When people dream of island paradises, it looks a lot like La Maddalena, Italy — an island archipelago off the northeast coast of Sardinia.
While most people come to La Maddalena for the beaches and boat trips — the main draws for Sardinia as a whole! — La Maddalena offers a nice balance of city, culture, and dining, too.
But what I loved about La Maddalena is that you can also visit museums, go on hikes, stroll through the city center, and indulge in some delicious Sardinian food.
The archipelago of La Maddalena is made up of seven main islands and many smaller islets. The main island is called La Maddalena, the national park is called La Maddalena, and the town on the main island is ALSO called La Maddalena. It can be a bit confusing, but I’ll refer to La Maddalena archipelago, island, national park, or town when necessary.
While you could park yourself in La Maddalena town and eat Sardinian snacks to your heart’s content, the real treasures come when you go exploring. The two largest islands, La Maddalena and Caprera, are linked by a causeway and best explored by car.
For the harder-to-reach islands, jump on a boat tour! There are plenty of boat tours in La Maddalena, taking you to some of the prettiest parts of the archipelago.
Between the beaches, the charm, and the easy 45-minute drive from the hub of Olbia to the ferry port in Palau, La Maddalena is the perfect place to start a Sardinian road trip. I loved my time here.
Things to Do in La Maddalena, Italy
Go on a boat tour
If there’s any one thing you should do in La Maddalena, it’s taking a boat tour! We did this on our first day and it started our visit off so well.
There are many different boat tours available here, with a variety of itineraries, price points, and inclusions. Take your time looking through them to find the best option for you.
On this Day on a boat in the archipelago of La Maddalena tour, you’ll sail through the archipelago on a motorboat exploring the islands and coves of Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, Santa Maria, and Caprera. Because this is a private tour just for your group, you also have the option to explore the nearby islands of southern Corsica. And a local lunch is included!
try this Catamaran tour of Archipelago Maddalena. Alongside your skipper and fellow passengers, you’ll decide on an itinerary that includes lots of time for swimming, snorkeling, learning local history, and taking in the views. Your catamaran tour also includes a Sardinian appetizer and lunch.
Or check out Boat trips on the La Maddalena Archipelago, which is a slightly shorter adventure than the ones above and does not include lunch. However, you’ll still learn all about the islands, swim at beaches on Budelli, Spargi and Santa Maria, plus stop for photo ops at Cala Corsara cove and Spiaggia Rosa (the famous pink sand beach on Budelli Island).
Relax on the beaches
After getting a taste for the different beaches and coves around La Maddalena on your boat tour, you’ll definitely want to dedicate a few hours (or a full day!) of your itinerary to beach hopping.
Spiaggia di Cala Corsara is one of the most beautiful beaches not only in the La Maddalena archipelago, but in all of Italy. It’s known for its soft sand, endlessly changing blue waters, and the massive granite rock formations that make up its coastline. Some say it used to be a pirate lair, thanks to all of the coves and hide-out spots available. This beach is located on Spargi Island and accessible only by boat.
On Santa Maria, you’ll find the island’s main beach, Grande Cala di Santa Maria, or Spiaggia di Santa Maria. The water here is bright blue, the sand is silky and the entire beach is framed in luscious vegetation. Elsewhere on Santa Maria you’ll find protected beaches, schist rock formations, and the former site of a Benedictine monastery.
Spiaggia Testa del Polpo is known for its rocky outcrops, stunning green and blue waters, and excellent snorkeling spots. Though be warned — this beach can get very crowded during La Maddalena’s busy summer tourist season. It’s also a bit difficult to get to. While you can drive, many people will park their cars and walk the last 10-15 minutes to the beach, as the road becomes too treacherous.
