A Local Guide To Cala Monte Turno: 6 Best Things To Know

At easy distance from Costa Rei, on the southeastern coast of Sardinia, Cala Monte Turno is one of my favorite beaches in Southern Sardinia. It’s a place I religiously visit at least once during the long Sardinian summer.

If you happen to be vacationing on this part of the island, you should definitely add it to your itinerary. In fact, even if you are just visiting Cagliari, you may want to consider going. It is only a one-hour drive and an easy place to visit on day trips from Sardinia’s capital.

Curious to find out more about the lovely Cala di Monte Turno beach? Want to get some practical information that will help you plan your visit? Continue reading for all the local tips!

Make sure to read my post A Local’s Guide To Costa Rei. It has more ideas on things to do and places to visit in the area, in any season!

Costa Rei Monte Turno — The gorgeous Monte Turno

Table of Contents

What To Know About Cala Monte Turno Beach

Spiaggia di Cala Monte Turno is a beautiful small cove that measures roughly 300 meters (around 984 feet). It features fine, white sand and pristine, shallow clear waters. It is surrounded by hills where juniper and Mediterranean shrub grow wild.

There are no buildings close by, and with scenic rock formations, it’s a beautiful place to spend a day during the summer.

Here the water remains shallow for quite a length before the seabed drops. So, the Spiaggia di Cala Monte Turno is a great place for families with children, who can play safely in the water.

GOOD TO KNOW: Since it’s a small cove surrounded by hills, Monte Turno is nicely sheltered from the wind. It’s a better spot compared to the nearby Costa Rei when the strong mistral wind blows.

Located at the beach there is one of the nicest beach clubs in the area, called Iki Beach. They rent out umbrellas, sun beds and other beach equipment. Furthermore, they have a nice café and restaurant where you can get lunch, snacks, drinks – including some of the best sunset cocktails in the area. They also have toilets and showers.

During the summer months, a lifeguard is present at Cala Monte Turno beach.

Monte Turno tends to get very crowded in the peak season. To secure a good spot plan to get there early in the morning or later on in the afternoon. Alternatively, head to your right as soon as you arrive, past the kiosk and towards the rock formations, as that spot is usually less crowded.

How To Make The Most Of Cala Monte Turno

Sardinian beaches are gorgeous. You should do your best to keep them as beautiful as they are, and as clean as you find them. Unfortunately, too many people still disrespect their delicate environment.

Last time I was at Monte Turno I went for a walk on the hill surmounting it (the mountain that gives the beach its name, actually). I spotted abandoned trash, including some bags hanging on trees. Please, don’t be that person!

Here are some tips to best respect Cala di Monte Turno and other beaches anywhere in the world:

DON’T ABANDON YOUR TRASH – There are trash bins to dispose of small trash at the main entrance of Spiaggia di Cala Monte Turno. Take any bigger item home to dispose of it appropriately. Keep in mind that recycling is a must in Sardinia. This means you’ll have to separate organic waste from plastic, paper, glass and cans.

DON’T TAKE SAND, SHELLS OR PEBBLES – Taking sand, shells and pebbles from anywhere in the world has an adverse effect on the local environment. In Sardinia it is prohibited by law. If you are caught stealing sand or are found with some in your bag / luggage / car you will be subjected to an expensive fine.

BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS – Beware of others when playing ball games. If you are a smoker, take care to notice that smoking is forbidden at all Sardinian beaches. You will have to move to a designated area. By all means, do not drop your cigarette butts in the water or in the sand!

How To Get To Cala Monte Turno

You will need a car to get to Monte Turno beach, as buses don’t stop there.

The closest (very small) town to Cala Monte Turno is Costa Rei. From there, drive south along SP18 for about 6 km (3.7 miles). A small sign on your left will direct you towards the beach, but it’s so small that if you don’t know it is there you won’t see it – so drive slowly and keep your eyes open. You’ll have to almost do a U-turn.

