Mari Pintau Beach, Sardinia: 7 Best Things To Know

Mari Pintau means “painted sea” in Sardinian language, and as soon as you get to this marvelous Sardinian beach you will understand how it got its name. It’s located on the southern coast of Sardinia, along one of the most scenic drives on the island.

The beach is very popular spot for locals who enjoy it throughout the weak during Sardinia’s long summer. It now is an increasingly known spot to tourists too. Mari Pintau Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches easily reached from Cagliari. As such an ideal spot for a day trip out of town if you are staying there in the summer.

Are you curious to find out more? Lucky for you, I go to Mari Pintau at least once every summer – I was there for my annual visit last week as well. So, I really know everything you need to know to plan your visit and make the most of it. Continue reading!

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Everything You Must Know About Mari Pintau

Mari Pintau Beach

Mari Pintau is a small cove located on the southwestern coast of Sardinia, along the panoramic road that connects Cagliari to Villasimius, one of South Sardinia’s most popular holiday destinations.

It is near Is Canaleddus Beach (one of the nicest dog friendly beaches as well as nudist beaches in Sardinia). You can easily swim there if you are fit enough. I have actually even swam from Mari Pintau to Cala Regina and back!

Seeing it from the road, you will have the impression of having laid your eyes on a giant pool – that’s how clear the water is. At the back of the beach, the Mediterranean shrub and the small pine forest contribute to its charm.

The shallow seabed and the very calm water make it a perfect spot for swimming. Water at this beach is usually calm, so it’s great for swimming. However, keep in mind that this is not a good spot to spend your day on mistral days, as the mistral hits the beach frontally making getting in the water almost impossible.

Mari Pintau beach is a pebbly beach, so not the most comfortable spot if you are hoping to lay in soft sand. But as soon as you get in the water, pebbles give way to fine white sand that is lovely to walk on.

TIP: Make sure to carry a beach-chair or a sun-bed for a more comfortable stay. Flip flops or – even better – rock shoes are also a must, as walking on the pebbles barefoot is painful.

GOOD TO KNOW: Despite the lack of sand to play with, children love this beach where the shallow, transparent waters are the ideal setting for a lot of fun, water games.

Mari Pintau Gay Beach

Mari Pintau is also one of the few gay-friendly and nudist-friendly beaches in Sardinia, along with Cala Fighera in Cagliari, though if you are planning on visiting with children you have nothing to worry about – in fact, nudist beachgoers usually tend to isolate themselves at the far western corner of the beach, among the rocks.

Personally, I have never spotted one and many will tell you it’s not a nudist beach because they’ve never spotted anyone!

Services at Mari Pintau Sardinia

Mari Pintau Beach has all sorts of services. Located on the trail that leads from the main road to the beach you will find a kiosk where you can get sandwiches, salads, ice-cream, quick yet tasty meals as well as snacks and all sorts of drinks.

Further down along the trail you will find toilets and showers (for which you will have to pay a small fee) and on the same spot you will be able to rent sun-beds for the day – again, for a small daily fee.

The beach has a beach club where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds. There’s also a lifeguard on duty. Beds and umbrellas are usually assigned on a first come, first serve basis. However you can call ahead the number + 39 331 883 7020 to book yours. The cost of an umbrella and two beds for a day is currently €40 for a front row spot.

Pebbles on shore at Mari Pintau Beach in Sardinia.

How to get to Mari Pintau

Mari Pintau is located at about 40 minutes drive from Cagliari.

To get there, you will have to drive along Poetto Beach on Via Lungomare del Golfo until the very end, when you get to a roundabout, and from there take SP17. You will spot the beach from a distance and immediately recognize the gorgeous water.

You can park along the road, but make sure not to park on a bend as local police patrols the area. They will give fines to cars that aren’t parked carefully.

Make sure to watch out when crossing to the other side of the road, as there are no zebra lines. There are a couple of trails that lead to the beach. You will need to wear shoes for a more comfortable walk!

Another great way to get to Mari Pintau beach is by boat! This Mari Pintau sailing tour departs from Cagliari and makes several stops along the way for you to admire the coast. You will get to spend around 1.5 hours in Mari Pintau. It’s a full day tour that also includes lunch.

Other nearby beaches

The entire coast has many beautiful beaches. You won’t have troubles finding a spot where you can relax and go for a swim. Here are the ones I recommend:

CALA REGINA – Coming from Cagliari, you’ll find this beach a bit before Mari Pintau. It’s a small, pebbly clove with waters perfect for snorkeling, and nicely sheltered from the wind – though I must warn you, placing an umbrella is close to being mission impossible! It’s completely unserviced.

KAL’E MORU – If you’d rather go to a sandy beach, this is the closest to Mari Pintau. It’s nicely sheltered. It’s a good option if you want a beach with a bit more services.

BACCU MANDARA – A bit further, this sandy beach is one of the lesser known beaches by tourists. Locals love it. There is a kiosk where you can get food and drinks and where you can rent umbrellas and other beach equipment.

IS CANALEDDUS – I have recently discovered this beach which is the closest one to Mari Pintau Sardinia. It’s a nice beach with all sorts of services. There’s a large parking lot and a nice pine forest at its back. Like Mari Pintau, it is a pebbly beach too.

Where to stay to easily access Mari Pintau

Mari Pintau is close enough to Cagliari so it’s an ideal place for a day trip. Here you can find accommodation in Cagliari. If you wish to stay closer, you could opt for a holiday rental in Gereméas – here you can find options for more places to stay in Geremeas.

Important rules of behavior at Sardinian beaches

The main thing you need to do when visiting a beach in Sardinia is to respect its environment, and the other people there.

DON’T TAKE SAND, SHELLS OR PEBBLES – Mari Pintau is a pebbly beach and I doubt you will want to take pebbles with you. But alas, it’s worth saying that this is forbidden. Leave sand, shells and pebbles where they are. If you are caught with it you may end up with a fine.

DON’T ABANDON YOUR TRASH – There are large trash cans at the beach, for small waste you produce during the day. You will find more cans by the kiosk. You should take any large item hone, and properly dispose of it. Keep in mind recycling is the thing to do in Sardinia, but the ways to do it vary from place to place so you may want to double check with your host.

BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS – Ball games are impossible at Mari Pintau – but if you engage in ball games in any other beach in Sardinia, make sure to be respectful of others. Smoking is still allowed at most Sardinian beaches (some have designated areas for that). However, please beware that cigarette smokes is not pleasant to breathe to non-smokers. By all means, don’t drop cigarette butts in the sand or in the water!

NO SMOKING – It’s forbidden at all beaches on the island. You can only smoke in designated areas.