In this guide, we’ll see which are the best beaches in La Maddalena sardinian archipelago, how to get to each beach, and a useful map that will also help you figure out which ones you can reach using only the archipelago’s public transport.
Map of La Maddalena beaches
On the map below, you’ll find the location of all the mentioned beaches and the routes taken by the archipelago’s two bus lines (we talk about this in the guide on how to get around La Maddalena).
Red pins indicate other beaches you might consider if you still have time.
Finally, the blue pins indicate some of the most beautiful and famous beaches that are, however, difficult to reach, accessible only via a challenging path or by sea.
The 2 urban bus lines that circle the island are indicated in green (Linea Panoramica) and blue (linea Maddalena-Caprera).
Even an electric bike is good to tour the two main islands (Maddalena and Caprera) and reach the beaches: but we’ll talk more about this in the guide on how to get around La Maddalena.
Don’t forget also to check out the most strategic area to stay in La Maddalena.
Spiaggia del Relitto (Wreck Beach)
Overall rating: 9/10
Services: Yes
Beach type: Fine white sand
How to get there: Paved road + last 1500 meters of dirt road
Let’s start with the beaches located on the island of Caprera, the greener of the two main islands in the archipelago.
Spiaggia del Relitto is one of La Maddalena’s most famous and visited beaches, and also one that will strike you the most with the transparency of its sea on a beautiful sunny day.
The sand is light, white, and very fine, giving very light colors to the water when the sun is high. The waters are sheltered by the surrounding bay and deepen gradually, making it a good beach even for those with children.
Its name might remind you of the beach in Zakynthos with the huge shipwreck resting on the sand: don’t expect anything similar. This beach does owe its name to a “wreck” deposited along the shore, but it’s almost unrecognizable and appears as a log a few meters long, whose submerged side only retains some large protruding iron nails that would perhaps be better removed to avoid injuries. Be careful if you have children.
Spiaggia del Relitto is, however, very small and perhaps the most crowded on the island, as it’s one of the few where it’s hard to find a meter to lie down even in September. If you’re traveling in high season, don’t forget it.
To reach the beach by bus with the Maddalena-Caprera line, stay on board until the last stop (“i due mari”). From there, walk for 15 minutes along the only road.
For those arriving by car, it’s not very difficult; you can park along the dirt road itself, near the access path to the beach. Set your navigator to this point.
Cala Andreani
Overall rating: 9/10
Services: no
Beach type: white/mixed sand and some rocks
How to get there: paved road + last 1500 meters of dirt road
This photo doesn’t do justice to Cala Andreani, which is perhaps the La Maddalena beach I liked the most. It’s located a short distance from Spiaggia del Relitto, continuing a few hundred meters further along the dirt road.
It’s wider than the previous one (the photo only shows a third of it), with nothing artificial and no services. Behind it, there’s beautiful vegetation that offers a mix of colors between the green and the blue of the sea, and some shade.
Here too, the waters are calm, being inside a bay; the sea color varies from crystal clear to blue depending on the area.
To get to Cala Andreani, the same directions apply as for Spiaggia del Relitto, both by car and by bus. Just pass it and continue for about another 500 meters (set your navigator here). Access to the beach is a 30-meter path that might not be clearly visible: find the entrance near the concrete structure.
Spiaggia dei due mari (Two Seas Beach)
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes
Beach type: Light sand
How to get there: Paved road + few meters walk
The last beach at the southern end of Caprera is Spiaggia dei due Mari, whose name comes from the narrow strip of land bordering it (you can indeed switch from one side of the sea to the other by crossing the road behind it).
It’s a beach that has potential but seems to be often invaded by enormous quantities of posidonia. You’ll also find a beach bar if you want to rent sunbeds but, personally, if you find it in that state, I’d recommend a quick visit and then moving on.
Spiaggia di Cala Garibaldi
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: no
Beach type: Golden sand
How to get there: paved road + last 1500 meters of dirt road
We’re still on the island of Caprera, but this time further north. Cala Garibaldi is a golden sand beach, which might not impress if visited on a cloudy day or at sunset, but which shows its best colors on sunny days.
It’s the most spacious beach in the archipelago, not too crowded. Composed of coarse sand and calm waters, being sheltered on multiple sides as well.
What’s perplexing about this beach is what surrounds it. On one side, you’ll find completely abandoned concrete structures extending into the sea, perhaps a former port or pier; on the other, a series of collapsing huts (maybe old kiosks).
It’s far from roads and noise, and behind it there’s vegetation allowing for shelter in the shade.
To get there, just after crossing the picturesque bridge between Maddalena and Caprera, take the first road on the left and follow it all the way to the end. Set your navigator here. For those arriving by bus, the nearest stop is “ex Club Med”, then continue on foot for about 2km.
Cala Serena
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: No
Beach type: Sandy cove surrounded by rocks
How to get there: via path starting from Cala Garibaldi
From Cala Garibaldi, if you take the path northwards, you can reach Cala Serena in 20-25 minutes. Make sure you have shoes; the path isn’t demanding, but there are a couple of sections that are risky with flip-flops.
Cala Serena is a natural beach of white/gray sand, totally immersed in nature and silence. If there’s no wind, the sea is flat, and in the absence of noisy people, you could experience complete silence. It faces west, so it’s advisable to visit when the wind comes from other directions.
If you’re traveling with a packed lunch, avoid bringing it to Cala Serena: there are quite a few bees around, and if they smell food, you’ll be surrounded.
During the walk, you’ll pass a tiny 5-meter beach: don’t be disappointed, that’s Cala Dadini; continue along the path until you reach Cala Serena. 🙂
Spiaggia Testa di Polpo (Octopus Head Beach)
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: No
Beach type: Small cove of white sand and light rocks
How to get there: dirt road
One of the most picturesque beaches in La Maddalena is Testa di Polpo. Why this name? Thanks to the rock overlooking it, which resembles an octopus.
