13 Best Secluded Beaches In Sardinia (original) (raw)
There are some wonderful secluded beaches in Sardinia – places that you can visit even in the peak season and will still be blissfully quiet. They are a bit hard to find, but worth every effort of getting there because they are truly stunning places, and much more relaxing than many other more popular places.
You see, it’s hard to escape the crowds in Sardinia in the summer. No matter where you go, between mid June and mid September most Sardinian beaches will be crowded, especially at weekends.
It’s never overwhelming, but alas, if you come to Sardinia expecting to have an entire beach to yourself in August, you are in for a big disappointment. Even the protected beaches in Sardinia – those that cap the number of daily visitors – feel quite crowded.
I have also found myself explaining to readers that it’s almost pointless to pick a base rather than another on the basis that you think it may be less crowded, because chances are it won’t be.
So, what should you do to avoid the crowds in Sardinia in the summer? Opt for one of the secluded beaches in Sardinia. There are some scattered around the island. They require a bit of effort to get there – some driving, at times a short hike too – and they are not equipped; but they are just as beautiful as other more famous beaches (and in some cases, even more!
Don’t know where to find Sardinia hidden beaches? Don’t worry. I am a local, and I wonder the island in search of the best spots all the time – and I am about to share the best kept secrets.
Even in the peak summer months, some beaches don’t get any crowds!
Map Of Sardinia Hidden Beaches
Wondering “where are the most secluded beaches in Sardinia?” – I have created a Sardinia hidden beaches map for you that you can see below.
I always say that if you want to explore Sardinia, you will need to rent a car. This is even more the case if you wish to reach Sardinia hidden beaches, as you really won’t be able to get there on public transportation.
Don’t know where to start your search for a car rental? My post How To Rent A Car In Sardinia will guide you through the process.
How to use this Secluded Beaches in Sardinia map: This Sardinia hidden map points you to the least crowded beaches in Sardinia. Use your computer mouse on desktop or laptop, or your fingers on your smartphone, to enlarge the map. Click on the star next to the title in this Sardinia secluded beaches map to save it to your Google Maps account. You can also view the saved map on your smartphone or computer when you click on “Your saved maps” in your Google Maps. To view the map in a larger screen, click on “View larger map” in the top right corner.
Finally, before sharing my pick of the most secluded beaches in Sardinia, let me point out that with so many beaches on the island you are bound to find a place you’ll love. And as I always say, if you visit in the summer come prepared for the crowds to avoid being disappointed!
Cala Murtas
Spiaggia di Murtas
Spiaggia di Murtas (locally referred to as simply Murtas) is located about 40 minutes drive north of Costa Rei, and one hour and 20 minutes drive north of Cagliari. Costa Rei is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Sardinia, so the beaches there can get quite crowded.
Even when Costa Rei reaches its full capacity, I find that Murtas is blissfully quiet. I have been there on Ferragosto (Italy’s famous summer national holiday), when literally everyone is at the beach here in Sardinia, and almost had the beach to myself!
Murtas, which is also one of Sardinia’s dog friendly beaches, is located in the military area of Quirra, which means there are no villages or hubs nearby. This means that nobody has immediate access to the beach, but there’s a bit of a drive (along a dirt road) to get there.
The beach is long and sandy – with fine golden sand mixed with tiny pebbles. Water is almost immediately deep, so if you are going with children make sure they are confident in the water.
There’s nothing in terms of services at Spiaggia di Murtas: you won’t find a kiosk, a beach club and there’s no lifeguard on duty, and even phone reception is a bit sketchy. On the other hand, there’s a large free parking lot and lots of space for you to hang. Just make sure you bring whatever you may need for your relaxing day.
My post How To Visit Cala Murtas shares more details that will help you fully enjoy this beach.
A peaceful day at Cala Sa Figu
Cala Sa Figu
Cala Sa Figu is a scenic and nicely sheltered small cove about 15 minutes drive north of Costa Rei. I regularly go there on windy days as it is a bit more protected.
The beach, which is quite small, is characterized by golden sand and very clear waters and surrounded by rock formations and hills covered in Mediterranean shrub. It’s a fun snorkeling spot!
