The 17 Most Beautiful Beaches in Sardinia, Italy [+Free Map]

Map of Sardinia Beaches

Last summer, Nesrine and I visited Sardinia in a week from North to South, and one thing is sure: the beaches there are no joke!

Golden sandy beaches, azure transparent waters with dramatic cliff landscapes everywhere. We felt like we were in the middle of the Caribbeans, but only a 2-hour flight from our home in Paris!

I’ve gathered the 17 prettiest ones on a map to help you travel the region easily. Get it right in your inbox for free.👇  

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Want to know more about these beautiful Sardinian beaches?

Keep reading below, beaches are listed by location (north, east, west, and south) and you will find more details about them & photos.

The Best Beaches in North Sardinia

North Sardinia is mostly known for featuring the Costa Smeralda, one of the most expensive coasts in the world, but also for having the bluest seas on the island.

To start this list of Sardinia best beaches, let’s go north!   

1. La Pelosa

Located on the northwest coast of Sardinia, La Pelosa is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island.

Many times rated among the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia and the Mediterranean, Spiaggia La Pelosa is like a huge natural swimming pool. The sand is white and soft, the water is remarkably clear and the setting is magnificent.

In high season, it is obviously crowded and access to the beach is not free. As it is a highly preserved beach, you will also have to put a mat under your towel to protect the area’s vulnerable ecosystem.

2. Cala Li Cossi

This beautiful beach nestled in an exceptional environment on the Costa Paradiso not far from Santa Teresa di Gallura is, for me, the best beach in northern Sardinia.

The cove is sheltered between cliffs of many colors, the sand is golden and the water varies between emerald green and azure blue. It is a true delight for the eyes!

You will reach Spiaggia di Cala Li Cossi after a short 15-minute walk on a remarkable panoramic coastal path. But you may take longer as you will certainly stop many times to take photos.  

3. Cala Coticcio

Cala Coticcio is a small hidden cove located on Caprera, one of the islands of the archipelago of La Maddalena. It is often referred to as the most beautiful beach in all the archipelago. 

The beach is locally known as Tahiti because of the intense blue color of its waters, along with the pinky rocks that frame it. 

There are 2 ways to discover Cala Coticcio: you can either go there by boat or by guided hike. The hike is a 1-hour trail of medium level, so prefer taking the boat tour if you are not in good condition. 

4. Principe

The “Prince Beach”, previously known as Spiaggia Poltu Di Li Cogghj,  is a beautiful arc of white sand surrounded by natural Sardinian vegetation situated about 30-minute drive north from Olbia. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Emerald Coast!

Spiaggia il Principe is located in a secluded cove accessible after a short 10-minute walk through the scrubland. This beach known for its turquoise waters and pinky rocks is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the breathtaking view.

5. Porto Istana

This small cove in front of the island of Tavolara not far from Olbia is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Spiaggia di Porto Istana is known for its clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches.

The beach is located in a breathtaking natural setting, with cliffs, rocks, and Mediterranean vegetation. Rocky strips divide the beach into 4 distinct and numbered areas for easy identification.

Visitors can enjoy many activities on the beach, such as swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and kayaking.

Traveling north of Sardinia? Well, check out 👉 on this post 👈 the other great beaches you can find in this part of the island (because yes, there are much more!). 

The Best Beaches in East Sardinia

East Sardinia is mostly famous for hosting the Gulf of Orosei. This region is the perfect union between the mountain and the sea offering deep canyons, huge cliffs, natural caves, and hidden beaches.

6. Cala Brandinchi

Cala Brandinchi is a protected nature reserve, home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is rightly called “Little Tahiti” because of its sandy banks and crystal clear waters similar to Polynesian lagoons.

Cala Brandinci is surely one of the best beaches in Sardinia for families since it is very shallow, ideal for young children.

This beach will still delight all types of visitors, whether you are looking for relaxing, romantic, or sporty beach holidays. There are plenty of options for swimming, sunbathing, sailing, windsurfing, and more. And if you want to explore the surrounding area, there are many hiking and biking trails to enjoy.

7. Cala Mariolu

Cala Mariolu is a beautiful beach nestled in the middle of steep walls, divided in 2 by collapsed rocks. The transparency and color of the sea are unmatched and it is compared to most exotic destinations.

This jewel of a beach is scattered with small pebbles called “snowflakes” by the Sardinians, and make this beach truly unique.

Cala Mariolu is very suitable for scuba diving and is one of the best beaches in Sardinia for snorkeling, as the clear emerald green waters allow you to see the sea bed clearly.

