DIANA BANCALE
Founder and author, travel blogger since 2014.
What to see on La Maddalena Island, the main island of the eponymous archipelago located in the north of Sardinia.
Keep reading if you want to know why you should visit this place and what to see on La Maddalena Island.
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Where is La Maddalena Island in Sardinia
La Maddalena Island gives its name to the whole archipelago. We are in the northeast of Sardinia, off the coast of Gallura.
To the north there are the “Bocche di Bonifacio”, marking the limit of Italian-French waters and beyond which there is the beautiful Corsica.
There are seven main islands in the archipelago: La Maddalena, Caprera, S. Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria. Out of these, La Maddalena and Santa Maria are the only ones inhabited.
In addition to these islands, there are several islets and rocks. The entire archipelago is part of the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, an uncontaminated marine and terrestrial protected area of great natural beauty and with some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.
La Maddalena, as I said, is the largest island and has the largest population (about 13,000 which increase greatly in the summer), with an area of 20 square kilometers and about 45 km of coasts.
The island of Caprera, also famous because Giuseppe Garibaldi lived here for more than 20 years, is connected to La Maddalena by the Moneta bridge which can be traveled by car, bike or even on foot in a few minutes.
The historic town of La Maddalena, founded in 1770, where the port is located, was a former base of the Italian and American naval military and is also one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Read also:
>>> Top 20 restaurants where to eat in La Maddalena island
>>> The best boat tours in the archipelago of La Maddalena (Sardinia) – 2024
How to get to La Maddalena Island
Ferries from Palau to La Maddalena La Maddalena Island can be reached in about 15 minutes by ferry from the city of Palau.
The ferries are frequent and operate all day; they can transport both passengers and vehicles. Domestic animals are accepted on board.
You can buy tickets at the Palau and La Maddalena ferry ticket offices located at the ferry landing. A round-trip ticket for non-residents costs about 10 euros.
From the airport and port of Olbia to Palau
The nearest airport to reach La Maddalena is Olbia airport. Once you have landed in Olbia, you can rent a car here or take the bus at the airport exit that will take you to Palau in about 50 minutes. The ticket costs 3.10€.
Alternatively, you can reach Olbia by ferry from Genoa, Livorno, Piombino and Civitavecchia. In that case, you can choose to embark directly with your car.
Read also: Cala Coticcio Beach on Caprera island
Where to stay in La Maddalena Island
In the historic center of La Maddalena, Casa Ilva offers family rooms with kitchenettes and the possibility of boat trips. Casa Ilva accommodations are equipped with a living area, kitchenette, closet, flat-screen TV, and private bathroom.
750 meters from Cala Francese beach and 1 km from Carla Carlotto beach, Villa La Forgia offers air-conditioned accommodations with free WiFi and a seasonal outdoor pool. The villa features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dining area, fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with pool view.
Located just 200 meters from the Punta Tegge beach, the Hotel Villa Del Parco boasts rooms and suites in a rustic style. The Villa Del Parco organizes boat trips to Corsica and around La Maddalena, and provides a shuttle service to the beach and to Olbia Airport or Port.
Moving around La Maddalena
By car or scooter
Having your own car or scooter is certainly the most convenient solution for moving around La Maddalena and discovering its wonders.
The roads are good, but keep in mind that to see some of the most beautiful beaches there can be some tricky roads.
You can also choose to rent a car or scooter at the Olbia airport or even directly on the spot. The scooter is perhaps more convenient for avoiding traffic during peak hours or on August days where there are many tourists, and for parking.
How to travel around La Maddalena without a car?
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On the island there are two bus lines that connect the town with other areas of the island. I must say that the service is quite well organized, the buses are punctual and go to many of the main points of the island.
The ticket costs 1.50 euros if bought on board or 1 euro at the tobacco shop. The only downside is that the last buses run around 8pm, so if you want to go out for dinner, you can’t count on the bus for the return journey and in that case you will have to take a taxi.
By electric bike or mountain bike
In this first month in La Maddalena I have seen many tourists and locals traveling with electric bikes.
This type of vehicle is very useful especially when it comes to steep climbs under the sun.
What to see in La Maddalena
What to see and do in La Maddalena?
Here are some of the things you can’t miss during your holiday on the Maddalena island.
Historic center
As soon as you disembark from the ferry from Palau, you just need to cross the road to immerse yourself in the charming streets of the historic center of Maddalena. Through alleys and staircases, continue to the lively Piazza Garibaldi, where on a bench is the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a key figure for the archipelago and, of course, for all Italians.
The streets of the center are all a series of shops, bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, workshops, flowery alleys, and beautiful 18th-century buildings.
Visit the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena and then walk along the lively via XX Settembre until you reach the large Piazza Umberto I.
