23 Best Beaches In Northern Sardinia

Are you looking for the best beaches in Northern Sardinia? I have you covered!

North Sardinia beaches are among the most beautiful and unique in Italy. Thanks to the Island’s shape and the numerous difficulties to access the shores up until very recently, they are still quite intact and their waters are nothing but pristine.

Whatever part of North Sardinia you choose to visit, you will find excellent sunbathing and swimming spots, great places to stay and lovely people, and you will fill your camera roll with stunning pictures of places that look almost out of this world.

I go to northern Sardinia every summer, and spend a great deal of time there – that’s how much I love it. So of course I am ready to share my selection of northern Sardinia beaches.

To make the most of the best beaches in northern Sardinia, I recommend renting a car: the North is especially difficult to explore by public transportation; plus, having your own car will give you total freedom on your schedule and itinerary.

My post A Guide To Renting A Car In Sardinia guides you to pick the best car rental for your needs. I recommend using Discover Cars as the best comparison site to get a quote and book your car.

Now, without further ado, let me describe the best beaches in Northern Sardinia.

The Best Beaches In Northern Sardinia

Spiaggia del Principe / Portu Li Coggi

Also known locally as Portu Li Cogghji, Spiaggia del Principe beach was named after Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. It is one of the main celebrity hubs in the area. However, despite its enormous fame, it managed to stay quite well-preserved and neat.

The prince believed in sustainable tourism and insisted that everything in this part of the island, which he fell in love with, had to be planned and built with regards to the pre-existing nature.

The beach is close to the hamlet of Cala di Volpe. You can get there via a trail that normally takes about 10 minutes from the nearest parking lot (for which you have to pay). It’s best to wear walking shoes as the terrain is quite uneven. I also recommend going there early. This is one of the most popular beaches in the area and it gets very packed!

Spiaggia del Principe is among the 20 most beautiful beaches in the world. This is thanks to its pristine sand and the pink granite rocks that both shelter it and go all the way below the sea level, giving the water incredible shades.

The Mediterranean vegetation around the beach also provides nice shelter from the sun in the hottest hours – though you should still carry an umbrella with you!

Spiaggia del Principe is one of the best snorkeling spots in Sardinia, thanks to the clarity of the water. The beach has a kiosk where you’ll be able to find food and drinks.

Romazzino

Romazzino is a peculiar, lesser known beach in northern Sardinia, nearby the more popular Spiaggia del Principe I described above.

Its name comes from the rosemary plant that grows everywhere nearby. Romazzino beach is worth a stop if you don’t like the overwhelming crowds typical of the resorts around Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo – but don’t expect an empty beach during the summer months.

Indeed, there’s a huge resort there and most of the beach is their private property.

The sand at Romazzino beach is slightly thicker than in other northern Sardinia beaches, but the water is as pristine as ever, a bit deeper compared to other beaches in the area, but excellent for snorkeling, and still very safe for kids.

Other than the homonymous resort, there are several kiosks and restaurants in the area. The beach is surrounded by Mediterranean shrub, which shelters it from the wind – all in all, a great place where to spend a full day.

Parking in the area may be complicated in the peak summer months. Plan to be there early for higher chances of finding a good spot.

Cala di Volpe

Contrary to Romazzino, Cala di Volpe is one of the most famous, exclusive and trendy places in the Gallura Region.

Here you will find four different coves with thick, pinkish sand and pink granite rocks coming out of the water. At its back there’s thick Mediterranean shrub. The area has many resorts, clubs, and it is popular among celebrities.

Many of them in fact, choose to spend their holidays here, maybe docking their yacht nearby or renting a fancy villa or even suite in one of the hotels of the area. The sea, of course, is crystal clear, with shallow waters and a fun seabed, great for kids and snorkeling lovers.

Cala di Volpe beach is particularly famous not only for its stunning beauty but also because it was the set of a James Bond movie in the 1970s.

The resorts in the area own the majority of the beach, but it’s still possible to access it without breaking the bank. You just have to deal with the crowd!