This is also a very white sand beach, best visited on sunny days to fully enjoy the clear reflections of the water.
Testa di Polpo beach is located on the island of Giardinelli, an islet about 2km in diameter, connected by a small bridge to the main island, where there’s nothing artificial apart from the dirt roads that run through it.
To reach the beach, you can drive up to this point, but watch out for potholes. Getting there by bus this time is more challenging: the nearest stop is next to the stadium, followed by a 2km walk.
My advice, since this beach is really tiny (about ten meters, starting from where I took the photo and ending near the octopus rock), is to visit during less crowded hours, and then get lost on long walks among the paths of the same Giardinelli islet. There are indeed various other less visited, quiet beaches immersed in greenery, where it’s worth making a few stops.
Cala Spalmatore
Overall rating: 5/10
Beach type: Sandy cove
How to get there: along the panoramic road (paved)
Let’s return now to the main island (La Maddalena), and continue looking at the beaches we can find along the “panoramic road”, that ring road that almost circles the entire island and where the bus line indicated in green on the initial map also passes.
The first beach we encounter along the panoramic road is Cala Spalmatore, a bay sheltered on two sides, formed by golden sand and calm waters.
Unfortunately, this beach is located right “below” the road (the point from which the photo was taken), which, although not a highway, is still a source of noise and somewhat spoils the atmosphere. I mean, nothing horrible, but we’re still in Sardinia: there’s much better to see, especially if you’re staying for just a few days.
Spiaggia Monti da Rena
Overall rating: 9/10
Beach type: Golden sand/fine gravel
How to get there: Panoramic road (paved)
Continuing further along the panoramic road, we get northwest at Spiaggia di Monti da Rena. This beach, divided into several parts, consists of a peculiar thick golden sand (almost gravelly), sometimes tending towards red; here too, the colors and reflections of the water can be amazing.
It owes its name to the “mountain” of sand accumulated at one of its ends. Like the other beaches, it’s quite sheltered and also suitable for children. It’s one of the largest; you should be able to find space even in high season.
For those arriving by car, park right in front (set your navigator here), while for those arriving by bus, there’s a stop in front of the beach (ask the driver, as it’s not well marked).
Spiaggia di Bassa TrinitÃ
Overall rating: 9/10
Services: Yes
Beach type: Multifaceted: light sand, red sand, rocks…
One of the most picturesque and unique beaches in La Maddalena is Spiaggia di Bassa Trinità . Here, it’s really impossible to convey the idea of the beach with just a couple of photos, as it encompasses small stretches of shoreline that are very different from each other.
There are small patches of light sand, others of very compact gray sand, sections with red rocks scattered here and there, as well as the paths through the dunes that you’ll cross both to get there and to move around to see the other corners of the beach: don’t just stay in one spot!
Bassa Trinità is located slightly further than Spiaggia di Monti da Rena; for those arriving by car, set your navigator here, while by bus, you need to walk almost 1500 meters from the “Case Ornano” stop.
Punta Tegge
Overall rating: 5/10
Services: a bar
Beach type: Bare rock
How to get there: paved road to the parking lot
It’s definitely a matter of personal taste, but Punta Tegge, in my opinion, is one of the most overrated beaches in La Maddalena.
We’re located a couple of km from the town center, at the western tip of the island, on a coast of smooth, bare rock (without sand or pebbles). If you’re among those who hate sand and love hard, smooth rock, Punta Tegge can certainly be for you; if, conversely, you’re not a fan of this type, this area, which is also close to a fairly busy road, might not impress you much.
Punta Tegge seems particularly popular for watching the sunset (a bit like the overcrowded sunset of Oia in Santorini); if you’re nearby and want to enjoy it, perhaps with a takeaway pizza, it could be an interesting idea; otherwise, it’s not worth going there on purpose, in my humble opinion: there are many other beaches (more beautiful and with fewer visitors who had the same idea) where you can watch the sunset.
Cala Coticcio, Napoletana, Spargi, Spiaggia Rosa
At this point, you might be wondering, “where are all those famous beaches I saw on Instagram coming?”
The beaches we haven’t analyzed yet, which can only be reached via long paths or by sea, deserve a separate article you can find here. This is because these beaches also have limitations: some you can’t even set foot (only look from the sea), and others you can only go to escorted by a guide after booking.
Tips for La Maddalena beaches
Finally, some details valid for all beaches in the archipelago.
- La Maddalena’s beaches are all quite small (from 10 to 200 meters max);
- To decide when and which beaches to visit, download an app like Windfinder to check the wind forecast, as this area of Sardinia is among the most exposed. For example, when the wind blows from the east, visit the beaches facing west, and vice versa.
- One of the nice things about the La Maddalena archipelago is that the parking lots to reach the beaches are almost all free (which, in Sardinia, is definitely a rarity): the exception is the Spiaggia dello Strangolato area, where after 2 km of dirt road you’ll have to pay €10 per car to access: like in the Middle Ages.
- The La Maddalena archipelago is also visited by many boats, which you’ll often see positioned offshore near some beaches. If you see accumulations of foam along the shore that doesn’t dissolve, consider changing beaches: they are likely detergents released by boats.
- A sad thing I noticed, however, is that perhaps due to the geographical location and the currents that wash the area, all beaches have some deposits of old plastic pieces returned by the sea.
Now that you know everything about the beaches of La Maddalena, it’s time to find the most suitable area to stay in La Maddalena to avoid being in the wrong place, see how to get to La Maddalena without having to rent a car, and look for a cheap flight, thanks to the box below:
Found this guide useful? Then share it with friends and follow the Facebook page! 🙂 You’ll help us grow!