8. Cala Goloritzé

Cala Goloritzé is certainly the most popular beach in Sardinia (my favorite of all), although it is not so easy to reach! 

Indeed, Cala Goloritzé is only accessible after a 45min -1 hour hike with good shoes, or by boat. If you choose hiking, the access is regulated and charged in order to protect this jewel classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1995.

When you arrive at the beach, you will be simply amazed. It is a real piece of paradise surrounded by high cliffs with indescribably blue water. 

9. Cala Luna

Located in the Gulf of Orosei like its neighbor Goloritzé, Cala Luna is an incredible white pebble beach accessible by sea or on foot. The name Cala Luna means “moonlight cove” in Italian because the high cliffs that surround it reflect the moonlight and make the water glow.

From the sea, the landscape is surreal. Cala Luna stretches at the foot of cliffs with natural caves offering shelter from the sun during the hottest months of the summer season.

Fun fact about this Sardinian gem: Cala Luna has been the location for several movies, including Swept Away.

The Best Beaches in West Sardinia

West of Sardinia is quieter than the other regions, but as full of incredible gems, including beautiful cities like Alghero or Bosa, and of course, great paradise beaches. 

10. Mari Ermi

Spiaggia Mari Ermi is located on the peninsula of Sinis about 2-hour drive south from Alghero, and is known for its white quartz beach, but also for windsurfing because of the mistral that can sometimes be heavy. 

Of course, turquoise waters and a paradise setting await you. The beach is very long (about 1,700 meters) and flat, which is great if you like walking on the sand, especially at sunset. 

11. Is Arutas

Also located on the peninsula of Sinis, the Spiaggia di Is Arutas on the west coast is known as “the beach with grains of rice”. Indeed, this picturesque beach is made of fine quartz balls that are no bigger than grains of rice.

The crystal clear water quickly becomes deep and the wind can blow strongly, which is best suited to surfers rather than to children!

12. Cala Domestica

Nestled in white limestone cliffs in the heart of the wild Costa Verde, Spiaggia di Cala Domestica is one of the most beautiful beaches Sardinia has to offer!

Completely untouched by tourist constructions, this bay dominated by a beautiful 18th-century watchtower offers azure water and fine sand, perfect for sunbathing or scuba diving. For great panoramic views and great shots, hike up to the tower! 

The Best Beaches in South Sardinia

South of Sardinia is more varied, but also wilder and less touristy. On the southern coast, there are many large stretches of fine sand where the water is just as welcoming as everywhere on the island.

13. Punta Molentis

Punta Molentis is maybe the beach with the most spectacular Caribbean-style landscape! This is why this beach is widely used to film movies and advertisements. 

Spiaggia di Punta Molentis is located in a wild panorama where the shoreline is sometimes pink, the sea always turquoise and the vegetation is flourishing. A part of the beach is of sand while the other is of pebbles, you can choose one of the other.

However, you should know that entry to this beach is restricted to 300 people a day during the high season, so prepare well for your visit! 

14. Porto Giunco

The city of Villasimius offers some of the best beaches to visit in Sardinia. The beach of Porto Giunco is one of them and often appears on postcards.

Made of fine white sand, this large beach extends for a few hundred meters and meets the ideal conditions for scuba diving. Behind it is the pond of Notteri, and a tower dominates the area.

15. Poetto

Poetto is the closest beach to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, which is one of the reasons why this beach is very popular.

With a length of 8 kilometers, Spiaggia del Poetto offers everything you need for a perfect day at the beach: soft sand, transparent water, and various activities to entertain your kids (sailing, diving, surfing,…). If you are lucky, you might even see pink flamingos flying over the beach!

16. Tuerredda

The cove of Tuerredda, nestled between Cape Malfatano and Cape Spartivento in Teulada, is often considered the most beautiful beach in Sardinia.

Indeed, this corner of paradise protected from the wind offers fine white sand and turquoise water with incredibly rich sea life. The perfect setting for a break!

17. Su Giudeu

Su Giudeu beach is certainly one of the best beaches Sardinia has to offer, especially for families.

This white sand paradise with transparent waters is located in the city of Chia and boasts sand dunes and a very large beach with plenty of space. Depending on the time of year, the water can be quite deep but it is still suitable for children.

Not far from there is also a big rock, the island of Giudeu, on which goats can be seen during springtime!

If you are staying in this part of the island, then discover other amazing beaches in Southern Sardinia in this article. 

