Sardinia – A Dream Beach Vacation

Sardinia is a vast island, and initially, we had only allocated 4 days for our trip. Fortunately, we extended our vacation for free due to a small change in our flight schedule by Wizz Air. Below, I’ll share all the details regarding our journey, accommodation, weather, beaches, and excursions.

As mentioned earlier, we booked tickets with Wizz Air to Alghero, with the trip scheduled for the first week of June. The price was €270 for 2 people, including one cabin trolley (a small backpack is free for everyone anyway). This year, Wizz Air flights to Sardinia operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, so my advice is to stay for at least a week if you’re making the trip. The flight duration was approximately 2 hours.

Accommodation in Sardinia

We stayed in two locations: one in Alghero, the city where we landed, and another in Orosei, a smaller and more traditional town that feels like a mountain village.

Here’s the deal: if you plan to spend a lot of time on the beaches in the northeast, particularly on the famous Costa Smeralda, it takes about 2 hours to get there from both Alghero and Orosei. If that’s your main focus, you might be better off staying in San Teodoro, Olbia, or somewhere nearby, though it will definitely cost more due to the prime location.

If you want to explore as much of the island as possible, I recommend booking 3 different accommodations, so you can cover the northwest, northeast, and southern areas, where the island’s capital, Cagliari, is located. Choose your accommodations strategically based on your interests because, from my experience, you’ll spend a fair amount of time on the road.

We booked both accommodations through Booking.com. In Alghero, we stayed at Kennedy 54, a great room in an apartment with multiple rental rooms. The price for 4 nights was €212. The location was perfect, just 3 minutes from the promenade and 7 minutes from the central area with the historic fortress, terraces, and bars.

It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the beach, but we didn’t spend any days at the beach in Alghero, so proximity wasn’t a priority for us. Parking is free nearby, though it’s a bit challenging to find a spot in the evening. Below are some pictures of Alghero, a city we loved.

It’s super bohemian, with an interesting historic center, especially in the evening when all the terraces and restaurants open, offering stunning views of the port and the palm-lined promenade.

In Orosei, we chose Bella Vita Guest House, where we paid €228 for 3 nights (we booked it at short notice, so it might have been cheaper earlier). The conditions were very good, modernly furnished, and comfortable. The only odd thing was that our room didn’t have a window. Parking is available right in front of the building in designated spaces.

Total accommodation cost for 7 nights (Alghero + Orosei): €440

Car Rental in Sardinia

The first thing to mention: without a car, you’re stuck in Sardinia. The distances are vast, and public transportation is rare, so it won’t allow you to tour the island as you’d like. If you come here, you must rent a car to visit all the places of interest. Unlike the chaotic driving style in mainland Italy, driving here is very peaceful and calm, with well-maintained roads, so you won’t experience the stress of big city traffic.

We rented a car from Viaggiare, right at the airport, with a reservation made in advance with a credit card (they only accepted credit cards) through the Discover Cars website. Since it was early in the season, we found good availability and a good price, paying €200 for the entire week, including full insurance. Their booth is in the external parking lot of Alghero Airport.

We had a gasoline Opel Astra, which was perfect for exploring the island. A €600 guarantee is held on your credit card when you pick up the car, which is released when you return it (by the rental company, but it may take a few days for the funds to be available in your account, depending on the bank). The price of gasoline was around €1.88 per liter, but in more touristy areas, such as the beach in Alghero, it could be as high as €2.

We drove about 2000 km and spent €150 on gasoline. The roads are generally good, and there are no tolls. We were pleasantly surprised by the many long, well-lit tunnels we passed through.

Total transportation costs in Sardinia: €350

Weather in Sardinia

The tourist season in Sardinia begins around June 15 and ends around September 15. The peak period, when it’s the hottest, most crowded, and most expensive, is in July and August, when the sea is slightly warmer.

We visited at the beginning of June, and the weather was surprisingly good, especially since the daily forecast wasn’t very promising, but the reality exceeded our expectations. The temperature ranged from 19°C at night to 24°C during the day (with a real feel of 29°C), and the sea temperature was around 20-21°C.

