10 of the perfect seashores in Sardinia

There’s little question about it, Sardinia is the seaside belle of the Mediterranean. Its 1849km (1149-mile) shoreline rivals the Seychelles with its dramatic granite crags, the Amalfi Coast with its superior arc of cliffs within the Golfo di Orosei, and the Caribbean with its translucent turquoise and emerald inexperienced waters. The island’s seashores are amongst Europe’s cleanest due to acres of wholesome seagrass meadows that naturally filter the water and help a wealthy marine ecosystem, the place divers immerse themselves to discover the coral-clad sea caves of Capo Caccia.

Whereas some movie star sizzling spots – right here’s taking a look at you Consorzio Costa Smeralda – hog the headlines with summer season crowds, caps and expenses, don’t be disheartened, should you journey a bit of additional you’ll discover the subsequent seaside is simply as fabulous. What’s extra, this isn’t only a place for lounging in lidos: decide a special nook of the island and also you’ll end up within the firm of surfers, sailors, rock climbers, hikers and horse riders who’re a number of the fortunate few in on the key.

1. Arcipelago di La Maddalena

Finest for sailors

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This archipelago of granite islands and islets that float in a protected marine park within the Straits of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica is affected by gorgeous seashores. The celebrities are the pink seaside of Isola Budelli, the aromatic, macchia-fringed seashores of Isola Spargi, family-friendly Cala Spalmatore – truly three seashores – wrapped round a pure creek on La Maddalena island, and beautiful Cala Coticcio wedged in a rocky inlet on Caprera Island and lapped by topaz water.

Planning tip: This is likely one of the greatest locations to sail on Sardinia due to the optimum 8–20 knot mistral wind. Rent crusing boats from Sailover or take a tour with pleasant skipper Daniele at Emerald Cruises.

2. Spiaggia di Maria Pia

Finest for households and accessibility

Catalan-flavored Alghero in Sardinia’s northwest nook is a cultural hub with gorgeous seashores stretching north of the medieval fortified metropolis to the superior Capo Caccia headland. The very best of them is 1.2km (0.75-mile) Spiaggia di Maria Pia, a stunning white seaside backed by dunes and umbrella pines that hum with cicadas in the summertime warmth. The seaside cabinets off gently into clear turquoise water and there are a few snack shacks, making it nice for households. It’s additionally wheelchair accessible. 

Planning tip: Both aspect of the seaside are two well-equipped campsites: Camping La Mariposa, which has tents and bungalows, and Camping Village Laguna Blu.

3. Golfo di Orosei

Finest for boat excursions of gorgeous coves

For sheer stop-dead-in-your-tracks magnificence, there are few locations to match the Gulf of Orosei, forming the seaward aspect of a national park. Right here the island’s highest mountains plunge abruptly right into a sapphire sea forming a crescent of cliffs punctuated by idyllic horseshoe-shaped coves. They will solely be accessed on foot or by boat from the Marina di Orosei (itself a superb seaside), Cala Gonone or Santa Maria Navarrese. A typical boat tour will take you to the gorgeous coves of Cala Mariolu, lately voted Europe’s most lovely seaside, protected Cala Goloritzé, Cala Briola and Cala Luna, the place you possibly can swim within the clearest blue-green sea you’ve ever seen.  

Detour: Simply north of Orosei is the Oasi di Biderosa, an idyllic coastal nature reserve cloaked in Aleppo pines and harboring a creek the place you possibly can kayak, and 5 pristine seashores. In summer season, customer numbers are capped so the seashores are by no means crowded.

4. Spiaggia di Teuredda

Finest seaside for a scenic drive

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One among Sardinia’s most handsome seashores, Teurredda is positioned on the southwestern headland of Capo Spartivento. It has extremely vivid emerald inexperienced water and is sort of solely sheltered from the blustery mistral wind. In July and August, numbers are capped, so that you’ll have to e book a spot through the WhatsApp numbers on the website. You can even e book loungers, have a pleasant lunch on the seaside restaurant Poseidon and rent inflatable boats on the seaside to go exploring alongside the coast and round tiny Isola di Teurredda, which lies simply 150m (492ft) offshore. In the event you can’t get a spot on Teurredda, head to pretty Spiaggia Su Giudeu as a substitute.

Planning tip: To succeed in Teurredda, drive the SP71 panoramic street from Chia to Teulada, one in all Sardinia’s two most beautiful drives that swoops round rocky headlands swathed in greenery providing ever extra breathtaking views.

