20 Best La Maddalena Beaches You Must Visit (+Map)

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If you are going to Sardinia soon, visiting La Maddalena beaches should be at the top of your Bucket List!

This stunning group of islands is located in the North East of Sardinia and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia.

The archipelago is made of 7 islands: Maddalena, Caprera, Budelli, Santa Maria, Spargi, Santo Stefano and Razzoli.  

The best things to do on La Maddalena Archipelago are going for a swim, enjoying the beautiful beaches and hiking!

In this article, you will not only find out about the best beaches on La Maddalena Island but the entire list of beaches on La Maddalena Archipelago! Perfect to know where to go when you start hopping from one island to another!

So, are you ready? Let’s discover the most stunning La Maddalena beaches!  

maddalena archipelago sardinia

La Maddalena Island Beaches

La Maddalena Island is the biggest island in the archipelago and will very often be your starting point. At least if you are spending a few days here but we will get back to that!

La Maddalena is the only island accessible by ferry.  

Ferries leave from/to Palau every day. It costs about 20 euros for a vehicle and 2 passengers.

The best things to do on La Maddalena Island is to visit the town, go on a scenic road and of course, go for a swim!  

Testa di Polpo Beach (Spiaggia testa di polpo)

testa del polpo maddalena beaches

The literal translation for this one is “octopus head beach”. Quite a funny way of putting it right? Nevertheless, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches on La Maddalena Archipelago.

Located on the western side of the island, near the town of Isoleddu, the Testa di Polpo Beach is absolutely stunning.  

Just picture it: thin and white sand, crystal clear waters, big rocks… here we go! Welcome to Sardinia!  

You can get there by car. Although the road is a bit bumpy you can definitely drive and park there.  

Alternatively, you can take public transport and stop at La Ricciolina. From there it will be a 35 minutes walk. A bit long but so worth it!  

Punta Tegge Beach (Spiaggia di Punta Tegge)

beach maddalena archipelago

It’s one of the most famous beaches in the archipelago Della Maddalena. Tegge is very close to La Maddalena Town is easily accessible.  

The beach itself is not massive but it’s such a beautiful spot! There are loads of rocks, making it a great photo spot!

You will also find a diving centre nearby, perfect if you want to go diving during your stay in Sardinia.

The Spiaggia di Punta Tegge is also a great beach to go snorkelling so make sure you take your mask and tuba!  

Bassa TrinitĂ  Beach (Spiaggia di Bassa TrinitĂ )

beach maddalena bassa trinita

Located in the north of La Maddalena Island, the Bassa TrinitĂ  Beach is one of the most popular in Sardinia. White sand, crystal-clear waters… it has it all!  

It’s definitely one of the most stunning beaches in Italy however it can get pretty busy too so make sure you go a bit early to avoid the crowds in summer.

There is a walking trail by the beach so if you love hiking, that will be one of the best places in La Maddalena to do so.  

Monti d’arena beach (Spiaggia Monti d’A Rena)

Spiaggia Monti dA Rena in La Maddalena

The Monti d’Arena beach is also located in the north of the island.

The sand is not as white as on the other beaches mentioned but this one is worth a visit too, especially if you are travelling with kids.

It’s quite a big beach with shallow waters, making it ideal for visitors of all ages!

Monti D’arena Beach is also a popular snorkelling spot since the water is so clear.

There are no facilities on this beach which means you will need to bring everything with you (especially food and drinks).

To access the beach, you need to take a turn from the main road onto a dirt road (drive slowly since some rocks are quite big) and you will find a carpark near the beach.

Spalmatore Beach (Spiaggia di Cala Spalmatore)

maddalena archipelago Spalmatore

Located in the North East of the island, the Spalmatore Beach is a small beach with beautiful turquoise water.

It’s perfect if you want to go snorkelling! It’s home to many species of plants and fish, making your snorkelling adventure amazing!

As for the beach side, it’s a nice beach but the sand is not as white or thin as the other ones.

One thing that is worth mentioning though is that it is quite a popular beach. This means it can be a bit crowded but on the plus side, you can access it by bus and there are facilities with food, drinks and loungers.

