Best Beaches in Sardinia: Costa Smeralda, Sinis, and the Wild South

Sardinia has some of the most extraordinary coastal scenery in the Mediterranean - not just beach-by-beach quality, but the combination of limestone cliffs, juniper maquis, and water that can be genuinely Caribbean in colour in the right light. This guide covers the island’s standout beaches from north to south, with honest notes on access difficulty and what to expect on the ground.

La Pelosa (Near Stintino, North-West)

La Pelosa is Sardinia’s most-photographed beach, and the photography doesn’t flatter it - it actually looks like that. The sand is white and fine, the water runs from transparent turquoise in the shallows to deep aquamarine offshore, and the Torre della Pelosa (a 16th-century Spanish watchtower) sits on a rock just off the beach.

The downside is that its fame has made it very popular. Since 2019, Sardinia has operated a mandatory entry reservation system for La Pelosa in July and August (entry fee approximately €3.50 per person, limited to 1,500 people per day). Reservations open online in spring and can sell out weeks ahead.

Getting there: From Stintino village (100km north-west of Sassari), a shuttle bus runs to the beach in summer (approximately €2 return). Stintino is reached from Sassari by regional bus or car (30 minutes). By car from Alghero: approximately 1h 10min.

Facilities: Limited on purpose - sunbeds are banned on La Pelosa to protect the sand. Bring your own shade. Toilets and a kiosk are available near the car park. The adjacent La Pelosetta beach (south side of the headland) has sunbed hire and is less restricted.

Crowd levels: Extreme in July and August even with the entry cap. Book the reservation early if visiting mid-summer. May, June, and September see far fewer visitors with identical water quality.

Spiaggia del Principe (Costa Smeralda)

The Costa Smeralda stretches along the north-east coast between Arzachena and San Pantaleo - a 55km coastline of granite headlands, hidden coves, and internationally known resort villages (Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe). Spiaggia del Principe is the stretch most consistently rated among the very best - a double-curved sandy beach in a granite cove, with water that ranges from white-sand-lit green in the shallows to deep blue offshore.

Getting there: By car from Arzachena (15km, 20 minutes on the SS125 and then local roads). From Olbia airport (the main entry point for the Costa Smeralda): approximately 45 minutes by car. There is no practical public transport to Spiaggia del Principe - a car or rental scooter is required.

Facilities: Sunbed hire available (approximately €25–40/day per set in peak season - this is Costa Smeralda pricing). The beach itself is beautiful; the infrastructure around it reflects the upscale character of the coast.

Crowd levels: Busy in July and August (the Costa Smeralda is a major holiday destination for Italian and international visitors). June and September are significantly quieter and prices drop.

Cala Goloritzè (Gulf of Orosei)

Cala Goloritzè is Sardinia’s most spectacular beach and one of the most impressive coastal formations in Italy - a small cove at the foot of the Aguglia (a free-standing limestone pinnacle, 143m tall, used by climbers) on the Supramonte coast. The water is completely clear over white limestone gravel. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Getting there: Two options:

1. By boat from Cala Gonone (the main resort town on the Orosei coast): tours depart daily in summer, approximately €25–35 per person for a half-day boat trip. This is the most common approach.
2. On foot from the Su Porteddu plateau, via a marked trail (approximately 3 hours each way, with a 400m descent and ascent on steep limestone paths). A guide is recommended for first-timers.

There is no road to the beach, no facilities (no shade, no toilets, no water), and no sunbeds. Pack everything you need.

Crowd levels: Limited by access - the boat capacity and the effort of the hike keep numbers manageable. Still busy in July and August, particularly on boat tours. The hike approach is always quieter.

Cala Luna (Gulf of Orosei)

A large sandy beach backed by eroded sea caves (the “luna” half-moon caves that give it its name), Cala Luna is also boat-accessible from Cala Gonone. It’s larger than Cala Goloritzè and has a freshwater stream creating a reed-bordered lagoon at the back of the beach. A trail also connects it to Cala Fuili (4km south).

Getting there: Boat from Cala Gonone (similar pricing to Cala Goloritzè, approximately €20–30 per person). The Cala Fuili trailhead is accessible by car from Cala Gonone (3km).

Facilities: Minimal - a bar operates in summer. Bring water and food.

Chia Beaches (South-West)

The Chia coast in the Sulcis area (south of Cagliari) has a different character to the north - long sand dunes backed by juniper forest, flamingo-inhabited lagoons, and turquoise water without the crowds of the Costa Smeralda. Su Giudeu is the most consistent beach; Spiaggia di Chia itself (backed by a Spanish watchtower, Torre di Chia) is more popular and has facilities.

Getting there: By car from Cagliari (60km south on the SS195, approximately 1 hour). Buses run from Cagliari to Chia in summer (ARST service, approximately €5–7 each way, journey 1h 15min).

Facilities: Sunbed hire at Su Giudeu (approximately €20–30/day). Beach bars. No showers at the more remote stretches.

Crowd levels: Less crowded than the Costa Smeralda. The dunes and lagoons give more space. Busy in August but manageable outside peak season.

Poetto Beach (Cagliari)

Poetto is the 8km beach immediately east of Cagliari’s city - a long, straight urban beach popular with locals, backed by the Molentargius lagoon (home to a large flamingo population). It’s not scenic in the way of the wild coves, but the combination of pink flamingos visible from the beach and easy city access makes it a practical option.

Getting there: City bus PF from Piazza Matteotti in Cagliari (approximately 25 minutes, €1.30 each way). Runs frequently all day.

Facilities: Multiple lidi with sunbeds (approximately €12–18/day), bars, restaurants. Showers available.

Crowd levels: This is Cagliari’s beach - packed on summer weekends, particularly August. Weekday mornings are calmer.

La Spiaggia di Bosa Marina (West Coast)

Bosa is one of the most charming small towns on Sardinia’s west coast - a medieval centre of coloured houses climbing a hill above the Temo river, with a beach town (Bosa Marina) 2km away. The beach itself is unremarkable by Sardinian standards, but the combination of beach, river, old town, and the malvasia wine (a sweet local speciality) make Bosa a rewarding base for a day.

Getting there: Buses from Alghero (ARST, approximately 1h 20min, around €4). By car from Alghero: 45km on the scenic coastal road (approximately 50 minutes).

Crowd levels: Low - Bosa is under-visited relative to its appeal. The beach is calm even in August.

For guided beach day tours and boat excursions, browse Sardinia tours - boat trips to Cala Luna and Cala Goloritzè are particularly popular and book up fast in summer.