Italy for me From Italy with love
Sardinia (Sardegna) is an island of more than 180 km of various beaches. Sandy and pebbly, snow-white and pink, well-maintained and wild, the beaches of Sardinia are distinguished by the purity of the water, and coastline, and beautiful landscape.
Whether you follow a friend’s advice, an advertisement from a travel agency, or you choose a random beach on the map of the island – an unforgettable vacation is guaranteed. Listing the best beaches in Sardinia is a difficult task. There are over three hundred of them, and each is good in its own way, but we will try.
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Emerald Coast – Costa Smeralda
Costa Smeralda is the most fashionable beach area in the northeastern part of the island. The name was given thanks to the Lebanese billionaire prince Aga Khan, who bought land here in 1960. The prince built a large resort area, including the Costa Smeralda yacht club.
Porto Cervo Beaches
Porto Cervo is recognized as the pearl of the Emerald Coast. It has a well-developed infrastructure and the best yacht berths in Europe. A popular holiday destination for the “rich and famous.”
- Princes Beach (Spiaggia del Principe) is named after the Aga Khan. It’s sandy, in the shape of a horseshoe, with a gentle slope and a granite bottom.
- Liscia Ruja beach is good for its shallow bay and white and pink sand. It’s surrounded by strawberry and juniper trees. Ideal for families with small children.
- To the south is Petra Ruja – the pink beach of the Emerald Coast. This shade is given to it by the fragments and shells of the picturesque red rocks that stretch along the coast.
Hotels in Porto Cervo are the best in Sardinia, there are many elite and expensive ones, but there are also budget options. Well-equipped and not too expensive hotels Balocco Hotel and Colonna Park Hotel are within walking distance from the beach.
Porto Rotondo
Porto Rotondo is a popular destination for divers and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. His villa Certosa has direct access to the sea. The best beaches of Porto Rotondo are Marinella and Ira, with silky white sand and rocks of an attractive shape. The best choice for those who enjoy water sports.
Porto Rotondo offers comfortable hotels for tourists. Prices vary on the season and their distance to the beach. The cozy and affordable Sulià House Porto Rotondo, Curio Collection by Hilton is 2 km from the Marinella beach.
Baia Sardinia
Baia Sardinia is the most lively resort on the Emerald Coast. Located opposite the La Maddalena archipelago. It attracts tourists with its bustling nightlife and the wonderful Aquadream water park. The beautiful and picturesque beaches of Baia Sardinia are covered with pink porphyry chips from the nearby rocks. The beach is only 100 meters from the Hotel Mon Repos.
Santa Teresa di Gallura
Santa Teresa di Gallura is the northernmost resort of Sardinia, closely located to Corsica and the Apennine Peninsula, so Italians like to relax here. The beaches of Santa Teresa di Gallura are spread among the cliffs. The most popular is Rena Bianca, with white sand and turquoise water. L’Ancora and Corralaro hotels are just 200 meters from the coast. The hotels provide bouts for trips. If you travel with children, book Colonna Grand Hotel Capo Testa. The complex includes two hotels with their own beaches, a SPA and thalassotherapy center, a mini club and a swimming pool for children.
I also recommend checking out our guide to the Amalfi Coast.
Archipelago of La Maddalena Beaches
The archipelago of La Maddalena (La Maddalena) is near the northeast coast of Sardinia. Since 1996 the area has been declared a National Park of Italy. Here you can enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean in its original state. It has direct transport links with Costa Smeralda. The closest resort is Baia Sardinia, from where you can reach the archipelago by car over the bridge or by boat from any of the local beaches.
- Maddalena is the largest and the only inhabited island of the archipelago. The sandy beach and transparent turquoise depths attract divers, while architecture fans will like the island thanks to its historic center.
- Spiaggia Rosa, a pink beach reserve, is also located on Budelli island.
- The color of the sand is due to the decaying mollusk shells. Michelangelo Antonioni’s film “Red Desert” (Il Deserto Rosso) was shooted here. Unfortunately, entry to the beach is prohibited. You can only admire from afar ordering a boat trip.
- The main attractions of Caprera Island are the Velico Sailing School and the Giuseppe Garibaldi House Museum. The cozy bays of the island are perfect for fishing and romantic swimming together.
Coral Riviera Alghero
The Coral Riviera of Alghero includes the following beaches:
- The central Lido beach (Lido di Alghero) is a great option for those who want to combine the delights of city life with a beach holiday. The city is known as “little Barcelona,” and tourists will be delighted by the Catalan architecture and timeless holiday atmosphere.
- The sands of Burantin Beach are intricately curved in the shape of a heart.
- Le Bombarde beach is beloved by the locals. Clean water and healthy air, smelling of pine trees growing around.
Alghero offers fantastic hotels with their history: Elizabeth Taylor (Elizabeth Taylor) and Anthony Quinn (Anthony Quinn) stayed in Villa Las Tronas Algero.
Oristano beaches
- A few kilometers from Oristano are the “rice” beaches of Mari Ermi and Is Arutas. Both are covered with small quartz pebbles resembling rice. Quartz is primarily white, with blotches of green, yellow, and gray colors. It looks very beautiful and unusual. It is forbidden to take out pebbles. The fine is 500 EUR. The infrastructure is completely absent. No hotels and restaurants are within walking distance, and you won’t even find sun loungers. You will have to sunbathe while lying on quartz, which is extremely good for your health.
- Putzu Idu is an open beach with fine sand and long waves, a real paradise for surfers.
There are many accommodation options in Oristano; one is Villa Delle Rose – a good and relatively inexpensive hotel.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia. The city is notable for its historical and architectural monuments.
- Poetto beach is the largest in Italy and is about 8 km long. As it is in the city, the infrastructure is well developed: many bars, discos, open-air cinemas, and trattorias with takeaway food. But due to the large influx of tourists, the water can be a little muddy during the season.
- The beaches of Villasimius in the province of Cagliari are a wonderful place to relax for lovers of clear sea and beautiful views. There is another “rice” beach here – Spiaggia del Riso.
- The beaches of Costa Rei are marked by the Blue Flag of ecologists and are recognized as the cleanest ones in Sardinia.
- The longest beach in Sardinia is located 50 km from Cagliari, in Torre delle Stelle town, which is an ideal spot for fans of a relaxing vacation. The season here lasts from April to October.
The Calamosca Hotel in Cagliari has its own beach and terraces overlooking the sea. La Villa Del Mare and Hotel Villa Sveva are a one-minute walk from Poetto Beach.