La Maddalena, SS, Italia

Day trip Maddalena Island

La Maddalena and Caprera Islands are two absolutely stunning and wilder islands in the north of Sardinia!

There are some of the most scenic beaches I ever seen and the most beautiful crystal and emerald waters.

Take a look on my new itinerary for a day trip around the islands, save the beach spot where you can go and chill like a proper Italian :)

Download the Thatch app on your phone so to best use this interactive guide :)

Well, one thing I have learnt... do not buy the tickets online, that's for sure. If you see the fees that they have, they are an absolute scam (70€ return for 15 minutes ferry ride). 

Hear me out! Go to Palau where you can take the ferry to go to the island and buy the tickets directly at the info point. I paid 22€ for 2 persons and 1 car. Which is a lot cheaper than the one online isn't it?

First of all.. you have to land in Sardinia, Italy's "Happy Island".

The closest airport would be Olbia, which is about 40 minutes to the Palau port where then you can catch a ferry to the island.

The ferries are every 20/30 minutes to and from the island, especially in high season, while on low season (winter time) they are every hour.

Ferry tickets info point 

Click here to the direct link on the map.

The ride is about 20 minutes long where you can go up in the deck and overlook Maddalena city and the archipelago.

La Maddalena island lands between Sardinia and Corsica island. It is an archipelago and it scatter of seven large islands and 55 isolotti (tiny islands) and they have some of the most spectacular beaches in Italy, and some of the cleanest and clearest water.

The archipelago has been well-known to the Costa Smeralda yacht set for a while, who sail out to the heavenly turquoise lagoons, however, on this guide I am giving you tips on going around the island by car.

That's the roadtrip I personally did, click the link below and follow the roads... it will lead you to some amazing spots you won't regret!

Maddalena Island Roadtrip

Going on you will need to stop at the panoramic point, where there is the first sight from the archipelago from above, you can clearly see all the calette with people on the beach and the hundreds of boats going around the archipelago. 

Being living here is Sardinia for 3 years and still impresses me the amount of yachts and boats there are here during summer.

And the, head to what is my favorite discovery of the island: Spiaggia Bassa Trinità.

Here below some picture that I have taken:

The island can be easily be driven all around is less than a day, if you stop and stay on the different spots, take pictures or just chill there to take it all in you will have the most amazing day.

Between one spot to another there are about 5 to maximum 10 minutes drive.

After landing at Maddalena port you can drive up to the first scenic spot Spiaggia di Punta Tegge.

Another stop along the way is Spiaggia di Cala Spalmatore.

For the last stop, it is a bit of a longer ride. 

Located on the north west coast of La Maddalena island, this renowned beach is along the coastal road and is one of the few indicated on road signs.White sand and rocks are backed by dunes that rise up to meet the hills behind. Sheltered from easterly winds, the seabed is of fine, white sand. The three coves here are connected.Fear not the Mistral wind here: Bassa Trinità beach is beautiful when the north-westerly breeze creates high, clear waves.

Last but not least: Spiaggia Testa del Polpo! 

 “Octopus head” or Testa di Polpo beach is home to an enormous natural boulder resembling the aforementioned mollusc.

Located in front of Caprera on the peninsula of Giardinelli, the sand here is very fine, the water shallow and incredibly azure, so much so that the little bay appears to be a natural pool.

I would say about 20 minutes. Just a note: be careful on the last 5 minutes of the road since it is not smooth. If you rented a car, just leave it on the main parking space at the beginning, just after the small bridge at Località Giardinelli. If you park there, then you have a very scenic walk, about 10 minutes, which ends up in paradise.

There you have small places where to lay down and be mesmerized by the shades of blue.

he best time to visit Maddalena Island would be from May to October, when the weather gets warm and mild.

I would recommend to go by boat on the hottest months, peak season in Sardinia is from June till early September, and the beaches will be crowded so if you rent a boat you could still go around the archipelago and the best island of La Maddalena and see them without being stuck on a beach with little to no space

Day trip Maddalena Island

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