The Baunei Coast in Sardinia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This coast is 40km (25 miles) long and is on the island’s eastern shore. It’s packed with jagged, dramatic limestone cliffs, some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen, sea caves, and incredible experiences both on land and water.
I wanted to focus this guide on the Baunei Coast, but there are so many incredible beaches all around the island. I’ve added some other recommendations outside of this coast at the bottom to help with trip planning.
If you are planning a Europe trip, you might also enjoy my guides to the Italian Dolomites, Swiss Alps, Iceland, the Lofoten Islands, and Zakynthos.
A note from Angela: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if and when you book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
How to get to the Baunei Coast
Since Sardinia is an island, there are a few ways you can get there from several European cities.
The first option is to go by air. Flying to Sardinia is the most convenient and probably the fastest option. The island has three international airports:
- Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) – This is great for exploring the capital city and Southern Sardinia.
- Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) – This is the best choice for Baunei Coast and Northeast Sardinia.
- Alghero Airport (AHO) – The better option to explore the western coast of Sardinia.
During the summer months, there are a lot of direct flights from other cities in Europe, especially Rome and Milan. I was able to get a direct flight from Dublin, Ireland.
If you are traveling by car, campervan, etc., another option is to take a ferry to Sardinia. There are regular routes from mainland Italy, and there are routes from other countries like France (Corsica), and I believe Spain.
So, what’s the best option for visiting the Baunei Coast?
It’s about a 2–2.5-hour drive from Olbia Airport and roughly 2.5–3 hours from Cagliari Airport. I chose to fly into Olbia because I wanted to visit a few more spots in the north while on the island, and I found direct flights that worked for my Europe trip.
How to Get Around
I’d recommend renting a car in Sardinia, especially if you plan to visit the Baunei Coast. There are buses to get to cities, towns, and even some villages, but getting to the beaches, trailheads, and viewpoints would be challenging.
The roads can get small and windy, especially as you go into small villages, but it is generally straightforward. I didn’t find too many problems with parking (unlike other islands I’ve visited in Europe). If you’ve driven in the Italian Dolomites, you’ll find it easier to drive here.
TIP: Remember to get your International Driver’s License before your trip to Sardinia.
Where to stay on the Baunei Coast
There are endless places to stay in Sardinia, so it’s difficult to say one place is the best. I’d first look at where and what you want to visit. If it’s only the Baunei Coast, Cala Gonone or Baunei are options with excellent locations for both hiking and access to marinas. If you want a bit more buzz and shopping, Santa Maria Navarrese is a good option that’s also nearby. I stopped by there for pizza and felt like it was like a great place to base out of.
If you’re planning on exploring more than just the Baunei Coast, I’d see where the central area is to all the spots on your itinerary and focus your search there.
Because I was in a big group of friends, I rented this home on Vrbo, and it was absolutely amazing. Look at that VIEW! Once we broke down the price by person and by night, it was totally worth it for us because we spent a lot of time here.
If you want more of a buzz, you can stay in Olbia, or if you want more luxury options, Costa Smeralda.
How long to stay On The Baunei Coast
I spent two days on the water exploring the Baunei Coast, which I totally recommend! I wish I spent a day hiking to one of the beaches. So, three days would be great, but for a stay in Sardinia (where you see other places), here are my suggestions:
3-4 days: This would be the shortest trip I would take to Sardinia, and I would focus on just the Baunei Coast. Hike, rent a boat, and spend a day in Olbia or Cagliari (depending on where you fly/ferry in/out).
5-8 days: This is an ideal amount of time to spend in Sardinia. I would spend half of your time exploring the Baunei Coast and the other half in another area (ideas at the bottom of this post).
9-14 days: This is a great amount of time to spend in Sardinia. I would spend 3-4 days along the Baunei Coast and then explore 2-3 different areas of the island.
When to Visit the Baunei Coast
It’s best to visit any time between May and October.
- May-June is when the temperatures really start to rise, the sea warms up, and it’s not as busy as peak summer.
- July-August are the hottest months and the busiest time of the year. I’d personally avoid it if possible since beaches, boat tours, and parking can be filled much more quickly.