In the summer, events and concerts are organized in the outdoor stage. From there, continue along the seafront to the Cala Gavetta harbor, particularly picturesque, and where there is a column with the image of Garibaldi once again.
To eat in the historic center of La Maddalena you will have a lot of choice, since the town is packed with nice typical restaurants.
The Beaches of La Maddalena
One of the attractions for which La Maddalena is famous is undoubtedly its wonderful beaches, many of which are unspoiled and wild, attracting many tourists from all over the world every summer.
Most of the beaches in La Maddalena are free. To access some of them, you will have to walk a bit on paths in nature or alternatively you can reach the beaches by sea with a boat.
Capocchia du purpu beach
In the local language “capocchia d’u purpu” means “octopus’ head” and the name was given after the big rock that somehow looks a bit alike a octopus head.
It is one of the most beautiful beach on the island, both for its crystal-clear water and for the pink granite rocks that surround it.
As it is not a very large beach, it can be quite crowded in the summer; so, it’s best to start early in the morning to find a place.
To reach the beach, you will have to walk a few minutes on a path from the parking lot to the beach. The bus does not go here, so I suggest that if you don’t have a vehicle, you use a bike or a taxi. The nearest bus stop is Ricciolina.
Punta Tegge beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in La Maddalena for me. Access is easy and there is a bus stop right in front of the beach.
There are several coves with sand or you can choose to stay on the rocks. It feels like being in a beautiful pool: calm and protected water and an incredibly impressive shade of blue.
To eat right next to the beach, there is the Zì Antò restaurant.
Cala Spalmatore beach
Another beautiful beach that you can reach by bus is Cala Spalmatore. White sand and shallow water that gradually slopes, making it particularly suitable for families with children.
The beach is also very suitable for snorkeling because it is rich in fish. There are two areas, one of which is also equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas.
If you want to have a sandwich, salad, or pasta dish, there is a sea view bar.
Bassa Trinita Beach
Another of the most beautiful beaches in La Maddalena is Bassa Trinita. Caribbean waters and a beautiful background of sand dunes and granite rocks, make it a truly special place.
You can also reach the beach by bus and then walk from the stop about 400 meters. In the same area and getting off at the same stop, you can then reach the beaches of Lo strangolato and Il morto on foot.
Carlotto Beach
I arrived at this beach by taking the bus to the Punta d’aquila stop. From there, you walk about ten minutes along a dirt road that leads to this small portion of beach sheltered from the wind and with a beautiful calm and crystal-clear sea.
On the nearby promontory, where the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Pescatori is located, you can enjoy a truly beautiful view of the Spargi Island. Near the beach there is a bar-restaurant where you can eat something.
Boat trips from La Maddalena
La Maddalena is the ideal starting point for discovering the other islands of the park: Budelli with the famous Pink Beach, Razzoli, Santa Maria, and Spargi.
The boat tours usually last from morning to late afternoon and allow you to take a break in beautiful beaches such as Cala Corsara in Spargi, see the pink beach of Budelli from the boat (it is protected, so it is not currently accessible), dive into crystal clear waters and natural pools, and relax on the beautiful beaches of Santa Maria Island.
Here are some of the most beautiful boat trips from La Maddalena:
Explore La Maddalena Archipelago on a boat trip from Palau or La Maddalena, accompanied by a local multilingual guide. Benefit from plenty of options for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.
Explore the islands of Santa Maria, Spargi, and La Maddalena on this 7-hour shared boat tour. See the La Maddalena Natural Park, swim in crystal clear waters, and check out some local souvenir shops.
The island of Caprera
Among the things to see on the island of La Maddalena, I also include Caprera because, although it is a separate island, it can be easily visited from La Maddalena.
In fact, the two are connected by the Passo della moneta, a 600-meter bridge that crosses the stretch of sea that separates the two islands and offers a panoramic view with the sea from both sides of great beauty.
The bus arrives from Maddalena to Caprera but alternatively you can also cross the bridge with your own vehicle, by bike or if you are a hiker, on foot, as Caprera is an island full of hiking trails in the middle of nature.
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What to see in Caprera
Caprera is a totally wild and semi-uninhabited island, which makes it a truly special place. It has many pine forests, granite rocks with the most varied shapes and a dreamy sea.
Among the most beautiful beaches are Cala Coticcio, Cala Napoletana, Cala Garibaldi, I due mari, the beach of the wreck.
I definitely recommend visiting the Garibaldi museums of Caprera, which include the Garibaldi museum house (where the hero lived the last 26 years of his life) and the Memorial of Forte Arbuticci, initially a fortress built in 1895 and then becoming a memorial dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi.
In Caprera there are several places to eat, some beach kiosks and bar-restaurants surrounded by beautiful pine forests where you can eat in the open air with the scent of pines.
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