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Sardinia's La Pelosa Beach Is Sold Out Until September - How the Reservation System Works

· 2 min read Travel News
Sardinia beach Italy summer

Contents

  1. How the Reservation System Works
  2. Finding Alternatives in Sardinia
  3. Planning a Sardinia Trip This Summer

La Pelosa, the white-sand beach near Stintino in northern Sardinia, is sold out online for day access until at least 15 September 2026. Under the mandatory reservation system in place since 2020, a maximum of 1,500 visitors per day are permitted on the beach between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm. Walk-up access is not permitted during this period - visitors who arrive without a pre-booked QR code are turned away at the entrance.

The scheme was confirmed as fully subscribed for summer 2026 in fresh coverage published on 16 July.

How the Reservation System Works

  • Booking platform: Reservations open online at the start of the season; 500 slots are available at the season’s opening, with 1,000 additional slots released two days before each date
  • Fee: €3.50 per person for visitors aged 12 and over
  • Access method: Each visitor receives a QR code that is scanned at the beach entrance
  • Late-season availability: Slots from mid-September onward may still be available; check the official booking system closer to your travel dates

The same capacity model applies at a number of other protected Sardinian beaches. Cala Mariolu, Cala Brandinchi (also sold out for much of summer 2026), Cala dei Gabbiani, and several beaches in the La Maddalena Archipelago operate similar systems. Lampedusa’s Spiaggia dei Conigli in Sicily also uses a mandatory booking scheme.

Finding Alternatives in Sardinia

Visitors who cannot secure a La Pelosa slot still have access to a large number of Sardinia’s beaches without reservation requirements. The northern coast around Palau and Santa Teresa Gallura offers several comparable white-sand beaches. The Gulf of Orosei on the east coast - accessible by boat from Cala Gonone - remains among Italy’s most dramatic coastal scenery and most beaches are first-come, first-served.

Our Sardinia guide covers the island’s regions and the range of beaches available. For a breakdown of the best coastal options across the island, including those without reservation requirements, see our Sardinia beaches guide.

Planning a Sardinia Trip This Summer

Sardinia’s peak season runs from late June through late August; ferry and flight connections from the Italian mainland are at maximum frequency through this period, but also at their most expensive. If you are flexible on dates, early September often offers nearly identical beach conditions with significantly fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices.

For connections, Sardinia is served by three airports: Cagliari-Elmas (south), Olbia Costa Smeralda (north-east), and Alghero-Fertilia (north-west). Stintino and La Pelosa are closest to Alghero, approximately 50 km to the south. Getting around Italy covers ferry and air connections between the mainland and Sardinia, and what to expect for car hire once you arrive - essential on the island, as public transport between coastal destinations is limited.