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When individuals dream of island paradises, it seems so much like La Maddalena, Italy — an island archipelago off the northeast coast of Sardinia.
Whereas most individuals come to La Maddalena for the seashores and boat journeys — the principle attracts for Sardinia as a complete! — La Maddalena provides a pleasant steadiness of metropolis, tradition, and eating, too.
Right here you’ll be able to get pleasure from stunning seashores and discover the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena and its many protected islands.
However what I liked about La Maddalena is you can additionally go to museums, go on hikes, stroll via town heart, and bask in some scrumptious Sardinian meals.
The archipelago of La Maddalena is made up of seven predominant islands and lots of smaller islets. The principle island known as La Maddalena, the nationwide park known as La Maddalena, and the city on the principle island is ALSO referred to as La Maddalena. It may be a bit complicated, however I’ll discuss with La Maddalena archipelago, island, nationwide park, or city when needed.
Whilst you may park your self in La Maddalena city and eat Sardinian snacks to your coronary heart’s content material, the actual treasures come whenever you go exploring. The 2 largest islands, La Maddalena and Caprera, are linked by a causeway and greatest explored by automotive.
For the harder-to-reach islands, bounce on a ship tour! There are many boat excursions in La Maddalena, taking you to among the prettiest elements of the archipelago.
Between the seashores, the attraction, and the simple 45-minute drive from the hub of Olbia to the ferry port in Palau, La Maddalena is the right place to start out a Sardinian highway journey. I liked my time right here.
Listed below are the very best issues to do in La Maddalena, Italy!
This publish was revealed in April 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.
Issues to Do in La Maddalena, Italy
Go on a ship tour
If there’s anybody factor you must do in La Maddalena, it’s taking a ship tour! We did this on our first day and it began our go to off so nicely.
There are a lot of completely different boat excursions accessible right here, with quite a lot of itineraries, worth factors, and inclusions. Take your time trying via them to search out the best choice for you.
On this Day on a ship within the archipelago of La Maddalena tour, you’ll sail via the archipelago on a motorboat exploring the islands and coves of Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, Santa Maria, and Caprera. As a result of this can be a personal tour simply to your group, you even have the choice to discover the close by islands of southern Corsica. And a neighborhood lunch is included!
As an alternative of a motorboat, you could possibly do that Catamaran tour of Archipelago Maddalena. Alongside your skipper and fellow passengers, you’ll determine on an itinerary that features plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, studying native historical past, and taking within the views. Your catamaran tour additionally features a Sardinian appetizer and lunch.
Or try Boat journeys on the La Maddalena Archipelago, which is a barely shorter journey than those above and doesn’t embrace lunch. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless be taught all in regards to the islands, swim at seashores on Budelli, Spargi and Santa Maria, plus cease for picture ops at Cala Corsara cove and Spiaggia Rosa (the well-known pink sand seashore on Budelli Island).
Loosen up on the seashores
After getting a style for the completely different seashores and coves round La Maddalena in your boat tour, you’ll positively need to dedicate a number of hours (or a full day!) of your itinerary to seashore hopping.
Spiaggia di Cala Corsara is among the most stunning seashores not solely within the La Maddalena archipelago, however in all of Italy. It’s recognized for its gentle sand, endlessly altering blue waters, and the large granite rock formations that make up its shoreline. Some say it was a pirate lair, due to all the coves and hide-out spots accessible. This seashore is situated on Spargi Island and accessible solely by boat.
On Santa Maria, you’ll discover the island’s predominant seashore, Grande Cala di Santa Maria, or Spiaggia di Santa Maria. The water right here is vivid blue, the sand is silky and the whole seashore is framed in luscious vegetation. Elsewhere on Santa Maria you’ll discover protected seashores, schist rock formations, and the previous web site of a Benedictine monastery.
Spiaggia Testa del Polpo is thought for its rocky outcrops, beautiful inexperienced and blue waters, and glorious snorkeling spots. Although be warned — this seashore can get very crowded throughout La Maddalena’s busy summer season vacationer season. It’s additionally a bit troublesome to get to. Whilst you can drive, many individuals will park their automobiles and stroll the final 10-Quarter-hour to the seashore, because the highway turns into too treacherous.
Whereas Spiaggia Rosa is among the most well-known seashores within the Maddalena archipelago, due to its pink sand, it really isn’t open to the general public. Years of poor conduct by guests — together with individuals stealing the sand — led authorities to shut the seashore. It’s now a protected space and you may solely view it from a ship or on cliffs excessive above.
