Ask any Italian why you should go to Sardinia and they will answer, probably a bit melancholy, “Il mare, è stupendo” (The sea is great).
Italy’s second largest Mediterranean island is surrounded by a painfully beautiful sea of crystal clear, deep blue and green waters. Although countless beaches could boast that they are the most beautiful on the island, the ones along the Golfo di Orosei, on the central east coast of Sardinia, are the material of screen protectors and vision panels throughout the world. Some are smooth and sandy; some are steep and pebbled; some of them are easy to reach; some require a bit of work and planning, but all are worth it.
How to get to the best beaches of the Golfo di Orosei
Start with the tamer sands along the northern part of the gulf, which can be reached by car. Things get more and more dramatic and elusive along the southern arc of the gulf. Some of the following beaches are easily accessible by boat, but you will need to decide on your preferred boat before leaving:
- Yacht-sized boats can accommodate 100 or more people and are generally the cheapest option, typically offering amenities such as lunch on board, restrooms, and a smoother ride. However, they can also have a cattle car feel and will stop at fewer beaches.
- Gommone , or rafts of the zodiac, can be booked with or without a driver or guide. The guided rubber boat can carry a maximum of 12 people and offers a fun and bumpy ride as the sea trial captain jumps over the waves from beach to beach. These guides know all the nooks and crannies of the shoreline, and will even drive to grottos or chase schools of frolicking dolphins.
- If you choose to rent your own gommone, you can stop wherever you want for as long as you want. Guided or self-propelled, Gommone brings you closer to shore and stops at more beaches than large ships.
Boats of all sizes leave from the city’s marinas at Orosei or Cala Gonone. Most head to the southern tip of the gulf first, then return north, stopping at beaches and coves along the way.
Biderosa Oasis
One thing is missing along this tranquil chain of five shallow-water sandy beaches: crowds. With an entrance fee, a daily limit of just 140 cars and 30 motorcycles, and plenty of room to spread out, the Biderosa Oasis is a tranquil haven with plenty of amenities.
Services include a food truck, potty racks, and rental of umbrellas, beach chairs, and canoes. Walking trails traverse the 860-hectare site and flocks of flamingos and other migratory birds make seasonal pit stops at the Biderosa lagoons. There are no daily entry limits for walkers or cyclists.
Cala Liberotto and Cala Ginepro
Plan to arrive early at either of these two sandy beaches south of Biderosa; both are excellent for their scenery, calm waters for young children, and adult diversions like snorkeling, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Located northeast of the town of Sos Alinos, both Cala Liberotto and Cala Ginepro are easily accessible by car. There is plenty of parking at both beaches (paid at Cala Ginepro; free at Cala Liberotto), plus nearby bars, restaurants, and beach rentals.
Once there, choose a spot shaded by overgrown junipers and pine trees, or to snorkel, get close to one of the rocky spots, which hide quiet, hidden pools of dazzlingly clear water.
Cala Goloritzé
Located in the town of Baunei, in the southern part of the Gulf of Orosei, Cala Goloritzé beach was created by a landslide in 1962 and is famous for its 143-meter-high pinnacle towering over the cove.
This UNESCO-protected, rock-covered pebble beach, backed by severe granite cliffs, will likely be your first boat stop if you book a trip on a yacht or gommone.
Motorized boats must stay 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet) from shore, which means that most guided boats make short stops to take photos – anyone who wants to get ashore from a private boat has to swim. As a result, you will have it largely to yourself if you can actually make it to the beach.
If you choose to hike, it’s a 10-mile drive from Baunei, the nearest town, to a parking area on the Golgo Plateau. From there, the 90-minute walk to the beach involves elevation changes and rock flapping, as well as intense sun and heat in the summer months. Hiking boots and plenty of water are essential.
Your reward is well worth it: swimming under a natural sea arch, snorkeling with schools of fish, and sunbathing on what feels (almost) like a desert island. However, if you choose to hike to Cala Goloritzé, be sure to allow enough time for the hike back to your car before dark.
Cala Mariolu
Calas Mariolu and Cala Goloritzé compete for first place on many of the “most beautiful beaches” on the list. If you’ve made the effort to hike to Goloritze you can continue to Cala Mariolu, but it’s an extreme hike with steep vertical descents.
Instead, plan to arrive by boat. Gommone and larger vessels can crawl ashore here and drop off passengers, then anchor offshore and wait. If the beach feels a bit crowded, dive into those cerulean waters and you’ll quickly feel like you’re in another world altogether.
As you continue on your boat tour, hop on the Piscine di Venere or the Pools of Venus. Although the beach here is off limits due to frequent rock slides, the deep, ridiculously clear, fish-filled waters are among the most attractive in the gulf. Your guided boat will only make a quick stop here, and we guarantee you’ll wish it was longer.
Cala Bariola
This sand and pebble beach is a true wonder, with a sea arch on one side and vertical cliffs on the other, plus massive rocks that serve as ideal diving platforms.
Cala Bariola is a small beach, so not so many rental boats stop here compared to Mariolu or Cala Luna. Although you can technically walk to Cala Bariola (also called Cala Biriala), it is at least three hours from the nearest parking lot or the city. You are much better off with a skipper or driverless gommone.
Cala Luna
Famous for its massive caverns carved out of the sea that extend deep into the rock face, this often photographed beach is a mix of sand and stone, with a fairly steep shoreline and rapidly deepening water. Cala Luna is backed by a shallow lagoon with boat rentals for kids, and you can also dine at a rustic restaurant and bar nearby.
You can walk here via a three-hour hike from Cala Fuili, a pebble beach near the town of Cala Gonone. Along the way, take a detour to the Gruta del Bue Marino, an otherworldly sea cave with daily tours. Alternatively, you can also do what most visitors do and reach the grotto by boat.
