Blue Lagoon in Winter: Is It Worth Visiting Off-Season?
Yes — visiting the Blue Lagoon in winter is genuinely worth it, but it’s a different experience from the summer version, and not every option for getting there runs the same way. The lagoon itself is open year-round, the water is famously clear, and the crowds are almost non-existent. What changes is how you get there, what the water feels like, and what you’ll spend your time doing once you arrive.
This guide covers everything: the weather, which transport options actually run in winter, honest pricing across ferry, group tours and private boats, and when a private boat makes sense — and when it doesn’t.
What the Blue Lagoon Malta Winter Experience Actually Looks Like
In summer, the Blue Lagoon is Malta’s most visited natural spot — and it shows. In mid-June there can be eight to twelve commercial boats berthed around the Blue Lagoon at any given time, ferrying hundreds of visitors to a very small beach all day. In winter, that changes completely.
Water temperatures drop to 16–19°C in winter — cold for most people, but the lagoon is almost entirely yours. March marks the start of spring in Malta and the weather is usually mostly sunny with mild temperatures — average air temperature around 18°C, with many clear days and strong Mediterranean light. The deeper winter months of December, January and February are cooler: daytime highs hover at 14–18°C with regular blue-sky days and around 5–7 hours of sunshine a day.
From November to March, the area is quiet and beautiful, perfect for hiking and photography. The water remains clear, and there are almost no crowds. With no buoys to obstruct the view, the lagoon becomes even more photogenic in winter, allowing you to take in the bluest parts of the water for an unmatched experience.
The honest downside: most visitors won’t want to swim in January or February. Water temperatures range from 14–17°C in November–March — refreshing in November, properly chilly by February. November is the sweet spot of the off-season: average water temperature in Blue Lagoon in November is around 21.6°C, still very swimmable for most people. By January and February, it’s strictly for the hardy.
The New Entry Pass — What You Need to Know Before You Go
Since 1 May 2025, anyone who sets foot on the Blue Lagoon shore must hold a free, pre-booked landing pass through Malta’s official Access Management System at blcomino.com. Malta’s AMS caps the lagoon at 4,000 people at a time, with three daily slots: 08:00–13:00, 13:30–17:30 and 18:00–22:00.
The pass is free. You book it at blcomino.com, the system the Malta Tourism Authority launched under the name “Book, Protect, Enjoy”. You get a QR code by email and exchange it for a wristband at the landing point. In winter, slots are rarely full — this is primarily a summer measure — but it’s worth booking in advance anyway so you’re not scrambling at the jetty.
One important point for anyone arriving by boat: if you swim from your boat without going ashore, no pass is required at all. This is one of the simplest and most overlooked advantages of a private boat — you get the best section of the Blue Lagoon (the open water) with zero booking, zero QR codes and zero time-slot restrictions.
How to Get There in Winter: Ferry, Group Tour or Private Boat?
Your options look different in winter than they do in summer — here’s an honest comparison.
The public ferry from Ċirkewwa
Licensed passenger boats run from Ċirkewwa and Marfa at the northern tip of Malta, and from Mġarr on Gozo, in about 20 minutes. Adult return tickets with Comino Ferries cost €15, children under 10 pay €7. The service runs daily from Marfa and Ċirkewwa to the Blue Lagoon. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes each way.
The catch in winter: from November till March, the first trip is at 9:00 AM and the last trip is at 4:00 PM. The reduced timetable means less flexibility, and some sources note that in the deepest winter months (December–February) certain operators suspend or significantly cut their service. Always check the current schedule directly with Comino Ferries or Ebsons before you go. The other catch: Ċirkewwa is at the far north of Malta, roughly 45 minutes by car from Valletta and over an hour from the south — which means a full day out when you factor in travel time.
Group boat tours from Sliema or Bugibba
Several operators run shared day trips from more central departure points. Winter schedules (November–April) typically have the boat departing at 10:00 and returning at 17:00, with around four hours at the Blue Lagoon. Prices from Sliema run around €40 per adult and €30 for children aged 4–11. You share the boat with strangers, the route is fixed, and you go ashore with the group — which means you’ll need a Blue Lagoon pass. Good value for solo travellers or couples on a budget.
Private boat charter
This is where things change significantly in winter. A private Blue Lagoon boat trip means the whole vessel is yours — your group, your skipper, your schedule. We’ll cover this in more detail below, but the short version is: it costs more per ticket, but it gives you far more than the ferry or a group tour.
Blue Lagoon Malta Winter: When a Private Boat Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)
A private charter is not for everyone. If you’re travelling solo, on a tight budget, or simply want to tick the lagoon off a list, the €15 ferry or a €40 group day trip will do the job perfectly well. No argument there.
Where a private boat genuinely earns its cost is for groups. When you split the price of a whole boat between six, eight or ten people, the per-person figure becomes much more competitive — and you get a completely different day.
