Sardinia is Italy's second-largest island, famed for its pristine turquoise waters, rugged interior mountains, and ancient Nuragic civilizations. The island offers an extraordinary blend of dramatic coastlines, traditional villages, and vibrant cities that remain authentically Italian.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Sardinia.
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- family-friendly, calm and shallow, busy and tightly managed in summer
Spiaggia La Pelosa
Consistently voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, La Pelosa has fine white powdery sand, knee-deep crystal-clear turquoise water, and a striking Aragonese watchtower at the tip of the spit. Daily visitor numbers are capped at 1,500 in summer to protect the fragile sand ecosystem.
Editor’s tip. Arrive by 8:30am in peak season to secure your spot
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- remote, wild and undeveloped, awe-struck day-trippers
Cala Goloritzé
A UNESCO Natural Monument, Cala Goloritzé is one of the Mediterranean's most photographed beaches. A 143-metre limestone pinnacle dominates the small white pebble beach, and the turquoise water over white rock is utterly mesmerising. Accessible only by boat from Cala Gonone or a 2-hour hike from Baunei.
Editor’s tip. Take the first morning boat from Cala Gonone
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- refined, scenic and relatively low-key for the Costa Smeralda
Spiaggia del Principe
Named after the Aga Khan who developed the Costa Smeralda, this is consistently ranked among Italy's most beautiful beaches. A sheltered granite boulder cove with soft white-gold sand and extraordinarily clear water, it's less crowded than many Costa Smeralda beaches.
Editor’s tip. Arrive before 10am in peak season — parking fills quickly
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- wild and scenic, lively with day-trippers by midday in summer
Cala Luna
A crescent of white sand backed by towering limestone cliffs with freshwater caves to explore. Accessible only by boat from Cala Gonone or a 4–5 hour hike through Supramonte. Wild, remote, and utterly beautiful.
Editor’s tip. Bring food, water, and snorkelling gear
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- unique and wild, breezy, popular with windsurfers and day-trippers
Spiaggia di Is Arutas
One of the world's most unique beaches, Is Arutas is composed entirely of tiny quartz grains that resemble grains of rice in shades of white, pink, and grey. The unusual 'sand' creates extraordinary colour contrasts in the water. Part of the protected Sinis Peninsula.
Editor’s tip. Collecting the quartz grains is illegal and carries heavy fines — enjoy but don't take any home
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- family-friendly, calm and shallow, very busy in peak summer
Cala Brandinchi (Little Tahiti)
Known as 'Little Tahiti' for its tropical appearance, Cala Brandinchi has extraordinarily fine white sand, shallow warm water in shades of turquoise and blue, and is backed by fragrant juniper trees. Consistently voted among Italy's best beaches.
Editor’s tip. Arrive before 9am in July–August
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- wild and dramatic, a snorkellers' favourite, busy with boats midday
Spiaggia Cala Mariolu
One of the Gulf of Orosei's most beautiful beaches, Cala Mariolu has a distinctive beach of white and pale-pink pebbles surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs. The water is extraordinarily clear and deep.
Editor’s tip. Wear water shoes — pebbles can be sharp
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- remote and tranquil, wild adventurers and solitude-seekers
Spiaggia Cala Sisine
A magnificent wild beach accessible by boat or a 3-hour hike through the Baunei plateau. The beach is flanked by low limestone cliffs and has a small stream running onto the sand. One of the most unspoiled beaches in Sardinia.
Editor’s tip. The hike from Baunei is spectacular but challenging
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- remote and wild, snorkellers and solitude-seekers, often empty
Spiaggia della Pelosa (Punta Giglio)
A small, hidden beach at the base of Punta Giglio cliff in the Porto Conte Natural Park, accessed by a 45-minute trail through Mediterranean macchia. The clarity of the water is exceptional.
Editor’s tip. This is not the same as La Pelosa near Stintino — it's quieter and wilder
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- remote, wild and wind-swept, often near-empty
Spiaggia di Piscinas
On the wild Costa Verde, Piscinas beach is backed by some of the highest coastal sand dunes in Europe (up to 50 metres) covered in ancient juniper trees. The beach has a hauntingly beautiful, wind-swept character unlike anywhere else in Sardinia.
