At a glance
- From Bugibba: Blue Lagoon Afternoon Swim with Sunset Cruise runs 4 hours and starts from US$35.[1]
- Rated 4.52 from 1,011 reviews, with Guide 4.6, Transportation 4.5 and Value for money 4.5.[1]
- A host or greeter speaks English, and the audio guide comes in English, Polish, Italian, French and German.[1]
- Reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
- In peak summer, July and August, the Blue Lagoon receives between 2,500 and 3,500 visitors per day.[2]
| Afternoon swim, sunset | Evening catamaran | Small group sunset | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | from US$35[1] | from US$63[3] | from US$40[4] |
| Duration | 4 hours[1] | 5 hours[3] | 5 hours[4] |
| Rating | 4.52 from 1,011 reviews[1] | 4.51 from 117 reviews[3] | 4.49 from 2 reviews[4] |
| On board | Audio guide included[1] | Wheelchair accessible[3] | Limited to 10 participants[4] |
| Cancellation | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[1] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[3] | Cancel up to 24 hours in advance[4] |
Just a stone’s throw away from the renowned Blue Lagoon lies a lesser-known and less crowded lagoon, the Crystal Lagoon!
Our verdict on the Bugibba afternoon swim and sunset trip
Things to check
- Check the starting time for your date, as departures shift with the sunset
- Compare evening trips on what they include, not only on the price
- Look for free cancellation if your plans might move
- Book ahead for summer dates if you want your pick of departure times
On the day
- Pack sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses; there is little shade on deck
- Bring a dry layer for the return leg, when the boat picks up speed
- Take a towel, swimwear and a mask if you want to look under the surface
- Meet at the departure point early; evening boats keep to their schedule
What a Blue Lagoon sunset cruise actually does
A sunset cruise from Malta usually means an afternoon or early evening departure from the north of the island, a swim stop in the sheltered water off Comino, and a slow run home as the light drops behind Gozo. The Blue Lagoon lies in the channel between Comino and the tiny islet of Cominotto, within reach of Bugibba, Sliema, St Julian's and the ferry terminals at Cirkewwa and Mgarr. The return leg is the point of the trip: cliffs and caves take on a deep amber colour, the day boats thin out, and the sea usually flattens.
Evening trips come in several shapes. Some are pure sightseeing cruises with a swim stop, some add music and a bar, and some are built around a long afternoon swim with the sunset saved for the ride home. The From Bugibba: Blue Lagoon Afternoon Swim with Sunset Cruise is the third kind, a 4 hour trip starting from US$35.[1] Whichever you choose, the pattern is similar: out in daylight, swim, then watch the sun go down over the Gozo channel on the way back.
What each trip includes varies a good deal between operators. Some are little more than a ferry run with commentary, others are full evenings with food and a bar on a bigger boat. Read what is actually provided before you compare prices, and check the departure point, because Sliema, Bugibba, Mellieha, St Julian's and Cirkewwa are all used by different boats and the transfer can take longer than the cruise itself.
The afternoon swim and sunset trip from Bugibba
Bugibba and neighbouring Qawra sit on the north coast of Malta, close to the Cirkewwa ferry crossing and an easy drive from most resorts. Boats leave the seafront here and head north past St Paul's Islands and the cliffs towards Comino, so a good share of the trip is spent in or beside the water rather than travelling to it. From Bugibba: Blue Lagoon Afternoon Swim with Sunset Cruise runs 4 hours and starts from US$35.[1]
On board, a host or greeter speaks English, and an audio guide is included in English, Polish, Italian, French and German.[1] The trip is rated 4.52 from 1,011 reviews, with Guide 4.6, Transportation 4.5 and Value for money 4.5 in the rating breakdown.[1] You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
If you are staying in Valletta, Sliema or St Julian's, allow time for the drive or bus north to Bugibba, especially in summer traffic. Staying in the north of the island, as many people do, makes an evening trip much easier: you are back at your hotel soon after the boat docks instead of facing a long transfer in the dark.
Golden hour on the ride back, with the Gozo channel on one side and Comino on the other
Comino, its caves and a watchtower on the skyline
Comino is small, roughly 2.8 square kilometres of limestone sitting between Malta and Gozo.[5] What it lacks in size it makes up for in coastline. The Santa Marija Caves are a popular dive site, with at least 10 known caves that divers can explore.[6] Boats nose into several of them, and the water inside glows green where the light bounces off the rock. Above the waterline the cliffs are pale and layered, and the whole shoreline changes character as the sun moves round.
On the skyline stands Santa Marija Tower, built in 1618 by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt as part of a chain of coastal watchtowers.[7] Comino is a Bird Sanctuary and forms part of the EU Natura 2000 network, designated a Special Protection Area under the Birds Directive.[8] In spring and autumn migrating birds use the island, and its quiet, scrubby interior is a large part of why an evening visit feels so different from a midday one.
