A slice of paradise in the south-western part of Sardinia, Porto Pino Beach (Spiaggia di Porto Pino in Italian) is a marvelous long bay where the sand dunes meet the emerald waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The dunes of Porto Pino are quite an incredible sight and can easily be seen from a distance.
A favorite of locals and truly appreciated by tourists, Porto Pino beach is a rather popular beach. And while getting there is fairly easy, and this is beach where you will find all sorts of services, there are a few things that are worth knowing before actually visiting.
Since I go to this beach all the time (I was there just yesterday), I thought I’d share everything I know about this incredible place. Keep on reading if you want to know more about Porto Pino Sardinia. I’ll also give you some good advice on how to make the most out of your visit, how to reach the beach and where to stay nearby.
Make sure to read my post The Best Beaches In Sardinia and The Best Beaches In South Sardinia for more beaches you could visit during your trip.
Overview of Porto Pino, Sardinia
Located in the Sant’Anna Arresi Municipality, Porto Pino is one of the most visited beaches in south Sardinia.
The bay is 6 km (3.7 miles) long, of which 4 km (2.5 miles) are covered by powdery white sand. Here you will find three different beaches, each one with something slightly different to offer.
In general, the beaches of Porto Pino Sardinia are great for families, as kids can have fun with the sand and play safely on the shore. Indeed the water is shallow for at least 10 meters (about 11 yards), if not more (it really depends on the winds and the currents).
The first beach of Porto Pino (Prima Spiaggia) is 600 meters (656 yards) long, with pale grey sand and rocks. It is also the most crowded of the three, as it has several beach clubs where you can rent umbrellas and sun beds. Furthermore, you will find kiosks and small restaurants where you can get food and drinks.
The second beach (Seconda Spiaggia) is 2 km (1.2 miles) long. This Porto Pino beach features very fine white sand, small sand dunes, and is located between the basins of Maestrale and Is Brebeis, and a pine grove. The atmosphere and the natural environment here are perfect for a relaxing day.
The third beach (Terza Spiaggia), also known as is Arenas Biancas or The Dunes is the most spectacular. Here, dunes of white thin sand reach 30 meters (98.4 feet) in height and meet with the clear waters, creating a truly unique landscape.
Is Arenas beach is part of a NATO shooting range, so it is only accessible when the drills stop, usually during the months of July and August.
Be aware that you can’t climb on the dunes of Porto Pino (or any dunes in Sardinia), as they are protected. I regularly see people on the dunes (there were some yesterday, when I was at the beach), either oblivious to the rules, or simply disrespectful.
However, there may be rangers patrolling the beach, typically walking back and forth along the beach to spot any trespassers. And if you get caught climbing the dunes, you may get a fine.
Make sure to read my post A Useful Guide To Is Arenas Biancas for more information on this gorgeous beach next door.
Being so sandy and quite unsheltered from the wind, Porto Pino is not a good place to spend the day on windy days if all you want to do is just hang at the beach and swim. You’d literally be covered in sand in no time, and it can be quite unbearable. Going there all the time, my sister and I also realized that the most sheltered spot along the beach is right under the dunes.
Things To Do In Porto Pino
There are many fun things to do in Porto Pino. Personally, whenever I go there I try to just enjoy a relaxing day at the beach and spend endless hours snoozing in the shade under the umbrella (that’s what I did yesterday), swimming along the shore, reading a book, talking to my friends, or playing a game of matkot (locals love that too).
I see kids busy snorkeling at the beach all the time, but to be honest I am not sure the sandy shore of Porto Pino beach has much to offer in terms of snorkeling.
My post The Best Places To Go Snorkeling In Sardinia shares more tips on places to visit if you are into snorkeling.
Of course, if you want to have a bit of a more active day, or if you are visiting outside of the summer season, you may be looking for more things to do.
If you wish to explore the surroundings of the beach, you’ll find plenty to see.
Behind the pine grove there is a canal used as a dock for small fishing boats. You will likely walk along the canal on your way to the beach, so you can’t miss it. The one thing I need to point out is that depending on the day, or on the time of day you go there, the canal can give off quite a strong and unpleasant smell (it’s perfectly natural).
At the back of the beach, there’s a massive lagoon. It’s a great place for birdwatching in any season – I love it in the spring months. There are various species of birds here including kingfishers, but the ones that will catch your attention are the Porto Pino pink flamingos. This is indeed one of the best spots in Sardinia to admire pink flamingos.
Want to see more pink flamingos during your Sardinia trip? I have a post on Where To See Pink Flamingos In Sardinia.
If you are into water sports, Porto Pino is a great place on windy days. Many people come here on windy days to enjoy windsurfing and kitesurfing.
My guide Where To Go Kitesurfing In Sardinia shares even more spots for this fun sport.
Useful Information
Rules of behavior in Porto Pino Sardinia
As I said before, climbing or walking on the dunes of Porto Pino is forbidden. You really can’t go, not even for a short moment to take the perfect Instagram photo; not even if you think nobody is watching. There may or may not be rangers patrolling the beach, ready to fine trespassers. I have seen them giving fines a few times. All in all, just don’t be that person.