Grande Pevero

Grande Pevero is just a 5-minute drive from Porto Cervo, and it is one of the longest (360 meters, around 0.2 miles) beaches in northern Sardinia and, according to many, getting there and seeing the wonderful color contrasts feels like landing on the Moon.

To be fair, its white sand covers a wide, arch-shaped area and, seen from above, really gives the impression of being on the moon, or at least in some fairytale land.

Surrounding the beach there are sand dunes and a pond. On the beach, you will find a kiosk where you can get snacks and drinks. This is also the spot where most people who rent umbrellas and sun beds for the day stay – but there are spots where you can place your own umbrella if you don’t wish to pay.

The beach is nicely sheltered from the wind, making it a great spot to snorkel. It also offers a lot of activities to do other than sunbathing, so if you happen to go there, be sure to try some water sport or have a walk on one of the area’s hiking trails.

From the nearest parking lot, it’ll take you around 15 minutes to walk down the beach.

Cannigione

Cannigione is another hamlet in northern Sardinia that is full of hotels and resorts that you can use as a base for your explorations.

Its beach offers the typical scenario you’d expect from any place in the area: pristine sand, stunning waters, unbelievable seabed – snorkeling is a must!

From Cannigione, you can take your car and do some beach hopping – it’s close to every place that counts – or enjoy some great times in one or more of their famous restaurants or clubs.

Cannigione is also a great starting point for boat tours of La Maddalena Archipelago.

Capriccioli

This is one of my favorite Northern Sardinia beaches. It is also one of the best North Sardinia beaches for families with kids.

Like most of the beaches in the north of the island, it has white, thin sand and incredible turquoise waters, and is an excellent snorkeling spot.

Capriccioli is very close to Porto Cervo and all its facilities, and it’s sheltered from the wind by the typical Mediterranean shrub. Both of these features make it an excellent sunbathing spot where to spend a great day.

On the other hand, the two tiny coves that make up Capriccioli get terribly crowded in the peak summer months. For this reason, I’d say this is not the ideal place if you are looking for a quiet spot. Otherwise, embrace the fact that it will be crowded!

The beach has a place where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds. I recommend to arrive early or book in advance to snag one. Or else, just bring your own. But again, arrive early as the beach gets crowded and it’s hard to find a spot where you can place your umbrella

There’s a café just as you pass the gate that leads to the beach that serves salads, sandwiches, gelato and quick meals and doesn’t actually cost a fortune.

There are various parking lots available. The nearest to the beach gets packed very early. You will have better chances at parking your car in the lot up the street that is a 10 minutes walk to the beach.

You should also read my post A Guide To Capriccioli Beach for more information that will help you plan your visit.

La Celvia

This is a 300 meters (about 0.2 miles) long beach at walking distance from Capriccioli. There are restaurants, bars, and kiosks, and people like to go there for lunch and sunbathing in the afternoon hours.

This beach in North Sardinia is also well-sheltered from the wind and the sun thanks to the presence of thick Mediterranean vegetation. This means you can enjoy your meal without getting sunburnt.

Like other beaches in Northern Sardinia, La Celvia has pristine white sand and water shining with a palette of blues and greens. Expect to take amazing pictures!

Liscia Ruja

One of the largest beaches in northern Sardinia, Liscia Ruja is a beautiful beach where you will find everything you need for a perfect day. Though don’t worry, if you are on a budget you will find plenty of space where you can place your umbrella for free.

This lovely beach has fine, white sand and emerald waters where it’s refreshing to swim and snorkel.

From the beach, you can admire the Soffi and Mortorio Islands. Not far from it you will find Petra Ruja beach, which is a bit more secluded and less crowded.

Since Liscia Ruja is a bigger beach compared to the others in the area, you will never find it is overwhelmingly crowded. Certainly it isn’t compared to Capriccioli or the Spiaggia del Principe. When I visited last time we had no problems finding a spot to place our umbrella and lay our towels even if we actually got there quite late in the morning.

