Cala Regina beach is a lovely small cove on the southeastern coast of Sardinia, the kind of place locals know about but not many tourists go to – because it isn’t the classic sandy beach they look for. Those who decide to visit, however, are never disappointed by its beauty.
As you surely know, Sardinia is famous for its beautiful beaches, suitable for lovers of adventure and nature. For those who prefer comfort, the island also offers beaches where you can spend a relaxing day without getting too far from the cities.
Cala Regina Beach is the perfect combination of a beach that can be easily reached from the city and that is at the same time completely natural.
Plan to visit especially if you are traveling around the southern part of the island: it’s a perfect spot for an easy day trip from Cagliari and it’s on the way from Cagliari to Costa Rei and Villasimius, which means it’s easy to stop there for a couple of hours on your way.
Since I regularly go to Cala Regina, I thought I’d share my knowledge about it with you, so that you can plan your visit. In this guide, you will find useful information about Cala Regina Beach, how to get there and also some information on the other nearby beaches that are worth visiting.
My post The Best Beaches Near Cagliari highlights the best beaches in the city, and within easy distance.
What To Know About Cala Regina Beach
Cala Regina Beach
Located on the coast of Quartu Sant’Elena, at easy driving distance from Cagliari, Cala Regina is a beautiful tiny cove, surrounded by cliffs that offer shelter from the wind. This particular feature makes Cala Regina very popular with (a few) tourists and locals, especially on days when the mistral wind is particularly strong.
Characterized by grey large pebbles and a turquoise sea with a deep, rocky seabed, Cala Regina Beach is perfect for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.
On the other hand, the same features make it less suitable for families with children, who may find it hard to get in the water, or may be intimidated by the depth of the water and may also get bored for the lack of sand.
The surroundings of the beach feature typical Mediterranean scrub, with pine and eucalyptus trees.
On one of the cliffs you can see the Cala Regina Tower, an Aragonese watchtower, about 9 meters tall (29.5 feet). The watchtower can be reached by following a path that starts in the parking lot – the views from there are absolutely wonderful.
Services at Cala Regina Beach
The beach is completely free to access and doesn’t require any reservation, but since it can accommodate just about 120 people or so, I suggest you go there early in the morning to find a nice spot to relax.
Cala Regina Beach is completely wild, and other than a small parking lot you won’t find any other service.
There is no place to rent umbrellas and sun beds, no toilets or kiosks to grab a bite, so if you decide to visit you will have to take everything you need for the day.
As it is very pebbly, placing the umbrella won’t be easy – it takes a bit of engineering work with the rocks and pebbles at the beach to place it. You should also plan to bring a small beach chair in case you find sitting or laying on the rocks uncomfortable.
How to behave at Cala Regina Beach
While relaxing at Cala Regina beach, you’ll have to keep in mind some important rules of behavior.
DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE BEACH – It is forbidden to pick up and take away sand, pebbles, stones or shells from the shoreline or the sea. If found by the authorities, you will be subjected to a fine – and trust me, they will check your luggage when you leave the island!
KEEP THE BEACH CLEAN – Don’t leave litter on the beach, you can use the trash cans near the parking or, if they are missing (they are often only seasonal) simply take the trash back home with you and dispose of it following local recycling rules.
DO NOT SMOKE – Smoking is forbidden in all Sardinian beaches. You can only smoke in designated areas.
RESPECT THE MARINE LIFE – Don’t pick up crabs, starfish, jellyfish or other marine life out of the water. It dies almost immediately and doing so is absolutely irresponsible – besides, it is prohibited by law. Again, if you are caught in the act you may end up with a fine.
How to get to Cala Regina Beach
There is no public bus service to Cala Regina from Cagliari or the nearer Quartu Sant’Elena, so if you want to visit you will need to rent a car.
From Cagliari, you will have to follow Strada Provinciale (SP) 17 for about 27 km (16.7 miles). It takes about 40 minutes to get there, but that also depends on traffic.
You will find a sign pointing to the beach after a hairpin bend – the road will follow downhill and you will soon get to a parking lot for cars, caravans and motorbikes, from which you can get to Cala Regina on foot.
Other nearby beaches
The coast where Cala Regina is located is packed with excellent beaches, and you can visit several of them on the same day if you wish – though I shall warn you that parking in the peak of the summer season may be an issue.
Mari Pintau
My favorite in the area is by far Mari Pintau, whose name literally means “painted sea” – and you’ll get why it’s called like that as soon as you see it. A bit larger than Cala Regina, this beach is also characterized by pebbles and emerald green waters, but the seabed is sandy so it’s definitely more suitable for families with children.
Mari Pintau is free to access, and you will find a public beach where you can place your umbrella, as well as a place where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds. There is a kiosk on the way to the beach where you can get food, drinks and snacks.
My post A Useful Guide to Mari Pintau gives a more detailed description of the beach, including how to get there..
Poetto
If you’re staying in Cagliari and don’t want to travel too far, you can comfortably relax at Poetto Beach, easy to reach by car, bike and bus from the center of town. The sandy beach is washed by the crystal clear water of the sea.
Along the beach you will find anything you may need for your day: places to rend umbrellas and sun beds, kayaks and other beach equipment, small restaurants, kiosks and gelateries, and even a running and biking lane in case you want to exercise.
Keep in mind, however, that this beach can be decidedly crowded during the summer (and in fact it gets a fair share of visitors even during the spring months, when the sun is out!).
Head over to my post A Complete Guide To Poetto Beach to discover this beautiful local beach.
Where to stay to easily access Cala Regina beach
As I have said before, Cala Regina is easy to access from Cagliari, and a nice stop on your way from the capital to popular summer holiday destinations such as Villasimius or Costa Rei. The closest places to stay, however, are Torre delle Stelle (a lovely beach hamlet on the hills and on a promontory overlooking the sea) or Geremeas.
I recommend searching on Booking.com to find the best accommodation deals in the area.
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It depends on the beach, but most of them is only during the summer season. I am not sure if you need specific information about Cala Regina: the parking there is free throughout the year.
Hi,
I’m travelling to south Sardinia in the end of may and I noticed that the beaches have payed parking. I was wondering if it’s all year round or just starting in June 1st?
Thank you