Other beaches on La Maddalena Island

Cala Francese in La Maddalena Island
Cala Francese is one of the best beaches La Maddalena has to offer

There are so many beaches on La Maddalena Island and it would be impossible to mention them all, especially since there are a lot of hidden gems there!

The best way to see them is exploring!

That having been said, here is a list of other nice beaches on La Maddalena:

  • Spiaggia di Porto Massimo
  • Cala Francese
  • Spiaggia del Cardellino
  • Cala Lunga

Caprera Island Beaches

La Caprera is the second biggest island in the archipelago della Maddalena. You can easily reach it via a bridge from La Maddalena Island.

It’s a bit less popular than La Maddalena which means that you will enjoy a bit more of a peaceful time there.

That having been said, with great rewards also comes great efforts. Most of the Caprera beaches are secluded and can sometimes be difficult to reach. Some of them are only accessible by boat.  

Spiaggia di Cala Coticcio

Spiaggia di Cala Coticcio
Cala Coticcio is one of La Maddalena best beaches

Nicknamed Tahiti beach by the locals, the Cala Coticcio beach is the most popular beach on the island of La Caprera.  

The white sand and turquoise blue waters are absolutely stunning!  

It can be quite hard to get there by land but is well worth it. There is a little walking path that will bring you there. It takes about 45 mins. You can easily reach it with a boat though.  

It’s also a great snorkelling spot.

Please note that it gets quite crowded in summer so as much as you should check it out, you may want to try to get there early.  

Spiaggia I due Mari

beach maddalena Spiaggia I due Mari

Located in the south of the island, the Spiaggia I due Mari is very popular for families. It’s a typical Sardinian beach with white sands and crystal-clear waters.

More importantly, the waters are very shallow so it’s perfect for children!

You can access it by car, there is a carpark nearby.

There is a beach club where you can get drinks and hire chairs and umbrellas however, it’s important to note that it’s not the cheapest.

Cala Portese

Cala Portese in La Maddalena Sardinia

This little cove is located near the Spiaggia I due Mari. Again, you will find white sand and crystal clear water there. It’s a bit less popular than the others.

Perfect for people looking for a beach off the beaten path on La Caprera Island!  

Spiaggia del Relitto

Spiaggia del Relitto in La Maddalena

This beach is well known for being home to the shipwreck.

It offers quite a different experience from the others. It’s located within a marine zone which means you can’t get there by boat.

You will have to walk! It is very pretty though, there are loads of plants! It’s a bit different!  

Cala Brigantina

The Spiaggia di Cala Brigantina is located on the eastern side of La Caprera island. It’s one of these remote beaches in La Maddalena archipelago that you can’t access by car.

You will need to hike about 20 minutes to reach the beach but it’s well worth it. The water is crystal blue and since it’s not as famous as the other beaches, you will avoid the crowds.

Since the cove is quite remote, you won’t find any facilities there so make sure to bring food and drinks.

Other beaches on La Caprera

Beaches are everywhere on La Caprera and if you want to discover more than the ones previously mentioned, here are a few options:  

  • Cala Caprarese
  • Cala Garibaldi
  • Cala Andreani
  • Cala Serena
  • Cala Napoletana

Pink Beach on Budelli Island

Pink beach budelli island Sardinia
Budelli is the most unique and best beach La Maddalena has to offer

Budelli Island is famous for being home to the pink beach in Sardinia! Known as the spiaggia rossa di Budelli, this one is both the most popular and least visited!  

Let me explain! As you may expect, everybody wants to see the pink beach. It used to be open to the public and people could walk on it. The issue with that is that most people would steal sand.

This quickly became a problem! That’s why it’s now managed by the Maddalena Archipelago National Park who prohibits access to it.  

That having been said, you can still see the beach! In order to do that, you need to go on a boat tour. Several tours leave every day from Palau.

Except for La Maddalena and Caprera, there aren’t any ferries going to the islands so you need to hop on a boat tour.

I loved that tour as I thought we got to see so much for the money! The boat will go as close as they are allowed to and you will get to see the pink beach (and take photos of course!)

Click here to see the latest prices for the boat tour!

Santa Maria Island Beaches

beaches maddalena archipelago

Santa Maria Island is one of the smallest in the archipelago. Only a handful of people live there. The best beach is Cala Santa Maria.  

