Discover the Best Beaches in Sardinia

Even in a country where gorgeous beaches are abundant, the Italians admit that those in Sardinia are particularly bellissima. The island regularly tops polls of the world’s best beaches, with spiagge (beaches) ranging from the rugged, cliff-backed coves of the east to the dune-flanked strands of the west.

Sardinia’s snow-white beaches and bluer-than-blue seas are often likened to the Caribbean—however, why imagine yourself anywhere else?

Best for Escapists: Is Aruttas

Spearing into the Golfo di Oristano, the beaches on the Sinis Peninsula rank among the island’s loveliest. Ideally, having a car to reach them is advisable. The fair Is Aruttas features an arc frosted with white sand and tiny pebbles that make the water appear a startling shade of aquamarine. For years, its quartz sand was carted off for aquariums and beaches, but no more.

Bored of lounging on the beach? The nearby Putzu Idu attracts surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers. Alternatively, consider a boat trip to the bare, rocky Isola di Mal di Ventre (Stomach Ache Island), noted for the sea-sickness sailors often suffered while navigating its windy waters.

Best for Families: Chia

Chia may lack charm, but it compensates with stunning views. To appreciate the beauty, head up to the Spanish watchtower for views of its pretty pair of beaches—Spiaggia Sa Colonia to the west and horseshoe-shaped Spiaggia Su Portu to the east. Both are characterized by pale sands and shallow waters, where flamingos wade in the lagoon behind the beach.

Fancy a scenic drive? The panoramic SP71 road gracefully dips and rises along the Costa del Sud, one of southern Sardinia’s most beautiful coastal stretches.

Best for Solitude: Spiaggia di Piscinas

It’s worth traveling the extra mile to the Costa Verde (Green Coast) for a glimpse of the Sardinian coast at its wildest. One of the loveliest beaches is Spiaggia di Piscinas, a ribbon of golden sand running between a windswept sea and vast dunes flecked by hardy green scrub. The towering dunes rise up to 60m, accessible via a 9km dirt track off the SS126 (Ingurtosu exit).

For more seclusion, slide over to the neighboring Spiaggia di Scivu. Backed by huge dunes, the 3km stretch of fine sand is wonderfully secluded.

Best for Swimming: Spiaggia Rena Bianca

Santa Teresa di Gallura’s main beach, Spiaggia Rena Bianca, showcases a stretch of pale sand and some of the clearest, shallowest water on the island, making it a fantastic choice for a swim—even for families with small children. From here, gaze out across the Strait of Bonifacio towards Corsica, accompanied by views of the 16th-century Torre di Longonsardo.

A trail leads from the beach’s eastern tip, threading along the coast past granite boulders and rock formations that inspire imagination with their incredible shapes. More spectacular still is Capo Testa, 4km west of Santa Teresa, featuring giant, wind-licked granite boulders and paths winding through the scrub to rocky coves and the cobalt Mediterranean.

Best for White Sands: Spiaggia della Pelosa

Located 2.5km north of Stintino, Spiaggia della Pelosa is famed for its fine sand and shallow sea that transitions from aquamarine to topaz. Presided over by a Catalan-Aragonese watchtower on the craggy Isola Piana, this beach can be crowded in July and August; therefore, visiting outside these months is recommended for a more tranquil experience.

While here, consider taking a boat to Isola dell’Asinara, a national park known for its resident albino donkeys, perfect for exploration on foot or by bike.

Best Celebrity Hideaway: Spiaggia del Principe

A number of beautiful coves necklace the fabulous swoop of coastline where Gallura’s wind-whipped granite mountains tumble down to fjord-like inlets in the emerald sea. One of the finest is Spiaggia del Principe, a stunning crescent of pale sand nestled among low cliffs, named after Prince Karim Aga Khan, who has given it his seal of approval.

Bear in mind that the Costa Smeralda saturates with holidaymakers in July and August; therefore, avoiding these months can lead to cheaper rates and quieter beaches.

Best for Hikers and Climbers: Cala Goloritzè

Cala Goloritzè is one of the loveliest bays you’re likely to encounter, snugly nestled in the southern crook of the Golfo di Orosei. The sea sparkles with a shimmering blue hue, while bizarre limestone formations rise from cliffs draped in holm oaks. The Aguglia, a 148m high needle of rock towering over the beach, is a magnet for climbers.

The beach is about an hour’s walk down the old mule trail from the Altopiano del Golgo, a strange, other-worldly plateau where grazing goats, pigs, and donkeys create a unique ambiance.

Best for Boat Touring: Golfo di Orosei

Where the Gennargentu mountains collide spectacularly with the sea, the sweeping crescent of Golfo di Orosei offers a bounty of beautiful beaches. Consider basing yourself in Cala Gonone to embark on coastal excursions on foot or by boat.

If you do nothing else, cruise along the ‘Blue Crescent,’ featuring hidden coves and limestone cliffs rising above crystal-clear waters. Marvel at the rock climbers scaling the cliffs of Cala Luna, each cove outdoing the previous in beauty.

Best for Exotic Vibes: Cala Brandinchi

As the loveliest of San Teodoro’s beaches, Cala Brandinchi, often dubbed ‘Little Tahiti’, lives up to its reputation. The bay is a thin arc of soft sand lapped by crystalline turquoise waters and surrounded by lush pine woods, with the Isola Tavolara rising on the horizon.

Touring the coast also reveals other beach beauties, such as Spiaggia La Cinta, renowned for its sugar-fine sand and topaz sea. This beach attracts kitesurfers and birdwatchers, especially at Stagno San Teodoro, where you can spot pink flamingos, herons, little egrets, and kingfishers.

Best for Island-Hoppers: La Maddalena

Part of a cluster of pink granite islands forming the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena, Isola Maddalena is positioned at the northeastern tip of Sardinia in the windy Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica. It’s an excellent base for boating around the island’s fabulous coves, jewel-colored waters, and intricately sculpted granite formations.

Alternatively, hop over to its wild, serene sister, Isola Caprera, draped in pine trees and with inviting coves. Giuseppe Garibaldi, a renowned Italian revolutionary, resided here, making it his retreat.

Last updated January 2020.

This article was first published on May 16, 2019, and updated on January 3, 2020.