The Rankings · Sardinia · October 2026 · 3 min
Sardinia Beaches: Cala Goloritzé, La Pelosa and Chia, Rated
A cove a landslide made, a beach you book like a restaurant, and lagoons with flamingos. Three of Italy's ten are in Sardinia.
Three of the beaches on our Italy list are in Sardinia. Cala Goloritzé, on the east coast, is the most-listed beach in Italy and rated Worth a detour. Chia, an hour from Cagliari airport, is also Worth a detour. La Pelosa, in the north-west, is rated Overrated, not for the water but for the paperwork: from May 15 to October 15 you need a reservation to stand on it.
| Beach | Rating | Getting in | Sea in its warmest month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cala Goloritzé | Worth a detour | On foot only, 500 m down; book in the Heart of Sardinia app, €7; 250 at once (2026) | 27.6 °C (August) |
| Chia | Worth a detour | About an hour's drive from Cagliari airport | 26.6 °C (August) |
| La Pelosa | Overrated | Reservation May 15 to Oct 15, 1,500 a day, €3.50 | 26.1 °C (July) |
Sea temperatures are 2025 monthly averages (Open-Meteo Marine). Each beach's page carries its sources.
- 01
Cala Goloritzé: made by a landslide in 1962.
It sits at the base of a ravine on Sardinia's east coast, near Baunei. Three of the four Italy lists we read name it, and one calls it the most beautiful beach in Italy. In 2026 you book it in an app and walk in; a 2026 guide puts the limit at 250 on the beach at once. Wikipedia says 800 would come if they could. The full story, and how to book: our Cala Goloritzé piece.
Cala Goloritzé → - 02
Chia: flamingos on the lagoons.
A string of coves of fine or coarse light sand between small rocky headlands, with three coastal lagoons behind them that pink flamingos use.
Chia → - 03
La Pelosa: bring a mat and a QR code.
1,500 places a day by reservation at €3.50, a beach mat required under your towel, fines from €25 to €500, and parking at about €2 an hour. It is about 50 minutes' drive from Alghero.
La Pelosa →
Sardinia's most famous beaches now come with a booking system. The good news is the water does not.
Asked
- What is the best beach in Sardinia?
- Of the three we have rated, Cala Goloritzé: three of the four Italy lists we read name it. We rate it and Chia Worth a detour.
- Do you need to book beaches in Sardinia?
- La Pelosa, yes: a reservation from May 15 to October 15, 2026, with 1,500 places a day at €3.50. Cala Goloritzé, yes: in 2026 you book in the Heart of Sardinia app and pay €7, and a 2026 guide puts the limit at 250 on the beach at once.
The beaches in this post
- Cala GoloritzéWORTH A DETOUR
- La PelosaOVERRATED
- ChiaWORTH A DETOUR