I’ll research specific anchorages, real conditions, and current details before writing. Let me run several searches simultaneously.Good research gathered. Now let me get a couple more specifics on Cala Goloritzé, Navionics, and charter pricing.Excellent — I now have everything I need. Let me write the full, carefully crafted article.
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Why Sardinia Is the Mediterranean’s Greatest Anchorage Playground
There is a moment — every skipper knows it — when the engine quiets, the hook bites into clean sand at five metres, and the world contracts to the creak of the rode, a swallow of cold Vermentino, and water so clear you can read the depth markings on your anchor chain. That moment happens more reliably, and more spectacularly, in Sardinia than almost anywhere else in the Mediterranean. If you are searching for the best anchorages in Sardinia, Italy by boat, you have already made the right decision about where to go. What you need now is the granular, honest detail that separates a good cruise from an unforgettable one.
The whole of Sardinia provides good cruising with miles of pristine white beaches, and while the north is the most popular area, rich with anchorages packed close together, the south earns its place too for cruisers travelling east or west across the Mediterranean. There are over 1,800 km of Sardinian coastline to explore — the hard part is choosing where to drop the hook tonight.
This guide covers the six anchorages that reward the well-prepared skipper most generously: two in the dazzling north, one pocket of history near Olbia, two along the wild eastern seaboard, and one southern escape for those who prefer solitude over spectacle.
La Maddalena Archipelago: The Crown Jewel of Northern Sardinia
If you could design a sailing ground from scratch, you would probably arrive at something close to La Maddalena. The archipelago consists of over 60 islands and islets, forming one of Italy’s most important marine protected areas — recognised for its rich biodiversity, with strict navigation and anchoring rules in place to protect its sensitive habitats, particularly the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.
The waters are outstandingly clear and much of the seafloor is covered in white sand interspersed with intriguing granite formations, tunnels, canyons, caves, and steep drop-offs that make ideal habitats for marine life, including colourful red sea fans common throughout the archipelago. Cala Coticcio on Caprera Island is a favourite among experienced skippers — its twin arms of pink granite embrace water that shifts from jade to deep cobalt. Anchor in 4–6 metres on clean white sand, well clear of the Posidonia; a 15-kg Rocna or equivalent will hold you all night.
Regulations here deserve careful reading before you arrive. Anchoring is permitted only on sandy or pebble seabeds — never on Posidonia meadows — and mooring buoys are available in designated areas such as Porto Palma, Cala Portese on Caprera, and near Budelli. As of June 2025, the Sardinian TAR court temporarily lifted the 2024 ban on overnight anchoring for non-residents, meaning overnight anchoring is again allowed at designated park buoys. Check the official park authority announcements before your season begins, as this ruling is subject to ongoing legal review.
The celebrated Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) on Budelli is viewable from the water and utterly magical — its exclusive pink sands are made of crushed coral, making this the pearl of the Maddalena. You cannot land; you anchor off, swim laps, and feel the privilege of seeing it from the best possible angle.
- Best for: Exploring multiple coves in a single day; snorkelling; catamaran crews
- Holding ground: Sand between granite outcrops — verify with a dive before you trust it
- Watch out for: Passenger ferry wash in Cala Gavetta; busy buoy fields at peak season
- Nearest fuel and provisions: Town of La Maddalena, Cala Gavetta harbour
Navigation note: The Navionics Boating app with a Mediterranean & Black Sea subscription lets you download detailed charts and marine data for offline use, with HD bathymetry and daily updates — essential for threading the granite channels around Caprera and Spargi, where off-chart rocks lurk in apparently open water. Load it before you leave the marina; mobile signal inside the archipelago is patchy.
Cala di Volpe and Costa Smeralda: Glamour with a Rock to Avoid
The Costa Smeralda needs no introduction, but the reality of anchoring here is more nuanced than the brochures suggest. Set up by the Aga Khan in the early 1960s, this jagged piece of granite coastline between Cugnana and Cannigione is now home to discreet and very expensive real estate, high fashion shops, and beautifully turned-out people in expensive cafés.
Cala di Volpe is the anchorage every Sardinia skipper talks about. It is worth spending a free night at anchor just to admire the most extraordinary collection of boats and superyachts, but be vigilant — there is a marked rock deep into the bay. Anchor in 5–8 metres to the north or south of the buoy field; the bottom is mixed sand and weed. Anchoring without a buoy inside the main bay is not permitted — the area is managed to preserve its natural appeal — but outside the bay, around 200 metres from the last buoy, it is possible to anchor freely to the north and south.
