Best Sardinia Beaches: Public and Secrets Beaches To Visit
Beachside vacations are immensely popular among American travelers. In fact, 33% would rather hit shallow waters and bright skies than see family!
Plus, with 72% saying that they favor beach trips over mountain adventures, it's no secret that turquoise water and soft sandy beaches are incredibly coveted vacation destinations.
Americans are not alone in their quest to find incredible beaches to vacation. Their European counterparts favor seaside holidays as well. And born Caribbeans, like myself, love nothing more than spending time by the ocean. That's why this year, we traveled to more beachside destinations than ever before, including Sardinia, Italy.
Sardegna beaches are some of the best in the world! This Italian island sits about 200 kilometers west of mainland Italy in the clear Mediterranean.
Read on to learn which part of Sardinia has the best beaches and where to find some of the best beaches on the island, so you can start plotting your next tranquil escapade.
La Maddalena
There are truly few places in the world like La Maddalena. We recently spent a week there, an experience that we totally recommend!
La Maddalena is the largest archipelago in the north-east of Sardinia, and it has some of the most breathtaking beaches in the area. The main island is quite small, making it very easy to explore. We spent our days biking, hiking, sailing, and swimming on beaches and coves.
Some of our favorite beaches include Spiaggia Testa del Polpo, Isola di Spargi, and Spiaggia Rosa.
Spiaggia Testa del Polpo is located on the main island of La Maddalena, and it's well known for its turquoise water and massive smooth rocks that perfectly shape the landscape.
Isola di Spargi sits on one of the smaller islands in the Maddalena archipelago. The island is uninhabited but is easily accessible by boat.
Spiaggia Rosa is a protected beach with white and pale pink sand and beautiful water. However, stepping foot in the sand has been prohibited for years in an effort to restore and protect the beach from over-tourism. But you can visit the beach by booking a boat tour of the island.
There are several local companies offering boat day tours to these islands. Many of these tours can be arranged and pre-booked online. A few island tours that we recommend are:
Catamaran Tour of the Maddalena Archipelago from Cannigione
This catamaran tour leaves from Cannigione, a town 40 minutes north of Olbia. It offers a full day of sailing around the Maddalena islands, with lunch and drinks included. They even have fish and vegetarian options. A few tour highlights include visiting the Cliffs of Razzoli, stopping on the island of Spargi, and sailing through Spiaggia Rosa. The crew brings snorkeling equipment and paddle boards on board on request (all included in the price) so you can make the most out of your experience!
Maddalena Archipelago Sailing Tour:
This is another excellent recommendation for travelers visiting Sardinia that won’t get a chance to stay at La Maddalena. This full-day sailing tour will take you across the seven islands in the archipelago in a chartered sailboat, making stops in Budelli and the Spargi islands to swim and snorkel. Visitors will get to enjoy pasta and wine as part of the experience.
Private Sailing Tour to La Maddalena in an Exclusive Boat
Travelers looking for a more intimate or romantic experience will love this private tour. You can personalize the sailing itinerary and choose where to stop and for how long. Those who have previously booked this tour described it as “The highlight of our week in Sardinia… a fun, relaxing and utterly beautiful experience”. Other perks of this experience include a Sardinian-style lunch, drinks, Italian coffee, and the outdoor shower on the deck.
Spiaggia Del Principe
This gorgeous beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia. It's located near a small local village in Costa Smeralda, also in the northeast of the island. Costa Smeralda is known to be one of the best coastal areas in Sardinia. An exclusive tourist destination!
The area was first developed in 1961 with the help of Prince Karim Aga Khan. Spiaggia del Principe, one of the best beaches in Costa Smeralda, was named after him.
This beach is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. It's home to many varieties of small fish that you'll love seeing up close and personal. You also may see dolphins, whales, and turtles!
Alternatively, you can relax by the beach or head to the town to people-watch and talk to the locals. A few restaurants serve pasta, gelato, and cold drinks nearby, but none are on the beach.
