The 12 Best Beaches in Cagliari (& Nearby) by a Local
Cagliari’s position on the island makes it the perfect destination to explore the best beaches in Sardinia. Do you want to find your slice of paradise? We are sure you know already that Sardinia is famous for its beaches and beautiful nature. However, you can discover the charm for yourself, and you’ll be shouting Bellissimo in no time.
Whether you are going on a Sardinia road trip or thinking about the beaches in South Sardinia, this guide will help you choose the right beach for you. Whether it is one of the beaches in Cagliari or one further down the coast, you will have plenty of choices.
You might wonder why we are writing about the surrounding beaches, and the reason for this is that this is where the locals go. Therefore, this guide includes the best beaches in Cagliari and the best beaches near Cagliari. Following where the locals go will always be a good idea – they know best.
How to reach Cagliari
AIR – located only 7km from the city centre is the International Airport ‘Elmas Mario Mameli (CAG). This airport is well-connected to many European cities, including direct flights from Manchester and London, that we have used.
From the airport, the best way to get into the city centre is by train because you can reach the centre directly in less than 7 minutes. Not only is this journey quick, but the price is also affordable at just €1.30 in comparison to €15-20 if you were to catch a taxi.
FERRY – another convenient way to get to Cagliari is via ferry. Rome, Naples, and Palermo offer overnight ferries to Cagliari’s port. The journey usually takes around 12 hours and has two services a week.
How to get to the beach in Cagliari
Depending on where you are staying, there will be a bus to reach Poetto and Cala Mosca’s city beaches. The bus system is known to be one of the best in Italy, and the best way to buy a ticket is to use the CTM Cagliari Busfinder app. Coincidentally, it also includes a journey planner, and it translates the information about where to go into different languages. It’s good to know that there are buses to reach the beaches of Villiasmius too, but they are infrequent – look up the company Arst if you want to do this. Alternatively, you can rent a car to get around if you go to one of the beaches outside of Cagliari city.
When is the best time to visit the beaches in Cagliari?
The best time to visit the beaches in Cagliari is in the low season. April, May, June, September, and October are ideal months. The high season of July and August are busy months, and the beaches can be full of people. If you have seen the picture-perfect deserted beaches, we guarantee this is in the low or shoulder season!
Useful things to know for visiting the beaches in Cagliari
- Bring a parasol with you – else you may have to pay for one, and they’re expensive. The sun is intense in the summer months, and you will need it. All the locals use them.
- It is normal to pay between €3-10 in the beach car parks.
- There is usually at least one kiosk on the beach, where you can buy food, beverages, ice-cream and more.
- There is a limit on the entry for some beaches in high season (go early to avoid disappointment).
- Italian to English translations that may be useful – Spiaggia = beach Cala = bay
12 Amazing Beaches in Cagliari + near Cagliari from a local
Poetto Beach
Located in Cagliari
The city’s close is Poetto beach, a popular spot for locals and tourists and boasts 9km of white sand beach. It is easy to reach the beach via bus, as there is plenty that goes by. It is a popular beach all-year-round thanks to Cagliari’s mild climate and is, therefore, one of the best beaches in Cagliari. You will notice that the beach is full of kiosks, and they come to life in the evenings. One of the best things you can do is watch the live music that goes on into the night.
Also, Poetto beach is close to one of our favourite short hikes in Sardinia up the ‘The Devil’s Saddle’. Follow the green dots to reach the top and bring an Ichnusa (the Sardinian local beer) to enjoy the sunset with locals. You can see the Devil’s Saddle from the whole gulf. One of the best spots is “la prima fermata” which is right next to Marina Piccola.
There used to be a tram running from Cagliari to Poetto, and the different sections of the beaches are the old tram spots. They closed the tram in 1973, and as much as we love the promenade, we wish the tram was still here to explore.
What else can you do at Poetto Beach?
- Cycle, walk, roller skate, jog down the promenade surrounded by palm trees
- See the flamingos in the nature park behind the beach
- Have an ice-cream at Bobocono
- Walk around the tourist port, Marina Piccola.
Cala Mosca
Located in Cagliari
Another city beach you can visit is Cala Mosca, which is also one of the best beaches in Cagliari. It is located behind the Devil’s Saddle (Sella del Diavolo) and is mostly inhabited by people from Cagliari city. It is in the city district of Sant’Elia, where on Sundays there is a large fresh market, where you can find a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese from Sardinia. This beach is great if you only have a short time in the city and do not want to venture out too far or do not have access to a car.
Capitana
30 minutes by car from Cagliari
Capitana is the first stop on the scenic road from Cagliari to Villasimius after Poetto Beach. There is not much beach left in terms of sand due to construction. However, the water is clear, and the colour of the water is stunning. At the end of the beach, there is another smaller beach. This is a great snorkel spot because of the rocks and all the fish you can find. The beach is well-signposted along the coastal road, so you will be able to find it easily.
