What are the best alternatives to the Costa Smeralda? 5 lesser-known destinations in Sardinia
Navigate the article:
- Portobello di Gallura: Unassuming Luxury on the Gallura Coast
- San Teodoro: Sardinia's "Little Tahiti" on the eastern coast
- Golfo di Orosei: Italy's most unspoilt sea
- Stintino: La Pelosa and the still-authentic north-west coast
- Villasimius: the south that competes with the north for sea quality
The Costa Smeralda is one of the most iconic beach destinations in the Mediterranean, and will remain so for a long time. But those who know it well are aware that August in Porto Cervo is an experience that requires tolerance for crowds, patience in traffic and a budget significantly higher than the rest of the island. The question that the most experienced travellers ask themselves is not whether Sardinia is worth a visit, but where to go in Sardinia to find the same quality of sea, the same exclusivity of accommodation with only a fraction of the crowds.
There is an answer, and it is beautifully multifaceted. Sardinia is an island with nearly 2,000 km of coastline, and the Costa Smeralda occupies only a limited portion of it. What lies beyond, in many cases, is equally beautiful, less crowded and still accessible to those who know where to look. This guide selects five destinations worth considering, with a precise eye on those also seeking a prestigious private villa as their personal retreat.
Portobello di Gallura: Unassuming Luxury on the Gallura Coast
Portobello di Gallura is, in many ways, what the Costa Smeralda was before it became famous. A peninsula in the north-east of Sardinia, in the Gallura, with 3 km of practically private coastline, white sand coves reachable only by boat or on foot through Mediterranean scrub trails, and a level of privacy that Porto Cervo can no longer guarantee in high season.
There are no luxury boutiques, no marina with superyachts, far from the usual evening crowds of a town square. There is the sea, where the water shifts effortlessly from shimmering turquoise to deep emerald even when the wind drops, and there is a quiet that high-end travellers are seeking with increasing urgency.
In areas like this, average water temperatures reach their peak between August and September, around 24-25°C, making it an ideal destination for those who want to extend the season beyond Ferragosto.
Raro Villas has in Portobello di Gallura some of its most exclusive properties. Villa Vega is an exceptional property with two independent villas for 20 guests, 24/7 security, pool and exclusive access to 3 km of coastline with white sand coves, plus on-request services (private chef, catamaran, transfers, luxury car hire). Villa Luce offers 7 bedrooms with a light-bulb-shaped pool and breathtaking sea views, bookable as two independent villas for extended families or groups of friends.
Read also: Puglia or Sardinia? How to choose the right destination for your exclusive villa holiday
San Teodoro: Sardinia's "Little Tahiti" on the eastern coast
South of the Costa Smeralda, along the eastern coast, San Teodoro has in recent years become one of the most sought-after destinations for travellers who want a different kind of compromise: less ostentatious glamour than Porto Cervo, but beaches that compete with any Mediterranean destination for water quality and landscape beauty.
Cala Brandinchi, nicknamed "Little Tahiti" for the colours of the sea, is one of the most transparent-watered beaches on the entire island. San Teodoro also offers fashionable venues and nightlife, making it one of the Sardinian destinations best suited to those who want to combine sea quality with a quality evening entertainment offer. Behind Spiaggia La Cinta, the serene lagoon is home to pink flamingos—a sight that turns an ordinary beach day into something extraordinary.
San Teodoro is about 45 minutes from Olbia-Costa Smeralda airport, a direct connection that makes it easily accessible without crossing the entire Gallura. Those seeking a private villa in the area can explore the Raro Villas selection among properties in northern Sardinia, which include structures reachable from Olbia in under an hour.
Golfo di Orosei: Italy's most unspoilt sea
The Golfo di Orosei is perhaps the definitive alternative to the Costa Smeralda. While not necessarily quieter in peak summer, it offers an untamed, wilderness-first experience that Porto Cervo simply cannot match. The coves of the Gulf, from Cala Goloritzé to Cala Luna, from Cala Sisine to Cala Biriola, are accessible only by boat or through demanding trekking trails. No roads reach them. No kiosks, no hired sunbeds.
Cala Goloritzé, on the eastern coast of Sardinia, is celebrated for its wild and unspoilt beauty and was declared a Natural Monument in 1995. In 2025 it was named the most beautiful beach in the world by one of the leading international rankings. The limestone spire of L'Aguglia, 143 metres high, dominates the cove with a scenic presence that photographs never fully capture.Chilled by subterranean springs, the water here is cooler than in neighboring coves and boasts an almost surreal turquoise hue.
The ideal base for exploring the Gulf is Cala Gonone or Orosei, both reachable by car from the inland. From here, boat excursions are organised that allow visitors to reach multiple coves in the same day. For those who want to combine this experience with a stay in a prestigious villa, Raro Villas properties in northern and central Sardinia are the starting point from which to build your itinerary with the team's support.
Stintino: La Pelosa and the still-authentic north-west coast
Stintino lies in the north-west of Sardinia, on the Capo del Falcone peninsula, about an hour and a half from Olbia but reachable in similar times from Alghero-Fertilia airport. It is one of the island's most iconic destinations for the absolute quality of its sea, with Spiaggia La Pelosa considered among the most beautiful beaches in Europe: very pale sand, shallow turquoise water and the Aragonese Tower emerging from the water just metres from the shore.
Access to La Pelosa is limited and requires online booking, introduced to protect a delicate environmental balance, and this is in fact an advantage for those who choose it: the limited numbers guarantee that the beach never reaches the August overcrowding levels that until a few years ago made it practically inaccessible during the central hours of the day.
The Stintino area has different characteristics from north-eastern Sardinia: the terrain is flatter, the Mediterranean scrub changes character, and the tuna fishing tradition has left traces in the local culture still found in the town's trattorias. It is a less fashionable and more authentic Sardinia, well suited to a private villa stay away from the Costa Smeralda's social media circuit.
Villasimius: the south that competes with the north for sea quality
Villasimius is at the far south-east of Sardinia, within the Marine Protected Area of Capo Carbonara, and represents perhaps the greatest surprise for those yet to discover it: a sea that for transparency and colour owes nothing to the Costa Smeralda, with beaches like Punta Molentis and Porto Giunco regularly appearing in international rankings among the finest in Europe.
Villasimius is renowned for its turquoise waters and white sand beaches, and the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area offers rich marine biodiversity ideal for snorkelling and diving. The protected area limits some activities but guarantees water quality and marine wildlife presence that are simply not found in other stretches of Sardinian coast.
The logistical advantage of Villasimius is its proximity to Cagliari airport (about 45 minutes), which offers many more international connections than Olbia, especially outside the peak season. Villa Rei, available in the Muravera area just 16 km from Villasimius, is the Raro Villas proposal for those who want to stay in this part of the island with the privacy of a private residence.
To explore the full selection of Raro Villas properties in Sardinia, from the exclusive Portobello di Gallura residences to the southern coast properties, the team is available via the contact page for a personalised proposal based on destination, dates and group profile.