Sardinia
Sardinia Beach Reservations 2026: Which Beaches You Need to Book Before You Go
Many of Sardinia's most famous beaches require advance booking in 2026. Here is how La Pelosa, Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu, Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé and Cala Coticcio work.
Sardinia is no longer a place where every famous beach can be visited casually.
That does not make the island less beautiful. It makes planning more important.
In 2026, several of Sardinia's most desired beaches require booking, QR codes, time windows, environmental fees, authorised guides or park permits. This is especially true for places that have become too famous for their own geography: La Pelosa, Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu, Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé, Cala Coticcio and parts of La Maddalena.
The old approach was simple: rent a car, save a few beach names, arrive early and hope.
That is no longer enough.
Here is the practical guide.
Quick answer: which Sardinian beaches need booking in 2026?
The main beaches and coastal areas travellers should check before going are:
La Pelosa, Stintino: reservation required from 15 May to 15 October 2026.
Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu, San Teodoro: reservation required from 1 June to 30 September.
Tuerredda, Teulada: reservation required during the 2026 summer season.
Cala Goloritzé and parts of the Baunei coast: QR code and ticket system for trekking and landing.
Cala Coticcio, Caprera: land access requires an authorised guide.
La Maddalena National Park by boat: permits required for navigation, mooring or anchoring in park waters.
This article is not a substitute for checking the official platform before travel. Sardinian beach rules change, and the final word belongs to the municipality, park or authorised booking system.
But this is the framework you need before planning.
La Pelosa, Stintino
La Pelosa is one of the most regulated beaches in Sardinia.
For 2026, the official La Pelosa platform states that access is regulated by mandatory booking from 15 May to 15 October. There are 1,500 places per day: 500 can be booked without advance-time limits within the season, while 1,000 are released two days before the beach date. Daily bookings open at 09:00 for the second following day.
The daily fee is 3.50 euros per person, children under 12 do not need to be included, and each booking can include a maximum of four people. Access is controlled from 08:00 to 18:00 by QR code.
Best for: travellers staying in Stintino, Alghero or northern Sardinia.
Avoid if: you are staying in Costa Smeralda and think it is a casual day trip. It is too far for that.
Holiday.it advice. La Pelosa is worth it only if you plan around it. Book properly, save the QR code, bring a mat for the sand rules, and do not make the beach your whole Sardinia holiday.
Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu, San Teodoro
Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu are two of the most important booking beaches near San Teodoro.
The official San Teodoro Spiagge platform states that access to Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu requires booking from 1 June to 30 September. Reservations open every day at 18:00 for the second following day; for example, after 18:00 on Thursday you can book Saturday.
The same platform warns about fake booking sites and says it is the only authorised website for Cala Brandinchi reservations. Each booking can include up to six people, and access uses a QR code.
Cala Brandinchi is the more famous name. Lu Impostu can be the smarter choice if availability, crowd pressure or group needs make Brandinchi too stressful.
Best for: San Teodoro, Puntaldia, Olbia and Tavolara-area trips.
Avoid if: you are chasing the nickname "Little Tahiti" without understanding the booking pressure.
Holiday.it advice. Do not choose Cala Brandinchi only because it is famous. If Lu Impostu is easier, take it. The water will still be extraordinary.
Tuerredda, Teulada
Tuerredda is the south Sardinia beach that now needs real planning.
The official Tuerredda booking site states that 1,100 places are available daily. Bookings open at 08:00 for the following day, with access controlled by QR code from 08:00 to 18:00. The daily rate is 3 euros per person and each booking can include up to six people.
The beach sits in a beautiful bay between Capo Malfatano and Capo Spartivento, facing a small island offshore. It is one of southern Sardinia's most desired beach days, but it is not spontaneous anymore.
Best for: Chia, Teulada, Pula, Cagliari south-coast itineraries.
Avoid if: you are staying in northern Sardinia. It is not worth crossing the island for one beach.
Holiday.it advice. Tuerredda should be one planned beach day in a southern Sardinia itinerary, not a random detour from elsewhere.
Cala Goloritzé and the Baunei coast
Cala Goloritzé is not a normal beach.
The official Goloritzé and Gulf of Orosei information explains that since summer 2025, access to Baunei's Gulf of Orosei beaches has been regulated. Visitors landing independently or with a rented craft need a booking and QR code, and the same platform covers the trekking ticket for Cala Goloritzé.
This is important because many travellers misunderstand Cala Goloritzé as simply another beautiful Sardinian cove. It is not. By land, it involves a real hike from the Golgo plateau. By sea, landing and access are regulated.
Best for: travellers staying in Baunei, Santa Maria Navarrese, Cala Gonone, Arbatax or the Gulf of Orosei area.
Avoid if: you dislike hiking, heat or rocky terrain.
Holiday.it advice. Cala Goloritzé is not a flip-flop beach. It is either a proper hike or a regulated boat and coast access decision.
Cala Coticcio, Caprera
Cala Coticcio is often called the "Tahiti of Sardinia".
That nickname creates bad behaviour.
The cove is located on Caprera, inside La Maddalena National Park. Land access is regulated and requires an authorised guide. The Park's official Cala Coticcio information page directs visitors to the procedural rules and the list of authorised hiking guides.
This is not a beach where you simply park and walk down alone.
Best for: travellers staying in Palau, La Maddalena, Caprera or Costa Smeralda who want a guided nature day.
Avoid if: you want a casual beach day with children, umbrellas and no walking effort.
Holiday.it advice. If a place needs a guide, that is not a problem. It is a filter. Respect it.
La Maddalena National Park by boat
If you visit La Maddalena by yacht, boat or rental craft, remember that it is a national park.
The official La Maddalena Park permit page says authorisation is essential before entering park waters and that failing to obtain it can lead to fines and a 40 percent surcharge if the permit is issued after inspection.
The official tariff page lists rates by vessel length. For example, one-day pleasure-boat permits are priced per metre: 2 euros per metre up to 10 metres, 3 euros per metre from 10.01 to 24 metres, 4.50 euros per metre from 24.01 to 35 metres and 5 euros per metre from 35.01 to 200 metres.
Best for: yacht days, boat days, Palau, Costa Smeralda, Cannigione and La Maddalena itineraries.
Avoid if: the operator cannot explain permits, anchoring rules or Posidonia protection.
Holiday.it advice. A cheap boat day with a captain who cannot explain park rules is not a bargain. It is a risk.
The best way to plan Sardinia beaches in 2026
Do not build your holiday around a list of famous beaches.
Build it around bases.
If you stay in Stintino or Alghero, plan La Pelosa.
If you stay in San Teodoro or Olbia, plan Cala Brandinchi or Lu Impostu.
If you stay in Chia or Teulada, plan Tuerredda.
If you stay near Baunei or Cala Gonone, plan Cala Goloritzé.
If you stay near Palau or La Maddalena, plan Cala Coticcio or the archipelago.
If you stay in Costa Smeralda, do not chase every famous beach on the island. Use the nearby coast properly.
The biggest Sardinia mistake is thinking the island is small because the water looks similar everywhere.
It is not small.
And the rules are not the same everywhere.
What to avoid
Do not rely on old blog posts.
Do not assume booking platforms open at the same time.
Do not use unofficial sites if the official page warns about fake platforms.
Do not drive across the island for one beach unless it fits your base.
Do not arrive without QR code, cash and card backup, water and realistic expectations.
Do not treat regulated beaches as if the rules are optional.
Planning a trip like this?
Send us your brief and we will help you get the bases, timing and route right.
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