It's the question we've been asked most often since 2011. They're 50 km apart, with the same North-West sea — but they're two completely different holidays. Get it wrong and you're in for a week of regrets.
We've been managing homes in both places since 2011. What you read here is what we tell our guests before they book.
La Pelosa is objectively one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean — turquoise water, a shallow seabed, white sand and the Aragonese tower. But note: in summer it has limited access (a maximum of 1,500 people a day; in 2026 from 15 May to 15 October), with online booking. In July and August, book ahead: places run out fast. How to book access →
Le Bombarde, Lazzaretto, Porto Conte — beautiful beaches with no access limits, no booking, always accessible. If you want the sea without the logistical stress, Alghero is the simpler choice.
Fertilia airport is 10 km away — 12 minutes by car. From Stintino, on the other hand, Alghero airport is 50 km away — about 40 more minutes of driving. If you arrive late in the evening, that makes all the difference.
Porto Torres is 35 km from Alghero and 30 km from Stintino. Compare 2027 routes →
In Alghero you can do without a car if you stay in the centre or at the Lido. In Stintino you need one to reach any beach. Book your car early →
A Catalan old town with ramparts over the sea, seafood restaurants, aperitivo bars, lively evenings — all within walking distance. It's a real town with its own cultural identity.
A few seafood restaurants, the harbour, not much else. It's a village of 1,500 inhabitants. Perfect if, for you, a holiday day ends with the sunset and a lobster dinner. If you want to go out after dinner, you'll get bored.
La Pelosa has very shallow water and a calm sea — perfect. The village is quiet and the logistics are simple.
Neptune's Grotto, the old town, excursions, a town full of life. Stintino starts to feel limiting after a few days.
There's life, there's action, there's something to do every evening.
The sea is your only priority. You want La Pelosa. You're arriving by ferry. You have young children. You don't need nightlife. You're happy to book beach access in advance.
You're flying in. You want a town + sea. You're travelling with teenagers or adults who want to go out in the evening. You want excursions and culture. You want a stay that works outside August too.
30 km from Stintino and 35 from Alghero, with generally lower prices. The same beaches within driving distance — a savvy choice.
Yes — 45 minutes by car. But in July and August you need to have booked access to La Pelosa and set off early to find parking.
In high season prices are similar. The real budget alternative is Porto Torres — 30–35 km from both, generally cheaper, with the same beaches within driving distance.
Yes — it's objectively one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. But it takes planning: access booking required, an early start, parking to book. Anyone who goes prepared is never disappointed.
