11 Best Beaches in Sardinia, Italy

Sardinian beaches are spectacular. The second-largest island in the Mediterranean is blessed with a divine azure coastline, where transparent waters caress soft white sands. And it's not just one or two idyllic stretches—the 1,149-mile-long Sardinian coast offers a variety of endless dunes, hidden coves, urban strips, and island escapes. This destination transports you to the Mediterranean before the rapid resort development, where you actually feel at peace with nature. It's the kingdom of evergreen sclerophyll shrubs, rocky mountain ranges, and impossibly blue Tyrrhenian Sea. Anyway you look at it, this island is hands-down the best destination for beaches in Europe. Here's the selection of the top stretches in Sardinia to soak in the island's cyan beauty.

Best for the breathtaking panoramas

A strong contender for the "Best Beach in the World" title, La Pelosa is the undisputed queen of Sardinian coastal strips. Its regal status is cemented by the fact that you have to book your spot on its milky sands beforehand, so popular is its allure. But it's absolutely warranted, La Pelosa is love at first sight. Its sand is as soft as the clouds, and its waters look as if a saturation photo filter was applied. To make things even more scenic, the medieval ruins of an Aragonese watchtower guard the shores, and the Isola Piana island beacons with coves in front. Thanks to the shallow seabed, La Pelosa is also the ultimate family beach on Sardinia. If you're visiting during the summer, reserve your spot through the official website and arrive early. Spiaggia della Pelosetta (near the watchtower) and Spiaggia del Gabbiano are two sister sandy stretches worth checking out. 

Best for families

A sunny playground for kids, Brandinchi is another picture-perfect white-sand stretch in Sardinia. Popular with TikTokers and Instagrammers, it's often used to promote the island as the "Caribbean of Europe." Expect translucent, shallow waters, powdery shore, and pink sunsets. Like La Pelosa, Brandinchi works on a pay-to-enter basis to limit the number of visitors in the fragile ecosystem during the season (1 June to 30 September). The fee is 2 EUR, and you can pay through the San Teodoro municipality website. The parking is 2.50 EUR per hour. The Brandinchi reservation also allows you to access Lu Impostu, another dreamy sandy stretch nearby. For something wilder and absolutely free in the vicinity, take a ride to Spiaggia di Capo Coda Cavallo, a gorgeous cove overlooking the gigantic Tavolara Island.

Best for vast dunes and snorkeling

The white sands go as far as the eye can see. You can even hear the dunes whisper when the wind blows. Su Giudeu is the crescendo of Sardinian beach beauty with few rivals in Europe. Located on the south-western coast, it sprawls for almost a mile and offers pure sand. The sea access here is shallow, and the beach has an endless sand-castle-building potential that your kids will love to experience. A lagoon behind Su Giudeu is a popular hangout for pink flamingos, so bring your binoculars to observe these beautiful birds. There are two islands in front of the beach for snorkeling. You can reach them by a short swim or a kayak ride. Several photogenic beach bars supply drinks and panini for living Sardinian dolce vita.  

Best for the cliff-diving and unspoilt beauty

It's not only white sands on Sardinian beaches. S'Archittu offers a different experience. It's a tiny stretch overlooking a gorgeous limestone arch, which forms a sort of sea portal. Passing through these natural gates on a kayak is a fantastic water activity. Cliff-jumping is another popular thing to do in S'Archittu. The sand-and-gravel beach starts at the resort village of S'Archittu and stretches to the rocky natural formation. It's one of Western Sardinia's hidden corners, so you're not getting the crowds of La Pelosa or Brandinchi. Stay for the sunset and you will be rewarded with the breathtaking panorama of the sun "hiding" in the opening under the cliff. 

Best for chilling out

While Olbia is a popular air gateway to Sardinia's yacht-filled Costa Smeralda, it doesn't offer good beaches within the city limits. About 5 miles north of Olbia, you find Pittulongu, a charming resort town with magnificent sandy stretches. Bados is the one to settle for. Overlooking the colossal rocky island of Tavolara, it's just a perfect beach for relaxing. Family-friendly, it features shallow waters, pleasant golden sands and a chill beach bar. Bados isn't the most striking of Sardinia's stretches, but it's among the best beaches near Olbia. Another plus is that it's easily reachable by public transport (Bus 04 from Olbia center). When in the area, check out Spiaggia Pittulongu for more lazy beachgoing and idyllic views. 