Marina prices in this stretch of coastline are the highest in Italy and among the highest in the world. Marina prices above €50 per night for a 10-metre boat are entirely normal across the region, and Porto Cervo takes the prize for highest charges, with several hundred euros overnight for a 10-metre yacht. Luckily, free space — free of cost too — can usually be found in the many nearby anchorages, though some buzz with jet ski and RIB activity. The shrewd skipper sleeps on the hook and dinghy-ashore for dinner at Porto Cervo.
- Best for: One glamorous night on the anchor; people-watching; provisioning at Porto Cervo
- Depths: 5–10 m in the outer bay; shallows quickly toward shore
- Wind shelter: Good from northerlies; exposed to southwesterly swell
Isola di Tavolara: A Royal Anchorage Off Olbia
Twenty minutes’ sail northeast of Olbia lies one of the most dramatic anchorages in the entire Mediterranean. Tavolara rises almost 565 metres sheer from the sea — a limestone monolith that turns gold at dusk and makes every photograph look like a painting. Anchor off Isola di Tavolara, then swim ashore for a royally good lunch — the island was once a self-declared kingdom, and there is still a tiny family-run restaurant on the beach that serves some of the best grilled fish in Sardinia.
The area around San Teodoro is an integral part of the Marine Park Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo, one of the major sites in the Mediterranean from a naturalistic point of view. The park stretches from Cape Caraso south of Olbia to Punta Isuledda south of San Teodoro. Anchor in the sheltered bay on the island’s southern side in 4–7 metres of sand — the holding is excellent and protection from the dominant northwesterlies is reliable. Mortorio and neighbouring Soffi Island, also within the Maddalena Archipelago National Park zone, lie within an easy sail of Porto Rotondo or Porto Cervo and make an excellent day stop or overnight anchorage.
- Best for: Dramatic scenery; snorkelling along the limestone walls; lunch ashore
- Holding ground: Clean sand, 4–7 m, excellent
- Season: May–October; avoid in strong Mistral conditions
The Gulf of Orosei: Wild East Coast Anchorages
This is where the best anchorages in Sardinia, Italy by boat take on a wilder, more elemental quality. The eastern coast between Cala Gonone and Santa Maria Navarrese is protected by vertical limestone cliffs that drop straight into indigo water, and the coves here — Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu, Cala Sisine — are accessible only from the sea.
Cala Luna
One of the wonders of the Gulf of Orosei, Cala Luna is located halfway between the territories of Baunei and Dorgali and is characterised by the mouth of the Codula di Luna torrent. Sheer rock faces protect and frame the cove, dotted with shady, spacious natural caves that offer shelter from the sun in the hottest months, while the golden beach in the centre is washed by clear blue sea. Anchor in 4–8 metres on sand off the beach — the bottom is reliable — then lower the dinghy and row ashore. The caves are big enough to picnic inside, and cool enough to make you linger past sunset.
Cala Gonone is also renowned for its deep marine grottos, the most famous being Grotta del Bue Marino, a luminescent gallery filled with remarkable natural sculptures. The cave is accessible by boat, making it a convenient and scenic trip from Cala Luna or Cala Gonone.
Cala Goloritzé
Cala Goloritzé is the symbol of the Gulf of Orosei — one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia and a UNESCO Natural Monument since 1995. This tiny cove originated from a landslide in 1962 and is famous for the 143-metre rocky pinnacle, the Aguglia, that rises from the sea like a fang, a favourite climbing spot in all of Sardinia.
The catch — and it is important — is that boats are restricted to stopping a few hundred metres from the beach; if you want to spend time on this beach, you have to hike there. But anchoring off the outer approach and swimming in the extraordinary clarity beneath the arch is a wholly legitimate and spectacular experience. The clear waters of Cala Goloritzé are perfect for snorkelling, with marine life and colourful fish in the shallow water near the beach. Come early — by 10 am, the tour boats arrive in force.
- Best for: Photographers; climbers; snorkellers; those who have earned the solitude
- Access: By boat from Cala Gonone or Santa Maria Navarrese; by a 1.5–2 hour hike from Baunei
- Anchorage: 5–10 m, sand and rock mix; anchor well off and use the dinghy
- Key rule: Buoys mark the exclusion zone; respect them
Southern Sardinia: Chia and the Quiet Alternative
Mention the south to most charter skippers and they look mildly surprised — it tends to be an afterthought. Which is exactly why it is worth going. Southern Sardinia offers an entirely different cruising experience, ideal for a seven-day charter. The island stretches 250 km from top to bottom, with marinas at Cagliari, Sardinia’s largest city and capital, as well as at Carloforte and Sant’Antioco, offering options for sailing in this quieter, charming region.