There are some other rules that you have to respect during your stay at Porto Pino:
DON’T TAKE SAND – As in any other beach in Sardinia, please do not take sand, rocks or seashells. Tourists often do that here in Sardinia, but it’s forbidden – I have a post on sand theft that explains why. Anyone caught with sand gets a fine (and often ends up in the news).
KEEP THE BEACH CLEAN – Before leaving the beach, make sure to take any trash with you. You can throw it in the trash cans located close to the parking lots. Can’t find one? Bring it home with you and dispose of it appropriately.
RESPECT THE FAUNA AND MARINE LIFE – Please refrain from taking starfishes, crabs and other marine life out of the water. They will die almost instantly. The same goes for jelly fish. They are actually protected, here in Sardinia.
PETS – Porto Pino has a small pet friendly beach, perfect if you want to bring your four legged friends. It’s not uncommon to see dogs at this beach. I have a post that shares more dog friendly beaches in Sardinia, in case you are traveling with your pets.
ONLY SMOKE IN DESIGNATED AREAS – Smoking is forbidden in all beaches in Sardinia. Look for a designated area if you wish to smoke. Smoking is a hazard as there’s a lot of vegetation in the area, often very dry in the summer months – it can easily catch fire.
How to get to Porto Pino
There’s no direct bus service to Porto Pino from Cagliari. To get there from the capital you’ll have to take bus 129 from Cagliari to Sant’Anna Arresi. Once there, take bus 860 or 816 to the beach. I shall warn you that the trip can be long and tiring as it can take up to 3 hours.
It not ideal if you just want to spend a day there. Of course, if you are staying in Sant’Anna Arresi the bus is a perfectly viable solution to reach the beach.
If you are staying in Cagliari or its surroundings, the easiest and fastest way to get to Porto Pino is by car. It is about 102 km (63.3 miles) – 1.5 hours drive. This means you can visit on day trips from Cagliari, which is what we always do.
The shortest route to follow is SS130 to Siliqua. From there, turn onto SS293 all the way to Giba, from where you’ll find directions to the beach. This is the shortest way, and it’s also very scenic as you will spot the Acquafredda Castle in Siliqua along the way. However, it’s also very windy and not ideal if you may get car sick.
An alternative way to get there from Cagliari – the one I normally follow – is along the SS130 all the way to Domusnovas, where you can turn onto SP2 to Flumentepido. From there, take SS126 to Carbonia and San Giovanni Suergiu. Finally follow SP73 to the beach.
To get to the beach, you will have to drive along a short stretch of dirt road. It will look like you are just driving along the lagoon, but there’s a large (paid) parking lot at the end of the road where you can park your car for the day.
Once you park your car, you have to follow an easy trail to get to the beach – it’s roughly a 15 minutes walk, depending on where you stop on the beach.
Guided tours
The good news for those of you that wish to stay in Cagliari, don’t want to rent a car for their trip and still want to visit Porto Pino, is that there are guided tours that go there and to other nearby beaches.
Tours depart from the historic center of Cagliari in the Largo Carlo Felice, right between the districts of Stampace, La Marina and Castello. The departure point is fairly easy to reach. Tours don’t include lunch. However, there are enough kiosks at the beach where you can get lunch or a snack if you don’t want to bring your own.
I recommend this small group guided tour to Porto Pino and the nearby Piscinnì Beach. The tour includes transportation from Cagliari (but no hotel pick up and drop off). It’s a scenic drive during which you’ll also be able to spot the Acquafredda Castle in Siliqua. You’ll get a straw mat and an umbrella for your personal use. Bring your towel.
Other nearby beaches
If you are planning to stay a while in the area of Porto Pino, you may want to discover other beaches nearby. I have already mentioned Is Arenas Biancas beach which is at the very far end of Porto Pino Beach. These are other beaches you could easily visit:
PORTU PINEDDU – This is the closest beach to Porto Pino. Locals also call it Sa Bua. It is a half-moon shaped beach with white sand.
PORTU DE SU TRIGU – 2 km (1.2 miles) from Porto Pino, this is a great place If you like diving and snorkeling.
CALA ZAFFERANO – Part of the NATO base, you can only get to Cala Zafferano by boat and only from July to mid September. Boat tours like this one depart from Teulada Marine Harbor or Chia. Most boat tours are just half-day.
Where to stay to easily access Porto Pino Sardinia
Hotels and resorts in the Porto Pino town are pretty expensive. For this reason, if you are looking for an affordable accommodation, I recommend to stay at a B&B’s or rent a small self-catering apartment in Sant’Anna Arresi.
You can find accommodation options in Sant’Anna Arresi on booking.com, my recommended hotel booking site.
As I have said before, you can also simply visit on day trips from Cagliari, in which case you will have plenty of excellent accommodation options.
Make sure to also read my post Where To Stay In Cagliari if that’s where you want to base yourself.
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Claudia Tavani
Claudia Tavani was born and raised in Sardinia, and after moving between the United States and the United Kingdom, she's now back living in her hometown, Cagliari. She's a travel blogger and certified travel designer who loves planning trips and publishing guides, travel tips, and packing lists so that you don't have to. Owner of Strictly Sardinia, cat mom to Minnie. Loves pizza, hiking, archeology, cities, beaches, swimming, and running. Hates peppers.