Don’t Get Turned Away: Sardinia’s Beaches That Require Booking
- Diletta
- Mar 2, 2025
- 4 min read
Sardinia is still one of Europe’s most beautiful beach destinations—but some of its most famous coves and bays now come with a new “must-pack item”: a reservation.
To protect fragile ecosystems and manage crowding in peak season, several municipalities and protected areas have introduced daily caps, time slots, entry tickets, parking quotas, and (in some cases) mandatory guided access. If you don’t plan ahead, you may arrive at the beach and be turned away—or risk significant fines for breaking the rules.
Quick takeaway (TLDR)
Not every beach is bookable, but many “Instagram-famous” ones are.
Rules vary by location: you might need
an app or online booking,
a paid ticket,
a parking pass,
or a licensed guide.
Availability can sell out early (especially July–August).
Regulations can change mid-season—always double-check the official portal for your beach.
Why Sardinia is limiting access
Sardinia’s top beaches often sit in delicate coastal environments: dunes, small coves with limited space, protected islands, and sensitive marine habitats. Too many people at once causes erosion, litter pressure, damage to vegetation, and even loss of sand. Controlled access is Sardinia’s way of keeping these places stunning—not just this summer, but long-term.
How the booking systems usually work
1) Online reservation (app/website)
You select:
date (sometimes a time slot)
number of visitors (often with a small max per booking)Then you receive a QR code / confirmation to show on arrival.
2) Ticket + rules on site
Some beaches add:
entry tickets (e.g., a few euros per person)
specific behavior rules (for example, to reduce sand loss)
3) Parking quota instead of “beach tickets”
In a few areas, the bottleneck is access roads and parking:
you pay for parking + sometimes per passenger
enforcement is done at the entrance road or car park
4) “Guide-only” access in protected zones
Some bays inside protected areas can only be visited with authorized guides and a strict cap.
Sardinia’s limited-access beaches
North Sardinia (Gallura + San Teodoro + La Maddalena)
La Maddalena Archipelago (Caprera): Cala Coticcio & Cala Brigantina
Daily cap: 60 visitors
Access: only with authorized guides
Cost: contribution to the park (commonly €3/person) + guide fee
San Teodoro: Cala Brandinchi & Lu Impostu
Season: typically June 1 – Sept 30
Caps: Cala Brandinchi ~1,447/day, Lu Impostu ~3,352/day
Booking: via San Teodoro’s official app/website
Santa Teresa Gallura: Rena Bianca
Ticket: commonly €3.50 (often free for residents)
Cap: limited daily entries (numbers may be announced/adjusted)
rzachena (Cannigione area): Piscine di Cannigione
Cap: 80 total (with a resident quota)
Ticket: full day vs half day options (varies)
Booking: online via the municipal beach portal
Stintino: La Pelosa
Cap: 1,500/day
Ticket: commonly €3.50/person/day
Booking: online, with limits per reservation
Extra rule example: towels may need to be placed on a mat to reduce sand loss
Central-East Sardinia (Ogliastra + Baunei/Dorgali + Orosei)
Baunei: Cala Goloritzé
Cap: 250 people (often managed as “on-trail / on-site” control)
Access: on foot via trail with set opening/closing times (can be strict)
Ticket: commonly €7 (often free for small children/residents)
Booking: app/website and sometimes on site (depending on availability)
Baunei: Cala Mariolu
Cap: 700/day (season can extend into autumn)
Ticket: small entry fee in some periods (check official portal)
Baunei: Cala Birìala & Cala dei Gabbiani
Cap: 300/day each
Extra: time limits can apply (especially for boat arrivals)
Baunei/Dorgali area: Cala Luna, Cala Sisine
These are often managed with daily limits and/or access control in high season (rules can change year to year).
Orosei: Oasi di Biderosa (protected area)
Vehicle quotas: limited daily entries (cars/motorbikes/bikes)
Fees: usually a vehicle fee + per-person fee; pricing differs for residents/non-residents
Tip: book online for July–August if available
South Sardinia (Villasimius + Teulada + new regulated beaches)
Teulada: Tuerredda
Cap: 1,100/day (split between free beach and lidos)
Booking: moving toward app/online reservation systems
Fee: sometimes framed as a small contribution
Villasimius: Punta Molentis, Porto Sa Ruxi, Riu Trottu (and nearby beaches)
Often managed via access/parking passes and on-site checks
Costs can include vehicle fees and sometimes per passenger / pedestrian-cyclist tickets.
Muravera (newly regulated beaches): Piscina Rei, Tziu Franciscu, Monte Nai
Newly added controlled-access rules (details like caps/tickets/times are typically published closer to peak season).
Quartu Sant’Elena: Mari Pintau
Moving toward stronger crowd-control rules due to past overcrowding pressures.
Special case: the “pink sand” beach you can’t walk on
Spiaggia Rosa (Budelli Island)This beach is not open for normal beach use. It’s famous for its pink hues, but access is restricted: you can usually admire it from the sea (boat viewpoints), and stepping on it can result in fines.
Don’t get stuck at the entrance - TODOs
Choose your “must-see” beaches early (especially Pelosa, Tuerredda, Cala Brandinchi).
Book 7–14 days ahead for June/July/August when possible.
Screenshot/save your QR code + keep phone battery alive.
If your beach is “guide-only,” book the guide first (that’s the real bottleneck).
Have a Plan B nearby (a non-booked beach or an alternate cove).
Respect local rules: they’re enforced, and fines can be steep
Official booking portals & info pages (quick links)
La Maddalena National Park (Caprera coves / guide-only access)
San Teodoro (Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu)
Stintino (La Pelosa)
Arzachena (Piscine di Cannigione)
Baunei / Gulf of Orosei (Cala Goloritzé + other coves info)
Oasi di Biderosa (Orosei)
Villasimius booking/permits portal
Tuerredda (Teulada)
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