La Cinta Beach

The water stays shallow for almost 300 meters and is crystal clear, so it’s ideal for swimming. We went in mid-September, and it was still pleasantly warm. This is a beautiful beach and easily my favorite on the northeast coast of Sardinia. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. We paid €40 for two chairs and one umbrella, about what beaches in the area usually charge, generally €30-50 depending on how popular they are. If I came back, I’d buy two lawn chairs and an umbrella at the supermarket and enjoy the beach the way locals do.

The sea and beach are so beautiful that I still feel happy whenever I think back to being there with my loved ones. The water turns a lovely turquoise over fine, thin white sand, and the seabed stays soft sand for kilometres. You can wade out 10-20 meters and the water reaches chest or neck level, which I prefer to staying knee-deep no matter how far I walk. We also went to Cala Brandinchi and Lu impostu, but La Cinta was easily the best of the three. It’s long, so keep going past the crowd near the restaurant, perhaps for 10 to 15 minutes, and you’ll find a quieter spot. There’s no need to reserve, and the huge parking lot is especially convenient in high season. The fee is worth it for swimming in that sea. It really is mind-blowing, and not overrated at all.

The water is clear and turquoise, and the sand is white, but expect a lot of people. It’s probably one of Sardinia’s most popular beaches. Parking costs 1.50€ per hour, and you have to pay for the shower too.

On a windy afternoon, this beach was packed, with only 1-2 ft between towels and mats. There’s house music with live percussion from the restaurant, which might suit you if you like that vibe. For a quieter patch, walk farther south toward the campsite. The sand is light grey, though it can look white in edited photos. Parking is €2/ hour, charged by the hour, so 2 hours and 20 minutes costs the same as three hours. It was the most expensive parking I’ve come across, and I’m not sure what the fee covers since the shower and toilet are at the restaurant. If relaxing is your goal, this probably isn’t the spot. But it’s a nice sandy beach in San Teodoro with no booking needed, and a good next choice when the ferry to Tavolara is cancelled.