Discover La Maddalena city
La Maddalena is the identify of the archipelago, the identify of the principle island inside that archipelago, and the identify of the principle city on that predominant island. Confused? I used to be a bit, at first! However whereas on the island, I like to recommend spending a while exploring the middle of La Maddalena city.
The focus of the city is Piazza Umberto I, a pedestrian space excellent for having fun with a snack and people-watching. Off of this sq. you’ll discover cobblestone streets lined with eating places, retailers and cafes.
From the piazza you’ll be able to stroll all the way down to the harbor the place you’ll be able to watch the boats are available in, soak up views of the shoreline, or get pleasure from some contemporary seafood.
You may also go to the Parrocchia Santa Maria Maddalena church, see the Garibaldi Column and take a look at a neighborhood seashore, Spiaggia di Punta Tegge, all whereas in La Maddalena city.
Strive Sardinian delicacies
You assume you understand Italian meals? Welcome to Sardinia — the place all the pieces goes out the window. If each micro-region of Italy has its personal signature specialties, all contemporary and scrumptious you’ll be able to think about it will get a bit bizarre on an island removed from the mainland!
La Maddalena was my first cease in Sardinia, and the primary place the place I attempted Sardinian specialties. I like to recommend beginning with two signature Sardinian pastas: culurgiones (crammed pasta that is sort of a cross between ravioli and stuffed shells, typically full of potatoes, pecorino, and mint), and fregola (a small, spherical, toasted pasta with textured little dots on it that may be ready in some ways).
Seafood, as you’d guess, is big in Sardinia. Ask for what’s contemporary and scrumptious and also you’ll be shocked at how good a merely ready piece of fish is right here.
Considered one of my favourite methods to pattern the native delicacies in Italy is to exit for aperitivo and get a tagliere (a plate of meats and cheeses) and a few native wine. Right here in Sardinia there might be loads of pecorino on a tagliere!
One other factor that shocked me in La Maddalena is that there have been so many Ligurian eating places, with plenty of pesto and focaccia. It seems that Sardinia and Liguria have shared robust cultural ties for hundreds of years. Who knew?!
Listed below are a number of eating places in La Maddalena city that I loved:
- Ristorante Caprera: Every little thing at this restaurant is scrumptious, particularly their Sardinian pastas, culurgiones and fregola. If you wish to strive a little bit of all the pieces, they’ve a four-course set menu of Sardinian specialties.
- Vineria Ninì: This wine bar is a superb spot to strive the Sardinian model of tagliere, they usually have a sturdy collection of Sardinian wines. They’ve stay music some nights.
- Taverna Barò: In case you’re within the temper for cocktails or craft beer, focaccia, appetizers, and an exquisite view of the harbor, this informal pub is a superb choose.
Go to the Garibaldi Museum and Home
Situated on Caprera Island, and accessible by bridge when you have a automotive, is the Garibaldi Museum. If, like me, you didn’t develop up in Italy, you might not know a lot about Giuseppe Garibaldi.
A nineteenth Century Italian basic, Garibaldi contributed tremendously to the unification of Italy and is called one of many “fathers of the fatherland.” He retired to Caprera within the mid 1850’s and spent the final virtually 30 years of his life there. Now, his former house is Sardinia’s most well-known museum.
Exploring the museum advanced is an effective way to study this slice of Italian historical past and one in every of its most vital characters. The Garibaldi Compendium consists of his residence (often called the White Home), farm buildings, gardens, and the household cemetery.
In case you have a wet day whilst you’re in Sardinia — like I did — this can be a good place to go to.
Hike the Caprera Island Trails
Moreover the Garibaldi Museum, Caprera Island can also be an important place to get in some mountaineering!
Cala Coticcio is among the most stunning seashores on Caprera, typically referred to as the Tahiti of Sardinia due to its clear waters. The one approach to attain Cala Coticcio is through hike. You may be part of this guided hike with aperitivo, led by a licensed information from La Maddalena Archipelago Nationwide Park.
Along with your information, you’ll hike over the rocky terrain, taking within the unbelievable coastal views, till you attain the seashore. As soon as at Cala Coticcio, you’ll spend a while swimming, snorkeling, and eating on Sardinian snacks and drinks.
Notice that as a result of Cala Coticcio is a protected a part of the nationwide park, it’s only accessible with a licensed information and by paying the nationwide park entrance payment (included within the tour above). Day by day spots on the path are restricted in an effort to protect the pure panorama.
One other mountaineering possibility on Caprera is the hike as much as Monte Tejalone, the very best level on the island. This hike is steep, however not too lengthy, and beautiful views over the archipelago await you on the high. Or strive the hike from the Garibaldi Museum to Cala Garibaldi, the seashore the place Garibaldi moored his boats, alongside the island’s east coast. From there, you’ll be able to proceed onto different Caprera seashores.
