Costa Smeralda has more beautiful beaches than any one visit can cover, and the five below come up again and again as the ones worth planning around. The beaches themselves are publicly accessible, and you do not need to stay at a hotel or join a beach club to visit them. Parking, concessions, loungers, umbrellas and equipment may cost money, while temporary safety or environmental restrictions can occasionally affect access.
This guide compares Spiaggia del Principe, Capriccioli, Liscia Ruja, Grande Pevero and Romazzino side by side, so you can pick the right one for your day rather than trying to see all of them at once. For an overview of the wider area, start with the Costa Smeralda destination guide.
Quick comparison
| Beach | Character | Size | Good for families | Snorkeling | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiaggia del Principe | Wild, dramatic, two coves split by granite | Small | Shallow in parts, but uneven footing | Yes, around the rocks | Unpaved path from parking |
| Capriccioli | A cluster of soft, sheltered coves | Small to medium | Yes, one of the most reliable picks | Yes, especially near the rocks | Short walk from parking |
| Liscia Ruja | Long, open, a mix of free and equipped stretches | Large (one of the longest on the coast) | Yes, plenty of shallow, gently sloping sand | Moderate | Short walk from several parking areas |
| Grande Pevero | A wide crescent backed by dunes and a pond | Medium to large | Yes, shallow entry | Moderate | Short walk from parking |
| Romazzino | More sheltered bay beside a luxury hotel | Medium | Yes, one of the more sheltered options | Moderate | Short walk from parking; limited public transport |
Treat this table as a starting point rather than the final word. Sand, sea conditions and crowding all shift through the season, so read the fuller notes below before you decide.
Spiaggia del Principe
Spiaggia del Principe is usually the beach people mean when they talk about Costa Smeralda’s most beautiful stretch of sand. Two coves are divided by a granite outcrop, backed by juniper and windswept rock, with almost none of the built-up feel that shows up elsewhere on the coast. The scenery is the reason to come; the experience of getting there and staying comfortable takes a little more effort.
The beach is relatively small and can feel tight once it fills up. Parts of it are shallow enough for children to wade, but the seabed is uneven with rock in places, so it suits families who don’t mind supervising closely rather than those wanting a uniformly sandy shallow entry. The clear water and scattered rocks make it a good spot for casual snorkeling.
Parking sits some distance from the beach, and the path down is unpaved and, in places, uneven — plan for a walk of ten minutes or more each way, longer if you’re carrying beach gear. Facilities are minimal: a small seasonal bar operates near the beach in summer, but there are no permanent loungers, umbrella rental or other services on site, so bring what you need. This also means Spiaggia del Principe is not a good choice for anyone with mobility limitations or for pushing a stroller down to the sand.
Capriccioli
Capriccioli is really a small group of coves divided by low granite rocks rather than a single beach, which is part of its appeal — you can move between pockets of sand to find a quieter corner or calmer water. The setting is softer and more sheltered than Spiaggia del Principe, with fine white sand and shallow, clear water close to shore.
This shallow, gently sloping entry is what makes Capriccioli one of the more dependable choices for families with young children, and the clarity of the water makes it easy to spot fish just a few metres out. Lifeguard coverage and other services may operate during peak season; verify locally. A kiosk or beach bar, along with sunbed and umbrella rental, may also be available in summer — these are seasonal services rather than year-round fixtures, so don’t expect them outside the summer months.
Parking is close to the beach but limited, and it fills early in July and August. Arriving before mid-morning makes the difference between a short walk and a long search for a space.
Liscia Ruja
Liscia Ruja is one of the longest beaches on the Costa Smeralda, and its size is what sets it apart from the smaller coves nearby. There’s room to walk well away from the crowds even in high season, and the beach splits naturally into free stretches and sections run by beach concessions with loungers, umbrellas and bars — all seasonal services, set up and taken down with the summer season rather than permanent installations.
The sand slopes gently into the water along most of the beach, which makes it a solid option for families and for anyone who prefers wading a long way out before it gets deep. Because the beach faces east, it’s often described as sheltered from westerly winds, but wind direction and strength change day to day — check the forecast and look at conditions on arrival rather than assuming calm water.
Several parking areas serve different points along the beach, all a short walk from the sand. Parking is paid and roadside parking is enforced with fines, so use the designated areas.
