Summer in Sardinia: all the Must-See Beaches in and around Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and is the perfect holiday destination for a year-round Mediterranean holiday, thanks to its beautiful coastline and the possibility to take long walks in the city’s historic centres night and day.

Here in our article you will find a complete guide on how to enjoy a wonderful summer holiday in Cagliari among the great beaches near the city and hidden coves. Staying here will not leave you disappointed!

Beaches in the city between hidden coves and large expanses of sand

A city holiday in Cagliari is the best solution for those who do not want to give up days at the beach and while still enjoying city life. Within a few minutes by car, bus or bicycle, you can reach the best-known beaches in the area. Among these are some that will really amaze you.

• Poetto (also called ‘Poetu’ in Sardinian) is Cagliari’s main beach and stretches for about 8 kilometres from Marina Piccola to Margine Rosso and then to the Quartu Sant’Elena’s coastline. In addition, this coastline is an important summer resort thanks to its various bars open from morning until late at night and its open-air discos for dancing.
• Margine Rosso is a beach of fine white sand that contrasts with the blue sea. This beach is one of the most beautiful parts of the coastline connecting Cagliari and Quartu. Its sheltered position makes it perfect for mistral days on the coast.
• Cala Fighera represents the least contaminated nature closest to the city. Situated on the Sella del Diavolo promontory between paths surrounded by lush Mediterranean scrub. The white cliffs frame the green and blue of the sea and offer beautiful and unusual views of the city, Poetto, the Molentargius laguna and the salt pans with their green to pink colours. At the top of the Sella del Diavolo, in a dominant position, are the remains of the Punic-Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte.
• Calamosca is a small cove a stone’s throw from the city, nestled between the Sant’Elia lighthouse and the Sella del Diavolo (Devil’s Saddle). This intimate beach is well sheltered from the winds and has an open, well-stocked bar and the possibility of renting sunbeds. The sand has some pebbles on the shore, but the water is very clear and ideal for snorkelling.

Sleeping in Cagliari – the most beautiful spaces

For an all-round experience in the heart of Cagliari, here are several solutions at your disposal to ensure an excellent stay during your holidays or to spend a weekend in Cagliari all year round.

If you are looking for nice appartments in the center with all comforts and perfect for smart working in Sardinia, we recommend the Carales Home for up to 3 people and the 2-bedroom Suite Sophia for up to 5 people. The area surrounding the accommodations is well served by bars, restaurants, lively shopping streets, a multi-storey car park, and only two kilometres away is the long, sandy Poetto beach, which can be easily reached by public transport or bicycle.

If you are interested in a B&B, we can offer you the Maison de Charme Il Regio, located in the heart of the Marina, one of Cagliari’s historic quarters within walking distance of bars, restaurants, parks and places of interest. The Regio Maison du Charme is an elegant historical building from the 19th century and offers you very comfortable and carefully furnished rooms and suites.

For a stay with a sea view, you will love the Hotel Chentu Lunas in front of the Poetto. Located in a small building on the sea near the Sella del Diavolo (Devil’s Saddle) and the marina “Marina Piccola”. Behind the hotel you can admire the Saline di Cagliari with its spectacular flamingos. The seven rooms are tastefully and simply furnished. They are comfortable and all have a bathroom with shower, minibar, satellite TV, heating and air conditioning.

Heading south east: beaches not to be missed between Cagliari and Villasimius

The south-eastern part of Sardinia has many beaches and almost all of them are connected by a scenic coastal road. Travelling the road from Cagliari to Villasimius means travelling through the postcard-perfect panorama of the Sardinian coast, and in particular through the beauty of the coves with their crystal-clear sea.