Over 7 days, we had only one completely cloudy day with rain for half the day in the northeast. We also encountered a heavy rainstorm in Cagliari that lasted about an hour, but otherwise, it was sunny and beautiful. Despite the forecast predicting daily thunderstorms, we found that even if a storm rolled in, it rained heavily for a few minutes, and then the sun came out as if nothing had happened.

The weather was ideal for the beach, even for swimming in the sea, as the temperature contrast between the air and the water wasn’t as extreme as in July and August.

Sardinia Map

Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy located in the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Peninsula, the southern coast of France, and the Tunisian coast, south of the island of Corsica.

If beaches are your main interest, as they were for me, it’s good to know that the most famous beaches are located in the northeast of the island, on Costa Smeralda, with nearby towns like Olbia and San Teodoro.

The northwest area is also of interest, where you’ll find the city of Alghero (where Wizz Air flights land), La Pelosa Beach, Neptune’s Grotto, and the southern area, where Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari, is located, along with Costa Rei.

Sardinia’s Dream Beaches

I’m sure you’ve already heard of the famous beaches on this island, known worldwide for their emerald waters and white sand. Well, yes, we saw them with our own eyes, and most of them left us in awe with their unique beauty. I’ll go through each one we visited, but I recommend strategically grouping them by area to ensure you see as many as possible and don’t miss any key spots in Sardinia.

Beaches in the Northwest

Alghero Beach: This is a beach located right in the city—wide and spacious, with the option to rent sunbeds and umbrellas. While it’s a beautiful beach with everything you need nearby and light blue water when the sun shines, it’s not among the most impressive. It’s great if you have half a day free with no other plans, or if you simply want a day off and prefer to stay close to your city accommodation.

La Pelosa Beach: Famous in Sardinia, La Pelosa Beach is a 50-minute drive from Alghero. If you plan to visit, there are some important details to know:

Parking is free, but even though it’s quite spacious, we struggled to find a spot, even at the beginning of the season. You need to arrive early to secure a spot.
You need a ticket to access the beach, which can only be purchased online from the official website, not on-site. The fee is €3.5 per person, and you can buy up to 4 tickets at once (no reservation is needed for children under 12). The daily limit is 1,500 people, and if you don’t book in time, you’ll miss out—exactly what happened to us! We assumed that since it was the beginning of the season, we wouldn’t have any issues, but when we arrived on June 1, all tickets were sold out by 11 am. In peak season, you might need to book even further in advance.
You’re required to have either a mat or a microfiber towel to avoid taking sand with you when you leave. In Sardinia, it’s forbidden to take sand or shells from any beach, not just La Pelosa. In the parking lot, vendors sell mats for €5 each, so be prepared.
If you don’t manage to get a ticket, you can access the private beach of La Pelosetta Hotel and reach the main La Pelosa Beach either by water or by walking along some small rocks parallel to the shore. We chose this option, which cost us €30 for two sunbeds and an umbrella, but it was worth it. We enjoyed a beautiful beach day and walked both through the water and along the rocky path to Pelosa. Although we didn’t step onto the sand itself (as the beach is guarded from all directions), we took photos and admired the turquoise waters.

Torre del Lazzaretto Beach: Located in the north, about 15-20 minutes from Capo Caccia, where you can visit Neptune’s Grotto by land. It’s a nice beach with sand, a bar-restaurant, and a great atmosphere. While it’s not among the top beaches in Sardinia, it’s a good option if you’re in the northern area.

Beaches in the Northeast – Costa Smeralda

Principe Beach: Perhaps the most famous and appreciated beach in Sardinia, with turquoise water and a fairytale landscape. It’s part of the beaches on Costa Smeralda, the most famous coast on the island due to its beautiful turquoise waters and fine white sand.

Parking costs €2.5/hour and is quite small. In season, it’s highly likely that you won’t find a spot unless you arrive early (this applies to all beaches here).
There are no toilets or bars on the beach, but you can rent sunbeds and buy jewelry and clothes from vendors.