Don’t miss the stunning coastline around Chia, known for its picture-perfect sandy beaches. The anchorage at Cala Cipolla, just west of Chia, offers sand-bottom holding in 3–6 metres with a ruined Saracen watchtower on the headland for a backdrop. Alghero and Cagliari are good destinations and excellent wintering spots if you are delivering the boat south or planning a longer passage season. The western and eastern coasts offer quiet cruising, especially the east side, with far fewer other yachts — useful for those seeking escape from the summer crowds.
- Best for: Couples wanting solitude; passage planning toward Tunisia or Sicily
- Wind note: The Mistral sometimes blows as far as southern Sardinia and into Cagliari — watch the forecast carefully and keep a blow-out anchorage in your back pocket
- Season: June and September are sublime; August can see southerlies
Practical Skipper’s Notes: Timing, Rules, and Gear
When to Go
The shoulder months of April, May, September, and October offer great weather with fewer tourists, allowing you to enjoy Sardinia’s beauty more intimately. The sunny season runs from late May to early October, with only occasional interruptions of unsettled weather. During peak season — French and Italian holidays from mid-July to late August — the cruising area between Corsica and Sardinia becomes overcrowded. If July is your only window, head east of Olbia or south; you will find space.
Wind and Passages
Sardinian wind is not shy. Summer winds between Corsica and Sardinia of Force 7 in the Bonifacio Strait are quite common, and Force 9 is not unknown. In the Strait of Bonifacio — where Sardinia and Corsica are separated by a mere 11 km — the westerly wind vectors through like a ceiling fan on full power. Plan your Bonifacio transit for early morning when the thermal effect has not yet built, and always have a contingency port.
Anchoring Rules: The Non-Negotiables
Anchoring near rocks is not allowed anywhere in Sardinia, not only at La Maddalena — it can cause irreparable damage to the delicate environment. Buoy systems were introduced partly as a solution to make mooring operations easier and safer, but primarily to protect seabeds rich in Posidonia, whose destruction by dragging anchors is irreversible. Most overnight stops in the area will be at mooring buoys or on anchor rather than alongside quays — expect buoy costs of approximately €50–€180 per night, paid locally at each anchorage.
Essential Gear
For a boat in the 38–46 ft range — the sweet spot for the best anchorages in Sardinia, Italy by boat, giving you enough range to cover north to east in a week — carry a primary anchor of at least 20 kg (a Rocna 25 or Mantus M2 35 lb work beautifully on sandy seabeds), 60 metres of 10 mm chain minimum, and a secondary anchor for those occasions when a southerly swell turns a calm bay uncomfortable overnight. A good inflatable dinghy with a 6 hp outboard is not optional — many of the coves on the east coast have no dock and the swim from 100 metres feels less romantic at midnight.
For charts, the Navionics Mediterranean & Black Sea subscription is the standard tool of the trade out here. With an active marine chart subscription within the Navionics Boating app, you can download detailed charts and marine data for offline use, plus get suggested routes using Auto Guidance+ technology, daily updates, chart overlays, and HD bathymetry. The nautical chart layer lets you study port plans, anchorages, and safety depth contours, locating navigation aids and marine services — exactly what you need when approaching an unfamiliar cove in failing afternoon light. Pair it with a printed copy of Imray’s Italian Waters Pilot and you will be well briefed before you ever leave the marina.
Charter Bookings
If you are not bringing your own boat, northern Sardinia is well served by bareboat and crewed charter bases. Portisco is the best place to begin a charter if you want to see the Costa Smeralda and have easy access to all the main attractions of northern Sardinia. The Moorings base in Sardinia sits on the western side of the Gulf of Arzachena near Cannigione, a small, quiet resort town with a laid-back ambience far removed from the bustle of Porto Cervo. For crewed charters where someone else navigates the Bonifacio Strait, platforms like Boatbookings and Sail Connections list verified operators with transparent pricing — a crewed 50-ft sailing yacht in high season typically runs €8,000–€15,000 per week all-in, depending on vessel and itinerary.
Your Sardinian Anchorage Hit-List at a Glance
- Cala Coticcio, Caprera: Best single anchorage in the archipelago; turquoise water, pink granite, 4–6 m sand