“La Pelosa is the most photographed beach in Sardinia. But Stintino is far more than an Instagram shot. This is the guide from people who know every corner of the area.”
Stintino is a small town of about 1,600 people on the north-western tip of Sardinia, 45 minutes from Porto Torres and an hour from Alghero airport. Until the 1960s it was a fishing village almost unknown to tourists. Today it is one of Italy's best-known seaside destinations.
▶️ Stintino's sea on video: yes, this water really exists
The reason is simple: La Pelosa, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. But if you stop at La Pelosa you miss the best part – the quiet coves of the Capo Falcone peninsula, the Stagno di Casaraccio lagoon, the view of Asinara island. We have managed holiday homes in Stintino directly since 2011.
Do you know why Stintino exists? Not because of tourism. Not because of La Pelosa. Not because of that sea. It all began in 1885, on Asinara.
That year the Italian state decided to turn Asinara into a quarantine station and a penal colony. Some 500 people lived on the island: Sardinian shepherds and Ligurian fishermen who had come from Camogli generations earlier, drawn by the rich tuna fishery of Le Saline. They were forced to leave, with compensation of 750 lire per family.
Many scattered – to Porto Torres, Sassari, Castelsardo. But 45 families chose to stay together. With the help of the Murtola brothers, they bought a narrow strip of land between two arms of the sea – in the Sassari dialect, isthintìnu, “the gut” – and on 14 August 1885 they founded a new village: the “Comunione dei 45” (the Community of the 45).
That village is Stintino. That sea, today, is La Pelosa.
And we know this land from the inside – not from a guidebook. So when we tell you where to stay, where to swim and where to eat the right fish, we're talking about home.
Stintino isn't just La Pelosa. The area has several options, each with its own character.
Brilliant white sand, very shallow turquoise water, views of the Torre della Pelosa and Isola Piana. Limited access in high season – booking is compulsory on the official site spiaggialapelosa.it. A beach mat under your towel is compulsory.
Right next to La Pelosa, smaller and less well known. Fine sand and clear water, partly free and partly with a beach club. Before you go, check the season's access rules on the town council website.
The harbour beach, right in the village. Calm water, full facilities, close to bars and restaurants. Perfect for families with young children or anyone who likes things easy.
A string of coves you can reach on foot or by dinghy along the Capo Falcone peninsula. Crystal-clear water, rocky seabed, almost always deserted. For those who love to explore.
Booking is done on spiaggialapelosa.it – the official website. Be wary of third-party sites selling access.
| Period | Sea | Crowds at La Pelosa | Prices | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 🌊 19°C | 🟢 Minimum | 💚 Low | Ideal for stress-free exploring |
| June | 🌊 22°C | 🟡 Moderate | 🟡 Medium | Great value for money |
| July | 🌊 25°C | 🔴 High | 🔴 High | Book everything months ahead |
| August | 🌊 26°C | 🔴 Maximum | 🔴 Very high | Avoid if you can, or arrive very early |
| September | 🌊 24°C | 🟢 Low | 💚 Low | ⭐ The best month of all |
| October | 🌊 21°C | 🟢 Almost zero | 💚 Very low | For hiking and nature |
55 minutes by car. The nearest airport – recommended if Stintino is your main destination. Hire a car on Discover Cars →
2 hr 15 min by car. Worth it if you also want to see Gallura or the east coast. A scenic route through the Logudoro.
45 minutes by car. Porto Torres is northern Sardinia's main ferry port. Book your ferry here →
Buses are few: without a car you're stuck in the village. In July and August book months ahead – hire cars sell out.
Looking for a holiday home in Stintino? We have managed hand-picked properties in and around Stintino since 2011.
🏠 Where to stay in Stintino 🔑 Own a home here?Off the coast of Stintino lies one of the most unspoilt natural places in the Mediterranean: Asinara island, now a National Park. Closed to the public for decades because it housed a maximum-security prison, today it is a protected reserve of rare beauty – no hotels and no private cars.
The island is famous for its white donkeys with pale eyes, a rare variety that roams free on the island. A symbol of the park and of the most authentic Sardinia.
Every morning guided boat tours leave Stintino – sailing round the island with snorkelling stops in crystal-clear coves. You can book them right at the harbour.
Guided off-road tours along the island's inland tracks – the easiest way to explore the interior. They leave from the Cala Reale landing after you disembark.
30 km away – northern Sardinia's gateway by sea. The Basilica of San Gavino, the Balai beaches and the port, with ferries from Genoa, Barcelona and Civitavecchia.
55 km away – Sardinia's Catalan town. Medieval ramparts on the sea, Neptune's Grotto, the Riviera del Corallo. The most complete cultural and seaside destination in the north-west.
60 km east – a medieval village perched above the Gulf of Asinara, with the Doria Castle and traditional basket weaving. One of the most striking stops in all of northern Sardinia.
Edoardo — co-founder of AffittaSardegna
We have looked after our homes in Stintino since 2011, now from our office in Porto Torres: this guide comes from what we live every day, not from behind a desk. If you need a hand with your holiday, we're genuinely here.
Managed by us since 2011 — book direct: save up to 15%, real support, no commission.
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