Spiaggia del Principe

Spiaggia del Principe sits on the Costa Smeralda in north-eastern Sardinia, Italy, between Romazzino and Capriccioli in the municipality of Arzachena, and takes its name from Prince Karim Aga Khan, who led the development of this coast in the 1960s and is said to have favoured it. It is a small, sheltered cove rather than a long beach, shaped by characteristic pink-grey granite boulders that tumble into the sea at either end. The sand is soft and fine, a pale golden-white, and shelves gently into water that ranges from clear emerald in the shallows to deep turquoise further out — the colours that give the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) its name. Its enclosed, south-facing position keeps the water calm and protected from most winds, making it good for relaxed swimming and easy snorkelling around the rocks, with a refined, scenic atmosphere rather than a party or surf scene. Compared with busier Costa Smeralda beaches it tends to feel a little quieter, though in peak season it still fills. Amenities are limited and upmarket: a seasonal kiosk or beach bar operates in summer and a small number of sun-loungers and umbrellas can be hired, but there is no large lido. Access is by road from the Romazzino–Porto Cervo area followed by a short downhill path of a few minutes through Mediterranean scrub; parking is informal, limited and fills early, and some visitors arrive by boat and anchor in the bay. There is little natural shade, so umbrellas or an early arrival for the rock-shaded corners help. The combination of sculpted granite, glowing water and a relatively low-key feel has earned Spiaggia del Principe a regular place among lists of Italy's most beautiful beaches, and it remains one of the most photographed spots on the Emerald Coast.