- September is a great month to visit, and people say it’s a similar experience to June. October can be good too, but seasonal businesses will have closed for the season, and temperatures have dropped a bit.
TIP: I visited in late June and loved my experience! The most popular beaches on the Baunei Coast were busy when I went, but keep in mind they are world-renowned, so it’s to be expected. If you want to avoid crowds, get there as early as you can.
Exploring by water – rent a boat
Experiencing the Baunei Coast by water is an absolute must, and there are a few ways you can do it. You can rent a boat and captain it yourself, hire a boat with a skipper, or book a spot on a bigger, shared boat (I saw these boats go to Cala Mariolu).
I tried two of those options on my trip. I rented a dinghy boat with Cala Gonone Rental. My friends had some experience driving a boat, so they had no problem driving it. You don’t need a boat license or experience, though. The rental cost was about €200 total (plus gas), which is an amazing value for a group!
The biggest consideration is that most of the beaches don’t allow anchoring on the shore, so you’ll have to drop off passangers on the beach, then anchor in a designated area, and swim to shore. Then, when you’re ready to go, swim to the boat, take out the anchor, and pick up the passengers from shore. That said, if you don’t plan on leaving the boat, then this won’t be a problem.
But if you want to spend time on the beaches and you don’t want to have to do that, you can hire a skipper for an additional fee.
On another day, my friends and I booked a yacht (and a skipper) with Sardegna Luxury Boat Rentals. We paid over €250 each, so a much different cost to the dinghy, but we wanted to experience a fancier experience. It included a skipper, water, alcohol, snacks, etc. It was a great experience, too!
TIP: If you are renting a dinghy boat and driving it yourself, the company will (or should) go over the rules on the coast. For instance, you can’t get super close to the shore. You need to anchor at certain places. Pay attention and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Once out on the water, it was easy for us to navigate and follow these rules. You can also see where other boats are anchored, which helps, too!
Exploring by Land – Hike
Many of these beaches are also accessed on foot. That said, the hikes are very exposed and require hiking experience as they are pretty tough, especially if it is hot out. I didn’t get the chance to hike to any of the beaches, but I’d love to next time.
Most hikes start with a descent to the beach (leave early so it’s not too hot), then an ascent once you leave the beach. Be sure to bring sun protection (I love this sun hoodie), hiking backpack, solid hiking boots, and a ton of food and water since it will be tougher and hotter on the way back to your car.
For example, the hike to Cala Goloritzè can take 1.5 hours downhill and 2 hours uphill. Also, to hike to this beach, a mandatory €7 ticket is required. You can book up to 72 hours in advance via Heart of Sardinia. If you know you want to hike to this beach, I’d book this asap.
When enjoying the outdoors, it’s essential to follow the Leave No Trace principles to help protect our natural landscapes for future generations. By packing out everything you bring, staying on designated trails, and respecting wildlife, we can all contribute to keeping nature pristine and beautiful. Learn more about LNT here.
Best Beaches on the Baunei Coast
Below are the best beaches on the Baunei Coast (and possibly in Sardinia as a whole). I want to point out that when you’re exploring this shoreline (with a skipper or not), there are a ton of gorgeous areas to anchor, swim, and relax in other than these spots. Have fun!
Cala Luna
Cala Luna was a beautiful beach on the Baunei Coast. This beach is big and stretches for about 800m. There are high limestone cliffs and turquoise water. There are some beautiful caves if you head to the right of the beach (if you’re looking at it from the water). It was pretty busy when we were there, so we didn’t stay too long.
Boat access: You aren’t allowed to pull boats right to shore (when I visited in 2025), so you can approach the beach to drop off passengers, then go back and anchor offshore in a designated area. We were on the yacht when we visited this beach, so we were dropped off by our skipper and picked up.
Hiking access: You can also hike to Cala Luna (hike details here). It’s about 7km each way (remember, downhill to the beach and uphill back to the car), it’s free, and no permit is required.
Photo tip: The sea caves are a popular spot for people to escape the sun, so they tend to fill up as the day goes on. If you want photos without crowds, make this your first stop and visit as early as possible. Make sure to bring a polarizer.
Cala Sisine
Cala Sisine is more pebbly (bring your sandals!) than the other sandy options, but I thought it was beautiful and ended up being one of my favorites.