Editor’s tip. Stay at Le Dune di Piscinas hotel for a unique experience
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- relaxed and family-friendly, a mix of beach clubs and free sand
Liscia Ruja
One of the longer beaches on the Costa Smeralda, Liscia Ruja (Red Creek) has warm, shallow water and golden sand in a bay sheltered by granite headlands. Less exclusive than some Costa Smeralda beaches, with a mix of beach clubs and free areas.
Editor’s tip. Mix of expensive beach clubs and free public access areas — the free areas are perfectly lovely
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- calm, family-friendly and pine-shaded
Spiaggia Cala Cipolla
A peaceful beach near the Forte Village Resort in South Sardinia, Cala Cipolla is backed by Poseidon natural park pine forest and has calm, shallow water ideal for families. Less known than northern Sardinia beaches.
Editor’s tip. Good combination with visiting Nora ruins nearby
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- lively resort beach, family-friendly with water sports
Spiaggia di Simius
The main beach at the popular resort of Villasimius, with fine golden sand and the beautiful Capo Carbonara headland visible in the distance. The water is part of a marine protected area and is exceptionally clear.
Editor’s tip. The marine reserve around Capo Carbonara is excellent for snorkelling
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- wild, natural and low-key, family-friendly dune-backed sand
Spiaggia Sansone (Isola d'Elba comparison: Sardinia version)
Porto Pino's beaches are arguably the finest in southern Sardinia — a vast expanse of white dune-backed sand that stretches for kilometres with extraordinarily clear water. Backed by impressive dunes similar to Piscinas.
Editor’s tip. Combine with a visit to the Sulcis-Iglesiente region and Carbonia Museum
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.
Common questions
Quick answers to the questions we get asked most about Sardinia’s coast.
Do visitors need to book to visit La Pelosa?
Yes. In high summer the municipality of Stintino caps daily numbers at 1,500 and requires an online entry booking with a small per-person fee, so visitors should reserve a slot in advance for July and August.
From the Spiaggia La Pelosa editorial.
Why are shoes banned on the beach?
Shoes are prohibited and towels must be laid on straw mats rather than directly on the sand, both measures to slow erosion of the fine, fragile sand; removing any sand is also forbidden.
From the Spiaggia La Pelosa editorial.
How do visitors reach Cala Goloritzé?
Either by boat or dinghy from Cala Gonone or Santa Maria Navarrese, which anchor offshore, or on foot via a steep, rocky 3.5km path descending about 470 metres from the Golgo plateau above Baunei — a round trip of three to four hours.
From the Cala Goloritzé editorial.
Is there an entry fee or booking?
Yes. To protect the Natural Monument, the municipality of Baunei limits daily numbers and requires visitors to book entry online for a small fee of a few euros; climbing on or taking the white pebbles is prohibited.
From the Cala Goloritzé editorial.
Why is it called Spiaggia del Principe?
It is named after Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader and investor who spearheaded the development of the Costa Smeralda in the 1960s and reputedly counted this cove among his favourites.
From the Spiaggia del Principe editorial.
Is parking easy at Spiaggia del Principe?
No. Parking is informal and limited along the approach road and fills early in summer, after which visitors face a longer walk; arriving before 10am or coming by boat is advisable in peak season.
From the Spiaggia del Principe editorial.
How do visitors get to Cala Luna?
Most take a scheduled small boat or shared dinghy from the port of Cala Gonone, a 20–30 minute crossing, with some services from Santa Maria Navarrese; alternatively a demanding coastal hike of several hours leads in from Cala Fuili or the Supramonte.
From the Cala Luna editorial.
What are the caves at Cala Luna?
At the southern end of the beach a series of large natural caves opens in the limestone; they are big enough to walk into and provide welcome shade, and are one of the cove's most photographed features.
From the Cala Luna editorial.