Sardinia's north-west — where granite hills meet a Blue Flag coast and time finds a slower gear.
Sun on the terrace. Vermentino in the glass. The Mediterranean on the horizon. Between vineyards and sea, the day's only real obligation is to watch it pass.
Beach Base sits 130 metres above the sea, perched on the wave-shaped hills of Gallura. From here, the Mediterranean opens out across Asinara Bay; on a clear day, Corsica is visible on the horizon.
This is the older, quieter side of Sardinia — small villages, family-run wineries, a coastline still mostly untouched by mass tourism, and a summer calendar of sagre — local food, wine and music festivals — you stumble into rather than queue for. The pace is unhurried by design: long lunches, late dinners, and the afternoon stillness that returns every day around three.
Below, you'll find our selection of favourite spots — beaches, restaurants, day trips, walks, and adventures — all easily reachable from the Beach Base apartments.
Beaches
Li Junchi has flown the Bandiera Blu — Italy's Blue Flag award for water quality and beach management — and within an hour's drive you can swim from the golden dunes of Badesi to the pink-granite coves of Costa Paradiso and the iconic turquoise shallows of La Pelosa.
Li Junchi di Badesi
The closest beach to Beach Base. Long stretch of golden sand backed by juniper dunes, every year awarded Blue Flag for water quality. Beach bars, promenade and rarely crowded outside peak August.
La Marinedda
A 15-min drive west, near Isola Rossa. White sand cove framed by pink granite cliffs; the wind picks up here in afternoons, making it a favourite spot for surfers.
Baia delle Mimose
12 min east, reached via a short footbridge through juniper dunes. Sunbeds and watersports for hire, plus the Calypso Lounge Beach Bar — a daytime hangout that turns into a champagne-and-DJ scene at sunset.
Poltu Biancu
12 min from Beach Base. A wide, quiet sandy beach with almost no crowds even in August, surrounded by natural greenery and close to Cantina Li Duni winery. Best for paddleboarding, yoga, and families who want space.
La Pelosa
About an hour west, in Stintino. One of the most photographed beaches in the Mediterranean — shallow turquoise water, fine white sand, and the iconic Aragonese tower on the headland. Booking required in summer (cap on daily visitors).
Rena Bianca
At the tip of Sardinia in Santa Teresa di Gallura, ~1h drive. White sand and clear water with views across to Corsica. Walkable from the town centre, easy to combine with lunch and a stroll.
Food & Wine
Badesi proudly holds the title of Città del Vino — and Gallura is home to Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, the only Sardinian wine with that prestigious protected designation.
Gallura Grill
The closest restaurant to Beach Base, walkable from the apartments. Sardinian grilled meats, simple wine list & cocktails, no-frills atmosphere.
Kiosko Santaluz
Beach bar on the Li Junchi stretch. Cold drinks, light bites, and the kind of place you stay longer than planned. Sunset hangout.
Cantina Li Duni
Family winery in the valley, a short drive away, with sea views over the vineyards. Daytime tastings and unique evening events that pair Vermentino with stargazing.
Emerald Beach Bar
Beach bar with pizza, cocktails, light Mediterranean menu, and a view straight onto Asinara Bay.
Gelatomania Badesi
The village coffee and gelato spot. Worth a stop in the morning and after the beach — classic Italian gelato, granita, and sorbets made on site.
Pizzeria Concept
Wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza in Badesi village. Simple menu, generous portions.
Towns & Day Trips
Castelsardo is officially listed among I Borghi più belli d'Italia — Italy's Most Beautiful Villages — and Alghero is one of the few places in the world where Catalan is still spoken as a living everyday language.
Castelsardo
20 min east. Medieval hilltop town with a castle, narrow lanes, and panoramic views over the Gulf of Asinara. Famous for handwoven baskets and seafood lunches in the harbour.
Porto Torres
40 min south-west. A working port town with Roman ruins (Basilica di San Gavino, Antiquarium Turritano) — handy as a stop on the way to Stintino (La Pelosa).
Alghero
1 hr south-west. A walled Catalan-Sardinian city by the sea — old town, sunset cocktails on the ramparts, fresh seafood, and the boat departure point for Neptune's Grottos.
Santa Teresa di Gallura
1 hr east. The northern tip of Sardinia, with views across to Corsica. Lively in summer, ferry connections to Bonifacio for a day in France.
Porto Cervo
1h 15 min east, the heart of Costa Smeralda. Designer boutiques, marina full of superyachts, and a sharp contrast to Beach Base's quieter coast — worth one day for the spectacle.
San Pantaleo
1h 10 min east. A tiny granite-built village in the hills behind Costa Smeralda, with a Thursday market, artisan shops, and some of the area's best fine dining restaurants.
Walks & Nature
Two national parks frame this coast — Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena to the east and Parco Nazionale dell'Asinara to the west — both reachable in a day, with a long stretch of protected granite headlands and river mouths in between.
Costa Paradiso
30 min drive, then a 30-min walk down to Cala di Li Cossi — a hidden cove between red granite cliffs. Bring water; no facilities at the beach.
Vignola Mare Hike
From Portobello to Vignola Mare and back along the coast. Easy gradient, dramatic granite scenery, ~3 hrs round-trip.
La Maddalena Archipelago
A boat-tour day from Palau (1 hr drive). Snorkel, swim in the famous pink-tinged sands of Budelli, and walk between coves on Caprera island.
San Pietro a Mare
15 min east. Where the Coghinas river meets the sea — flat coastal walks, river-mouth birdlife, and a calm beach for paddleboarding.
Capo Testa
1 hr east, near Santa Teresa. Granite headland sculpted by wind into surreal moon-like shapes; short walking trails connect a chain of small swimming coves.
Palau
1 hr east. The launchpad for Maddalena boat tours, with Capo d'Orso ("Bear Rock") nearby — a 30-min uphill walk to a granite outcrop carved by wind into a bear silhouette.
Sports & Adventure
Porto Pollo, an hour east, is widely regarded as the kitesurf and windsurf capital of the Mediterranean — and the former prison-island of Asinara, now a protected national park, is best explored by eBike or 4x4.
eBikes at Asinara Island
Rent eBikes or a 4x4 off-road tour to explore the former-prison-island-turned-national-park. Wild albino donkeys, empty beaches, snorkel-clear water. Boats from Stintino or ferry from Porto Torres.
Kayaks at Coghinas River
Paddle board or kayak the lower river, fish for bass and mullet, or birdwatch the lagoon mouth.
Kitesurf at Porto Pollo
1h 15 min east, near Palau. The kitesurf and windsurf capital of the Mediterranean — schools and rentals for all levels, side-by-side flat-water and wave conditions.
Surf at Isola Rossa
Consistent Atlantic-fed swells in autumn and spring; surf school + board rental in town.
Water Fun at Aqua Fantasy
Family waterpark near Isola Rossa. Slides, wave pool, and a half-day's worth of distraction for kids.
Paragliding over Valledoria
Tandem flights from the cliffs above Valledoria for sea-and-coast aerial views.