Romazzino Beach: Very close to Principe Beach, with its own parking, also costing €2.5/hour. It’s a well-equipped beach where you can rent sunbeds or relax on your towel in the sun or shade (there were umbrellas available for tourists at no cost). There’s also a luxury resort with a restaurant overlooking the beach.

The water is incredibly beautiful, and the sand is fine—this is a typical Sardinian beach where you can relax all day.

Capriccioli Beach: Located near the other two beaches mentioned above, Capriccioli is one of Sardinia’s top beaches. As with the others, parking is a hot commodity. We arrived at noon, and both parking lots were full, so we had to change our plans and return a couple of hours later when we had more luck. The cost is still €2.5/hour.

There are 4 beaches here (north, east, south, and west). The northern beach seemed the most beautiful and spacious to me, and it also has a fancy restaurant (I glanced at the menu, and a snack costs around €40). The beaches have sand and turquoise water, perfect for relaxing on a towel and soaking up the sun.
If you’re hungry and near Capriccioli Beach, I recommend the Il Pirata restaurant, located 2 minutes from the parking lot. The prices are reasonable, similar to those in Alghero, Orosei, or other towns on the island, and the food is really good.

Brandinchi Beach: By far my favorite of all the beaches we visited. The water is absolutely stunning, with a color like in the Maldives, resembling a massive swimming pool. Additionally, the water is very shallow, making it ideal for children who can play safely.

The only downside is that the beach is quite narrow, and in season, it becomes crowded. There are areas where you can rent sunbeds with umbrellas (at the beginning of June, they cost €35, with a €5 surcharge if you want the first row by the sea), but there are also large sections where you can sit comfortably on a towel.

It’s important to note that in season (starting June 15), you need to pay an access fee to enter the beach, which can only be purchased online or through the San Teodoro Spiagge app for Android/iOS at least 2 days in advance. For example, if you plan to visit Brandinchi Beach on a Saturday, you must buy your ticket online by Thursday at 6:00 PM at the latest, according to their website. The cost is €2 per person (and €1 if you’re already staying in San Teodoro).
Parking is not included in the beach access fee and must be paid separately on-site. The cost is €2.5/hour or €18 for a full day, and parking is shared with Impostu Beach, located next to it.
From Brandinchi Beach, you can book boat trips to explore the surrounding islands and enjoy swimming and snorkeling. Ideally, you should book 1-2 days in advance, as departures take place in the morning, and in season, they’re quite popular (the trip lasts about 4 hours). Below is a map of available trips as presented at the beach entrance.

Impostu Beach: Located right next to Brandinchi Beach, it’s very similar in many ways. The water color is just as stunning, the sand is fine, and the beach is slightly wider than Brandinchi. Here too, you need to buy an online access ticket, just like at Brandinchi.

The parking is shared, as mentioned earlier. Keep in mind that if you arrive late and the parking is full, there’s nowhere else to park in the area. In season, my advice is to arrive early to ensure a spot in both the parking lot and on the beach.

Maddalena Archipelago: We took a boat trip through Get Your Guide to visit the islands of the Maddalena Archipelago. Here are some logistical details:

The departure point was the port of Palau, and the trip lasted from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with boarding starting at 9:45 AM.
The cost was €55 per person, plus an additional €5 per person for access to the visited beaches and €10 per person for lunch (optional; you’re allowed to bring your own food and drinks if you prefer).
There are 4 stops: Spargi Island, Santa Maria Island, the town of Maddalena, and a stop for swimming in a natural turquoise pool. Except for the swimming stop, the others lasted about an hour each, giving you time for both beach and sightseeing.
Now for the impressions: the places we visited were sublime—wild beaches with impressive beauty, crystal-clear water, and fine white sand. The trip was exactly what we wanted, perfectly balancing beach time, swimming, sailing, and sightseeing, so it never felt like too much or too little of anything. The crew was punctual, friendly, and they had a guide who provided information about the places we visited in Italian, English, and French. In short, it was a fantastic day, and the weather was perfect.

