Sardinia is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in Europe when it comes to beaches. It is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and you will find beaches all over the island.
If you are visiting Sardinia soon, you’ll definitely want to know which side of Sardinia has the best beaches. It may be hard to pick as the beaches in Sardinia are beautiful. Northern Sardinia is a popular destination for beaches, especially with the Costa Smeralda being there. There are also beaches on the northern, western, and eastern sides of Sardinia.
In this article, we will talk about some of the best beaches in Sardinia so you can decide for yourself which side has the best beaches. Grab your sunscreen and beach towels and let’s explore the amazing beaches in Sardinia!
Which Part Of Sardinia Has The Best Beaches
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily and it is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. There are a lot of beaches scattered all over Sardinia and you won’t have a hard time finding one when you visit the island.
North Sardinia is more famous and is more frequented by tourists so expect the beaches to be crowded, especially during the summer months. If you want to go to a less crowded beach, traveling down south is the way to go. There are also nice beaches in the West and Eastern side of Sardinia if you are looking for other hidden gems on the island.
Are you going to prefer north or south Sardinia? Or, you might surprise yourself and prefer the less popular beaches of the western and eastern parts of the island. Let’s take a look at some of the best beaches you can find in Sardinia.
North Sardinia
North Sardinia is considered the most touristy and most visited part of the island. You will also find most of the famous beaches in Sardinia on this part and on the northeastern side of the island. If you are visiting Sardinia for the first time, spending a couple of days on the northern side is a great start. North Sardinia is also home to Alghero, one of the most touristic cities on the island.
Here are some of the best beaches that you can find in North Sardinia.
Spiaggia Rena Bianca
Spiaggia Rena Bianca is one of the best beaches in Santa Teresa di Gallura located on the northeast coast of Sardinia. It has a picturesque white sandy beach and crystal-clear shallow waters. It is also a free beach but you can rent umbrellas and sun beds for a couple of hours. There are also facilities such as changing rooms, showers, and restaurants nearby. You can also enjoy water activities such as snorkeling, pedal boating, and kayaking.
Spiaggia La Pelosa
Another stunning beach, this time on the northwest coast of Sardinia, is Spiaggia La Pelosa. This beach is located in Stintino which is about an hour away from Alghero. Spiaggia La Pelosa is one of the most popular beaches for tourists and locals alike. It offers shallow and crystal-clear waters, fine white sands, and picturesque landscapes. Spiaggia La Pelosa is not a free beach and an entrance fee is required for ages 13 and up. There are only a number of people who can access the beach per day and you can make reservations on the Spiaggia La Pelosa website.
Spiaggia del Principe
Spiaggia del Principe is one of the famous beaches on the Costa Smeralda in north Sardinia. This beach is surrounded by granite rocks and it offers very fine white sand and crystal clear waters. There are sun beds and umbrellas for rent, and there are also several bars around the area. As one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches, Spiaggia del Principe gets crowded, especially during the high season. There is also a paid parking area near the beach but it gets full quickly. It is advisable to go to the beach early if you want to find a parking spot.
South Sardinia
South Sardinia is also one of the popular tourist destinations on the island. It is flatter than north Sardinia which results to more longer beaches compared to the beaches in the north. Cagliari, the capital city of Sardinia, is on the southern part of the island and is one of the most touristic destinations. While a popular tourist destination, south Sardinia is less popular than north Sardinia. You will find that the beaches here are less crowded even during the high season.
Here are some of the best beaches in South Sardinia.
Spiaggia di Su Portu
Spiaggia di Su Portu is located in the Chia area and is one of the smallest beaches in South Sardinia. The beach is free and there are no facilities for rent. But, there is a parking space near the beach if you will be bringing a car. Spiaggia di Su Portu has fine white sands, crystal clear waters, and stunning landscapes. There are also parts of the beach that are scattered with rocks so swimming shoes are recommended if you will be swimming a little bit farther from the shore. Despite being a free beach, Spiaggia di Su Portu offers a private and secluded atmosphere.
Spiaggia di Piscinas
Located on the southwest coast of Sardinia is the desert-like oasis of Spiaggia di Piscinas. This beach is part of the stretch of the Dune di Piscinas which is dubbed the “Little Italian Sahara”. The dune is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world according to National Geographic. The road to the beach is long and can be tough but it is still worth the visit. There are two beach bars near the beach where they sell several snacks and drinks.
West Sardinia
Most people only mention north and south Sardinia when talking about beaches but there are also nice beaches in west Sardinia.
Is Arutas
About 37 minutes away from Oristano is Is Arutas. The location of the beach is far away from any buildings and Oristano is about 16 km away. Is Arutas is located on the west coast and it has white sands with very tiny rocks and pristine, clean waters. Is Arutas is a wide beach with beautiful rock formations. The waters in Is Arutas are deep and might not be best if you are traveling with small children or people who are not good at swimming. There is a parking lot near the beach and there are also several concession stand near the parking area that sells food and drinks.
Spiaggia di Putzu Idu
25 minutes away from Is Arutas is Spiaggia di Putzu Idu and it is one of the best beaches in West Sardinia. Spiaggia di Putzu Idu has grains of pinkish quarts on its fine white sands. There are several pieces of beach equipment for rent such as sun beds and parasols. You will also find several bars on the beach that offer snacks and drinks.
There is a small parking space near the beach. It can get full quickly so make sure to get to the beach early if you are planning on getting there by car. There are also water sports activities on the beach and you can also rent kite surfboards, standup paddleboards, and wind surfboards.
East Sardinia
Just like any other part of Sardinia, there are also stunning beaches on Sardinia’s east coast.
Cala Goloritzé
One of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia is Cala Goloritzé. This beach has crystal-clear waters and beautiful limestone formations and it is also considered as one of the most photogenic spots in Sardinia. Cala Golortizé is a pebbled beach and the waters are deep making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Cala Goloritzé is also a National Monument and is a protected beach so there is an entrance fee if you want to visit. You can book tickets on the official website or on the Heart of Sardinia app in advance.
You can reach Cala Goloritzé via a private boat, charter boat, or by hiking. Boats are only allowed 300 meters away from the beach so you’ll have to swim a bit if you want to spend time on the shore. Alternatively, you can hike to the beach which will take about 1.5 hours one way. If you are traveling with small children, it may be best to hire a boat to get to Cala Goloritzé.
Cala Brandinchi
Cala Brandinchi is located in northeast Sardinia and is about 30 minutes away from Olbia. This beach has calm, shallow waters which is ideal for families traveling with small children. Cala Brandinchi is one of the best white sandy beaches in Sardinia and is dubbed “Little Tahiti” because of its Caribbean look and feel. The beach has fine white sands and turquoise waters making it perfect for swimming. Other activities that you can do in Cala Brandinchi are snorkeling, kayaking, and pedal boarding.
The beach has limited access and only a certain number of visitors are allowed per day. An entrance fee is required but access to the beach is free for people staying in the San Teodoro area. You can book a slot in advance on the San Teodoro Spiagge website if you want to visit Cala Brandinchi.
Conclusion
Do you prefer the more touristy northern Sardinia or the less crowded southern Sardinia? Ory maybe you want to visit other beaches in west and east Sardinia. The best side of the island will depend on your personal preference. If you have the time to visit all sides of Sardinia, definitely try to explore all sides of the island.
We hope this article helps you decide which side of Sardinia you will go to during your travels. If you have any other questions, let us know!
