The Italian island of Sardinia has more than 1,000 miles of stunning Mediterranean coastline and is known for having some of the best beaches in Italy. While almost every section of the island can claim some great beaches, some are easier to reach and better equipped for families or first-time visitors. Here are five of our favorite beaches in Sardinia.
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Playa Poetto, Cagliari
Direction
Poetto, ItalyGet directions
If you want atmosphere and activities, Poetto beach, a city beach on the outskirts of Cagliari, is perfect. Poetto is popular with locals and tourists alike and is easily accessible from the city center in a short bus ride. On weekends and in summer, the wide stretch of white sand is packed with sun worshipers in search of anything from a lazy day to extreme water sports like kite surfing.
Poetto Beach is separated from the city by a strip of undeveloped land that gives it a clean and open feel. Overlooked its name, Torre del Poeta or Torre de Poeta, it’s a great place to spend a sunny day. The beach also has a popular well exposed beach surf spot with reliable waves driven by an offshore wind from the north and northwest. There are many surf spots along the 3.7-mile (6-kilometer) city beach that are perfect for beginners.
At Poetto Beach there are several places to stay. Cagliari, on the south coast, is the largest city in Sardinia and has an airport and a ferry port.
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La Bombarde Beach, Alghero
Direction
Bombarde Beach, ItalyGet directions
A short bus ride from Alghero city takes you to this well-kept local secret. As tourists flock to the beach in Alghero harbor, those in the know head to La Bombarde, where snow-white sand awaits them with the scent of the surrounding pine forests. The sea at La Bombarde is clear, blue and calm, perfect for swimming. The beach is the right balance, it is never crowded, but it is still alive, with a number of cafes and restaurants.
Alghero, a city founded by the Doria family of Genoa, is located on the northwest coast of Sardinia and is one of the most attractive tourist areas in Sardinia. Holidays in Alghero have become more popular in recent years, although the city still retains its distinctive Catalan character.
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Dunas Piscinas, near Arbus
Direction
09031 Arbus, Cerdeña, VS, ItalyGet directions
The Piscinas dunes are reached by car, along an old gravel road from Arbus. Along the way, you pass the remains of mines from the 19th century before reaching the unbroken five miles of sand. There is an aspect of the wild to the beach and it is home to everything from foxes to sea turtles. The dunes reach up to 50 meters in height as the mistral winds constantly move and reshape the landscape, making for an exciting day.
Arbus is located in the southwestern part of the island, south of the city of Oristano, and the dunes are on the west coast, near Marina di Arbus.
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Príncipe beach, Costa Smeralda
Direction
Poltu Di Li Cogghj Beach, ItalyGet directions
The pink granite rock covered coves at Spiaggia del Principe, developed in the 1960s by Prince Karim Aga Khan, are known for stunning clear blue water that is perfect for snorkelling and fish watching. The beach is a perfect crescent of fine sand that encloses a blue-green bay. All the beaches in the area are publicly accessible, so there are no fees.
The Costa Smeralda region, favored by the rich and famous, is located on the northeast coast of Sardinia, 30 km north of the port city of Olbia. Costa Smeralda is made up of 80 bays and beaches, most of which are accessible by boat or yacht. Visitors can choose from a wide range of luxurious 5-star hotels around Porto Cervo, such as these luxury hotels listed in Charming Sardinia.
The city of Porto Cervo was created in the 1960s by Prince Aga Khan, who was fascinated by the beauty of this stretch of Gallura and created the Costa Smeralda Consortium to help enhance and maintain the natural beauty of the area.
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Cala Luna, Cala Gonone
Direction
Cala Luna, ItalyGet directions
Cala Luna is located near the seaside resort of Cala Gonone, on the east coast of Sardinia. Cala Gonone is very close to the city of Dorgali and the Gennargentu National Park. The beach itself, featured in the 2002 Guy Ritchies film “Swept Away,” is known as Moon Cove because of its crescent-shaped white sand beach and dramatic cliff backdrop. Accessible by boat or on foot, the picturesque beach is protected by limestone, fuchsia and oleander cliffs.
However, getting to the beach is a compromise, requiring a strenuous 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike on a trail from Cala Fuili. The beach can also be reached by ferry from Cala Gonone during the summer. There are several 3 and 4 star hotels in Cala Gonone. Read more about the best beaches in this stretch of Sardinia’s Gulf of Orosei.
While most of the beaches on the island of Sardinia offer free access, some have private bathing establishments where you will have to pay to rent a lounger and umbrella.