Punta Volpe Beach: We only passed by this beach, and unfortunately, it was cloudy when we arrived. It seemed like a less crowded beach with nice water and fine sand, ideal for a relaxing moment. We didn’t see any sunbeds for rent, but they might be available in season. We also didn’t spot any bars or toilets in the area, so it’s best to come prepared if you plan to stay here for several hours.

Golfo Aranci: We visited in the evening at sunset, and it seemed like a superb spot. The water had a beautiful color even at dusk, the sand was incredibly fine and white, and the beach is equipped with all the necessary amenities. You can rent sunbeds with umbrellas, there’s a restaurant right on the beach, and there are resorts around with a fantastic view of the sea.

Piccolo Pevero Beach: We arrived here under threatening clouds that eventually disappeared after a 5-minute rain shower. It’s a small beach, as the name suggests, located near a very attractive resort. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas or lay on a towel, depending on your preference.

Parking is paid at a meter, costing €2.5/hour.

Grande Pevero Beach: Located right next to Piccolo Pevero Beach, you reach it by walking along a beautiful path next to some incredibly nice houses with sea views. The beach is amazing, with turquoise water and a storybook landscape. This is the kind of beach where you can easily spend the whole day soaking up the sun and relaxing.

There’s also a restaurant near the beach, but it’s quite expensive (double the prices of restaurants in cities, even in super touristy spots).

Granu Beach: Very close to Porto Cervo (the luxury town), Granu Beach is wide, with fine sand and nice water. When we arrived at sunset, almost the entire shore was covered with seaweed, but I’m not sure if that’s always the case or if we were just unlucky. It’s probably livelier during the day. We didn’t see any toilets, terraces, or sunbeds for rent in the area. Parking was also free here.

Beaches in the East – Gulf of Orosei

As an introduction, from what we’ve researched, the most beautiful beaches in the east can be accessed either by water or through hiking, which is obviously not my case. The island’s gems in this area, with crystal-clear water and storybook white sand, are Cala Goloritzè, Cala Mariolu, Cala Luna, Cala Biriala, and Cala Gabbiani.

If you’re not particularly sporty enough to tackle a 5-6 hour hike to each beach, I recommend taking a boat excursion from Get Your Guide. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do this trip, but we’ll definitely keep it on the list for next time we return to the island. Below, I’ll talk about the beaches we visited on the east coast of Sardinia, so you can get an idea of where you can reach by car.

Oasi Biderosa: This is actually a nature park, and the entrance fee is €14 per person. You can drive almost to the beaches (the park has a total of 5 beaches) by traveling about 4 km through a very interesting pine forest.

These are wild beaches with sand, no sunbeds, or umbrellas. At beach #3, you’ll find a bar and a toilet, but otherwise, it’s just you and the sea. I must admit that while these beaches look spectacular in online photos, they didn’t impress me as much in person. The water didn’t have that sensational Caribbean color, and I think it was a bit “too wild” for my taste. But for nature enthusiasts who enjoy such landscapes, it’s ideal.

La Cinta Beach: A textbook-perfect beach—wide, spacious, with incredibly white and fine sand and spectacular water. Even in these conditions, the water retained its incredible color, and I believe it would truly be paradise on a sunny day. It’s the perfect place for a walk, sunbathing, an Aperol from the bar, and relaxation. There are also sunbeds for rent if you prefer, although we’re not the type to rent, but it’s important to mention that this option is available.

Parking costs the usual €2.5/hour.

Caletta Beach: Very similar in appearance to La Cinta Beach, though likely less crowded and not as well-known as La Cinta. What caught my attention is that this beach is located near the town of Caletta, which seemed very charming and lively. I think it’s a great accommodation option for easier access to the northeast beaches and not as expensive as Olbia and San Teodoro.

Berchida Beach: Like La Cinta and Caletta, this beach follows the same pattern and is a good option for relaxation on the east coast of the island. We didn’t stay here, only visited in passing, and it was quite deserted at the time due to the cloudy weather.