FAQ about the Best Beaches in Sardinia

Find below the answers to the questions you might have about visiting the best Sardinia beaches. 👇

What part of Sardinia has the best beaches? 

It is very difficult to answer this question because everywhere in Sardinia, you will find beautiful beaches where you can put your towel. But you should know the north and south of the island have somewhat different styles. 

North Sardinia is world famous because of the luxury hotels and yachts of the Costa Smeralda that attracts billionaires and celebrities from around the world. Prices are quite high, so this is not necessarily the place to settle down if your travel budget is limited. 

South Sardinia is mostly known for having wilder beaches than those in the north, and very long beaches with a lot of space, even in high season. It is best suited to family or low-budget vacations. 

Our opinion: Nesrine and I loved both north and south. Yes, our hotels were a bit expensive in the north, but visiting La Maddalena and Cala li Cossi was worth it! So, no pressure here, you will be fine either way 😉 

When should I travel to Sardinia to make the most of the beaches?

In Sardinia, bathing is pleasant from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn, that is from June to October. During these 5 months, the sea temperature ranges from 21,3 to 25°C (70.3 – 77°F).

July and August are the high season months in Sardinia. Crowds are so heavy that you may feel overwhelmed on some beaches, especially the smallest ones. If you can come before or after this peak season, you should take advantage of it. But if you don’t have the choice but to go this time of the year, try the end of August, as it is a bit less crowded.  

In May and November, swimming is cooler, and the temperature quickly drops below 20°C, between 18 and 19.4°C (64.4 – 66.9°F). And from December to April, bathing is much too cold, I would advise you not to go to Sardinia at this time of the year.

So, prefer the months of June, September, and early October. Plus, the prices are a little lower during these periods.

Do I need to pay to access Sardinia top beaches?

The majority of the beaches of Sardinia are free of access, except for those highly protected like La Pelosa or Cala Goloritzé for example. For these beaches, you have to pay an entry fee (1 – 4€) or even book your spot in advance online or by phone. 

However, almost all the parking lots on the beaches are charged. Parking lots cost between 2€/hour to 10€/day (yes, sometimes you have to pay for a whole day even if you are staying only a few hours). 

In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises, I recommend that you always have enough cash on hand to either pay for parking or an unexpected entry fee. Especially since credit cards are not always accepted. 

Are there any rules to follow on the beaches of Sardinia?

In general, there are some minimum rules (not really rules, more like good manners) to respect on all the beaches on earth in order to preserve the nature that surrounds us:

• ✅ Leave no trace on the way: take all your trash and items you came with back again with you. It is very important not to pollute and to leave your place clean as not all beaches are equipped with bins. 
• 🐕 No animals without permission: dogs aren’t allowed on all beaches in Sardinia, so make sure to check out if you can bring your animal to the beach you want to go to in advance. 
• 🔥 No barbecue: in general, avoid lighting a fire, even for a barbecue, in the middle of nature for obvious reasons. 

In Sardinia, you should know that you can’t take sand with you. Stealing sand is considered a crime and you can be fined up to 3,000€. 

Also, some beaches like La Pelosa have very specific rules that need to be followed in order to protect them from degradation. 

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Visit Sardinia

Going to Sardinia? Here are further readings that will help you plan your trip to Sardinia: 

👉 Here is the main travel guide: 7 Days Itinerary in Sardinia (with free map)

If you are looking for more specific Sardinia Italy beaches, here are other dedicated guides:  

• The Best Beaches in North Sardinia 
• The Best Beaches in South Sardinia
• The Best Spots to Snorkeling Sardinia
• The Most Beautiful Beaches in La Maddalena
• The Best Beaches Near Olbia

Also, find below my guides to discovering some of Sardinia’s best attractions: 

• The Best Things to Do in Olbia 
• Visit Cala Goloritzé in the Gulf of Orosei
• Hiking Guide to Cala Napoletana, La Maddalena
• Visit Laveria Lamarmora
• Discovering Porto Flavia & Pan di Zucchero
• Visit the archeological site of Tharros 
• Hiking Capo San Marco, Sardinia
• Visit Neptune’s Grotto
• Complete Guide to Spiaggia di Cala Li Cossi

Finally, if you’re looking for a home base in Sardinia, you will find my best accommodation recommendations below:

• The Best Areas to Stay in Sardinia
• The Best Place to Stay in Sardinia for Couples
• The Best Places for Nightlife in Sardinia

I hope you’ve found the right beach for you thanks to this guide. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below. 

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