5. Isola di San Pietro

Finest island for water sports activities

Lûcaise, Geniò, Guidi, Girin, La Caletta, Conca, Lunga, Fico – all of the seashores on the bijou island of San Pietro are lovely. Keep within the pastel-hued capital Carloforte and spend every day on a special seaside in between hikes alongside the wild western cliffs the place rose-colored trachyte rock sculptures and slim fjords make for fabulous photograph ops. On Cala Geniò, La Bobba and La Caletta, SUP Adventures hires out paddleboards so you possibly can glide throughout the aquamarine waters. Given the rocky profile of the coast, that is additionally place to dive with Isla Diving.

Planning tip: San Pietro is one in all solely two remaining locations within the Mediterranean the place tuna are nonetheless caught in a standard tonnara (a 3km-/1.7-mile-long web). In June, the island celebrates with the Girotonno competition.

6. Is Aruttas Seaside

Finest glowing seaside

The Sinis Peninsula is Sardinia’s wildest nook, a flat, watery panorama the place salty lagoons are stalked by pink flamingos and nation fields are fringed with hedges of prickly pear. Alongside its shoreline is a string of excellent seashores that glitter within the sunshine given their sand is shaped by tiny rice-sized grains of white and pink quartz. For years, it was carted off to aquariums world wide and to reinforce the flowery seashores of the Consorzio Costa Smeralda though that has lengthy since been forbidden. Now you possibly can get pleasure from it in-situ at well-known Is Aruttas or the even longer Mari Ermi.

Native tip: That is the windy aspect of the island and simply up the coast is Putzu Idu, Sardinia’s browsing middle the place you possibly can join programs or lease gear.

7. Spiaggia del Principe

Finest seaside for luxurious facilities

The Aga Khan’s personal seaside on the coronary heart of his VIP resort, the Consorzio Costa Smeralda. This gilded enclave of starry inns and eating places is perched on a dramatic part of coast the place wind-whipped granite boulders tumble down fjord-like inlets into that well-known emerald sea. The so-called “Prince’s Seaside” is a beautiful crescent of white sand set snugly into some low cliffs and is a magnificence. However so are the Grande and Piccolo Pevero seashores the place celebrities lounge round a twinset of bays, or the Romazzino the place the Belmond has its plush resort. The longest is Liscia Ruia, which is dotted with bougie seaside golf equipment.

Planning tip: Keep in mind this nook of the island is saturated with Italian holidaymakers in July and August, and also you’ll pay at the least 3 times extra right here than anyplace else.

8. Spiaggia della Pelosa

Finest seaside for magnificence

Spiaggia della Pelosa, or just La Pelosa, is likely one of the world’s most lovely seashores, a ravishing sweep of ice-white sand and shallow sea that fades from aquamarine to topaz and deep sapphire. To at least one aspect a ruined Catalan-Aragonese watchtower stands picturesquely whereas out at sea you possibly can spy Isola dell’Asinara, a protected island park that was as soon as a jail island, Italy’s reply to Alcatraz. Between June and August – months greatest averted – thousands and thousands of individuals journey miles to marvel at it, swelling numbers impossibly in order that now there’s a strict cap in an effort to defend the seaside. Ebook your spot through the website.

Detour: Skip the crowds altogether by taking a ship journey to Isola dell’Asinara the place you possibly can rent a motorcycle and discover dozens of peaceable small seashores.

9. Cala Brandinchi

Finest seaside for households with younger children

A slice of Tahiti within the Med, the curved bay of Brandinchi actually does dwell as much as the hype. It’s skinny arc of sentimental sand is lapped by shallow, crystalline waters and surrounded by pine woods and dunes dusted with lilies. The large inselberg of Tavolara Island rises dramatically within the foreground and you may lease seaside toys, windsurfers, pedal boats and loungers at seaside shacks dotted alongside the seaside. Just a few hundred meters to the south, simply the opposite aspect of a wooded spit of land, is the equally pretty Lu Impostu Seaside. Each are good for households with small children.

10. Spiaggia di Porto Pino

Finest seaside for windsurfers

It is a fabulous, 4km-long (2.5-mile) stretch of silky sand that rises in delicate dunes that collapse right into a pine wooden interspersed with salt ponds. The quietest part of seaside is named Le Dune the place the dunes attain practically 25m-high (82ft) and the seaside is 300m-deep (984ft). Herons and flamingos spend their summers right here within the Stagno del Corvo and Stagno de Foxi, whereas on the seaside holidaymakers paddle in crystal clear water and kitesurfers experience the wind-whipped waves simply past the bay. 

Planning tip: Sky High Watersport Centre in Porto Botte is run by World Champion windsurfer Marta Hlavaty-Orlowska and her husband, wakeboarder and kitesurfer, Orzel Orlowski. They run programs and lease gear.

Paula Hardy researched and wrote Lonely Planet’s latest version of the Sardinia guidebook, publishing in July 2025.