It's the perfect trip for couples who want to look at unique places and share unique, one-of-a-kind memories!
Cala Brandinchi
Cala Brandinci is one of the shallowest beaches in the San Teodoro area. This makes it the perfect family destination!
Children will have a lot of incredible areas where they can safely splash and play. But it's not just a place for families. This beautiful beach sits on a protected nature reserve. It has a lot of natural sand banks, and the clear waters are reminiscent of gorgeous lagoons.
This makes it great for those who want to see local wildlife. The clarity that the Sardinian seas afford here makes it easy to spot unique fish species as they swim underwater.
Note: If you're visiting during the summer, reserve your spot online or arrive at the beach before 8:30 am, as this is a very popular destination.
La Pelosa
La Pelosa is a highly protected beach, and it's one of the only ones you'll need to pay a 3.5€ entry fee to visit.
But it's well worth the low cost, as this is often rated among the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean and the best beaches in Sardinia, Italy.
The sand is white and soft, and you'll get beautiful views of natural rock formations on nearby cliffs. Its comfortable, warm water makes it feel like a natural pool... perfect for romantic trips or solo relaxation!
Just remember that the natural beauty makes this one of the most popular beaches in Sardinia.
The beach limits daily access to only 1,500 people. You must book online before your visit as early as possible to ensure you have a place on the beach.
Cala Domestica
Cala Domestica is perfect for those who want to see as much of the natural world as possible. It’s located in Costa Verde, an area filled with natural cliffs and large sand dunes.
You'll also be able to see the Mediterranean mountains from the beaches there, which will give you an eyeful of all of the rare natural wonders that Sardinia has to offer.
Cala Domestica stands out because there are no tourist constructions nearby. There are restaurants and amenities, of course, as well as water sports equipment like rafts and canoes. But there aren't any big buildings to obstruct your view of the natural wonders besides the 18th-century watchtower that takes you back to simpler times.
You can get great panoramic beach views by climbing up this tower!
If you're feeling a little bolder, you can also hike the surrounding cliffs and mountains to take in as much of the area as possible. This is extremely romantic, making it the perfect place for you to pack your bags and visit with a partner.
Cala Mariolu
Cala Mariolu definitely belongs in the list of top 10 beaches in Sardinia because it shows off the island's natural rocky beauty. The beach is in a small valley that sits between steep walls made of tall collapsed rocks.
The beach itself is also divided into 2 parts by these rocks, so you'll have at least 2 days' worth of adventure possibilities there.
One of the best things about Cala Mariolu is that it's scattered with tiny pebbles. The locals call these pebbles "snowflakes “ because of their size and color. There's nothing quite like them anywhere else, so visiting these beaches is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you'll never forget!
But respect the terrain and don't take anything from its natural beauty. Photos will preserve the memories perfectly.
Cala Dei Gabbani
Also known as "seagull beach" or "seagull cove," Cala dei Gabbani is a bird watcher's paradise. If you prefer to look at wildlife from the sand or cliffside rather than underwater, this is the perfect destination for you!
This cove is located next to a rocky cliffside, and its clear waters sit next to a narrow strip of soft sand. Rock formations protrude from the water at intervals, making it an idyllic scene for those looking to see some interesting sights.
Spiaggia di Chia sa Colonia
Last but not least in our list of Sardegna's best beaches is: Spiaggia di Chia sa Colonia. Spiaggia di Chia sa Colonia is located in the southern part of the island. It's popular among the locals for its golden sand and proximity to the Chia Lagoon, where you can spot pink flamingos.
Visit the Best Sardinia Beaches ASAP!
Beach lovers everywhere love Mediterranean islands, and Sardinia is one of those destinations everyone should visit in their lifetime. Now that you know some of the best Sardinia beaches for blue water and white sand, it's time to start planning an amazing trip to Italy.
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Looking for incredible places to stay while in Sardinia? We are sharing some of our favorite hotels near the best beaches in Sardinia (map with details below).