Bird life aside, the island's history is mostly coastal: watchtowers, a small chapel, and paths that thread between the rocks. Seen from the deck, that thin band of buildings is what makes the rest of the coastline look so wild.
The water: depth, colour and swimming
The lagoon's sandy bottom reaches 14 metres at its deepest and reflects the light, giving the water its turquoise colour from above.[9] That pale, light-reflecting sand is what makes the Blue Lagoon look bright and even milky from the deck. Late afternoon and evening light suit it well: the low sun catches the surface, the colour deepens rather than washing out, and you can see your own shadow on the sand below.
Sea temperatures around Malta average 19°C in May, 22°C in June, 26°C in July, 27°C in August, 26°C in September and 24°C in October.[10] That makes an evening swim realistic from late spring into autumn. Pack a mask and snorkel if you have them, a rash vest for the ride home, and a dry layer for after the sun goes down, when the boat's speed makes the air feel cooler.
The lagoon also reads differently through the day. At midday it is bright, almost white where the sand shows through; later it turns a deeper blue, and by the time the sun is low the cliff shadows creep across it. If you are bringing a camera, a polarising filter earns its place on this kind of trip.
from US$35
The From Bugibba: Blue Lagoon Afternoon Swim with Sunset Cruise runs 4 hours and is rated 4.52 from 1,011 reviews.[1]
Crowds, timing and choosing your evening
Comino is busy in high season. In peak summer, July and August, the Blue Lagoon receives between 2,500 and 3,500 visitors per day.[2] Malta as a whole welcomed 3.56 million visitors in 2024, a record-breaking year for tourism.[11] If you would rather swim in calmer water, an afternoon or evening departure is a sensible choice, and the light is better for photographs in any case.
A short distance from the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon is a lesser-known and less crowded lagoon.[12] Boat trips along this stretch of coast often call there on the way home, and it makes a good second swim. In Malta, July is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 27 C, and January is the coldest at 13 C.[13] Midsummer evenings stay warm long after the sun has gone.
Wind is the main variable on this coast, so check the forecast for your date. A breeze keeps the lagoon from feeling like a bath, and it also makes the return leg cooler, which is worth remembering when you pack. If your date is fixed, take the earlier of the two departures if you want the longest swim before the light goes.
What to expect on the day
A practical evening looks like this: arrive at the departure point with time to spare, take a light bag with sunscreen, a hat, water and a towel, and wear shoes you do not mind getting wet if you plan to swim. Boats usually have shade and a toilet, and there is space to sit and dry off on the way back. If you are prone to motion sickness, take what you normally would before boarding.
Booking is simple. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1] The trip runs 4 hours and starts from US$35, with the audio guide available in English, Polish, Italian, French and German.[1] Take the earliest slot that still gives you daylight if you want the longest swim, or the latest if the sunset itself is the reason you are going.
Starting times are not fixed, so check availability for your date rather than assuming the boat leaves at the same hour all summer.[1] Meet at the departure point a little early, and keep your booking on your phone in case it is checked at the dock.
Other sunset and evening options from Malta
If you want a bigger boat and a longer evening, Malta: Blue Lagoon Evening Catamaran Cruise runs 5 hours and starts from US$63, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.[3] Malta: Sunset Cruise to Blue Lagoon with Swim Stop is limited to 10 participants, runs 5 hours and starts from US$40.[4] Both are evening sailings rather than afternoon swim trips, so the balance of swimming and watching is different.
For a daytime alternative, Malta: Blue Lagoon, Beaches & Bays Trip by Catamaran runs 5 to 6 hours and starts from US$63.[14] It is rated 4.68 from 6,838 reviews.[14] Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[14] Compare what each trip does with its time: some spend longer in the water, others cover more of the coastline, and the sunset trips trade a swim for the golden hour.
Whichever you pick, choose the slot that matches your reason for going. If the swim matters most, an afternoon departure gives you more time in the water before the light goes. If photographs and a calm ride back matter most, book the later boat.
Average sea temperature by month in Malta
Average monthly sea temperatures for Malta, in degrees Celsius.[10]
Evening and sunset trips compared
US dollar from-prices for three evening and sunset listings. No separate child rate is listed, so both columns show the from-price.[1][3][4]
When to go on a Blue Lagoon sunset cruise
How to plan your evening
Pick your departure point
Bugibba, Sliema, St Julian's, Mellieha and Cirkewwa all have boats heading for Comino. Choose the one closest to where you are staying.
Book the sunset slot
Choose a date when the sunset falls inside your trip, and reserve now and pay later if you want to keep your plans flexible.[1]
Pack for a swim
Towel, swimwear, sunscreen, a hat and a dry layer. Sea temperatures run from 19°C in May to 27°C in August.[10]
Arrive at the boat early
Evening departures run to a schedule, so be at the meeting point ahead of time and have your booking ready on your phone.
Keep the last hour free
The best light comes at the end of the trip. Stay on deck rather than heading below when the sun starts to drop.
Swim at the Blue Lagoon and watch the sun go down
from US$35
