11 Best Beaches in Sardinia, Italy | European Summer Paradise (2024)

Located west of the Italian peninsula, Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, and home to some of the most striking white sand beaches in Europe.

Here you’ll get to swim in wonderful turquoise waters and walk along bright white sand coastlines, all of that paired with a rich cultural heritage and tasty Italian cuisine.

In this article we listed for you 11 of the most beautiful white sand beaches you will find throughout Sardinia, that absolutely cannot miss from your itinerary! Make sure to check our interactive map at the end of this post, so you can easily pin-point all of the locations.

So, let’s pack our bags and explore!

Located in the northern part of the island, Spiaggia Li Mindi is a wide and spacious beach with perfect, fine white sand and beautiful crystal-clear waters.

This is the perfect beach for travelers looking for a more relaxing experience, away from other crowded locations on the island; this beach almost never gets too packed, even during the peak of the summer high season.

Li Mindi di Badesi can also be an amazing oasis for families looking for a calmer environment where kids can wander around and play in the sand, while parents enjoy some well deserved quiet time.

If you’re looking to get a bite to eat in the area, there is actually a small restaurant adjacent to the beach called Wild Bar that serves really good pizzas. We also definitely recommend that you still bring a few snacks with you to the beach, especially fresh fruit and plenty of water, as the sun in Sardinia is no joke.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that this area of Sardinia often experiences strong winds, something that might not be very enjoyable for many travellers. On the other hand, water sport enthusiasts will surely have a blast wind and kite surfing here!

If you don’t mind the wind, and are looking to escape the more crowded areas of Sardinia, be sure to go ahead and add this stunning beach to your itinerary!

Rena di Matteu is quiet and isolated beach in the northern part of Sardinia, where you’re likely to be all by yourself 80% of the time.

This can be explained by the lack of amenities in the surrounding area, such as restrooms, food venues and sun beds. So, if you are looking to really immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, far from the crowds and the bigger towns, it really doesn’t get much better than this.

To reach this beautiful oasis, you’ll have to drive down a one-way dirt road for about five minutes, but don’t let that scare you! Once at the bottom, you’ll find a small parking lot and a path that will lead you straight to the beach.

Because there are little to no shaded areas, be sure to bring bring a parasol with you, or at least enough sunscreen for you to be able to re-apply regularly. Remember that there are no food establishments nearby, so the same goes for food and fresh water!

This is a lovely and quiet beach away from the more chaotic parts of the island, where you can swim and snorkel in spectacular warm and clear water. If you can deal with the lack of facilities, this might just be one of the best beaches on the island!

Arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Smeralda, Spiaggia di Rena Bianca is a haven for families travelling with small kids, and travellers looking for crystal-clear waters with practically no waves.

Adding to its charm is the beautiful backdrop to this beach, which offers incredible views of Corsica island and the clearest turquoise water. If you love snorkelling you’ll get endless opportunities to do so here, especially around the edges of the beach.

Keep in mind that the proximity to the town of Santa Teresa makes this a very popular beach with both locals and visitors alike, so it is always packed and gets crowded very quickly. We would recommend avoiding coming here during the months of July and August, as finding a place on the sand will be almost impossible.

If you don’t mind a busier beach and just plan on spending the majority of your time in the water (as you should, it’s beautiful), then don’t miss out on visiting this paradise beach.

After all, there is a reason why it is so popular!

Stretching for about 5km, just over 3 miles, Spiaggia La Caletta is a wide beach where you probably won’t have any trouble finding a place to lay down and relax under the sun.

This beautiful white sand beach is very spacious, and even during the peak of summer it never feels too crowded. There is plenty of ample parking in the nearby area of San Giovanni, as well as a camper van and caravan spot, perfect for those experiencing the Sardinian coastline while on the road.

Expect white and smooth sand throughout, paired with the crystal clear waters that are typical of the island. Also, this is a perfect location if you’re not a proficient swimmer, as the water is usually very calm and the seabed descends very slowly.

There are a few beach bars around, as well as facilities like toilets and showers. It is the perfect spot to spend a few hours relaxing, and even a full day if you bring enough supplies with you.

Spiaggia La Caletta makes for a very nice spot for families travelling with small children, as well as visitors looking for a larger beach where they can easily find a quiet place to sit and enjoy the stunning coastline, even during the most popular months.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean sea, Spiaggia di Berchida is without a doubt a must-visit destination in Sardinia.

This incredibly beautiful sandy beach stretches out for just over 5km (3 miles), so it is easy to to find a quiet spot away from the summer crowds when you’re there.

This is another perfect beach to visit if you are travelling with small children, as the water is shallow for many metres and you can easily go far out while still touching the sea floor. The crystal-clear water just adds to its charm, along with plenty of marine life and fish that you’ll get to easily spot even without swimming goggles!

The only caveat about going to Berchida beach is the expensive parking fee; as of 2023, the cost of parking for a full day was €12 without the possibility for card payments, so keep that in mind and bring some cash with you. Despite the size the car parking also gets full quickly, so we recommend that you arrive there before 11h00am.

In terms of amenities, you’ll find plenty of kiosks selling food and drinks near the main parking area, as well as a very good bar and a nice restaurant by the beach. There is also the possibility to rent beach beds and umbrellas if needed.

All in all, Spiaggia di Berchida offers everything you need for an amazing day at the beach. The turquoise and clear waters there are to die for, and honestly, we can’t wait to be back!

