Sardinia: These are the most beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean island

• Sardinia is the second largest Mediterranean island and has hundreds of islets in front of it.
• The Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena are among the most famous stretches of coast.
• Many beaches are so powdery white and fine sand on the emerald green sea that they are in no way inferior to the Caribbean.

Sardinia is a bit more difficult to reach for an Italian beach destination. Because if you want to go to the second largest Mediterranean island, you either have to cover the 202 kilometers from the mainland on the car ferry for many hours or travel by plane. But the reward for this extra effort is all the more generous. There are so many different beaches to discover along the 1848 kilometers of coast that you could stay there all summer and explore a new beach every day. We introduce the six most beautiful beaches, clockwise around the island.

1. In Northern Sardinia:

Archipelago “La Maddalena” – every bay is a force

The most magical landscape of Sardinia lies in the very north of the Italian island and is a national park: "La Maddalena" is the name of the archipelago with its almost 70 islets and small beaches on the emerald green water, embedded between rocky hills and maquis. Most of the postcard photos of Sardinian beaches were taken here.

Between pink granite rocks, juniper and white sand

One of the most popular beaches is "Cala Spalmatore", which is around five kilometers from the center of the city of La Maddalena. The rocky environment provides good protection from wind and waves. Visitors can choose between three beaches with the finest white sand surrounded by Mediterranean maquis. Despite the idyll of Caribbean-like sand, pink granite rock walls, green cacti, myrtle and juniper, the "Cala Spalmatore" is not overcrowded. However, caution is advised on the beach because of the rocks. Due to the scenic beauty of the archipelago, it is almost a shame to only linger on one beach. Many tourists therefore take a boat to explore the island world with its hidden bays.

2. Im Northeast Sardinia:

Cala di Volpe on the Costa Smeralda – paradise times four

Once upon a time there was a prince who bought their apparently worthless sheep pastures on the coast from the poor farmers and shepherds in northeastern Sardinia for pocket money. Prince Aga Kahn IV., A native of Switzerland and the heavily wealthy head of the Ismailis, brought the Costa Smeralda to life in the 1960s. Since then, it's not just international stars and starlets who have loved the 55-kilometer stretch of coast. Because nature shows itself from its paradisiacal side: the sea is crystal clear, shimmers in turquoise tones, gently sloshes on the soft, white beach, which stretches between light gray-reddish granite humps.

Marina shields wind and waves

Cala di Volpe on the Costa Smeralda is anything but an insider tip, but there are four different beaches here – a large main beach and beautiful, small bays. The advantage of the large beach is that it slopes gently and is protected by a marina in front and therefore does not get wind or waves. In addition, it is equipped with all amenities – whether beach bar, toilets, loungers or water sports equipment. So it is ideal for families with small children. The small bays, on the other hand, are not for the little ones, because the emerald green sea quickly gets deep.

3. Im East Sardinia:

Cala di Luna – there on foot, back by boat

The path is just as spectacular as the destination: Two paths lead to the so-called moon bay on the east coast, more precisely in the Gulf of Orosei. If you don't just lie lazily on the beach, but also want to do something for your fitness, choose the hiking trail over the steep coast. This five-kilometer tour through several gorges takes a good two and a half hours, with one breathtaking view after the other. Granted, a few beads of sweat flow. But for the way back you can take the boat that most beach lovers use to get to Cala di Luna.

Grottoes and caves lead 30 meters deep into the rock

The special thing about the moon bay are its mysterious grottos and karst caves, which lead 30 meters deep into the rocks of the Supramonte massif. The 700 meter long sandy beach is framed in the south by wooded rock walls, in the west by oleander bushes and reeds. Even locals call the moon bay one of the most beautiful on the whole island.

4. Im South of Sardinia:

Pula – first sandy beach and ancient ruins under water

This is the birthplace of beach holidays on the second largest Mediterranean island: a good 3,000 years ago, the Phoenicians landed precisely at this point in the extreme south of Sardinia and founded a settlement called Nora. With the choice of this place, the ancient traders and seafarers from the area of ​​today's Lebanon and Syria showed their taste. The light sandy coastline hugs the mountains to the west and the blue shimmering Gulf of Cagliari, which is also called the Gulf of Angels, to the east.

Reliefs of ruins visible under water

The sea with its emerald green is an almost magical attraction. And the water is so clear that you can always look to the bottom on the shallow slope. On windless days you can even see old reliefs of ruins underwater. If you go for a walk on the ten kilometer long sandy beach, you will not only encounter dunes, pine trees and eucalyptus. But also on a relatively well-preserved antique amphitheater and the remains of thermal baths and temples, including their grandiose mosaic floors.

5. Im West Sardinia:

"Is Arutas" – paradise in pastel colors

Pink, light green, white and pale yellow: the grains of sand on the beach of "Is Arutas" in the west of the island shimmer in these pastel colors. The small, rounded grains of sand are made of quartz and give the several hundred meters long beach with its small bays an inviting look.

Surfers love the west coast

As gently as the beach is flattering, the sea drops steeply after just a few meters – of course in spectacular colors from emerald green to dark blue.

This also pleases surfers, who find their ideal playground for surfing in the waves of the crystal clear water. On the beach of "Is Arutas" there is also infrastructure for tourists, i.e. parking spaces, a few cafes and a campsite.

6. In the north of Sardinia:

"Porto Pollo" – Where the wind makes kite and windsurfers happy

Near Palau in northern Sardinia is Porto Pollo, which is considered one of the best wind spots for windsurfers and kite surfers in Europe. In particular from April to June and September to November the mistral blows so constantly and violently that many good and experienced freeriders and racers cavort here. Here, these are the two long bays of the peninsula called Isola die Gabbiani, which make the surf spot so special.

Peninsula with a campsite

There is a campsite on the wild, romantic, rocky peninsula. It is of course popular with surf freaks, who only have to carry their equipment a few meters into the water. In the bays, however, there are also holiday apartments that offer a little more comfort. Surf and kite schools and a few bars for chilling out are part of it. The beaches consist of dunes that are fine sand and light. In Porto Pollo9 you can really enjoy the sporty beach life.

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