March 24, 2025, 9:50 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Just a few kilometers from the main island of Malta lies Gozo, a small island that is much more tranquil and peaceful. Comino is even smaller than Gozo. It is so small, in fact, that the islet only has two permanent residents. TRAVELBOOK reveals what there is to see and do there.
The small island of Comino is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Gozo. Lonely because only two people live on it permanently. Comino is especially enchanting in spring and fall when you can wander its landscapes with hardly anyone else in sight, save for the occasional weekend day-tripper.
However, come high summer, Comino buzzes with activity, boasting one of the Mediterranean’s most stunning lagoons. The “Blue Lagoon” is a dream of turquoise and blue. Visiting outside the high season is also rewarding, offering the best opportunity to enjoy this breathtaking spot without the throngs of tourists.
Overview of the island
Comino Was Once a Pirate Hideout
The islet, with its secluded bays, once served as an excellent hideaway for pirates. Yet these bays were more than just pirate hideouts. Adorned with rocks and caves amidst glistening turquoise waters, they are the stuff of fantasy brought to life.
If you want to spend the night on Comino, there is currently only one option: a campsite. The island’s only hotel closed permanently six years ago, shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. However, as the industry portal Touristik aktuell reports, a luxury hotel from the Six Senses chain is set to open on Comino in 2027. This is to extend across the two bays of San Marija and San Niklaw.
When it’s not the weekend, the island is currently quiet and tranquil. And anyone who sets foot on the island will immediately notice a silence that has not been heard for a long time. Occasionally, you might catch the contented grunts of the resident pigs from the small farm tucked away in Comino’s southeast.
It’s Most Beautiful in Spring
In spring, the whole island smells of flowers mixed with the salt of the sea. Even now, the water sparkles with a vibrant turquoise hue. Everything is blooming and green; the sun worshippers and water sports fans are not here yet. Instead, a few hikers are out and about, and a little later in April, the first migratory birds arrive. Birdwatchers will delight as falcons and buzzards, in particular, make Comino their stopover, offering a spectacle worth every penny. Finally, from May onwards, the day visitors from the neighboring islands arrive until the usual silence returns in the evening.
See the Blue Lagoon Once
On the island’s eastern shore, you’ll find the Blue Lagoon, a gem that stands as the pinnacle of beauty in the Maltese archipelago. To some, the paradisiacal-looking bay may seem strangely familiar. The Blue Lagoon has already been used as a film set several times, with Madonna lolling in the fine sand of the bay in her movie Swept Away. The crystal-clear waters of the bay beckon not just for relaxation but also for snorkeling, surfing, and water skiing adventures.
Getting to Comino
Comino can be reached from Malta and Gozo either by public ferries or excursion boats.
Text contribution: Friederike Ostermeyer