Sardinia from the Sea: The Most Beautiful Beaches and Islands to See by Boat

From the northeastern coast to the La Maddalena Archipelago, a journey through coves, bays, and crystal-clear waters

There’s a way to discover northern Sardinia that completely changes your perspective: experiencing it from the sea. Sailing along these waters means entering a landscape where granite sculpts perfect bays, Mediterranean scrub plunges into the water, and each cove seems to hold a different character. From the coast to the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago, every landing spot invites you to slow down, drop anchor, and let yourself be guided solely by the colors of the sea.

Along the coast

We set sail from Pitrizza, a natural pool nestled in the granite. A little further south, Porto Cervo comes into view, with its Marina and the famous Piazzetta, which reveals an even more elegant and discreet face from the sea. The neighboring Grande and Piccolo Pevero are two sides of the same beauty.

Porto Cervo

Grande Pevero is a wide crescent of white sand, while Piccolo Pevero offers a more secluded ambience, with shallow waters and crystal-clear waters.

Grande Pevero

Among the most iconic bays is Spiaggia del Principe, with its curved shape, enclosed between granite rocks and a turquoise sea. Not far away, Capriccioli, with four beaches separated by a promontory, allows you to choose the side most sheltered from the wind. Further south, Cala di Volpe is one of the most scenic bays on the coast.

Finally, the stretch between Li Itriceddi, Liscia Ruja, and Cala Petra Ruja boasts a succession of small sandy coves, often more easily reached by sea than by land.

Liscia Ruja

La Maddalena Archipelago

To the north lies one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Mediterranean: a constellation of islands and islets where nature still reigns supreme. Only La Maddalena and Caprera are inhabited; along with Budelli, Spargi, Santa Maria, Razzoli, Santo Stefano, and the islands of Mortorio and Soffi (located further south), they constitute a protected environmental heritage that requires respect for navigation, stopping, and anchoring.

Budelli

Between Budelli, Razzoli, and Santa Maria lies the famous Porto della Madonna, while Cala Santa Maria invites you to stop for a long swim in one of the archipelago’s most luminous bays. Budelli is best known for its famous Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach). Protected and inaccessible, it continues to be awe-inspiring simply by viewing it from the sea, while fully respecting one of the Mediterranean’s most fragile ecosystems.

The island of Spargi offers two unmissable stops: Cala Corsara, with its small beaches separated by wind-sculpted granite, and the more secluded Cala dell’Amore, which is very popular among snorkeling enthusiasts. On Caprera, rocky Cala Coticcio, white-dusted Cala Portese, and lushly planted Cala Brigantina are all worth a visit.

Cala Corsara, Isola di Spargi

Finally, uninhabited Mortorio and Soffi seem suspended in time. Mortorio, with its jagged profile, boasts a splendid white beach overlooking an almost surreal sea; nearby, the famous Piscine di Soffi encompass four small coves where transparent water, pale sand, and granite rocks create one of the most evocative corners of the entire archipelago.

Isola di Mortorio (ph. Dario Garofalo)