This beautiful and long beach is one of the best photo spots in La Maddalena Archipelago. The sand is super thin and white and the waters so blue! It’s absolutely stunning.  

santa maria beach maddalena

You will love working on your tan there!  

beach maddalena santa maria

You can reach the island by boat or if you are going on a day tour. You usually get to spend 1 hour or 2 there.

Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Spargi Island Beaches

spargi island maddalena things to do

Spargi Island is easily accessible by boat. If you are going on a day trip by boat, you will stop there.

It’s usually quite a long spot which means that you can go to the beach and even have time to go hiking a bit and snorkelling.

Here are the best beaches on Spargi island.

Spiaggia di Cala Corsara

maddalena beaches spargi

The sand is white and thin and there are also many rocks. It’s a very good snorkelling spot. I also recommend walking up to the top of the rock (there is a path), the views are gorgeous! It only takes 15 minutes or so! If you are going on a day tour by boat, you will have enough time on-site to do the walk and snorkel!

Spiaggia di Cala Granara

This one is a bit less popular and most tours don’t stop there but if you can it’s well worth it! So pretty!

Razzoli Island Beaches

Razzoli island Sardinia

Razzoli island is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. Cala Lunga is great for people who like snorkelling. There are rocks and loads of different species.

The waters are quite shallow which makes it pretty safe. Finally, the sand is beautifully white!  

Map of the best beaches in La Maddalena

How to visit La Maddalena Archipelago

There are different ways to visit the archipelago.

Two islands are accessible by car and ferry which makes it very easy for people looking to explore by themselves.

The others are part of the National Park and are only accessible by boat.  

Self-Guided tour of La Maddalena

If you want to visit La Maddalena and Caprera Island, you will need to rent a car and catch a ferry.

It is accessible by public transport only but I would highly recommend getting a car.

Renting a car in Italy for a couple of days can be quite cheap. You can check the prices here.

Driving will give you so much more flexibility on the islands and in Sardinia in general.

Once you reach la Maddalena, you can wander around the islands as you wish!  

La Maddalena boat tours

If you want to discover the other islands, you will need to go on a day trip. I recommend this one.

You will leave from Palau at about 10 am and will come back at about 6 pm.

Food is included and you will get to stop at most of the beaches mentioned before.

That’s what I did when I was in Sardinia and I thought it was a wonderful use of my time.  

 As you may expect, a lot of boats go to the same places so yes it can get busy at times but as they can’t all dock at the same time anyway, they make sure they don’t all rush at the same time!

Personally, I thought it was perfectly fine (and yet, I get very bothered by crowds). That having been said, I went end of June which is the best time to go.  

For more information and see the latest prices of the tour, click here.

If you’d prefer a smaller group and going on a sailing boat (which is a way better experience), you can opt for a private sailing tour. It’s a bit more expensive but it’s also a way better service.  

For more information and see the latest prices of the tour, click here.

Where to stay in La Maddalena?

You’ve got two options here. You can either stay in Palau (Sardinia mainland) and go day trips from there or stay on La Maddalena Island.

They are both good choices, it just depends on what you want to do.   Palau is the best option if you are in any of these categories:

  • You want to spend 2 days max in La Maddalena Archipelago
  • You are on a budget
  • You don’t mind about not staying on an island

  La Maddalena is perfect if you fall into one of those categories:

  • You want to stay at least 3 days in La Maddalena
  • You are after luxury accommodation
  • You want to drive on the island and drive to Caprera

Here are some recommendations.  

Accommodation in Palau

Budget accommodation: Grazioso Monolocale is the perfect budget apartment right in the centre of Palau! Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Mid-range accommodation: Bassa Prua is a cute bed and breakfast located right by Palau Vecchio Beach. Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Luxury accommodation: Il Vento e il Mare is a great aparthotel in the heart of Palau town centre. Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Accommodation on La Maddalena Island

Budget accommodation: Leberides offers great apartments for a very reasonable price. Well located, comfortable and tidy, it’s the perfect place to stay at if you are on a budget. Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Mid-range accommodation: The Residenze Le Padule is ideal if you are looking for a great apartment with beach view! Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

Luxury accommodation:  Villa Iole is a gorgeous house located in the north of the island. Everything you may want will be there! Click here for more information and see the latest prices.

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