Getting to the beach can be quite tricky. You have to drive along a dirt road and the parking lot isn’t really well cared for. Unless you have a 4WD vehicle it can be tricky to park, so it’s best to park along the road but make sure you find a good spot as occasionally the local police patrols the area and gives fines to cars that aren’t properly parked.
Once you park, you have to follow a trail to get to the beach – it’s completely downhill on the way to the beach.
There are no services at the beach, so make sure you bring whatever you need for your day.
The gorgeous white dunes of Is Arenas
Is Arenas Biancas
Is Arenas Biancas is one of the most scenic hidden beaches in Sardinia. It’s located about 30 minutes drive west of Teulada, in Southern Sardinia.
This is a very long white sand beach. In fact, what makes it quite famous are the high white sand dunes – which are protected (meaning you are not supposed to climb them). Water at Is Arenas Biancas is really shallow and transparent.
With such fine sand to play with and shallow water, this is a perfect beach for a family with children – though I don’t recommend going on windy days as sand flies everywhere.
Don’t expect this beach to be completely deserted. There is a main part of the beach that is actually equipped with a kiosk to get food and drinks, and a beach club where you can rent umbrellas and other beach equipment and there’s a lifeguard on duty.
If you prefer staying in a quieter spot, just walk left of the main access towards the dunes and you will find plenty of space to place your umbrella and not many people near you (but of course you’ll have to bring whatever you need for the day).
To get there you’ll have to drive through the military zone of Teulada along a dirt road. There’s a large (paid) parking lot too.
Head over to my post A Short Guide To Is Arenas Biancas for more guidance into visiting this unique beach.
Stormy water at Piscinas
Dune di Piscinas
Piscinas is another beach known for its impressive sand dunes, and one of the best known nudist beaches in Sardinia. It’s located more than 1.5 hours drive west of Cagliari (so it is still suitable for a day trip), but you can also get there from Buggerru, a lesser known summer holiday destination in South Sardinia, and Guspini, a lovely small town.
Piscinas is a very long, incredibly wild beach. It’s backed by beautiful sand dunes – again, let me remind you that climbing them is forbidden (even though you may come across people that still do it). The sea is immediately deep and the currents strong, so this is not a good beach to visit with children, unless they are good swimmers.
It’s highly exposed to the western and northern winds, so it’s not a good place to go on Mistral days as the sea can get very rough, and it makes the sea dangerous.
While there’s an equipped part of the beach by the main access you can get to from the parking lot, the rest of the beach is completely wild and there are no services at all.
The road to get to the beach is very windy – you have to go through Ingurtosu and the abandoned mining village. Once you get to the beach, there’s a large parking lot.
My post How To Make The Most Of Piscinas Beach shares more tips to visit this secluded Sardinian beach.
Plagemesu – you can see the cliffs of Masua in the distance
Plagemesu
I only discovered Plagemesu a year ago, when I first visited with my sister and my brother in law, and immediately loved it!
Part of the Sulcis Iglesiente region of south Sardinia (which is significantly more local compared to other areas of Sardinia in the summer), Plagemesu is located in the municipality of Gonnesa and close to Iglesias, but it’s also easy to visit on day trips from Cagliari (it’s just one hour drive).
The beach is long and sandy, backed by hills and rock formations. The water is clear and pristine. The main comment I have is that this is not a good beach to go to on mistral days, as it’s not sheltered and the sea can get very rough.
Plagemesu is a fully equipped beach. You will find beach clubs and kiosks selling food and drinks. However, if you walk left along the beach once you access the beach from the main parking lot, you will get to a spot where very few people go to that is blissfully quiet even on busy summer days.
There is a large paid parking lot too.
I took this photo of Cala Antoniareddu on a Sunday at the end of July!
Cala Antoniareddu
Officially known as Cala de Sa Perda Longa, Cala Antoniareddu is one of my favorite beaches in south Sardinia. While the nearby Tuerredda, Cala Cipolla and Su Giudeu beach get incredibly crowded during the peak summer months (and especially at weekends), Cala Antoniareddu remains blissfully quiet.
