visiting Malta during the winter season, ferry services and a few boat tours still operate (with limited schedules & times). You may want to consider a hiking adventure around the island if you don’t necessarily want to swim.
If you are planning to take the ferry, take the earliest one (8:30 AM), or arrive before 10:00 AM if you’d like to find a spot on the rocky shoreline or a sandy area. I advise you to leave sometime in the afternoon (around 1:00 PM) since more visitors and large boats tend to arrive during these hours.
After 4:00 PM, the Blue Lagoon gradually gets a little quieter again once most people start leaving.
If you’re visiting during the summer months, you can also consider booking a sunset boat tour. Visitors tend to enjoy these more since it’s not too hot and there are fewer people at the lagoon. Note that if you’re using ferry services, the last departures from Comino are generally at 6:00 PM.
Christine Cassar is the Editor of BlueLagoon.mt.Born and bred on the island of Malta, Christine knows this island nation like the back of her hand. Although she's a local, she loves being a tourist in her own country, with a curious spirit.Being a hobbyist photographer and travel enthusiast, she's a keen wanderer and shares her knowledge of the island’s beloved locations, local experiences, food and flavours and more.
