Beaches
Portopaglietto (600 m – 7 minutes on foot)
Its beach offers a picturesque view within a gulf sheltered from the Mistral wind, with a characteristic lighthouse facing it and two rocky promontories, one of which is topped by the old Aragonese Tower, a remnant of the ancient Spanish rule in Sardinia.
Sant’Antioco (28 km – 25 minutes by car)
The larger of the two islands visible from Portoscuso is adorned with beautiful beaches such as Coaquaddus, Maladroxia, Cala Sapone, Cala della Signora and, at its north-western tip, Calasetta with its splendid Sotto Torre, Le Saline and many other beaches in the surrounding area. Moreover, the two towns of Sant’Antioco and Calasetta offer a lively alternative for more animated evenings, with their restaurants, bars and clubs frequented by the many tourists staying there.
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| Coaquaddus, Sant'Antioco island |
Marina di Gonnesa (18 km – 20 minutes by car).
The longest beach in the area lies just behind Capo Altano and stretches all the way to the Masua area. With views ranging from the Iglesiente mountains to Pan di Zucchero, the Marina di Gonnesa is divided into Porto Paglia (the closest to Portoscuso, located just a few kilometers away), Sa Punta ’e s’Arena, Plagemesu, and Funtanamare. Almost 3 km of soft sand in a setting of wild Mediterranean scrub.
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| Marina di Gonnesa |
San Pietro (40 minutes by ferry)
The island can be reached via a relaxing 40-minute crossing. The ferry, which can also carry cars, departs right from the port of Portoscuso (Portovesme). Among its many beaches, one must mention La Bobba, La Caletta, La Conca and La Punta. Many others are accessible and enjoyable by boat: San Pietro is perfect for full-day sea excursions. Beyond the beaches, like its larger sister Sant'Antioco, the town of Carloforte offers plenty of attractions. In addition to food, in which tuna stands out, Carloforte is famous for its Genoese pesto and farinata, two traditional dishes from Liguria, reflecting the Genoese heritage of the island, where locals still speak a Ligurian dialect.
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| La Conca, San Pietro island |
Masua (27 km – 35 minutes by car)
One of the most iconic beaches of South-Western Sardinia, it lies at the foot of a mining site whose port is still visible and directly in front of the spectacular Pan di Zucchero rock – famous both for climbing challenges and for being the tallest sea stack in the Mediterranean. The road to get there, the panoramic Nebida route, offers one of the most breathtaking views in all of Sardinia.
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| Masua |
Cala Domestica (35 km – 45 minutes by car)
Together with Masua, it is the most famous coastal attraction in the South-West. It consists of two beaches, one of which can be reached by walking through a narrow rock tunnel – perfect for DIY photo shoots. The beach is nestled among hills covered in Mediterranean scrub, almost plunging into the crystal-clear water which, at night, is magically illuminated by glowing plankton.
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| Cala Domestica |
Porto Pino (41 km – 40 minutes by car)
Heading south, the beaches turn white and the waters turquoise. Porto Pino is a small seaside village, perfect for peaceful evenings, from which stretches a long beach with incredibly white sand and crystal-clear water. In case of strong Mistral wind, it’s the perfect alternative to Portopaglietto.
The Dunes – Is Arenas Biancas (43 km – 45 minutes by car)
At the far end of Porto Pino beach, the sand becomes increasingly soft and accumulates to form majestic white dunes, home to the typical Sardinian coastal vegetation. The Dunes are among the most beautiful places in all Sardinia – but beware: climbing to their peaks is strictly forbidden to preserve the integrity of the vegetation and the dunes themselves!
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| Le Dune "Is Arenas Biancas" |