At Porto Giunco, a narrow ribbon of pale sand separates the open sea from a calm lagoon where flamingos occasionally wander through. The beach club lines the shore with parasols and an easy-going restaurant serving seafood and cold drinks, making it an ideal spot to pause between swims in the clear, shallow water.

Set directly on the pale sands of Costa Rei, La Villa del Re occupies a former seaside residence turned elegant adults-only retreat, complete with its own private stretch of beach. Surrounded by gardens scented with myrtle and rosemary, its sea-facing rooms open onto one of southern Sardinia’s most pristine shores.

At the recently reimagined Marinella, large glass windows open onto the sea, while the terrace has views of the Gulf of Angels and the distant Sella del Diavolo. Inside, the café pairs classic pastries with ginseng or pistachio cappuccinos, while upstairs the terrace restaurant and pizzeria serve seaside plates. Our tip? Try the spaghetti with red lobster or the pizza finished with mullet bottarga.

Cagliari’s beloved beach stretches for eight kilometres along the southern edge of town, a long sweep of pale sand backed by lidos and pastel kiosks. From early morning swims to sunset aperitivo, Poetto is where the pulse of local life is found.