If you are looking for dream beaches on the east coast that you can reach in a short time from Cagliari, this is what we recommend:

• The beach of Mari Pintau is located a few minutes from Cagliari in a cove of magical colours and can be reached from the coastal road to Villasimius. A few steps down to the shore is its beach characterised by stones of all sizes and a shallow shore with a sandy seabed, making it unique for diving or walking. In addition, there is a small establishment equipped with a refreshment stand, umbrellas and sunbeds.
• Further along from Mari Pintau is Solanas, a free coastline that is not too crowded and has free car parking. There is only one paid bathing establishment with a bar service for lunch and another kiosk in the southernmost corner of the beach.
• Hidden among its rocks, the small Cala Caterina is an intimate and picturesque beach that can be reached in less than 10 minutes from the free car park. The place is often uncrowded, but to admire its sea with a thousand reflections ranging from emerald green to blue, it is advisable to get there early. The location makes it sheltered from the mistral thanks to the cliffs and smooth rocks on the sides. It is ideal for snorkelling thanks to its shallow seabed and whitesand.
• Passing through Villasimius, you will be dazzled by Porto Giunco Beach, a long stretch of soft, very clear sand, with pink hues derived from granite fragments, enclosed between a lagoon and the soft blue sea that takes on an infinite variety of hues as you go out to sea. This tropical beach in the centre of the Mediterranean is one of the most famous on the island and among the most beautiful in Italy, easy to reach by any transportation means.
• The beach of Punta Molentis is a pearl of beauty. The clear sea has a shallow shore ideal for families with children and for snorkelling. The beach is very sheltered from the winds and can be reached by a 10-minute walk. Parking costs 10 euro per car + 1 euro per person and there are bars, toilets and kiosks.
• Almost at the end you will find Cala Pira: it is located about halfway between Villasimius and Costa Rei, in the territory of Castiadas. The dazzling Cala is a small corner of paradise with very fine sand and a medium shallow seabed. The sea is almost always calm thanks to the bay’s conformation, making it ideal also for children. On the small promontory to the north, a 16th-century watchtower is perched and can be reached by climbing over the cliff below, crossing a short stretch of slightly thick Mediterranean scrub.
• We arrive at the end of the route with the beach of Simius, a magnificent clean shoreline with very transparent water, ideal for families with children to take walks along the shore. There are bars and restaurants where you can enjoy good food in front of a spectacular view of the sea and the cliffs, which are within easy walking distance.

The best accommodation to enjoy the sea in southern Sardinia

In this beautiful area full of beaches, we at SardiniaNatour offer you some of our accommodation with every comfort.

The Onda di Mare accommodation with sea view and a private garden is located in Baccu Mandra in the south east of Sardinia. The villa has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is perfect for families and couples.

Villa Stella is a beautiful residence in Torre delle Stelle with breathtaking sea views and a private swimming pool. The elegant and spacious villa has 10 bedrooms and plenty of privacy for a beach holiday in a well-kept environment. Nearby, just 400 metres from the villa you will find two sandy beaches: Cann’e Sisa and Genn’e Mari.

Holiday home Gloria, with a large garden and 3 bedrooms is suitable for two families with children to spend a wonderful holiday by the sea. It is located in the south-east of Sardinia, near Villasimius, about 300 metres from the Spiaggia del Riso beach and about 800 metres from the long Porto Giunco beach.

The modernly designed Hotel Domu Noa is the best choice for couples and friends who choose to travel both in and out of season as a stopover on an itinerary. The hotel is centrally located in the seaside resort of Villasimius. The nearest beach is about 2 km away and can be reached by bicycle or on foot. From the hotel entrance you will find a portico furnished with tables and chairs that gives access to the reception, the breakfast room with a buffet and the inner courtyard.

Rolling south: breathtaking beaches and coves

If you want to discover the lesser-known part of the island’s southernmost tip, here is an itinerary of the best beaches to visit outside Cagliari, all of which can be easily reached by following the south-west coast road of Sardinia.

