Blue Lagoon pass 2026: do you need a ticket for Comino?

Since 2025, the Blue Lagoon on Comino has had a booking system. If you want to step ashore, you need a free pass for a set time slot. It is simple once you know how it works, but it catches out a lot of people who only find out at the jetty.

Here is what the pass is, who needs it, how to book it, and why you may not need one at all.

What is the Blue Lagoon pass?

The Blue Lagoon pass is a free, pre-booked access pass for the shore at the Blue Lagoon. It was introduced in May 2025 by the Malta Tourism Authority, together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and other public bodies, to control how many people are on the site at once.

The Authority says the system caps the number of people at the lagoon at 4,000 at any one time. For comparison, it recorded around 12,000 at peak times in summer 2024. Comino is a protected area, and the cap is meant to protect it.

When you book, the system sends you a unique QR code. Officials check it at the landing points and give you a wristband to wear while you are ashore.

Do I need a ticket for the Blue Lagoon?

It depends on whether you plan to go ashore.

You need a pass if you want to set foot on the land at the Blue Lagoon. That includes people arriving on the Comino ferry and people on boat trips who want to get off at the jetty, sit on the rocks or buy food at the kiosks. The Authority’s announcement applies it to anyone arriving on private or commercial vessels who wants to land.

You do not need a pass if you stay on the boat. Swimming, snorkelling or paddleboarding from a boat anchored in the lagoon is not the same as landing, and the pass is not required for it.

This is the part most people miss. If you only want to swim in the Blue Lagoon, a boat trip gets you into the water without a booking at all.

Blue Lagoon time slots

The published daily slots are:

• Morning: 08:00 to 13:00
• Afternoon: 13:30 to 17:30
• Evening: 18:00 to 22:00

You book one slot. Make sure it covers the time your ferry or boat is actually at the lagoon, not just the time you leave Malta. If you are unsure, ask your operator when they expect to arrive.

How to book the Blue Lagoon pass

1. Go to the official booking page, which is the one linked from the Malta Tourism Authority’s announcement.
2. Choose your date and time slot.
3. Enter the basic details for each person and an email address.
4. Save the QR code you receive, either on your phone or printed out.
5. Show it at the landing point to get your wristband.

Booking guides report that each reservation covers up to four people, and that you can book up to about two months ahead. Check both on the booking page itself, as the details may change between seasons.

Be wary of third-party sites that charge a fee for the pass. The pass itself is free. If a ferry operator arranges it for you as part of your ticket, that is fine, but confirm the slot they have booked.

Booking tips for 2026

• Book early for July and August. Morning slots in high summer are the first to go.
• Keep the QR code offline. A screenshot works even if your phone has no signal at the jetty.
• Book for everyone in your group. Each person needs to be covered, including children. Check the booking page for how it treats young children.
• Check the rules each season. This system is still new, and details such as slots, limits and the booking page can change. The Malta Tourism Authority is the source to trust.

Swimming at the Blue Lagoon without a pass

On our small-group Comino and Blue Lagoon tour, we spend about 45 minutes at the Blue Lagoon. We anchor in the channel and you swim straight off the boat. You can use the snorkels, swim noodles and paddleboard we carry on board. None of that needs a pass.

If you want to go ashore, to buy food and drinks or to walk up onto the rocks, book a pass for the slot that covers our stop. If you are not sure which slot to book, call us on +356 79628574 and we will tell you roughly when we expect to be there. If you forget or the slots are full, you can simply stay on the boat and swim. You will not miss the water, which is the part most people come for.

Many of our guests never go ashore. Anchored in the channel, you have more space around you than on the crowded rocks, and you are back on board when it is time to move on to the next stop.

Do you need a pass for the Crystal Lagoon or Santa Marija Bay?

The published booking system is for the Blue Lagoon. Our other swim stops, the Crystal Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay, are swims from the boat, so there is no landing involved. If you plan to land elsewhere on Comino, check the current rules before you go.

Summary

• The Blue Lagoon pass is free and is booked online for a time slot.
• You need it to set foot on the shore at the Blue Lagoon.
• You do not need it to swim from a boat.
• Rules can change, so check the official source before your trip.

For more on visiting the lagoon, see our Blue Lagoon, Comino guide. If you are deciding how to get there, read small group vs private boat trips to Comino, or check dates for our tour from Ċirkewwa.