Italy · Europe
Sardinia has beaches that would make the Caribbean jealous, and somehow most Americans have never been. The Costa Smeralda in the northeast is the famous stretch — billionaire yachts, emerald water, granite boulders — but the real treasures are elsewhere. Cala Goloritze on the east coast has a natural stone arch and water so clear the boats look like they're floating in air. La Pelosa in the northwest has shallow, almost tropical turquoise water backed by a 16th-century watchtower. Between beaches, the island is wild: Bronze Age nuraghi towers dot the countryside, shepherds still make pecorino by hand in mountain villages, and a plate of culurgiones (stuffed pasta) with a glass of Cannonau wine at a countryside agriturismo will cost you under 25 euros. Sardinia moves at its own pace, and that's the whole point.
The best beaches in Sardinia from La Pelosa to Cala Goloritzé, covering the Costa Smeralda, east coast hiking beaches, the quartz grains of Is Arutas, food and wine essentials, car rental logistics, and why avoiding August changes everything about a Sardinia trip.
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Italy's nude beaches operate on tolerance, not designation — except Capocotta near Rome. The Sardinian Costa Verde, Lido di Dante, Guvano, and Lecciona anchor the rest.
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Puglia's 800-kilometer coastline delivers turquoise Salento coves, dramatic Gargano cliffs, and some of Italy's best beach food — all at half the price of the Amalfi Coast. Here are the beaches worth planning a trip around.
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The best beaches on the Amalfi Coast from Positano to Cetara, covering the lido system and spiaggia libera sections, Fornillo's local feel, Atrani's quiet charm, Praiano's sunset beach, the Emerald Grotto, SITA bus logistics, ferry routes, and practical cost breakdowns.
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Discover Sicily's five most captivating beaches, from the Caribbean-white sands of San Vito lo Capo to the medieval charm of Cefalu, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and Mediterranean allure.
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Spain’s liveliest beach bars are Cafe Mambo and Cafe del Mar in Ibiza, Tumbao and Tangana in Tarifa, and Ocean Club in Marbella. Barcelona’s are cheapest but close earliest.
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