• The large beach at Chia is located in a hamlet in the municipality of Domus de Maria, and is one of the many attractions in the area that is easily accessible for families wanting to spend a day at the beach. This colourful beach is characterised by wide expanses of fine ochre-coloured sand and crystal-clear blue water. The area is quite windy, especially suitable for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. In addition, there are three parking areas near the entrance to the beach with toilet facilities.
• Among its golden dunes and very close to Chia beach, the coast of Su Giudeu stretches along a shoreline that ends at a promontory from which a spectacular panorama can be admired. The sand is very fine, and the seabed offers the possibility of snorkelling to see Sardinia’s marine fauna with just the use of fins and mask. When the winds allow it, it is possible to surf or windsurf. Parking is close to the beach and you can park your car at a cost of 5 euro per day.
• Tuerredda beach is 10 minutes from Su Giudeu. It is a protected, smoke-free coastline, where at the entrance you are asked if you are a smoker and can leave a voluntary contribution of 1 euro to support the volunteers. The sea water is reminiscent of a splendid aquarium with many fish. Its beach is always very clean and there is the possibility of hiring beach equipment at the two lidos.
• At the end of this route you will find the beach of Santa Margherita di Pula: This beach is ideal for families, thanks to its somewhat narrow and very long shape, its fine white sand and its wonderfully clear blue sea. You can also spend a pleasant day at one of the establishments along the coast where you can enjoy the tasty and carefully prepared dishes of typical Sardinian cuisine.

Where to stay in the most beautiful locations south of the Sardinian capital

If you are interested in discovering more about the beauty of the south coast between Pula and Chia and also choose where to stay we suggest a curated selection of accommodation where you can find everything you are looking for when it comes to a dream holiday in the south of the Sardinian capital.

If you are looking for a villa in Chia: Villa Lutana is an elegant residence in the south of Sardinia, with a large garden, private pool and only 500 m from the beach in Chia. This place is perfect for families and groups of friends (up to 8 persons) looking for accommodation in a comfortable environment close to the sea. The villa is surrounded by a well-kept garden with lawn and Mediterranean plants. Inside there is a large living room with a sofa bed, dining area and kitchenette and 3 bedrooms.

If you are looking for an accommodation in Domus de Maria: Villa I Lentischi in Domus de Maria is about 10 km from the beautiful beaches of Chia and Teulada and is the ideal accommodation for a family or two couples dreaming of a relaxing holiday near a blue sea. The villa has a private surrounding garden with lawn, an outdoor shower and a mobile barbecue.

If you want a villa in Santa Margherita di Pula or Pula itself: Villa Chiara is located a few kilometres from the different beaches on the coast of South Sardinia, the closest is the beach of Pula only 200 metres from the sea and is the most suitable for families with children. The villa offers many comforts such as: a large garden with barbecue, a veranda equipped to enjoy the outdoors, a dining table with lounge and an outdoor shower; the perfect place for a complete beach holiday.

Villa Priscilla with its huge outdoor space is a comfortable Mediterranean-style accommodation with swimming pool, ideal for families and friends who want to spend some time relaxing in a lovely environment. It is located about 1 km from the sea and a small marina. You will also find in the small village all the catering services, bars and necessities.

How to get to Cagliari and its beaches

Cagliari can be reached from the rest of Italy and the whole of Europe through various connections by sea, land and air. The city is connected to various air routes from different Italian and European regions thanks to the Cagliari-Elmas airport, where one can get from the airport to Trenitalia’s central train station in Piazza Matteotti in only 10 minutes. One can also move by car via the SS 130 and SS 131 that connect Cagliari to the rest of Sardinia.

Once you arrive in the city, you can move around in various ways: by bicycle, electric scooter, on foot or by car, and if you do not have a car – to get around and visit the beaches we have mentioned. Cagliari has a rental car service (Playcar) and two bus services: CTM which allows you to reach every place in the city, while the ARST services give you the possibility to get to the desired places in Sardinia. We at Sardinia Natour also offer you the possibility of renting a car through our rental service to get around Sardinia.

Some tips for getting around by bus

• Always buy your CTM ticket from tobacconists, newsagents or the ticket office in Piazza Matteotti and validate the ticket every time you get on the bus. You can use the convenient BusFinder app.
• Line 7 – To move around the historic centre of Cagliari.
• The PF – PQ – 5Zeus – Poetto Express lines allow you to get from Piazza Matteotti to Flumini beach via the Poetto seafront, the fastest and easiest means of transport.
• ARST lines can be picked up from the station in Piazza Matteotti from outside Cagliari and take you directly to destinations such as Villasimius, Santa Margherita di Pula, Pula and other towns in Sardinia.