Holiday homes between Alghero and Stintino
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The 5 uncrowded beaches in this guide are Cala della Barca and a small cove in Porto Conte Park, Cala Viola at Porticciolo (Alghero), the natural pools of Capo Falcone (Stintino) and Ezzi Mannu, between Porto Torres and Stintino. The water is as clear as at La Pelosa, which in summer has limited entry and requires booking, but the atmosphere is completely different.
This guide is here to solve the problem in a practical way: 5 uncrowded beaches between Alghero and Stintino — some easy, others more “for locals” — with real access details and tips from people who live in Sardinia all year round.
Local tip: the best choice always depends on the day's wind. In the dedicated section we explain exactly how to choose the right beach depending on the mistral or sirocco — what Sardinians do every morning.
From Alghero you can reach Cala della Barca, Cala Viola and Porto Conte in 15–25 minutes; from Stintino, Capo Falcone in 10 minutes and Ezzi Mannu in about 20 — choose the right base and book direct.
| # | Beach | Area | Difficulty | Snorkelling | Kids | Ideal wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cala Barca | Porto Conte – Alghero | 🟢 Easy | ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Rocks | 💨 Sirocco |
| 2 | Capo Falcone pools | Stintino | 🟠 Moderate | ✅ Spectacular | ❌ No | 💨 Sirocco |
| 3 | Cala Viola | Porticciolo – Alghero | 🟢 Easy | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Pebbles | 💨 Sirocco |
| 4 | Ezzi Mannu | Porto Torres–Stintino | 🟢 Easy | 🟡 Fair | ✅ Families | Light wind |
| 5 | Porto Conte cove | Porto Conte Park | 🟠 Moderate | ✅ Excellent | ❌ No | 💨 Sirocco |
Many of these beaches can only be reached under your own steam, far from buses and taxis.
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In Porto Conte Natural Park, near Alghero, but on a stretch less trodden by the crowds. Many people stop at Le Bombarde or Lazzaretto because they're easier — and that keeps Cala Barca peaceful even in high season.
The seabed is among the most beautiful in northern Sardinia: posidonia seagrass, fish, rocks — perfect for snorkelling. One of the coves the locals keep to themselves.
Ideal for: couples, friends, anyone looking for peace and an unspoilt sea.
Bring: water, snacks, a beach umbrella — there's nothing there.
→ Stay in Alghero — 15 min from Cala Barca; book direct and save up to 15%
This isn't a classic beach. It's a rocky area near Stintino with natural pools carved out by the sea — one of the most spectacular spots in northern Sardinia.
Ideal for: photographers, adventurous types, snorkelling lovers. Avoid it when the mistral is strong.
→ Stay in Stintino — a few km from Capo Falcone; book direct and save up to 15%
At the northern tip of Porto Conte Park, at Porticciolo, on the west coast of Alghero. A tiny desert-island cove, often empty in the afternoon: around forty metres of pale pebbles between reddish and purplish rocks, which give it its name.
You get there by car: from Fertilia towards Porticciolo, then a short stretch of dirt track. Rocky seabed, great with a mask; no facilities.
Ideal for: couples, snorkelling, anyone who wants real solitude. Avoid it when the mistral blows: it faces west.
A long beach of sand and small pebbles on the Gulf of Asinara, along the road between Porto Torres and Stintino. It has a car park and a kiosk, but it's so long that you only need to walk a little to find a quiet corner, even in summer.
Ideal for: families with children, anyone who wants to read in peace, anyone who hates crowds.
→ Porto Torres as your base — 20 min from Ezzi Mannu; book direct and save up to 15%
A cove you can reach on foot in Porto Conte Natural Park, near Alghero. No beach clubs, no bars, no chaos. If you're looking for authenticity, this is the kind of place that makes your day.
Tip: go before 10am or after 5pm — perfect light and even fewer people.
This is the real secret to enjoying the beaches of northern Sardinia: today's perfect beach can be tomorrow's worst. The wind changes everything, and tourists hardly ever know it.