Boat access: Cala Sisine is one of the easiest beaches to access by boat because you can usually anchor your boat on the beach (due to the sand and gravel bottom that can hold well). When we visited this beach in the dinghy, we saw groups drop people off on the shore, then anchor a bit away from the shore, so we followed suit. My friend dropped everyone off (with all camera gear), then anchored and swam to the beach. When we were ready to leave, one of us swam to the boat (left our stuff with our friends), then went to pick them up on shore.
Hiking access: I had trouble finding a solid route to get here on foot. It seems that there is a pretty short trail to the beach. You may need a 4×4 to access the parking lot. Alternatively, I’d drive down, but if the road gets a bit hairy, then I’d pull over and start on foot.
Photo tip: The pebbles here allow for the color of the water to really pop! I shot on the right side of the beach (when looking on boat to the beach) and loved it. My friends and I also chilled on the boat just off the beach and went for a swim and took photos since the mountains there are huge. Make sure to bring a polarizer.
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Piscine di Venere / Pools of Venus
Sadly, I was never able to go to the Pools of Venus because they were closed when I was there. Usually, you’re able to go to shore and explore this small but beautiful beach. The water was incredibly calm and turquoise.
Boat access: I believe you’ll need to anchor nearby and swim to the beach. This one can get busy since it’s pretty small, so I’d head there first if you really want the best experience it.
Hiking access: This one is best accessed by boat.
Photo tip: There are some caves that you can use to frame the beach with! Make sure to bring a polarizer.
Cala Mariolu
This is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. There are two sides to it that are equally stunning, with different shades of blue. One side is a deep, rich blue and has great cliff jumping spots. The other side has turquoise water and smaller pools to swim and float around in.
Boat access: This is one of the (or only?) beaches where you can go on a ferry-style boat, so large groups come here, and it can get busy. You can’t dock directly on the beach, so instead you’ll need to drop people off, then anchor offshore and swim in. I was here on the yacht, so the skipper dropped us off, which made this process way easier. It seemed a bit hectic, so I was happy to have the skipper with us!
Hiking access: You can hike here, but it’s really difficult, and most people don’t. I heard that you can hike down and then take the ferry-style boat out, so ask around the marinas if you’d like the sound of that.
Photo tip: I loved flying my drone here! All the shades of blue were absolutely stunning. Make sure to bring a polarizer.
Cala Goloritzé
Cala Goloritzé is one of the most iconic beaches in Sardinia, and has been voted the best beach in the world. For good reason, it is absolutely stunning. Dramatic limestone peaks and crystal-clear turquoise water are an incredible combo. We spent hours here on the boat, swimming, snacking, and taking in the views.
Boat access: You aren’t able to dock directly on the beach. Instead, you have to anchor where the rope and buoys are. We stayed on the boat, but I believe if you wanted to go to shore, you’d have to swim it.
Hiking access: There is a popular trail to get down to Cala Goloritzé (here are the details). It can take 1.5 hours downhill and 2 hours uphill. You need to book your spot to hike here as well (mandatory €7 ticket), which can be booked via Heart of Sardinia. If you know you want to hike to this beach, I’d book this asap. I really want to do this next time!
Photo tip: This place is a photographer’s dream, so make sure to allocate a good chunk of time for this spot. I would have loved to have an over/under underwater housing here and made it to shore to shoot as well. Make sure to bring a polarizer.
More Beaches to Visit in Sardinia
La Maddalena – From Olbia, you take a ferry to get to a stunning archipelago known for its small bays with turquoise water and rocks. I rented a boat with a skipper here, which I recommend because the area is bigger and not as straightforward as the Baunei Coast.
Cala Coticcio Beach – A remote cove with vivid blue water that can be reached by hike or boat.
Capriccioli beach (East) – This is a small, sheltered beach that usually has calm, turquoise water.
La Pelosa – This is one of Sardinia’s most popular beaches and is on my list for next time! You need to book a spot to access the beach, but with its white sand and turquoise water, it is well worth it.
I worked with my sweet friends Chris, Julia, Meghan, and Brendin on these photos. Check out their work!