The beach has a place where you can rent an umbrella and sunbeds and a beach club where you can get a meal and a drink if you don’t want to pack your lunch. There’s a large parking spot right by the beach so you don’t have to worry about having to walk far either.

Porto Pollo

Porto Pollo is a rather famous beach nearby Palau, great for every type of traveler. Thanks to the wind that blows almost constantly in this part of Sardinia, Porto Pollo is a popular spot for kitesurf, windsurf, and sailing lovers.

The reddish, soft sand forms dunes that go all the way to the shore, which is perfect for kids – who can also play safely in the the shallow waters. There are several kiosks on the beach, which is quite popular among young people as well: all in all, this is an excellent holiday spot!

A paid parking spot is available close to the beach.

Cala Corsara

One of the most beautiful beaches on the Maddalena Archipelago, Cala Corsara can only be reached by boat and is one of the many beautiful coves of Spargi Island.

The whole island is surrounded by a crystal-turquoise sea that you won’t likely see anywhere else. There are dunes where wild lilies, juniper, and other Mediterranean plants grow freely.

Nobody lives on the island – unless you like to consider the boars as legitimate inhabitants of Spargi. They often like to hang at the beach, much to the amusement of tourists – last time I was there, they tried to steal our straw mat and almost stole our lunch while we were swimming!

Underwater, if you like snorkeling, you will find countless fishes and a few interesting things, like old ships that wrecked on these waters centuries ago – the oldest one being of Roman craft!

As you can only reach Cala Corsara by boat, you should make sure to book a boat tour of La Maddalena Archipelago. Tours usually depart from La Maddalena harbor, or from Palau in mainland Sardinia, but there are also options for tours from Cannigione and Santa Teresa di Gallura.

Cala Coticcio

Despite being a hidden gem of the Maddalena Archipelago until very recently, Cala Coticcio has become quite popular during recent years, and this has led the local administration to put some rules in place.

You can now access the beach – and the whole area, actually – only with a special permit and together with a local guide that you can find via the website of La Maddalena National Park.

The Sardinian Tahiti, how locals call it, needs to be preserved and only experts can lead you there through a (not too difficult) hiking trail and explain to you all the wonders of the area. You won’t regret going, though: Cala Coticcio really lives up to its fame. It’s a secret paradise in an already paradise-like part of the world.

Some boat tours of La Maddalena Archipelago – though not all – also go to Cala Coticcio. You will have to look for a zodiac tour though, because the larger hop-on hop-off cruises don’t go there. For example, this half-day zodiac tour departing from Palau goes to various spots in La Maddalena Archipelago, including Cala Coticcio.

My post How To Visit Cala Coticcio explains everything you need to know for the Cala Coticcio hike.

Rena Majore

Surrounded by dunes of thin, white sand, Rena Majore beach is a small paradise less than 10 km (6.2 miles) away from Santa Teresa di Gallura.

It’s broad enough to host about 400 people and, like many other beaches in Northern Sardinia, its water is pristine and painted with every shade of blue. Moreover, the water is shallow – great for kids – but rich in colors and living beings: if you love snorkeling, this one is for you.

The beach consists of two coves, both of them free to access. There’s a large parking lot for which you have to pay, but it’s really adjacent to the beach so you won’t have to walk far.

There’s only one beach club where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds, and get food and drinks – so it’s better to bring your own equipment and food and drink for the duration of the day.

La Marmorata

Near Santa Teresa di Gallura, la Marmorata is a lesser known but still incredible beach in Northern Sardinia. It’s great for families with kids and for anyone who loves the water.

It has fine white sand and a sandy bottom with shallow waters that make it safe for children – thus being a perfect place for families.

The beach is about 350 meters long (little more than 0.2 miles) but feels spacious.

The beach is quite wide, can host a lot of people, and has beach clubs to rent all sorts of equipment. You can rent umbrellas and beach loungers, have a meal in a nearby restaurant, and have a peaceful day under the sun, on a safe and beautiful beach surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs.

There’s a large parking spot where you can leave your car for the day (for a fee) and that allows easy access to the beach.