Best for the blue waters and caves

The most popular destination for the boat tours on the island, Cala Luna is incredibly scenic. Located on the East Coast and surrounded by the wild beauty of Golfo di Orosei, this crescent-shaped cove is a stunner. Of course, there will be blue waters, fantastic rocky coast panoramas and caves. Cala Luna is peppered with grottos (or small limestone open caves), which look extremely good in your photos. There are two ways to reach this divine beach. The most rewarding is by boat—hop on a tour or rent a vessel at Cala Gonone. Hiking through the Gulf of Orosei wilderness is another. Leave your car at Cala Fuili and walk for about 2 hours to reach Cala Luna, enjoying the untamed Mediterranean landscapes along the way.

Best for the quartz sand

From a distance, Is Arutas Beach looks as if someone spilled tonnes of salt next to the azure sea. This West Sardinian stunner is among the best beaches for pure white sand. You'll walk on the grainy quartz sand, which feels heavenly on your toes, ensuring an exceptional beach experience. Is Arutas is also a perfect destination for snorkeling. Rocky Punta Su Bardoni (the northern end of the beach) is great for exploring the underwater life. The stretch is located on the Sinis peninsula, locally nicknamed "Eden" for miles of undeveloped coastline and transparent blue waters. Head south to find other paradisiac stretches, such as Spiaggia di Su Crastu Biancu, Spiaggia Corríghias, and Spiaggia S'Archeddu 'e Sa Canna.

Best urban beach in Sardinia

Hugged by the cyan waters of the romantically named Gulf of Angels, Poetto may well be Italy's most gorgeous urban beach. It's enormous too, stretching for over 5 miles. Poetto is flanked by the beautiful waterfront filled with beach bars, restaurants, Art Deco low-rise hotels, and palm tree-surrounded mansions. There's always a place on the wide white sand. The beach is also a water sports area, where you can rent paddles, kayaks, canoes, and try jet skiing and windsurfing. Cagliari's main stretch is part Rio's sandy sprawl, part Miami's Art Deco glamour, sprinkled with distinct Sardinian allure. Also, it's an all-day kind of destination: sunbathe in the morning, have seafood for lunch, marvel at the violet sunset, and stay for the party-filled night at the beach bar. 

Best for the wild vistas

Sardinia's most spellbinding beach is also the newest one. A landslide in the '60s gave birth to this heavenly spot. Today, it's among the island's most recognizable blue bays. Approach it by boat, and you'll be mesmerized by the combination of sapphire-blue sea meeting the tall pinnacles of the Gulf of Orosei. It is the masterpiece of nature, no less. 148m-high Aguglia rock crowns the panorama to the delight of climbers who can brave the challenging ascent. Reaching this piece of Sardinian paradise isn't the most straightforward. Hikers should book access to the 2-mile trail at least 3 days in advance. As for sailing, boats are only allowed to moor 200 meters from the beach (Cala Goloritzé is a protected natural monument). It's either you're swimming next to your boat or swimming to the cove to enjoy the pebbles. But then, unlike many heavenly stretches spoiled by the boat traffic, Cala Goloritzé stands in a tranquil glory. 

Best for the shallow sea

If you enjoy beaches in the middle of nowhere, Porto Pino is the one. Located on Sardinia's south-western coast, it enchants you with the stunning dune landscape. Swathes of white sand give the impression of being in something like a mini Sahara, with the advantage of shallow blue water for plunging. Porto Pino is the ultimate kid-friendly beach, perfect for wading, playing in the sand, and running around. Almost 3 miles of the beach provide enough space for everyone to enjoy the unspoilt nature. There are also several sections in Porto Pino with wilder dunes starting at the southern edge. Spiaggia di Porto Pineddu is another white-sand beach with crystalline waters to check out, located next to the Porto Pino tourist village. 

Best for bird-watching

One side of Porto Giunco is a clear turquoise sea. The other is a lagoon, where pink flamingos roam. It doesn't get more scenic in Sardinia than this. A part of the Vilasimius coast, the beach is among the best on the island’s south. Thanks to shallow access, it's also a prime stretch for families. For a breathtaking panorama of Porto Giunco from above, hike to the Torre, a 16th-century watchtower, which is gloriously set on a hill. Private Timi Ama beach, of the five-star Pullman resort on the northern end of Porto Giunco, is the ultimate destination for luxurious beachgoing.