At Nautiful, we run private skippered trips year-round from Valletta Waterfront aboard our 2023 Axopar 37 Sun-Top — a modern, well-equipped day boat with twin 300hp engines, bow and aft sun decks, a shaded cockpit with sliding roof, fridge, Bluetooth speakers and a bathing platform with ladder. Up to 11 guests. The whole boat is yours, and you’re always with a licensed local skipper who knows these waters.
In winter (November–March), our full-day trips run for seven hours and half-day trips for 3.5 hours, starting from €1,250 for a full day or €750 for a half day for the whole boat. Split ten ways, that’s €125 or €75 per person — competitive with a group tour, and entirely private. (If you want to understand what goes into the full cost picture, our post on Malta boat charter prices breaks it down clearly.)
You also skip the problem of getting to Ċirkewwa — we depart from Valletta Waterfront, next to the cruise terminal, and pick-up points and start times are flexible on request. The Axopar runs at around 30 knots, so Comino is a quick run from Grand Harbour.
One more thing: in winter, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we offer a free reschedule or a sheltered route — typically around Grand Harbour, the Three Cities and Valletta, which are spectacular in their own right and completely protected from the open sea. You never lose the day entirely.
If you’re not sure whether private or group is right for your trip, the comparison in our post on private vs group boat tours in Malta is worth a read before you decide.
What to Do at the Blue Lagoon in Winter (Beyond Swimming)
Even if the water feels too cold for a swim, the lagoon is worth the trip. Here’s what people actually enjoy in the off-season:
- Photography. Winter’s soft light and clear skies make for excellent photography conditions, and without the summer crowds and moored boats blocking every angle, you get compositions that are simply impossible in July.
- Walking Comino. In winter, the small island is an excellent destination for walkers, with hiking trails all around. The Santa Marija Tower — a 17th-century watchtower built by the Knights of Malta — is a 20-minute walk from the lagoon and offers 360-degree views spanning Malta, Gozo and the Blue Lagoon channel below.
- Snorkelling (November especially). In winter, the lagoon is empty of tourists, and the fish life is concentrated and undisturbed. With nobody churning up the bottom, visibility is exceptional.
- Simply sitting on the water. On a private boat, you can drop anchor, have lunch from the fridge, and look at that colour without anyone rushing you off. That’s genuinely hard to put a price on.
Practical Tips for a Blue Lagoon Malta Winter Visit
- Book your landing pass in advance at blcomino.com if you plan to go ashore. It’s free, but you need to do it ahead of time.
- Check ferry schedules directly with the operator before you travel. Winter timetables are reduced, and some services wind down further in December–February.
- Dress in layers. Air temperatures of 15–18°C feel very different in a breeze on the water versus a sunny afternoon in a sheltered spot. Bring a windproof layer you can take off.
- November and March are the best winter months for a Blue Lagoon visit — milder weather, more transport options running, and the water is still swimmable in November.
- If you’re on a private charter, you don’t need a shore pass unless you plan to actually step onto the beach. Swimming directly from the boat counts as a water experience, not a shore landing.
- Bring your own food and drinks. There are no supermarkets or restaurants on the island. On a Nautiful trip, we don’t offer catering, so pack a picnic or plan to stop at a waterside restaurant on the way back.
FAQ
Is the Blue Lagoon open in winter?
Yes, the Blue Lagoon is accessible year-round. You can visit the Blue Lagoon in winter (November through March) as well. Although the water temperature drops and the sea will be too cold for swimming for most people, visiting at this time of year makes for a much more peaceful experience. The free landing pass system at blcomino.com operates in winter too, though slots are rarely fully booked.
Does the ferry to Comino run in winter?
From November till March, the first trip is at 9:00 AM and the last trip is at 4:00 PM with the main operators. However, services are significantly reduced compared to summer, and some operators cut back further in the deepest winter months. Public ferries can be suspended in December–February depending on the operator — always check the current schedule directly before travelling. A private charter removes this uncertainty entirely.
Can you swim at the Blue Lagoon in winter?
Water temperatures range from 14–17°C in November–March. November (around 21°C) is still very comfortable for most swimmers. December through February is cold by most standards — brave souls and wetsuit wearers manage it, but most visitors enjoy the scenery from a boat or the shore rather than swimming. From 2026, lifeguards are on duty year-round from 08:00–18:00, making winter visits safer than ever.
How much does it cost to visit the Blue Lagoon in winter?
The landing pass itself is free (book at blcomino.com). Transport is where the cost sits: the public ferry from Ċirkewwa costs around €15 return for adults, €7 for children under 10. Group day trips from Sliema or Bugibba run around €35–40 per adult. A private boat charter with Nautiful starts from €750 for a half day or €1,250 for a full day for the whole boat in winter — best value when split across a group of six or more.
Whenever the conditions are right, a winter morning at the Blue Lagoon — the colour of that water with nobody else there — is one of those days that stays with you. If you’re planning a group outing or want to combine the lagoon with Comino’s caves, Valletta’s harbour or the coastline at your own pace, we’d love to take you there. Check dates and prices and get in touch — we’ll make sure the day is worth it whatever the season.