Comino between December and March
Yes, go, as long as you come to walk and look. The public ferry from Ċirkewwa or Marfa crosses in about 20 minutes on one timetable all year, so you can spend a full day on foot: the Blue Lagoon with hardly anyone on it, St Mary's Tower on the hill above, and the cliffs over the Crystal Lagoon. The last boat back leaves at 17:00, close to sunset in December.
For the caves and cliffs seen from the sea, book a Comino catamaran from Buġibba, a Gozo and Comino day or a short private boat. Take your own lunch, since nothing on the island is set up to feed visitors in winter, and watch the wind and swell before you set out.
- Best for swimming
- June to October, with September and early October particularly strong
- Fewest people on Comino
- November to March
- Best winter format
- Gozo and Comino, or a short private Comino boat
- Best warm-season format
- Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the caves
- A day on foot
- The public ferry, out in the morning and back by mid-afternoon
- Weather rule
- Wind, swell and sea state count for more than a rain icon
- Ferry, adult return €15 (under-10s €7)
- Last boat back from the Blue Lagoon 17:00
- Sea temperature, January 16.4°C
Check winter dates for the Comino cruise Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · see which winter departures are open
The Comino ferry in winter
Independent visitors reach Comino on the passenger ferry, and it is the only way to choose your own hours on the island. The Comino Ferries Co-op sails to the Blue Lagoon every day from Marfa and Ċirkewwa, both at the northern tip of Malta, and publishes a single timetable with no winter season. Extra summer trips are added at the company's discretion; in winter you get the standard list below. The crossing takes about 20 minutes each way.
| Route | Departures | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Marfa to the Blue Lagoon | Every 30 minutes, 08:30 to 16:00 | Return on the same ticket from the Blue Lagoon |
| Ċirkewwa to the Blue Lagoon | Every 30 minutes, 08:40 to 16:40, then 17:00 | Next to the Gozo Channel terminal and the buses |
| Blue Lagoon back to Malta | Hourly 09:30 to 15:30, then 16:00, 16:30 and 17:00 | 17:00 is the last boat of the day |
| Caves trip from Santa Marija Bay | 09:35, 11:35, 14:35 and 15:35 | Included in the ferry fare |
| Blue Lagoon on to Gozo | Hourly, 11:00 to 16:00 | Same fare; you return from Gozo on the Gozo Channel or fast ferry |
| Fare | Adult return €15, children under 10 €7 | A €5 charge can apply to bulky items such as bicycles |
Daylight is the limit in winter, more than the timetable. The sun sets at about 16:50 in mid-December, 17:12 in mid-January and 17:44 in mid-February, so the 17:00 boat leaves in the dusk for much of the season. Plan to be back at the jetty for the 16:00 or 16:30 crossing, and earlier if you are walking to the far side of the island. If the wind gets up during the day, ask the crew when you land which boat they expect to run last. Our Comino ferry guide covers the jetties, parking and buses.
What to do on Comino in winter
Walk. Comino is about 3.5 km², with no cars and no permanent population, and the Malta Tourism Authority describes it as a winter destination for walkers and photographers. In summer most visitors never leave the sand at the Blue Lagoon. In winter you have the paths largely to yourself, the garigue smells of wild thyme, and the light is low and clear over Gozo and Malta.
- The Blue Lagoon. The ferry lands you beside it, and from November to March it is a quiet bay of turquoise water between Comino and the islet of Cominotto.
- St Mary's Tower. The Knights of St John built this watchtower in the 17th century on the hill above the lagoon. The climb is short and the view takes in both neighbouring islands.
- The Crystal Lagoon cliffs. The smaller, deeper lagoon on the far side of the island is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Blue Lagoon area, and in winter you look down on it from the cliff paths.
- Santa Maria Bay. A sheltered bay on the north coast, and the departure point for the short caves trip included in your ferry fare.
- The sea caves. They are reached by water only. Take the ferry company's caves trip from Santa Marija Bay, or see them on a cruise.
