The most popular beaches? In Sardinia, of course

The most popular beaches? In Sardinia, of course

New summer, new rankings, one certainty: the Island’s beaches are always present

At the top of the world’s most beautiful beaches, dominating Italy’s top 10: Sardinia’s shores are once again a sure bet in 2025, confirmed by rankings from leading travel sites. Among the most prestigious is The World’s 50 Best Beaches, where a panel of 1,000 travel experts and influencers crowned one of Sardinia’s eastern gems, Cala Goloritzé, with the gold medal. No less significant is the recognition from TripAdvisor users: here, the Island reigns supreme, with four Sardinian beaches ranked among Italy’s top ten—and three of them in the top four.

Cala Goloritzé

Described by The World’s 50 Best Beaches as a 'mystical beach amphitheatre', Cala Goloritzé stuns not only with its beauty but also with the protective measures taken by the municipality of Baunei to safeguard its delicate ecosystem. A place of fairy-tale charm, the cove nestles between arbutus and holm oak trees, framed by two natural monuments: Pedra Longa and the 100-meter-high needle of Aguglia. You can reach it from Baunei or the coastal hamlet of Santa Maria Navarrese, by car to the Golgo plateau, followed by a long yet manageable hike.

Cala Goloritzé

Sea and mountains unite harmoniously in a pearl of the Mediterranean, on the eastern coast of Sardinia, reachable via trekking in the Supramonte di...

La Pelosa

A postcard-perfect icon in Sardinia’s far northwest earns its rightful place in the global top 50 and secures second place in TripAdvisor’s 2025 ranking. La Pelosa, in Stintino, is nothing short of a masterpiece: a dazzling blend of fine white sand, crystal-clear shallow waters stretching for tens of meters, and a turquoise sea that blurs into the sky. All around, juniper bushes add a Mediterranean soul to this Caribbean-like setting. Just offshore, a small islet crowned with an Aragonese watchtower marks the unmistakable symbol of La Pelosa.

La Pelosa

In the Gulf of Asinara, in the extreme northwestern part of Sardinia, there is a tropical beach, one of the most beautiful in Europe and a natural...

Cala Mariolu

Right after La Pelosa, taking third place in TripAdvisor’s 2025 list, is Ispuligi de nìe — better known as Cala Mariolu — another ‘pearl’ of Baunei and the Gulf of Orosei. The cove will leave you speechless with its vibrant palette of blue, turquoise, and emerald waters, and its beach made of tiny white pebbles that look like snowflakes, mingled with soft sand and pink specks. Towering cliffs plunge 500 meters straight into the sea: you can reach this heavenly spot by boat or by an expert-level guided trek through lush Mediterranean vegetation.

Cala Mariolu

A real jewel in the Gulf of Orosei, on the central-eastern coast of Sardinia: a welcoming little cove featuring pink and white pebbles rewarding...

La Cinta

Just off the podium, Sardinia holds strong with fourth place: La Cinta in San Teodoro. It’s a true emblem of the island’s northeastern coast — a five-kilometre arc of brilliant, fine sand flanked by dunes blanketed in ancient junipers. The beach separates a lagoon from the sea and looks out onto the protected marine area of Punta Coda Cavallo, with the imposing silhouette of Tavolara island rising in the distance.

La Cinta

One of the symbols of the northeastern coast and of Sardinia in general: an arched ribbon of fine, glittery sand that separates a lagoon from the...

Poetto

No top ten would be complete without a tribute to Sardinia’s southeastern coast. In tenth place sits Porto Giunco — a dazzling palette of colours in the sea of Villasimius. Its pristine shoreline and shimmering waters enchant visitors, enhanced by the soft pink hues of granite rocks and the vibrant pink of flamingos that flock to the nearby Notteri lagoon. Watching over it all is the charm of an ancient Spanish watchtower perched high above the coastline.