Family holidays: the best beaches for children in Sardinia and Corsica

Soft sand and shallow waters: the ultimate family-friendly beaches

Anyone travelling with children knows all too well that not all coasts are the same: you need gently sloping seabeds, fine sand – for playing with bucket and spade – easy access without steep paths and refreshment options within easy reach.

The stretch of sea that separates Italy from France, dividing Gallura from the south of the Corsican island, holds some of the most spectacular and sheltered bays in Europe. Let’s discover together the best beaches in Sardinia and Corsica for families with children, ideal for guaranteeing comfort, safety and dream-like scenery.

 

📷 Photo: Dr Korom / Flickr – Santa Teresa Gallura (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Beaches for children in northern Sardinia: equipped lidos and shallow waters in Gallura

Gallura and the north-eastern coast of Sardinia have always been among the most loved and frequented areas by those travelling with young children. The main reason lies in its coastline, rich in sheltered coves and beaches with the Blue Flag and Green Flag (the prestigious accolade awarded by Italian paediatricians to child-friendly beaches). These awards indicate clean water, but also well-kept beaches with a lifeguard on duty, sanitary facilities and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Santa Teresa Gallura: the natural pool of Rena Bianca

If you are looking for shallow-water beaches for children in Gallura, your first destination must undoubtedly be Santa Teresa Gallura. Right next to the town centre, easily reached on foot or along short paved stretches suitable for lightweight strollers, lies the famous beach of Rena Bianca. This beach of very fine sand with pink hues (due to fragments of coral) is enclosed by cliffs that shelter the shore from the strongest winds, keeping the sea as calm as a true natural pool. The seabed here stays shallow for a great many metres from the shore.

Safe beaches for children: La Marinedda and Vignola Mare

There are many equipped lidos in northern Sardinia, perfect for those days when you don’t want to give up any comfort, such as umbrella and sunbed rental, hot showers and well-organised beach clubs. Among the safe beaches, these deserve an extended stop:

  • La Marinedda (Isola Rossa): located on the western edge of Gallura, in the territory of Trinità d’Agultu, it is a splendid bay framed by red granite rocks. The sand is soft and the tourist services are of a high standard.
  • Vignola Mare (Aglientu): a very wide and slightly breezy shoreline, perfect for those seeking plenty of space to play beach tennis without disturbing their umbrella neighbours. The great advantage for parents is the shaded car park located just a few metres from the sand, which eliminates the effort of carrying bags and beach toys.

📷 Photo: Or kriminal/ Wikimedia Commons –Rena Bianca Beach, Santa Teresa Gallura (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Southern Corsica: calm sea and sheltered bays for families around Bonifacio

You only have to cross the Strait of Bonifacio to notice that the landscape changes, becoming wilder and dominated by majestic white limestone cliffs. Even so, the beauty of the sea remains unchanged and the southern coast of the French island proves surprisingly welcoming for families, provided you pick the right spots. Searching the web for beaches for children in southern Corsica, you will notice that the bays best suited to little ones are concentrated in the most sheltered gulfs, where the Mediterranean scrub offers precious natural shade during the hottest hours of the day.

The Bay of Rondinara: the wind-sheltered paradise

If you are looking for family-friendly beaches in and around Bonifacio, the absolute point of reference is the splendid bay of Rondinara (located halfway between Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio). This beach is famous worldwide for its almost perfect horseshoe shape: the two arms of land close in to protect the shore, blocking the outer currents. The result is a turquoise lagoon where the waves are practically non-existent, the water is noticeably warmer than the open sea and the shallow seabed lets children move about in complete freedom near the shore. The path from the car park to the beach is short and easy to walk.

Santa Giulia beach: Caribbean-style shallow waters at Porto Vecchio

Another unmissable gem for families is the beach of Santa Giulia, in the Porto Vecchio area (about 25 km from Bonifacio). It is a long strip of sand lapped by a sea whose seabed is so shallow and even that it resembles a Caribbean swimming pool. The presence of renowned beach clubs, bars and restaurants, and the chance to rent pedal boats or small kayaks, makes the beach day extremely comfortable and relaxing.

📷 Photo: luca.disint/ Flickr – 2017-07-02-16-05-30 (CC BY 2.0)

How to plan the perfect ferry itinerary between Sardinia and Corsica

The real strength of this geographical area is how easy it is to move between the two coasts. Thanks to the frequent and convenient connections of the ferries linking Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio in just 50 minutes of sailing, you can plan a tailor-made itinerary alternating the Sardinian coasts with the Corsican ones, even with day trips alone.

The tip for optimising your time and avoiding boarding stress with children is to book your tickets online in advance and arrive at the port about 45-60 minutes before departure.

 

📷 Photo: rjshade/ Flickr – Bonifacio, Corsica, France (CC BY 2.0)

Practical tips for parents: wind, parking and sun protection

To make the holiday memorable for the whole family, here are three little tips to keep in mind before setting off:

  • Watch out for the Mistral wind: the Strait of Bonifacio is a notoriously windy area. Before packing your bags, always check the weather forecast. If the wind blows strongly from the west, choose beaches facing east (such as the Porto Vecchio coast in Corsica or the sheltered lidos east of Santa Teresa) to make sure you get a flat, calm sea free of seagrass (Posidonia), which the wind sometimes piles up on the shore.
  • Watch out for parking: many of the most beautiful beaches in southern Corsica (including Santa Giulia and Rondinara) have paid attended car parks, with costs ranging from 5 to 10 euros a day. In July and August these spaces fill up by 10 in the morning: the advice is to arrive very early or take advantage of the late afternoon, when the light is wonderful and the crowds thin out.
  • Protect children from the glare: both Gallura and southern Corsica boast very pale sands that dramatically increase the glare of the sun’s rays. As well as total-block sun cream (SPF 50+), never forget hats, children’s sunglasses and a small beach tent with UV protection for the afternoon nap.