Comino has no town and no shops, and its only hotel, at San Niklaw Bay, is closed for redevelopment, so there is nowhere to stay or shelter on the island in winter. The lagoon kiosks trade in summer and you should not rely on them from November. The paths are rocky and uneven and turn slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip and keep back from the cliff edges, especially in a strong wind. Our Comino island guide describes each of these places in more detail.
What changes through the season?
Comino is a different visit in each half of the year. From June to October, swimming and snorkelling fill a long stop at the lagoon, and the Crystal Lagoon is a swim stop on most cruises. From November the water cools to about 18.5°C in December, 16.4°C in January and 15.6°C in February, the Crystal Lagoon becomes a photo stop, and the sensible winter trips are the short ones, the flexible ones, or the ones that add Gozo so the day holds up without a swim.
The crowds go too. Malta drew between 1.1 and 1.4 million tourist nights a month from December to February in 2025, against 3.5 million in August. That counts the whole country, not one island, but a winter Comino is a much emptier place than the summer one.
What kind of tour makes sense?
If you would sooner not organise the ferry yourself, or you want the caves from the water, three kinds of boat trip still call at Comino in winter.
Standard shared cruise
A shared cruise suits the day when swimming is the main point and the full summer schedules are running. A 3–4 hour Comino cruise is usually more versatile than a long excursion with one stop. In winter, the Comino catamaran from Buġibba gives you the caves from the water and time ashore at the lagoon, where you can walk up to the tower.
Gozo + Comino
This is the format for late autumn and winter, because Gozo adds a substantial sightseeing part to the day. If nobody in the group wants to swim, you still get Victoria, the Gozo scenery and a proper excursion, not a long, cold wait at anchor. The Gozo and Comino full-day cruise has more than 21,000 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Private boat
A private boat suits couples, families and small groups who value a flexible route, the caves, a shorter transfer and control over where the boat stops. In summer it is a way around the crowds. In winter its value is a compact trip that the skipper can steer around the sheltered side of the island. The Comino and Blue Lagoon private speedboat tour leaves from Mġarr on Gozo or Ċirkewwa; our guide to private Blue Lagoon boats in winter compares the options.
Three ways to see Comino in winter
Choose the catamaran for time on Comino itself, the full day if you want Gozo too, and the speedboat if you want the caves without a long day at sea.
Our Comino picks
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Seacaves Tour
A modern catamaran with a stop at the Blue Lagoon long enough to walk ashore, a photo stop at the Santa Maria Caves, and the Crystal Lagoon as a scenic stop outside June to October. There are toilets and a bar and kitchen on board; outside food and drink are not allowed, and the captain can change the route or departure point for the sea.
See Comino cruise datesMalta: Gozo & Comino Islands, Blue Lagoon & Sea Caves Tour
The Blue Lagoon and the caves from the water, then three to four hours on Gozo for Victoria and the island's coast. It was bookable on every date from December to February when we checked the calendar in September, and the most-reviewed Blue Lagoon trip on this site.
Check Gozo & Comino datesMalta: Comino & Blue Lagoon Private Speed Boat Tour
Your own skipper and a route around Comino's caves and lagoons, from Mġarr or Ċirkewwa, in two or three hours. Fuel is paid on top, and a fast open boat in winter is a poor choice for anyone who gets seasick.
See speedboat datesFor a walking day, the ferry beats all three: it is cheaper, it runs every day, and it leaves you on the island until you choose to go back. Our Blue Lagoon boat tours in winter guide lists which other operators sail from December to February.
Weather, wind and cancellations
Every trip to Comino, the ferry included, crosses open water. Tour operators can change the route, leave out the Crystal Lagoon, skip the caves, cut the swim stops, swap the boat, postpone or cancel when conditions call for it, and the ferry stops crossing in bad weather. Put Comino early in your stay so that a lost day can move to another one.
For a winter visit, flexible cancellation is particularly valuable. The average peak gust in Malta is at its highest from December to February, and the forecast for your hotel or for Valletta does not tell you what the channel between Malta and Comino is doing. Check the wind and swell before the chance of rain: a shower passes, but a strong wind can stop the crossings. The Malta Met Office's mariners' forecast covers the sea for the coming days.