There’s only a small holiday resort nearby – La Pinnetta – but most people that live there actually end up going to the nearby Perda Longa which is a bit easier to access.
Cala de Sa Perda Longa is a small cove surrounded by hills covered in Mediterranean scrub, with the most beautiful clear blue waters you can imagine. It’s nicely sheltered from the wind too. You can follow the trail to its left for stunning views of the beach below.
The beach is not equipped at all so bring whatever you need for the day – an umbrella for shade, food and drinks.
Cala Antoniareddu is just one hour drive from Cagliari, and a mere 10 minutes from Chia. There’s no parking lot here so you will have to park along the road (just make sure your car isn’t sticking out in any way or you may get a fine if caught) and walk to the beach – there’s a trail that’s easy to follow, but you will need shoes.
You can also visit the beach in the off season: there’s a fantastic coastal trail that goes there starting in Pinus Village.
My post The Best Beaches In Southern Sardinia guides you to even more beaches to visit in the south of the island.
Su Tingiosu – Photo by Alessio Orru @shutterstock
Su Tingiosu
Su Tingiosu is a wonderful, unique beach located north of famous western Sardinia beaches Mari Ermi and Is Arutas, and south of S’Arena Scoada village.
Much like other beaches in the area, Su Tingiosu is made of tiny quartz pebbles. There isn’t much of a beach here though – I mainly recommend going for the stunning cliff views, which are particularly scenic at sunset,
Getting to Su Tingiosu is quite an experience too! You can follow a hiking or mountain biking trail along the very scenic cliffs. Otherwise, it’s an easy 20 minuted drive west of Cabras, in the Sinis Peninsula.
Cala Sabina – Photo by Rodolfo Baldussi @shutterstock
Cala Sabina
When most tourists visiting the northeastern coast of Sardinia head to famous (and terribly crowded) beaches such as Capriccioli of the Spiaggia del Principe, you can find a fantastic respite from the crowds in Cala Sabina, one of the prettiest hidden beaches in Sardinia.
Cala Sabina is about 300 meters long (that’s roughly 0.2 miles) and has fine, white sand mixed with rocks and shallow emerald waters. The beach is surrounded by Mediterranean shrub and junipers. There is a railway that runs close to the beach – it was built in the 1960s and meant to connect the nearby residential areas with the nearby beach resort.
The beach is nicely sheltered from the wind. You will find there’s an equipped part with a beach club and a kiosk, and a free to access part that is quieter and (in my opinion) more pleasant to stay.
Cala Sabina is about 25 minutes drive northeast of Olbia and close to Golfo Aranci. Once you get to the main parking lot, you’ll have to walk along a well marked trail to get to the beach – make sure you were shoes.
The lovely Cala Moresca
Cala Moresca
Also located in Golfo Aranci, you may recognize Cala Moresca from the movie The Little Mermaid, which was partially filmed here. This lovely secluded beach is a peaceful haven when many other beaches near Olbia get so crowded in the summer months.
I first visited years ago, when my ex boyfriend (who was from Olbia) took me there on a Sunday in July and I could not believe how quiet it was!
Cala Moresca is a small inlet where you will find two small coves with fine, golden sand and rock formations and incredibly clear, emerald sea. It faces the small Figarolo Island, which is beautiful to see.
The beach, located in the protected area of Capo Figari, is backed by a thick forest of pine trees that even on the hottest summer days provide fantastic shelter from the sun – it’s a perfect spot for a picnic.
There are no services on the beach – no kiosk or beach club – so you’ll have to pack lunch, water and bring an umbrella for shade.
Cala Moresca is easy to reach from Olbia – it’s just a 30 minutes drive. Once you get there, there’s a free parking lot but you’ll have to walk a bit through the pine tree forest to get to the beach.
My post The Nicest Beaches Near Olbia guides you to more beaches to visit in the area.
Clear waters in Cala Sarraina
Cala Sarraina
Located in the area of the famous Costa Paradiso, Cala Sarraina is one of the most pleasant secluded beaches in Sardinia.