Grande Pevero
Grande Pevero is a wide, crescent-shaped beach a few kilometres south of Porto Cervo, backed by dunes, a small pond and the Pevero Golf Club. The setting feels a little more open and manicured than the wilder coves further south, with fine white sand and turquoise water that draws a steady crowd through the summer.
The beach faces approximately northeast. Its curved bay can provide some shelter under certain conditions, but wind and waves vary; check the day’s forecast rather than relying on orientation alone. The shallow entry makes it workable for families with children, and the water is clear enough for casual snorkeling near the rocks at either end.
Parking is available close to the beach, but arrangements and accessibility provisions can change from season to season — follow current on-site signs rather than relying on older reports. A dedicated accessible parking area near the beach doesn’t necessarily mean the path down, the sand itself or the waterline are easy to navigate with a wheelchair or limited mobility — if that’s a concern, it’s worth contacting the local tourist office or checking recent visitor reports before you go. Seasonal beach bars, restaurants and loungers operate here in summer.
Romazzino
Romazzino sits in a protected bay in front of the Romazzino hotel, but the beach itself is entirely public — you don’t need to be a hotel guest, and no hotel access or patronage is required to visit. It has a quieter, more polished feel than some of the other beaches on this list, with fine sand and clear, shallow water close to shore.
The bay’s shape gives it some natural protection from open-sea swell and wind, which is part of why it’s often recommended for families, though as with every beach here, conditions vary day to day and are worth checking before you set out. The shallow entry suits younger children well.
Paid parking sits a short walk from the beach. Under the current seasonal transport timetable, Romazzino may not have a direct stop on the local summer bus network — the nearest stop has typically been at Capriccioli, which leaves a longer walk. Routes and stops can change from one season to the next, so if you’re travelling without a car, verify the current timetable before you plan around it (see the transport section below).
How to choose
Best for scenery: Spiaggia del Principe, if you don’t mind the walk and limited facilities.
Best for families with young children: Capriccioli or Liscia Ruja, both known for shallow, gently sloping sand.
Best for snorkeling: Spiaggia del Principe or Capriccioli, where rocky edges shelter more marine life close to shore.
Best if you don’t have a car: Capriccioli and Liscia Ruja, which have historically had the most direct seasonal bus access — always confirm the current route before relying on it.
Best for space and a longer walk along the water: Liscia Ruja, simply because of its length.
How to choose based on the day’s wind
Wind on the Costa Smeralda can change quickly and varies by beach depending on its orientation and how sheltered it is by surrounding rock or vegetation. Liscia Ruja, Grande Pevero and Romazzino respond differently to wind because of their orientations and surrounding headlands, but none is guaranteed calm. Rather than picking a beach purely on reputation for calm water, check that morning’s forecast and, if you have flexibility, ask locally or look at conditions at more than one beach before settling in for the day.
Visiting in July and August
All five of these beaches get busy in high season, and parking is often the first practical limitation, while the smaller beaches themselves can also become crowded. Arriving in the morning — well before midday — makes the biggest difference, especially at Capriccioli and Spiaggia del Principe, where parking areas are small. Liscia Ruja’s greater length gives you more room to spread out even when it’s crowded. If you can visit in June or September, you’ll generally find lighter crowds and easier parking, though weather and water temperature will vary accordingly.
Getting there without a car
None of these beaches are within walking distance of Porto Cervo or Arzachena, so visiting without a car means relying on the Comune di Arzachena’s seasonal public transport service, known locally as Lu Pustali, a taxi, or a private transfer. Lu Pustali typically runs from mid-June to mid-September, with routes that have served beaches including Capriccioli and Liscia Ruja in recent seasons — but routes, stops and operating dates are set annually and can change. Before planning a car-free day, check the official Lu Pustali service page for the current season’s lines, stops and timetable, since some beaches, including Romazzino and Spiaggia del Principe, have not historically had a direct stop and may require a longer walk from the nearest one.
If you’d rather not deal with parking or timetables at all, a taxi or a pre-booked driver is the simplest way to reach any of these beaches directly, particularly for Spiaggia del Principe, where the walk-in path is already a factor.
Planning the rest of your visit
These five beaches are a strong starting point, but they’re only one part of the Costa Smeralda. For the wider area — where to stay, how to get around and what else to see — the Costa Smeralda & Northeast hub pulls together everything published so far in this cluster. Upcoming guides will cover Porto Cervo itself, the La Maddalena Archipelago, and a full Northeast Sardinia itinerary that ties these beaches into a longer trip.