La Pelosa
At Sardinia's north-western tip, La Pelosa does a convincing Caribbean impression: white sand, an old Spanish watchtower offshore and water that stays thigh-deep for what feels like miles.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Couples
- In April16°C · 6 rainy days
- Ideal stayA day trip from Alghero, or a few nights in Stintino
- Approx. flying time~12h 35m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time13:131h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
The beach sits at the top of Sardinia's north-western corner, looking across to the island of Asinara, with sand so pale it turns the water an improbable green. Stintino, the fishing village that serves it, is a short drive away and keeps the area from feeling like a resort strip. Days are simple: shallow water for hours, a walk up to the headland, an ice cream, another swim.
Access is controlled in summer, with a daily cap on visitors and a booking system, so this is not a beach to turn up at on a whim in August. Most people base themselves in Stintino or in Alghero, an hour south, and combine the sand with boat trips into the Asinara national park. June and September bring the same water without the choreography.
- Ideal stay
- A day trip from Alghero, or a few nights in Stintino
- The vibe
- Pale, shallow, carefully protected
From our guides
It is so beloved the beach now runs on summer pre-booking — reserve your slot online the evening before, and bring a mat, since towels straight on the sand are banned to protect it. June and September offer the same shallows minus the choreography.
Featured in Ten beaches with calm, shallow water for small swimmers
Things to do
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The Aragonese watchtower
The sixteenth-century tower on the islet offshore anchors every photograph. You cannot land on it, but it makes the view.
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Shallow water for small children
The sea stays around knee height a long way out, with almost no drop-off, which is why families keep coming back year after year.
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Asinara National Park
Boats run from Stintino to the former prison island, now a park of white donkeys, empty beaches and cycling tracks.
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Capo Falcone
The headland above the beach has a walking path to old fortifications and a wide view over the strait towards Asinara.
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Stintino's harbours
The village grew out of a tuna fishing community and still has two small ports, a museum of the tuna trap and reliable seafood.
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Alghero old town
An hour south, the Catalan-speaking walled town offers ramparts, cobbled lanes and coral jewellery when you have had enough sun.
Getting there
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Fly to
Alghero (AHO)
Nearest airport to La Pelosa, about 38km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Stintino
About an hour by car north from Alghero (AHO) to Stintino on ordinary provincial roads. Porto Torres, which takes ferries from the Italian mainland, is around forty minutes away.
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On the ground
Getting around
La Pelosa lies a couple of kilometres beyond Stintino village at the tip of the peninsula. Parking is paid and limited, summer entry is capped and booked in advance, and a seasonal shuttle runs from the village car parks.
Public transport: Buses link Sassari and Porto Torres with Stintino and a summer shuttle serves the beach, but services are seasonal and sparse.
Flights
Los Angeles La Pelosa, Sardinia, Italy
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Roughly 12h 35m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 26°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in November, with rain on about 11 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
April16° · rain 6 daysCool with the odd shower.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Seasonal apartments and residences, small hotels in Stintino and a couple of resorts on the headland, plus campsites. This is a self-catering coast rather than a hotel one.
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Best base overall
Stintino
The small fishing town a few minutes from the beach, with two harbours, apartments, restaurants and a shuttle bus in summer. It is quiet out of season, when much of it closes.
Find stays in Stintino -
Closest to the sights
Capo Falcone
The headland immediately above La Pelosa, where a handful of hotels and residences put you on the sand in minutes. There is nothing else up here, so you drive for dinner.
Find stays in Capo Falcone -
Best value
Porto Torres
The ferry port half an hour south has ordinary hotels and B and Bs at prices Stintino never matches, plus its own long beach. It is industrial in parts and short on charm.
Find stays in Porto Torres -
Best with children
Alghero
A proper walled seaside town with a beach, a promenade and endless gelato, about fifty minutes away and next to the airport. You are commuting to La Pelosa rather than living beside it.
Find stays in Alghero
Worth knowing before you book: La Pelosa now requires a paid online booking for beach access in summer and bans towels laid straight on the sand. August rooms in Stintino go by early spring.
Search everything else in Stintino by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Visitor numbers are capped daily in high summer and entry must be reserved in advance rather than arranged on arrival.
- Pack this
- A beach mat is required in season, since towels laid straight on the sand are not allowed, and you may be asked to rinse sand off before leaving.
- Shade
- There is very little natural shade and umbrella space is restricted, so mornings are far more comfortable than mid-afternoon.
- Driving
- Parking near the beach is paid and fills early, and the narrow road in from Stintino jams by about ten in the morning.
- Timing
- May, June and September give warm water and far fewer restrictions than July and August.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Palombaggia
Corsica, France · 115km away →
South Sardinia
Italy · 119km away →
Cala Mariolu
Sardinia, Italy · 155km away →
Porquerolles
France · 281km away →
Nice
France · 314km away →
Èze
France · 315km away →Elsewhere in Italy
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit La Pelosa?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 26°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in November, with rain on about 11 days.
How long should I spend in La Pelosa?
Our suggestion: a day trip from Alghero, or a few nights in Stintino.
How do I get to La Pelosa?
About an hour by car north from Alghero (AHO) to Stintino on ordinary provincial roads. Porto Torres, which takes ferries from the Italian mainland, is around forty minutes away.
Do I need a car in La Pelosa?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Buses link Sassari and Porto Torres with Stintino and a summer shuttle serves the beach, but services are seasonal and sparse.
What currency and language are used in La Pelosa?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is La Pelosa best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and couples. In a phrase: pale, shallow, carefully protected.