Rena Bianca

This is a small cove easily accessible on foot from the center of Santa Teresa di Gallura. As its name – which literally means white sand – suggests, the beach has beautiful white sand that makes for an amazing view.

The clean waters are full of marine life and a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers, but htey are quite shallow, which means this is a safe spot for children.

The natural land conformation shelters it from the mistral wind all year long.

Being so close to the town center, the beach offers every comfort such as umbrella and sunbeds rental, beach clubs to get food and drink and more. The convenient location is such that the beach often gets overly crowded.

As of 2024, no more than 1015 visitors per day can access Rena Bianca. If you are keen on visiting you will have to book a spot via the official website and pay a small fee.

Cala Spinosa

A hidden gem with pristine water just a few minutes’ drive from Santa Teresa di Gallura, Cala Spinosa will amaze you. Despite it being not the best beach in North Sardinia for kids – it’s mainly rocky, both on the shore and inside the water – it’s a fantastic snorkeling spot.

Getting there isn’t difficult – well, at least to the trail that leads to it. However, parking and actually climbing down to the beach are a totally different adventure than the drive to Cala Spinosa. The trail is well marked and short, but you will need shoes!

While getting there can be a bit of a challenge, the beach remains popular so plan to arrive early to claim your spot. There are no services such as beach clubs on the beach, but you will find a restaurant right above it and you can actually pay to use their parking lot and access the beach via a better trail.

My post A Quick Guide To Cala Spinosa shares more detailed information to help you plan your visit.

Li Cossi

Li Cossi is a small beach (about 80 meters/262 feet wide) located in Trinità d’Agultu municipality, roughly half-way between Castelsardo and Santa Teresa di Gallura.

The beach is surrounded by pink granite cliffs and backed by a small river that runs behind it, making it a very quiet and safe spot.

Its sea bottom is very low on the shore, ideal for families with kids, and becomes a paradise for snorkeling lovers after some meters. It’s a great place for everyone!

While there is a lifeguard on duty during the peak summer months, there aren’t any other services at this beach – so you will have to bring whatever you need for your day, including food and water.

To get there you will have to walk along a trail for about 1 km (0.6 miles) from the parking lot. It may seem a lot, but the views along the way are stunning and the trail easy. The views are so wonderful indeed that it’s easy to see why this is one of the best beaches in Northern Sardinia.

La Marinedda

Located nearby Isola Rossa and surrounded by red granite rocks and Mediterranean shrub, la Marinedda is a long, beautiful beach equipped with everything you may need for your day – beach clubs to rent umbrellas and sun beds, cafés to buy food and drinks, and more.

Though don’t worry: if you are visiting Sardinia on a budget you can access the beach for free and plant your umbrella wherever you prefer!

The beach is wide, with lots of parking spot nearby. A trail on its side leads to beautiful viewpoints.

One important thing to mention is that La Marinedda gets beaten by the northern winds. This means it really isn’t a good spot to spend your day on a windy day as the sea becomes too rough.

The place, very appreciated by sea sports lovers, is the yearly location for a global surf competition, and offers all the common features shared by the best beaches in northern Sardinia: pristine water, shallow waters, beautiful colors.

My post The Best Surfing Spots In Sardinia guides you to more surfing spots on the island.

Cala Sarraina

A small, almost untouched cove nearby Costa Paradiso, Cala Sarraina is going to take your breath away.

Whether you like sunbathing for 12 hours straight (please don’t do that) or practice snorkeling until you see fish even while on dry land, this place won’t disappoint: it’s a peaceful haven for locals and tourists, not very known by the masses but spectacular, nonetheless.

A word of advice, though (taken from my experience): don’t go when the mistral wind blows, as it’s virtually impossible to stand or even swim!

There isn’t much in terms of services here, but you will find a parking spot nearby so you don’t have to walk too far. There are also trails on the hills around the beach from where you can enjoy gorgeous views.

