The Maria Pia beach, still in Alghero is a beautiful sandy bay backed by pinewoods. More beaches are to be found as you journey further around the bay of Alghero and around Porto Conte bay and beyond it. On the way to Porto Conte, just past Fertilia, try the beaches of Lazzaretto with superb views across to Capo Caccia and Le Bombarde, a strip of pure white sand bordered by crystal clear sea.
Beyond the headland of Capo Caccia there is a lovely long beach at Porto Ferro. Stintino, the north-western point of the island, has some fantastic beaches, including the almost tropical Pelosa.
To the south towards Bosa, the coastline tends to be more wild and rocky – a paradise for snorkellers and scuba divers. There are a couple of sandy beaches including La Speranza which lies about eight kilometres south of Alghero.