If you are looking for a far wilder and untouched beach, you should definitely add Spiaggia Osalla di Orosei to your list!

This is a beautiful beach with coarse sand and, you already figured, turquoise crystal-clear waters. Along the edge there are plenty of pine trees where you can take shelter from the sun and the heat, although having a parasol is definitely a good idea.

Due to its untouched nature Osalla never gets too crowded, as visitors tend to look for other beaches with finer sand and more amenities. Because of that you can easily get to the beach later in the day without worrying about not having enough space to lay down, or it being too crowded.

Keep in mind that this beach experiences larger waves, and its seabed drops considerably after just a few steps in. This makes it perfect for swimmers, but parents should definitely keep an eye on their children.

This beach is easily reachable by car, and offers plenty of free parking spots. So, if you are looking for a quiet spacious beach with fewer crowds, Osalla di Orosei is the one for you!

Part of the beautiful Costa Rei, Spiaggia di Piscina Rei is a stunning oasis, and one of our favourite beaches in Sardinia.

Its name literally translates to swimming pool Rei, and in fact you’ll feel like you’re in a swimming pool instead of at the beach. The water here is incredibly transparent and turquoise, and in our eyes that in itself makes this beach worth checking out.

You can easily swim here, and you might even spot the occasional fish. We experienced a few waves while there, but never found the currents to be overly strong.

Just keep in mind that Costa Rei is known for being a very windy area, and we definitely felt that while there. Because of that, consider bringing a parasol to shelter from both the sun and the wind.

There are two big free car parkings along the road, and no lack of amenities. You’ll find a few bars and restaurants along the beach, as well as a place to rent parasols.

If you’re looking for a picturesque beach where you can swim in crystal-clear waters, then you should definitely check out Spiaggia di Piscina Rei. There’s nothing quite like a beach that tricks your mind into thinking you are in a swimming pool!

If what you are looking for is a beach with great connections to town, and therefore plenty of restaurants and bars available in the surrounding area, Spiaggia di Simius is for you!

Located just 3km, just under 2 miles, from the centre of Villasimius, Simius beach has all of the facilities you would expect from a well connected touristy area of the island. There is public parking, bathrooms and showers, as well as beach bars and food venues.

Here you’ll get to experience the true beauty of Sardinian beaches, in a protected environment that is full of marine life and colourful fishes.

This is trully as good of a beach as it can get. Long and spacious, with the softest white sand and almost transparent water. It’s unreal how picturesque the beaches in this area can be!

Simius beach can get quite busy on Sundays and during the peak of summer, but if you don’t mind the crowds you should definitely add it to your summer bucket list!

Situated just south of Simius beach, Spiaggia di Notteri is another stunningly beautiful beach in the Villasimius municipality.

It is known for its wide strip of fine white sand, and has an extension of about 2km, just over 1 mile. Simius beach is also a famous location for wildlife lovers, as pink flamingos can be found along the beach and nesting by the nearby pond.

As with the nearby beaches, the water is stunning and clear. The seabed slopes gently, making this beach kid-friendly and perfect for beginners. You can also snorkel here, especially by the rocks near the edges of the beach.

Because of its popularity, Notteri beach gets very busy during the high season. However, if you arrive early in the morning you’ll still get plenty of room to yourself. Sunsets here are also a spectacle not to be missed, as the views from the beach, as well as the nearby Porto Giunco, are absolutely breathtaking!

Spiaggia di Notteri is an unbeatable destination in the south of Sardinia, and perfect for travelers looking for a vacation packed with both nature and relaxation.

If you only had time to choose one beach out of all of the others in Sardinia, then we would really recommend Spiaggia Su Giudeu.

Not a lot of beaches in Europe can compare with this one. It is surrounded by beautiful dunes, and its sandy shore is so long that you definitely won’t have any trouble finding some space to yourself. The water here is as clear as it gets, and you can swim across to a small island where you can snorkel and get close to marine life. You definitely won’t get bored while there!

If you’re lucky you’ll get to see some of the famous flamingos here, as they frequent the lagoon that can be found between the beach and the car parking area.

We would recommend that you check the weather forecast before heading to Su Giudeu Beach, as sometimes winds can be pretty strong, especially if you’re travelling off-season. Most of the time though, we found this beach to be a lot more manageable in terms of the wind conditions, compared to many others in the north of the island.

This is truly the ultimate paradise beach in Sardinia. It combines everything that you would expect from a mediterranean destination: Spacious sandy shore, fine sand and the clearest water!

Are you ready to pack your bags?

Located by the ancient city of Tharros, one of the most important and stunning archaeological sites in Sardinia and the Mediterranean, Spiaggia di Capo San Marco is a wild beach that still feels unspoiled by the heavy tourism of the island.

This beach gradually goes from very beautiful white sand to a wild and rocky. However, its sandy bottom remains shallow throughout; this is perfect for families visiting with children, as they can safely enjoy the water.

Here you’ll get to spot a lot more marine life compared to other beaches on the island, such as fish, eels and crabs. Nature definitely still thrives around this remote area.

The gorgeous environment, combined with ancient ruins and absolutely stunning crystal-clear waters, make this beach a magical place to be!

Trip map created with Wanderlog, the best trip planner app on iOS and Android

These were just 11 of our favourite beautiful sandy beaches scattered throughout the stunning island of Sardinia.

Even though it has long been known for having absolutely idyllic beaches along its coastline, we were surprised by how many hidden gems we were able to find in Sardinia, and can’t wait to be back!

So, ready to go for a swim?