Go to La Maddalena’s army fortifications
Due to its strategic positioning for protection alongside the coast, plenty of army fortifications had been constructed round La Maddalena all through the 18th and nineteenth centuries. Not solely are these forts fascinating to go to from a historic perspective, however a lot of them supply nice views over the island and archipelago.
Probably the most well-known fort on La Maddalena is Fort San Vittorio, or Guardia Vecchia, because it’s seen from anyplace on the island and has a definite black and white checkered sample. Some of the vital websites was Punta Tegge, as this artillery base was hidden from the ocean, excellent for startling any enemies. Different fortifications embrace I Colmi, Forte Santa Teresa, Forte Sant’Andrea, and Forte Carlo Felice.
Notice that not all of those fortifications are open to the general public and a few have restricted opening hours.
How A lot Time to Spend in La Maddalena, Italy
In case you’re going to take the time to come back all the best way to La Maddalena, I feel you must spend a number of days right here. Three days in La Maddalena could be excellent, supplying you with sufficient time for a ship journey and a little bit of island exploring earlier than trying out a brand new a part of Sardinia.
Since La Maddalena is comparatively small and solely among the islands within the archipelago are accessible, you might get bored in case you attempt to spend every week or extra right here. Until all you need to do is chill out on the seashore for every week, you then’re all set!
And I do assume that having a automotive right here will add to your enjoyment of the islands. The additional you discover, the higher (and fewer crowded!) it will get.
How To Get To La Maddalena, Italy
One of the simplest ways to get to La Maddalena is to fly into town of Olbia on Sardinia, which has a world airport, after which drive or bus to the Palau ferry terminal (about one hour away). The ferry from Palau to the Cala Gavetta marina on La Maddalena takes about Quarter-hour. You may examine costs for the ferry right here.
An alternative choice is to take a ferry to Olbia. Once I visited Sardinia, I used to be coming from Liguria, so I made a decision to take an in a single day ferry from Genoa to Olbia. The ferry expertise was terrific! Our room was easy however snug, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it once more if I used to be going to Sardinia from mainland Italy. Tickets for that route may be booked right here.
Whereas there are a number of bus traces on La Maddalena, Sardinia typically will not be the simplest place to navigate by public transit. I extremely suggest renting a automotive, which you’ll choose up in Olbia and drive onto the ferry in Palau.
As soon as on La Maddalena island, driving is simple and there are many locations to park, together with parking tons in La Maddalena city. You’ll be capable of attain among the different islands by bridge.
The place to Keep in La Maddalena, Italy
Because the huge draw of La Maddalena is the water, you might need to prioritize a location close to the seashore or within the metropolis. Relying on how far you need to discover, you also needs to examine that your lodge provides free parking or is inside strolling distance of what you need to see and do.
- Prime Luxurious Lodge in La Maddalena: The Grand Lodge Resort & SPA Ma&Ma is an adults solely resort that includes a beautiful out of doors pool and themed decor on each ground. Each room has a balcony, excellent for having fun with views of the archipelago.
- Prime Mid Vary Lodge in La Maddalena: Residenza Mordini is a heat and welcoming lodge in an important central location on the island. It has an outside pool, backyard and shared lounge.
- Prime Funds Lodge in La Maddalena: Casa Ilva is a clear and comfy possibility with bigger apartment-style rooms and inside strolling distance of the seashore, although there’s no pool or water views.
Discover offers on locations to remain in La Maddalena right here.
Finest Time to Go to La Maddalena, Italy
Being a seashore vacation spot, summer season is the busiest time to go to La Maddalena and all of Sardinia. Each crowds and costs might be at their peak in July and August. Count on sold-out excursions and packed seashores.
In case you nonetheless need to get pleasure from heat climate however with barely smaller crowds, shoot for the shoulder season simply earlier than and after summer season. Early June or late September could be my suggestion for when to go to La Maddalena with fewer crowds.
As for the low season, as a result of La Maddalena is a smaller space that primarily caters to beach-going vacationers, most locations might be closed in case you go to within the winter. In case you had been coming to Sardinia within the winter, I’d prioritize staying in a metropolis that has extra occurring year-round, like Alghero or Cagliari.
Is La Maddalena Price It?
Sure, La Maddalena is price it! This was my introduction to Sardinia, and it had me falling in love with the seashores and the meals so rapidly!
A number of days right here is a superb approach to spend a part of your time in Sardinia. I hope you might have a beautiful time right here!
Extra on Sardinia:
Planning a Journey to Italy:
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Have you ever been to La Maddalena? Share your suggestions!