Tinnari

Another hidden gem in Costa Paradiso, Cala Tinnari is a cove surrounded by rocks and a Mediterranean grove. It has transparent waters and thin sand mixed with pebbles. Here, the water is almost immediately deep.

Not many mention it among the best beaches in northern Sardinia. It’s not as famous compared to many others. This may be because getting there isn’t so easy (there’s a bit of a walk). So if you are looking for a nice place to relax, go snorkeling, and enjoy a peaceful day at the beach, keep Cala Tinnari on your to-go list.

Balai

This is the urban beach of Porto Torres, and it’s a popular hangout spot in any season – like Cagliari’s Poetto – and the stage of many events, such as the New Years’ Dive, during which people jump in the frigid waters to celebrate the new year.

It’s honestly a gorgeous local spot. I discovered it on my way back from Asinara Island a few years ago and I loved how pristine and really clean it is!

The water and sand follow the standards of any of the best beaches in northern Sardinia, but it’s what’s around Balai that’s special.

You can enjoy a long walk or cycle alongside the shore, sip a coffee in a nearby café, or even visit the pretty Balai area, on the outskirts of Porto Torres. It’s an easy to reach beach, with plenty of on-site parking, access via staircases, free to use showers for visitors and the views from above stunning!

Locals love climbing the cliffs to jump in the water – I didn’t have the guts to try that but it certainly looked like fun.

Ezzi Mannu

Another long and sandy beach with emerald water, Ezzi Mannu marks the border between Stintino’s and Sassari’s municipalities. It’s one of the best secrets of Northern Sardinia.

When all the tourists head to popular spots like La Pelosa (more about it below) this is definitely a good beach in Northern Sardinia if you want to avoid the crowds and the hassle. Here, you can fit your umbrella and towels easily along its two-kilometers-long (1.2 miles) shore, made of peculiar quartz sand.

A lot of people love Ezzi Mannu because it’s wide. As I said before, it never gets overcrowded, at least compared to many other North Sardinia beaches. The water is great for snorkeling and safe for kids.

The beach has a large parking lot and you will find beach clubs where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds and get food and drinks. But of course, you can also keep your expenses down by bringing whatever you need for the day.

La Pelosa

No post on the best beaches in Northern Sardinia would be complete without mentioning La Pelosa.

A picture perfect beach, La Pelosa is the symbol of Stintino, and one of the most visited beaches on the island. It’s a great photography spot – mostly thanks to the Aragonese watchtower overlooking the sea – and a staple for water sports thanks to its exposition to the mistral wind.

La Pelosa has incredibly fine, white sand and very shallow water, which makes it a great spot for families. There is a beach club where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds for the day – though you have to book well in advance. There are also a bunch of restaurants along the beach.

Unfortunately, its fame was starting to cause damage to this amazing beach. For this reason the municipality of Stintino a few years ago decided that no more than 1,500 people per day can access the beach.

As it is a protected beach, you will need to book your spot in advance on the official website and follow a set of strict rules to help with the preservation efforts of this incredible beach. Parking is very expensive and limited, so head there nice and early to secure a spot.

My post A Guide To Visiting La Pelosa Beach has all the information on how to visit this incredible beach.

Saline

Le Saline Beach is one of the broadest beaches in Stintino and also one of the lesser crowded ones, perfect for those who prefer a slightly bigger personal bubble.

Its main charm is the ash-colored sand, which strongly stands out against the emerald waters – where small fishes swim peacefully, very close to the shore.

Adding to the charm is an Aragonese watchtower located directly on the shore.

If you are visiting Stintino, love snorkeling, and would like to spend a day away from the more famous North Sardinia beaches, le Saline is the best choice you can make.

You will find a large parking spot, beach clubs scattered along the beach where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds for the day, and places where you can grab food and drinks too.

Further Readings

Make sure to also read my posts:

• The Best Beaches In Sardinia
• The Best Beaches In South Sardinia
• The Best Beaches Near Cagliari
• The Best Beaches In Alghero
• The Best Nudist Beaches In Sardinia
• The Best Dog-Friendly Beaches In Sardinia

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