Martzellinu Beach: A beautiful beach next to a fairly large and nicely arranged campsite. Many people had tents and RVs here, and there’s also a lake nearby (not very developed). This place isn’t very commercial, but rather a more wild beach that’s a bit harder to reach compared to the others.

Marina d’Orosei Beach: As the name suggests, it’s located close to the town of Orosei, where we had our second accommodation. The beach didn’t impress me much, especially compared to the Costa Smeralda beaches, but of course, that depends on personal taste.

Capo Coda Cavallo Beach: When we arrived here, the weather was quite bad, and I think that’s why it didn’t interest me much. It’s not the kind of beach I would spend time at anyway—it’s rather small, rocky, and rough.

Beaches in the South – Cagliari and Costa Rei

We didn’t see as many beaches in the south due to lack of time and the weather, which wasn’t the best on the day we reserved for Cagliari. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, Sardinia is huge, and the time spent traveling from one place to another is considerable.

If you also want to spend hours at the beach, you’ll have to give up something. In our case, we decided not to explore the southern area in detail, including the capital city of Cagliari and the surrounding beaches. Or, better said, we’ve saved it for next time—we didn’t give up!

Still, we visited two beaches here: Spiaggia del Poetto, located 15 minutes from Cagliari, and Piscina del Rei Beach, located about 50 minutes by car from Cagliari. Both seemed superb to me, with intense blue water and fine sand. I can’t wait to revisit them and give them more time next time.

Both are well-equipped beaches with sunbeds, umbrellas, bars, and toilets.

Porto Cervo – Sardinia’s Luxury Town

I’ve saved Porto Cervo for last, both in this blog post and in real life, as we visited it on the last evening of our vacation in Sardinia. This little town is actually a small village where you can breathe in luxury from all sides, starting with the high-end stores, continuing with the yachts in the port, and ending with the way the people staying here look and dress.

Although it’s quite deserted during the day, in the evening, the terraces and restaurants come alive as everyone puts on their best outfits and dines in scenic locations. I really liked this area—the buildings are bohemian, the place is extremely peaceful, and it truly feels timeless.

Sardinia’s Local Cuisine

I’ve saved this chapter for last, although I’m not sure if it’s the best choice. I want to start with my trauma related to the fact that between 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM, there’s nothing open where you can eat proper food (not just coffee and pastries). So, plan your meals in such a way that you’re not hungry in the afternoon, to avoid the stress I felt while desperately waiting for the opening time.

Other than that, it was all good. We ate a lot of seafood—you’ll find fregola with seafood (a type of pasta similar to couscous) at all restaurants, fried or grilled fish, octopus, paella, or pizza.

For dessert, their traditional treat is a type of pastry filled with sweet cheese and topped with honey, called seadas. You’ll also find crepes, crema catalana (the island has strong Catalan influences due to its history, especially in Alghero), lemon cakes, and of course, ice cream.

Everywhere you eat, they bring you regular bread with olive oil and a type of bread that looks like nachos as a complimentary starter.

I highly recommend a super cool restaurant if you’re dining in Alghero, called Enhorabona. It’s located right across from Alghero Beach, and from the terrace, you get a beautiful sunset view.

The food and service are impeccable, and the prices are very reasonable, considering the premium location. However, be aware that it’s closed on Wednesdays, and the rest of the week, it opens at 7:00 PM—you’ll definitely need a reservation. The chances of getting a table if you pass by and decide to pop in are almost zero.

The reservation tip applies generally to dinner. I’ve noticed that restaurants are quite small, with few tables, and considering the short dining window (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM), it’s pretty crowded, especially at the good restaurants.

As for prices, most main courses are between €15-20, appetizers between €8-15, and desserts around €6. Of course, prices vary depending on the restaurant, location, type of food, etc., but these prices can serve as a good reference.

That’s all for now about Sardinia. It’s a spectacular island that I highly recommend exploring at a leisurely pace, giving it enough time so you won’t regret it later. If you have any questions, leave me a comment here, and until next time, enjoy beaching!