Booking the beach in Sardinia is no longer a seasonal surprise: it has become normality. Year after year, the number of coasts that adopt contingent access systems grows, with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable ecosystems and better distributing tourist flows in the warm months. For summer 2026, many portals are already active or in the process of being updated. Here’s a complete overview of everything you need to know.
La Pelosa (Stintino)
It is the beach that has taught. La Pelosa has been the national reference for years for the management of limited numbers: daily cap on admissions, mandatory reservations and environmental contribution, with part of the seats available in advance and a quota accessible close to the date. For 2026 the official portal is being updated, but the regulated access system is confirmed. Final season details have yet to be released.
Gallura: Rena Bianca and the Cannigione swimming pools
In Santa Teresa Gallura the Rena Bianca quota is now a permanent presence: tickets, reservations and discounts for some categories of visitors. Also in Gallura, in the Arzachena area, Le Piscine di Cannigione also adopts a responsible access system with a maximum number of daily attendance. Entrance is free for residents and children under a certain age, with a quota of seats reserved for local residents.
San Teodoro: Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu
In the North East of the island the system is well established. Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu require booking through a dedicated platform, with access linked to a specific time window. In previous seasons the rates were different between residents, Tari holders and tourists. For 2026, any changes in prices or maximum numbers remain to be confirmed, but the mechanism is already structured and functioning.
Ogliastra: Cala Goloritzè and the coves of Baunei
The territory of Baunei is one of the most regulated on the island. Cala Goloritzè, symbol of Ogliastra, provides for a maximum number of simultaneous presences, access tickets and reservations in the days immediately preceding the visit, with the possibility of direct entry from the path based on availability.
The quota also extends to Cala Mariolu, Cala Biriola and Cala dei Gabbiani, where the restrictions mainly concern landings by sea: boats, rental dinghies with driver and private vehicles are regulated separately, with limits also on the length of stay.
Villasimius: Punta Molentis and Porto Sa Ruxi
In the South East, two beaches to monitor carefully. Punta Molentis has a maximum daily limit of people and vehicles, online booking and entrance ticket combined with parking payment. Porto Sa Ruxi instead has a system focused on the management of flows and parking. Both are awaiting official communications for the 2026 season.
Tuerredda (Teulada)
Tuerredda is one of the most requested destinations in Sulcis. The quota system distinguishes between free beaches and beach establishments, with a maximum daily attendance limit managed through digital tools. Management is now structural and stable: all that is missing is the publication of the updated operational calendar for summer 2026.
Orosei: the Biderosa Oasis
The Biderosa Oasis is a protected natural area where access is limited and paid for by all: cars, motorbikes and bicycles have distinct limits. In the central summer months places fill up quickly, so advance booking is strongly recommended. The system is consolidated and is only awaiting definitive updates for the new season.
La Maddalena: Cala Coticcio and Cala Brigantina
In the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, the two most delicate coves of Caprera are accessible only with limited access and a mandatory authorized guide. Cala Coticcio and Cala Brigantina have a daily limited number, an environmental contribution and the additional cost of the guide. The rules have also become more stringent for residents compared to past seasons.
Mari Pintau (Quartu Sant’Elena)
Among the new entries in the list of regulated beaches is Mari Pintau, which since last year has introduced access management to contain summer pressure on the coast.
Details for 2026 — maximum number of entries, fees and launch dates — are yet to be officially determined.
Advice for those planning holidays
The picture is clear: Sardinia is moving ever more decisively towards a structured management of the most fragile and popular coastlines. The phenomenon now encompasses the entire perimeter of the island, from the North West to Gallura, from Ogliastra to the Orosei area, up to the South and South East.
The golden rule for those who are organizing the summer is only one: check the official portals of the individual beaches well in advance. For many locations the system is already active, but definitive dates, rates and methods for various coasts have not yet been published. Waiting until the last moment, in many cases, means finding the seats already sold out.
