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The south of Sardinia is perfect for a varied holiday that combines history and nature, city and sea, relaxation and sporting activities. The south coast offers, above all, long fine sandy white beaches and a crystal clear sea, surrounded by lush and fragrant Mediterranean scrub. The choice of beaches is wide, and in fact every Sardinian has his or her favourite beach that is regularly visited with family and friends. To make it easier for you to choose your holiday destination, we present below 5 resorts in southern Sardinia where a relaxing summer holiday is guaranteed.
Castiadas, the coastal town in the Sarrabus in the south-east
Castiadas is a small town in the Sarrabus region, located a good 8 km from the sea in a lush plain of orchards, fields, vineyards and olive groves. The region is known for its 13-kilometre coastline with white sandy beaches and a sea sparkling in many shades of blue. From Castiadas, you can quickly reach the coastal community of Costa Rei and the 8-kilometre-long sandy beach, which is very suitable for children. For this reason, Costa Rei has also developed into a popular holiday resort in the south-east of Sardinia in recent decades, which offers everything for a nice family holiday, especially in the summer months. Further south and between Monte Macioni and Sant’Elmo is the Cala Sinzias bathing bay: thanks to its dazzling colours and the lush surrounding nature, this is a beach that is absolutely worth seeing and will not disappoint.
A good 6 km from Sant’Elmo is Cala Pira, a beautiful beach with fine sand and clear, clean sea water, perfect for families with children, as the water is shallow, and the beach is sheltered from the wind. From the car park (chargeable in the summer season) it is between 5- and 10-minutes’ walk to the beach.
If you want to take a break from the beach in the southeast, you could drive to the nearby mountains of the 60,000-hectare Monte dei 7 Fratelli nature reserve. A natural oasis that you can explore on foot or by mountain bike along the various trails and picnic in the shady
woods. There is also a game reserve with deer and a short forest nature trail.
Villasimius, sustainable holidays in southern Sardinia
Villasimius is a popular seaside resort that was included in the top 100 sustainable destinations in 2019 at the ITB in Berlin, one of the most important tourism fairs in the world. Immaculate beaches, wild vegetation, granite rocks and clear sea water; this is what awaits you in Villasimius. Among the most beautiful beaches in the area, we must immediately mention Porto Giunco beach, a natural pool with shimmering waters and soft sand overlooking the lagoon lake Notteri, where you can admire the pink flamingos. From here, a short hike will take you to the Aragonese tower that dominates the bay, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the sea and surely take some great Instagram photos too!
Other dream beaches are Is Traias and Simius and, further north and sheltered from the wind, Punta Molentis, characterised by soft sand and granite rocks sculpted by the wind and the sea. Around Villasimius there are numerous archaeological remains from the Nuragic period to discover, such as the necropolis of Accu Is Traias, Cruccuris and Cuccuredus, or plan a boat trip to the Island of Cavoli, a good 1 km from Cape Capo Cabonara, which owes its name to the wild cabbage that grows there. The imposing lighthouse of the small island is worth seeing.
Pula and Chia, two pearls in the south of Sardinia
Pula is the perfect place for a varied summer holiday, because in addition to beautiful beaches for swimming and snorkelling such as Nora Beach, Cala Marina, Cala Verde and the beaches of the resorts and hotels, you can combine your holiday with many sporting activities, including kite – and windsurfing and trekking excursions in the nearby forest of Is Cannoneris and Pixinamanna. If you want to learn more about the history of Sardinia, you should visit the ruins of Nora, the first Phoenician city in Sardinia, located directly by the sea. Incidentally, the stele of Nora with its extremely interesting inscriptions was found here. This sandstone slab, a good 1 m high, is considered one of the oldest documents written in alphabetic script in the western Mediterranean region. The inscription Shrdn for Shardana and thus for Sardinia appears on it for the first time.
The small town of Chia is about 20 km from Pula and offers, among other things, the beautiful beaches of Su Giudeu, Campana and Cala del Morto. For those who like snorkelling, the bay Cala Cipolla is recommended, which is a little off the beaten track and close to the Capo Spartivento lighthouse.
Following the coast in the direction of Porto Pino, you will soon reach one of the most famous beaches in Sardinia, Tuerredda, located between Capo Malfatano and Capo Spartivento, a very photogenic beach with a Caribbean feel due to its light-coloured, fine sand and crystal-clear sea water. We continue on to Porto Pino: In the low season, this seaside village with its large pine grove seems a little deserted, but in summer it fills up with locals who have their second homes here and some, still few, tourists. The beach of Porto Pino is long and fine-sanded and divided into two parts by an artificial rock formation built to protect the channel.
