Poetto Beach Cagliari

Poetto Beach is not one of those stunning beaches miles from anywhere. Instead, this gorgeous stretch of golden sand is right on the doorstep of Sardinia's greatest city

Poetto Beach by Cloe Frost-Smith via Unsplash

Poetto Beach, located in Cagliari, may not be as famous as the stunning Cala Luna or the picturesque Costa Smeralda beaches, but it is undoubtedly a lovely and enormous beach. Spanning approximately eight kilometers (five miles) long, Poetto Beach is known for its ample space and unspoiled beauty. What sets it apart from other beaches is its proximity to the city of Cagliari, which itself is a hidden gem of Italy.

Cagliari is a charming city that is often underrated or simply unknown. I personally love spending a morning shopping and sightseeing in a bustling city and then relaxing away the afternoon on a beach that feels a million miles from city life, more tropical island than city beach. It is a perfect combination that only a few cities can offer. 

Of course, can you ever really have enough beach time? Probably not. But once you're ready to tear yourself away, the city is waiting—take a step back in time and check out some amazing historical spots, like the old hilltop castle of Castello, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the National Archaeological Museum. And if you love nature, Cagliari's botanical garden is a real treat.

Younger than me and in your teens, twenties, or thirties? You will love Cagliari's Marina district, which has a beautiful promenade and is famous for its nightlife, with loads of bars, restaurants, and clubs.

One of the best things about Poetto Beach is that it is right in the city, so you can easily visit it without having to travel too far.

Since Poetto Beach is so long, you will seldom find it very crowded, except for the peak summer months of August and on weekends. However, if you find the beach too crowded, try heading up to the northern end, which is usually a little less busy. My preferred time to visit is in June when the weather is delightful, and there are very few people around.

Poetto Beach is also famous for its nearby restaurants and bars that offer loads of entertainment and activities that seem to never stop in summer. My dancing days are over, but my daughters tell me that there are plenty of opportunities to dance the night away.

While there are lots of nice places to stay near the beach, I found that most of the hotels near Poetto are poor in quality. Therefore, my preferred option is to stay at the Caesar's Hotel, which is located in the city, and the beaches are easily accessible from here. Interestingly, most of the hotels in Cagliari seem to be far worse than most other cities in Italy, but the Caesar Hotel offers excellent value for the money and is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to hotels in Cagliari.

Joan from England

Andrew's Reply:

Poetto Beach in Cagliari is a great beach, and few cities anywhere have better beaches right on their doorstep. It's unfortunate that most tourists seem to go to the towns of the north, and few visit Cagliari. On second thought, maybe that isn't a bad thing in that Cagliari hasn't been changed at all by tourism, meaning that you and the few others who've discovered it get to enjoy a lovely city all to yourselves.  By the way, Cagliari is also lovely to visit in winter

I agree too about hotels in Cagliari; however, I am not a fan of the Caesar's Hotel. Personally, I prefer a good value B&B in Cagliari, and my pick would be the Sa Domu Cheta.

P.S. Need somewhere special to stay in Sardinia? Try these hotels?