The beach is made of two small coves, both of them with thick golden sand and surrounding by unique red rock formations. One of the coves has almost immediately deep water, whereas the other has a bit more shallow waters so it may be a better spot if you are visiting with children.
There are many trails around the beach that you can walk for stunning panoramic views and to observe the Mediterranean shrub and local wildlife. Just keep in mind that Cala Sarraina is very exposed to the mistral wind, so I don’t recommend going if the wind is blowing.
The beach is not equipped (save for a nearby restaurant) so make sure to bring whatever you need for your day there.
Cala Sarraina is about 35 minutes drive from Santa Teresa di Gallura and just 20 minutes from Costa Paradiso. There’s a free parking lot.
My post A Guide To The Costa Paradiso shares more beaches in the area, and more tips for visiting.
Panoramic views of Rena Majore della Nurra
Rena Majore della Nurra
I discovered this beach a few years ago on a local recommendation – it was a windy day in northern Sardinia and I was unsure where to go. The minute I saw the beach below, I felt like I had found paradise!
When all the beaches in Alghero and Stintino (like La Pelosa) are terribly crowded, Rena Majore della Nurra is a heavenly quiet.
The beach is made of tiny white pebbles and has the clearest water. There are fun rock formations on the shore which make it a great spot for snorkeling, but the lack of sand may make it unsuitable for families with children as they may get bored without the chance of playing in the sand.
There’s nothing in terms of services here – so you’ll have to bring whatever you need for the day. In fact, last time I visited there wasn’t even phone reception.
Rena Majore della Nurra is located about 50 minutes drive north of Alghero, and 20 minutes drive south of Stintino. There’s a large (free) parking spot there. From there, it’s a short hike downhill to the beach – it’s better to wear shoes.
If you are in the Alghero region, my post The Best Beaches In Alghero will help you pick a suitable spot to spend your day.
Cala dell’Argentiera – Photo by Daniele Cupini @shutterstock
Argentiera
I visited Argentiera beach the first time several years ago with my sister, and I have been going since as it’s a truly unique place, and one of the most scenic secluded beaches in Sardinia.
The beach is located by a former mining village and that’s all there really is in the area. Since there’s no nearby town, and the beach is completely unequipped (there’s no beach clubs or kiosks here) it never gets too crowded – and you’ll mostly get to see locals who enjoy this real hidden gem.
The beach is small, with golden sand and almost immediately deep water. There are the remains of the former mining town just at the beach too, which makes for quite unique photo opportunities.
Argentiera beach is highly exposed to the mistral wind so it’s not a good place to go when it blows. I once visited on a windy day and the sea was so rough it was impossible to get in!
Cala dell’Argentiera is located about 45 minutes drive north of Alghero. To get there you’ll have to drive through the remains of a mining village. There’s a small parking lot in the area.
Porto Palmas – Photo by Rodolfo Baldussi @shutterstock
Porto Palmas
Not far from Cala dell’Argentiera and Rena Majore della Nurra, Porto Palmas is one of the best Sardinia secluded beaches that is also easy to reach from Alghero.
This lovely cove is enclosed between two large cliffs covered by Mediterranean shrub and surrounded by nature. The beach is made of golden sand mixed with white pebbles, but contrary to the nearby Argentiera it is nicely sheltered from the mistral wind and the water is shallow and the seabed sandy, which makes it a suitable beach for families with children.
There’s not much in terms of services at Porto Palmas other than a kiosk, so make sure you bring whatever you need for a comfortable day.
Porto Palmas is an easy 40 minutes drive from Alghero. You’ll find a free parking lot once you get there.
Posing for a selfie in Cala Zafferano Sardinia
Conclusions On Sardinia Hidden Beaches
There are more secluded beaches in Sardinia than those mentioned in this post, such as the stunning Cala Zafferano, in the military base of Teulada and which can only be reached by boat from Teulada Tourist Harbor of Capo Malfatano, and which can only be visited in the summer months, and where it’s actually forbidden to place an umbrella or even lay a towel.
For the purpose of this post, I opted to only mention the hidden beaches that are relatively easy to reach and where you can spend a relaxing day with your family.
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