Sardinia Beaches
Discover Sardinia and its best beaches
Sardinia is an island located in the western Mediterranean, belonging to Italy. Its geographical location makes it an ideal destination for seaside vacations, with a long coastline that stretches for about 1800 km. The landscape is characterized by a great variety of natural environments, including sandy beaches, cliffs overlooking the sea, forests of holm oak and cork oak, mountains, and hills.
The shores that enrich the region are numerous and very diverse, each characterized by particular composition and conformation. The most famous beaches are probably those of the Costa Smeralda, which is located in the north-eastern part of the island. This area is famous worldwide for its emerald-coloured sea, fine and golden sandy beaches, lively squares, and high-quality services. The destinations of Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo, Cala di Volpe, and the Grande Pevero are among the most exclusive luxury tourism spots, and summer gatherings of the international jet-set.
Equally paradisiacal beaches are located to the north of the region, on the splendid Sardinian islands: the Archipelago of La Maddalena, off the coast of the Costa Smeralda, includes seven major islands, about fifteen islets, and hundreds of emerging rocks, which stand out for the beauty of their jagged coasts and their pristine nature. La Maddalena, on the homonymous island, is the only inhabited centre of the entire archipelago; the other major islands are Caprera, also known as the place where Giuseppe Garibaldi spent his last days, and finally Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, and Razzoli.
In the north-western part of the island lies the island of Asinara, once used as a maximum-security prison, but today it is the site of the Asinara National Park. Its shores, together with those of the island of Piana, offer a view of one of the most admired and beloved beaches in the entire Mediterranean: La Pelosa. Located on the coast 2 km from Stintino, with its shallow sea, transparent water ranging from turquoise to blue, the imposing seventeenth-century building of the Torre Pelosa towering over the coast, the white, very fine and soft sand, La Pelosa beach is an enchanted place.
The island of Tavolara, at the mouth of the Gulf of Olbia, is also one of the most interesting areas of the Mediterranean, especially for diving enthusiasts, thanks to the presence of numerous underwater archaeological sites.
Moving towards the central part of Sardinia, there are beaches with coarse sand, such as those of Chia and Villasimius, which are perfect for those who love long walks along the coast. In this area, however, there are also beaches with fine sand, such as Cala Gonone (on the east coast) or the beach of Is Arenas (to the west) which are surrounded by cliffs overlooking the sea and lush vegetation. Cala Goloritzé is also famous, an isolated beach with white sand and pebbles overlooking a natural stone arch, which is reachable via an arduous path perfect for those who love trekking.
A truly suggestive panorama is offered by the Grandi Rocce Rosse di Arbatax, which characterize the central-eastern part of the Sardinian coast: red porphyry cliffs that emerge from the sea and give rise to an incredible scenario. The cliffs overlooking the sea are, in fact, a characteristic of the eastern coast of the island, such as the Punta La Marmora cliff and the Punta Ispuligi cliff.
In the southern part of Sardinia, there are coastlines with fine, golden sand, such as the famous Piscinas Beach: a jewel of the south-western Costa Verde, located in the province of Arbus. It is an oasis set in a dazzling yellow-ochre desert, where sand dunes shaped by the mistral wind have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alternating with these types of beaches are others with coarse sand, such as Cala Zafferano, framed by lush vegetation and clear seas, which also constitutes the only way to reach it. As you go up the western side of the region, you can see the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro: guardians of ancient local traditions, their coasts reveal small coves that hide tiny beaches and expose high cliffs. Surreal panoramas where water and wind have eroded the basalt rock, giving the landscape an incredible charm.
Sardinia is also an ideal destination for those who love water sports, such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, and sailing. The great variety of fish and marine bottoms to explore lends itself to snorkeling and diving to discover the island's underwater beauty. Those who prefer to stay on the surface, on the other hand, can contact the many existing companies and book exciting boat trips. If adventure is what you are looking for, then you cannot miss excursions to the hinterland or visits to picturesque villages in the Sardinian countryside.
In short, whatever scenario you imagine for your vacation, in Sardinia it will become a reality.