Sant’Antioco, the island in the southwest
The island of Sant’Antioco is the largest of the Sardinian islands and the fourth largest in Italy, covering almost 110 square kilometres. At the end of the navigable causeway that conveniently connects it to the mother island of Sardinia is one of the island’s main towns, also called Sant’Antioco, with a long promenade, a small harbour, shops, bars and restaurants. Then, in the north of the island, the charming town of Calasetta, from where ferries cross daily to the smaller neighbouring island of San Pietro.
Sant’Antioco is a rather unknown holiday destination in the south of Sardinia, but in our opinion, it is perfectly suitable for relaxing bathing holidays, because the sandy beaches, bays and cliff beaches are very varied. South of Sant’Antioco there is Portixeddu beach, small and covered with fine white sand and a sea that changes colour depending on the climate: shining emerald green, turquoise and then dark blue.
The more famous beach, however, is the one further south in Maladroxia, an area of grey and thin sand unique to Sardinia, reminiscent of volcanic beaches. This barrier-free beach offers deckchair and parasol rental, sanitary facilities, kiosks and parking. Another beach not to be missed in Sant’Antioco is that of Coaquaddus, which means horse’s tail in Italian, referring to the curved shape of the coast. It is a beach of coarser white sand that captivates everyone with its thousand shimmering shades of the sea. This beach is ideal for young swimmers thanks to its shallow waters. One of the most popular activities is snorkelling near the rocks; here the underwater life, rich in fish, offers all kinds of things to discover!
Sant’Antioco also has a lot to offer archaeologically. We recommend you to visit the Nuraghe Feminedda, the Gigante Tomb Su Niu ‘e su Crobu, the Punic Necropolis and the Tophet, the catacombs of Sant’Antioco. At the same time, there are also Roman monuments, such as the remains of a bridge that runs partly parallel to the dam, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre.
Cagliari, the lively capital of Sardinia
Cagliari is perfect for a combination of city break and beach holiday, as the island metropolis offers numerous sights from past eras, many interesting museums, parks and green spaces, boutiques and beautiful shops, excellent restaurants and a lively nightlife. Cagliari is easily accessible all year round by plane from Rome and Milan, and in summer of course also by direct flights from the main cities in Europe.
The great thing about Cagliari is its beaches, because few cities in Italy, and perhaps in the whole Mediterranean, offer such a varied choice. First of all, there is the Poetto, about 8 kilometres long, which starts directly at the characteristic rock formation Sella del Diavolo (in English: Devil’s Saddle, due to its characteristic shape) and extends to the town of Quartu Sant’Elena, offering bars with beach service, ice cream parlours, restaurants and plenty of nightlife all year round. There are beach volleyball courts and a beautiful promenade: here people jog, cycle and more during the day and stroll with family and friends in the evening. On the other side of the Sella del Diavolo, there is Cala Mosca, a sandy cove with a shallow seabed that is particularly popular with families, and the small white pebble beach of Paillote, which is ideal for snorkelling (above it is one of the hottest restaurants at the moment, with a stunning sea view, whether for an aperitif or a romantic dinner). By canoe or kayak, you can row around the Devil’s Saddle Rock from Marina Piccola, reaching secluded beaches and Cala Fighera bay.
Accommodation tips for the south of Sardinia
Of course, a relaxing beach holiday also requires the right accommodation, be it a comfortable family hotel with a pool near the beach, a beautiful holiday home with a wide sea view or a modern holiday flat in the heart of the island’s metropolis Cagliari. All perfect for discovering the beautiful beaches of the surrounding area from here.
Hotel tips
- Hotel Il Vascello in Costa Rei, with pool and close to the beach
- Hotel Flamingo in Santa Margherita di Pula, directly by the beach
- Hotel Fanny in central position in Cagliari
- Hotel Eliantos in Santa Margherita di Pula, elegant with pool and spa
- Hotel Lu Maladroxia in Sant’Antioco, with pool and sea view
Villas, holiday homes and apartments
- Holiday home Nido in Costa Rei with amazing sea view
- Holiday home Onda di Mare in Baccu Mandara, directly at the sea for up to 6 people
- Home Carales in Cagliari, centrally located for 2-3 people
- Suite Sophia in Cagliari, central and up to 5 people and dogs
- Holiday home Chiara in Santa Margherita di Pula, garden and walking distance to the beach
- Villa Le Palme in Santa Margherita di Pula, with pool and up to 7 people
- Holiday home Asfodeli in Teulada, with garden
- Holiday home Terrazza sul Mare in Sant’Antico, sea view terrace
- Antico Borgo near San Giovanni Suergiu, authentic accommodation
