Beaches in Alghero
Five beaches, from the one in town to the one in the bay
- Lido San Giovanni
- About 2 km from the old town, on foot
- Maria Pia
- Cycle path from the centre
- Mugoni
- Sheltered in Porto Conte bay
The nearest beach to Alghero's old town is a walk along the promenade, and the best one on a windy day is on the far side of the bay. Five beaches sit within reach of town, each with its own sand, its own way of getting there and its own answer to the parking question. The sixth, La Pelosa, belongs to a different category, because it is a trip of its own and asks for a ticket. The table below sets them side by side, and the paragraphs after it say which one to pick for which kind of day.
To the sea from town: Lido and Maria Pia
Lido San Giovanni is the beach you reach without planning anything. It lies about 2 km from the old town on Via Lido, and you walk there along the Busquet promenade, so there is no timetable to read and no car to park. The sand is golden and soft and the water shallow, which suits families and anyone who wants to wade in rather than swim out. A city bus also runs there, for €1 (90 min, ARST). Parking exists for those who arrive by car. Maria Pia lies beyond it towards Fertilia, among dunes with centuries-old junipers, and a cycle path links it with the centre. Its sand is fine and pale, and the walk or the ride out is part of the outing. Anyone staying in town without a car should start with these two.
3-star hotel, double room, per person per night
Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto
Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto lie on the road to Capo Caccia, so they fit into the same day as the cave. From Fertilia you drive about 2 km along that road and about 1 km more to Le Bombarde, a half-moon of pale, fine sand with a large car park. In summer it fills up, so come early. Lazzaretto is a little further north on the same road, well signposted, with white and soft sand. The ARST buses to Capo Caccia stop at Lazzaretto and at the Le Bombarde junction, and the Beach Bus runs from May to September. The verdict is simple. Choose Le Bombarde if you drive, since the car park is large, and Lazzaretto if you come by bus.
Mugoni
Mugoni lies in the bay of Porto Conte, a stretch of golden sand in a sheltered corner, and it is the one to pick when the wind makes the other beaches unpleasant. Shelter is the whole argument for it. A sheltered, calm bay means a windy day in Alghero can still end in the water. If you can only visit one of the five on a gusty day, this is the beach that will not make you regret the trip.
The ticket and the queue
La Pelosa lies in Stintino, about 43 km from Alghero by road and about 55 minutes by bus, though the operator and any change on the way vary. From 15 May to 15 October you need an online ticket, €3.50. Only 1,500 places are sold each day, one reservation covers up to four people, and children under 12 enter free. Book the ticket before you set out for Stintino.
The ticket applies only between 8:00 and 18:00, and outside those hours the entrance is open. A very early or a late walk down needs no booking. The trip is described on the page about day trips, together with Sassari and Bosa. For a day with no plan, the nearer beaches cost nothing and need no reservation, and La Pelosa is a choice you make the evening before.
Where to next
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Alghero
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which beach is closest to the old town?
Lido San Giovanni, about 2 km from the old town. You walk there along the Busquet promenade, and a city bus also covers the distance. Maria Pia comes next, towards Fertilia, and a cycle path from the centre leads to it.
Do you need to book a beach?
Only La Pelosa, and only from 15 May to 15 October, when the online ticket costs €3.50. The other beaches in the table are public, and you simply turn up. Le Bombarde fills up in summer, so reach it early.
Ready for Alghero?
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