The Best Costa Smeralda Beach?

Together with my wife Maria and our young son we have spent many a summer lying on beaches or splashing about in turquoise seas all in an effort to discover the best beaches in Sardinia.

If you have explored our site in any detail you will realize that we tend to think that the best beaches in Sardinia are those less well known beaches on the east coast (view article here) .

Despite our love of the east coast the Costa Smeralda has some really incredible beaches too.

On this page we share with you those four beaches we believe are the best Costa Smeralda beaches.

We couldn’t decide on which Costa Smeralda beach is the very best, each having our own favourite, so the beaches are listed in no particular order.

For more Sardinian & Costa Smeralda beach photos click here.

Cala Capra

The shallow crystal clear seas and well sheltered bay of this peninsular are perfect for families with young children.

If you enjoy walking you will love the lovely walks behind the beach which take you through spectacular scenery with great views.

Where to Stay

Base yourself in nearby Palau from where it is easy to explore although you will need a car which is best booked before you leave.

The best place to stay in Palua is La Vecchia Fonte. It is one of the friendliest hotels on this coast and the rooms are spacious as well as spotless.

If you want to be nearer to the beach then try the Hotel Capo d'Orso Thalasso & Spa which is really excellent but fairly expensive.

Getting to the Beach

From Palau take the SS 123 in the direction of Capo d’Orso and take the right turn-off after 3.8 kms. Turn left after another 100 meters then keep straight on for about another half a kilometer.

Budelli and the Maddalena Islands

The Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach)is the most beautiful of the island’s beaches. The pink sands and the myriad hues of the incredibly translucent sea make this beach an unforgettable one.

The warm waters around the island are incredibly good for snorkeling and there are many other gorgeous beaches scattered around the coast of Budelli.

Hotels on La Maddalena

Not a lot of choice on La Maddalena and by far the best bet is the Excelsior Hotel , otherwise stay in Palau and take a boat trip across for the day.

Getting to the Beach

The car ferry leaves from Palau to La Maddalena every 30 minutes or so in season but to Budelli you will need to take the National Park boats that do a whole day trip out including lunch.

Otherwise charter a yacht! You won't need to sell your home either, it really can be quite affordable, read our experience of boat charters here?

Spiaggia del Principe – The Prince’s Beach

If you enjoy snorkeling, I love it myself; this is a good beach although you will need to bring your own gear, there is not much in the way of beach facilities either to hire equipment or to eat anything.

The half moon crescent shape is divided into two by some rocks which older kids will enjoy exploring. Spiaggia del Principe is named after the Aga Khan who fell in love with this spot in the sixties and was the first to start making the Costa Smeralda one of the “in” destinations for the rich and famous.

Like all beaches on the Costa Smeralda this one is free and thankfully this has prevented the snobby attitude you get on the beaches of the south of France. The rich and famous seem to prefer avoiding beaches full of normal people in favour of their villas and yachts.

Thankfully too the beach is rarely crowded except in July and August therefore do try to visit during June or September.

Where to Stay

The Monte di Mola is the hotel I would recommend. This is one of the few hotels on this coast that offers good value for money and is a good base to explore Principe beach and the other beaches of the Costa Smeralda.

Getting to the Beach

Principe beach is around a kilometer outside of Romazzino, your hotel will be able to explain directions. After you park in the parking area you will need to walk for about fifteen minutes to reach the beach.

Pevero Beach

The beach itself is ivory white with fine talcum powder sand and the fact that the sea is shallow until quite far out makes it perfect for little kids to splash around quite safely.

Behind the beach are some fabulous dunes and juniper forests. If you enjoy watching the rich and famous then this one of the few beaches they frequent. If you don’t they are easily ignored and anyway they are completely overshadowed by this incredible place.

Getting to the Beach

Take the SS59 from Porto Cervo, the turn-off for Piccolo Pevero is about 1.8kms further on, after a minute or two you can park and the beach is a short ten minute walk away.

Where to Stay in Pevero

The nearest hotel to the Pevero beaches is the Le Ginestre Hotel . The hotel is great but quite expensive however many far worse hotels on the Costa Smeralda charge way more. You will need a car though

For more photos of the beaches around Pevero and Porto Cervo click here.

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What's Your Favorite Beach in Italy?

I would love to hear from you as to which beach you think is the best beach in Sardinia, Liguria or indeed Italy. Please let me know.

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