Blue Lagoon landing pass
Stepping ashore in the managed Blue Lagoon area needs a free landing pass when the scheme is running, and you get it from the official site, blcomino.com. The pass started on 1 May 2025 and returned for summer 2026. No official source says whether it applies in winter, so check the site for your date before you travel.
The pass is separate from your ferry or boat ticket, and neither the ferry nor a tour arranges it for you. It covers the lagoon area only; the paths, the tower and the rest of the island need no pass.
What to bring
A summer Comino bag holds swimwear, a towel, high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water. For a winter day on the island, pack a fleece or jumper, long trousers and a windproof layer, plus walking shoes with grip for the rocky paths. Bring lunch, water and some cash, because you cannot buy food on the island in winter. If you intend to swim, add swimwear, a towel and a complete dry change of clothes.
Is Comino worth it in winter?
Yes, for a walk and the views. In winter Comino becomes a quiet island for hiking and sightseeing: the ferry works best for independent visitors who want a day on foot, and a tour works best for the caves or a combined day with Gozo. Choose between three genuinely different trips: the ferry and a walk, a catamaran with time ashore, or a Gozo and Comino day, with a private boat if your group wants the route to itself. Check the forecast the evening before, because on Comino the wind and swell matter more than the rain. Our guide to the Blue Lagoon in winter covers the lagoon itself.
How we know
The ferry timetable, route list and fares are from Comino Ferries' published schedule at cominoferries.com, read on 21 October 2026. Tour details, ratings and review counts are from the GetYourGuide listings; from-prices and the December to February availability are from their booking calendars, read in September 2026. Sea temperature is the Malta Met Office's monthly series published by the National Statistics Office, averaged over 1996–2025, and tourist nights are the NSO's Inbound Tourism releases for 2025. Sunset times are for Malta on the 15th of each month. The swim guidance and the description of Comino as a winter walking destination are the Malta Tourism Authority's, the landing-pass rules are from blcomino.com, and the hotel's closure is from press coverage of its redevelopment application in 2025 and 2026.
Comino in winter: common questions
Can you visit Comino in winter?
Yes. The Comino ferries from Ċirkewwa and Marfa sail on the same daily timetable all year, and several boat tours keep calling at the island through winter when the sea allows. Comino has no town and no shops, and its only hotel is closed for redevelopment, so a winter visit is a day trip, mostly on foot.
When is the last ferry back from Comino in winter?
The last scheduled boat to Malta leaves the Blue Lagoon at 17:00 on the timetable Comino Ferries published in October 2026. The sun sets at about 16:50 in mid-December and 17:12 in mid-January, so aim for the 16:00 or 16:30 boat if you want to walk back to the jetty in daylight.
What can you do on Comino in winter?
Mainly walk and take photographs. Paths lead from the Blue Lagoon up to St Mary's Tower, across to the cliffs above the Crystal Lagoon and down to Santa Maria Bay, with views over Gozo and Malta. The ferry fare also includes a short boat trip to the caves from Santa Marija Bay, and a cruise shows you the caves and cliffs from the water.
Can you swim at Comino in winter?
Most people do not. The sea averages 16.4°C in January and 15.6°C in February, and the Malta Tourism Authority does not recommend swimming from November to February. If you do go in on a calm day, bring a towel and a complete dry change of clothes.
Is there anywhere to eat on Comino in winter?
Do not count on it. The kiosks at the Blue Lagoon are a summer business and the island has no shops, so bring water, lunch and some cash. The Comino catamaran from Buġibba sells food from its own bar and kitchen, and does not allow outside food on board.
Do you need a landing pass to visit Comino in winter?
Check blcomino.com before you go. The free pass has been needed to step ashore at the Blue Lagoon since 1 May 2025, but no official source says whether it applies in winter. It covers the managed lagoon area only, the rest of the island needs no pass, and it is separate from your ferry or boat ticket.