If you are coming from Villasimius or Cagliari, you will have to drive towards Costa Rei on SS125, take the first exit towards Costa Rei and continue straight past the small bridge where the traffic light is located. Turn left at the main intersection. The turning point in this case will be on your right.

There is a large parking lot, and you will have to pay for the duration of your stay. Make sure to bring change!

Things to do in Sardinia — The clear waters at Santa Giusta Beach

Other Nearby Beaches

Monte Turno is located in one of the most beautiful coasts of Sardinia, so you won’t have troubles finding other beautiful beaches where to spend a day. Here are my favorite ones.

Santa Giusta

Locally known as Scoglio di Peppino (Peppino’s Rock), Santa Giusta beach is an idyllic spot of clear, shallow waters, fine white sand and beautiful rock formations.

Unfortunately the presence of a couple of resorts in the area make this one of the most crowded spots in Costa Rei, but if you opt for the small cove on the other side of the rock, you won’t have troubles finding a spot.

Alternatively, visit at the very end of the season. The photo above was taken on a Sunday at the beginning of October.

Cala Pira

The video above was filmed in Cala Pira by my cousin and her husband, and the voices you hear are those of her kids, who were understandably mesmerized by the presence of dolphins so close to the shore. While dolphins are easily spotted in the waters of Sardinia, they aren’t regularly seen in Cala Pira.

In any case, this remains a gorgeous small cove. The beach has clear and shallow waters and it surmounted by a Spanish watchtower. There is a kiosk where you can get food and drinks and a beach club to rent umbrellas and sun beds. You can also visit on boat tours departing from Costa Rei or Villasimius.

My post A Short Guide To Cala Pira shares more information on this stunning cove.

Cala Sinzias

A favorite of locals and tourists alike, this long beach with beautiful golden sand and transparent waters is perfect for families with children.

You will find several beach clubs here where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds, and where you can get food and drinks. Lido Tamatete and Maklas are my favorite (Maklas is a bit more upscale, Tamatete has the best food).

Head over to my post A Useful Guide To Cala Sinzias for more tips on how to enjoy this local beach.

Monte Turno To Cala Pira Hike

Who said you can only enjoy Cala di Monte Turno in the summer months? Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sardinia, but I hardly recommend hiking in the summer months when temperatures soar.

You will be happy to know that there is a beautiful coastal trail that connects Cala Monte Turno to the above mentioned Cala Sinzias and Cala Pira. It’s an easy hike that totals about 12 km (7.4 miles) there and back with very moderate elevation gain (just 160 meters, or 525 feet), and only a couple of challenging bits.

The trail goes all the way to Cala Sinzias, from where you’ll initially walk through the forest to then go up the hill and eventually descend to Cala Pira. You will get views of the beaches, of a hidden nuraghe and walk by the Aragonese watchtower that surmounts Cala Sinzias.

The trailhead is found by the parking lot of Monte Turno beach and it is open year round. I particularly recommend this hike in October, when the temperatures are milder but the sea temperature is still warm enough to enjoy a quick swim after the hike. Just make sure you have enough water for the duration of the hike, as well as food.

Monte Turno in the winter — A walk in Monte Turno during the winter

Where To Stay Near Cala Monte Turno

The nearest hamlet to Monte Turno beach is Costa Rei. This is mostly a holiday resort where lots of people from Cagliari (including my parents) own a holiday home. It’s very busy in the summer months, but equally quiet in the off season. Here you will find many holiday homes, vacation apartment rentals, small hotels and a few all-inclusive resorts too.

My post The Best Hotels In Costa Rei highlights all the best accommodation options in the area.

Another good place to stay nearby is Villasimius, which is a small town proper with a permanent resident population of around 3,000 people which swells exponentially during the peak season. There are many great hotels, b&b and apartment rentals in Villasimius too.

Finally, Monte Turno is close enough to Cagliari for a day trip, where you will find an excellent selection of accommodation options for all budgets and needs.