Cala Regina
35 mins minutes by car from Cagliari
Cala Regina is slightly further down the coast after Capitana. It boasts crystal water and a beautiful bay with rocky sides. It is a family-friendly beach and is a great spot for people to jump in from the rocks if they feel adventurous because the water is quite deep. There is a 15th-century look-out tower to the left. You will notice these all over Sardinia from when the Spanish ruled. They used them to spot invaders!
Mari Pintau
Less than 40 mins by car from Cagliari
The name translates to painted sea from the Sardinian language, and it is easy to see why because of the azure tones of the sea. Ensure you stop on the road at the top to take a picture because it will be one of the clearest water you will ever see in your life. This is due to the low depth of the water and the fine-grained white sand. The beach is mostly pebbles, but it is not uncomfortable to lie down with a towel. However, you can rent a bed from the kiosk on the way down to the beach if you prefer.
Solanas
Around 50 mins by car from Cagliari
A beautiful family-friendly beach with thick-grained golden sand. There are a big, free car park and a kiosk serving coffee, water, gelato, and some food. What we like about this beach is that it is quite long. Therefore, even in the peak season, when this beach is quite busy, there is still enough space for everyone to enjoy it.
Punta Molentis
Located 1hr 20 mins by car from Cagliari
Punta Molentis is a tranquil bay that is only around 100m long. It is protected under the jurisdiction of the Area Marina of Capo Carbonara. The name Punta Molentis comes from a rock near the beach that resembles a donkey, and ‘molentis’ means donkey in the Sardinian language. The beach is located in the Villasimius area and is one of the best beaches in South Sardinia. It’s good to know that this beach has a limited entry because of its size.
Porto Giunco
About 1hr 10 mins by car from Cagliari
It is good to know that you will have to pay for parking in summer, but it is worth every penny. Follow the wooden path from the parking to the beach. Before you reach the beach, there is a salt lake, with pink flamingos in it – which is a fantastic sight.
You will find a central, large beach and then a few little bays on the right side. The sand is fine-grained and white, and there is shallow clear blue water. The low depth of the water makes it perfect for families, as your children can play safely. This is also a popular spot for underwater lovers – we saw many people snorkelling as there is a vast array of fish. If you fancy a short hike, you should go to the Spanish Tower, which you can reach through the bushes. The view from the top is unbelievable, and you can see the whole beach in all its magnificent glory.
Cala Pira
Located 1hr by car from Cagliari
You will feel welcomed with fine-grained white sand and shallow waters at Cala Pira. We like this beach because it is sheltered from the wind, which makes it the perfect place to come at any time of the day. The beach is one of the most popular in Costa Rei because it is 500m long, and you can easily see Isola Serpentara, which is 5km from the coast. This beach can get very busy in August, and tour boats come to spend the day too. However, if you are blessed to visit in the shoulder season, you will find your paradise at this beach.
Scoglio di Peppino
Less than an hour by car from Cagliari
According to legend, a fisherman called Peppino chose this place as his fishing spot, and consequently, the beach now “belongs” to him. The granite rock that emerges from the water is named after him and has created a natural swimming pool. Therefore, this beach is family-friendly and gets quite busy in the peak months. It is suitable for snorkelling, as there are many different types of fish. It is good to know that you have to pay for parking here, and you follow a 100m walk along the footpath to reach the beach.
Cala Cipolla (Chia)
Less than an hour by car from Cagliari
At Cala Cipolla, there is beautiful white sand and dunes. The beach itself is not very big, and it is surrounded by pines and junipers and crystal clear waters. It is the final beach of Capo Spartivento, the granite headland known for the lighthouse. Make sure you park in the car park of S’Acqua Ucci because you will not be able to park on the road. From here, you follow a 100m dirt path to reach the beach.
Tuerredda
Less than an hour by car from Cagliari
Spiaggia di Tuerredda is a white sand beach that deserves a place on this list of the top 12 beaches in Cagliari. This is because it is easy to reach. After all, it is well-signposted. But more importantly, the beach is out of this world beautiful with a unique charm due to the juniper trees and Mediterranean vegetation.
The beach is perfect for families with children, and it is also popular with divers because of the vast marine life in the area. It gets its name because of the Isola di Tuerredda, located only 150m from the coast. Due to its proximity, it is possible to swim or canoe to the island, and we all know we love a challenge!
Overall, it is easy to see how gorgeous the beaches are in Cagliari and why Sardinians from this area are so proud of them. Sardinia’s beaches are known to be beautiful, and this guide was never about proving that. Sardinia does not need to prove that to anyone – it regularly ranks high in the polls of the world’s best beaches. We hope you imagine yourself at one of these top 12 beaches in Cagliari (or nearby). Why would you want to go anywhere else anyway?
We only recommend things that we have personally tried and love using on our travels and hikes.
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Cannot wait until we can visit these beautiful beaches. They look amazing.