The Best of Sardinia with Kids: Exploring the Baunei Coast

Sardinia is a dream destination for families, with the brightest turquoise waters I’ve ever seen, rugged coastline, charming villages, and of course gelato. If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable adventure, head to the Baunei Coast, one of the best places to go in Sardinia with kids!

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting, from the best family-friendly Sardinia beaches for kids to where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around. The Baunei Coast has the best beaches – literally named #1 in the world – and we’re already dying to go back! Let’s dive in!

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Exploring the Baunei Coast: The Best of Sardinia with Kids

Why Visit Sardinia with Kids?

Sardinia is the perfect destination for families and is our favorite beach trip EVER! I’ve honestly never seen beaches with such clear, perfect water.

Unlike mainland Italy, Sardinia had a much more relaxed feel, making it perfect for when you want to enjoy all the Italian food while on a stress-free holiday with kids. The island is also known for its safety, warmth, and abundance of activities that cater to children of all ages.

When is the best time To visit sardinia with kids?

The best time to visit Sardinia with kids is May to June or September to early October. You will get perfect swimming temperatures, fewer crowds, and warm water, without being too hot. July and August can be very hot and busy, so if you visit then, plan for early mornings and plenty of shade breaks.

We traveled the last week of May, and it was the perfect temperature. Warm enough that everyone wanted to jump in the water, but not so hot that we were sunburned and miserable. Not to mention flights were much cheaper than Summer!

How to get to the Baunei Coast

Flying

Olbia airport is the closest to the Baunei coast, where the #1 ranked beaches are!

Budget Hack! A tip for cheaper prices is to book separate tickets! Booking directly to Olbia can be pricier. Flying from London to Turin and then to Olbia was much cheaper than a direct flight. So play around on Google Flights! I’d also check prices flying to Olbia from Milan, Turin, or other cities to find a potentially cheaper deal.

Ferry

We made friends with a few families on the trip, and they all said they took the ferry over! Ferries to Olbia last about 5 to 12 hours and depart from cities including Genoa, Livorno, and Naples, as well as from Corsica and Barcelona.

Where to Stay on the Baunei Coast with Kids

We booked an all inclusive place that had an awesome pool, but the food was so bad I can’t recommend it! We finally ended up eating out because none of us could stomach the food 🤣

Here are other places I looked at in Cala Ganone that I wish we booked instead!

• Club Esse Palmasera
• Sea View Garden
• Parco Blu

Do You Need a Car to Explore Sardinia with Kids?

If you are headed to the Baunei coast we would recommend renting a car!

Some hotels offer airport transport, but renting a car for five days was actually cheaper for us. We didn’t need a car in Cala Gonone, but we did to reach Cala Fuili and other viewpoints.

🚗 If you book a car, make sure you do it far in advance for the best prices! Compare prices here. 🚗

The Best Beaches for Kids on the Baunei Coast

The Baunei Coast is home to some of the most stunning and unspoiled beaches in Sardinia. While some beaches in this area require a boat ride or a short hike, they’re worth the little effort to get there.

Here are the beaches we went to, ranked from our favorite to least favorite!

Cala Marilou

Cala Fuili

• Pros: Accessible by car. Shallow water, snorkeling, mini caves to explore.
• Cons: Next to zero shade options. Steep walk down steps to the beach.
• Getting here: Park on the side of the road and walk down a short but steep path to a gorgeous small beach.

Spiaggia Centrale di Cala Gonone

• Pros: Easiest to get to as it’s in Cala Gonone right by the marina. Super soft sand and clear water.
• Cons: You’re still in the city so it didn’t have the same WOW factor as the others.
• Getting here: It’s right by the marina in the Cala Gonone. You can walk here from any hotel.

Cala Luna

I was excited for this one but it had the most crowds, trash, boat traffic and bad smells!

• Pros: Shallow waters, exploring sea caves, and plenty of shade. There’s a small beachside café where you can grab snacks (though they’re pricey).
• Cons: This had the least clear water we had, the most boat traffic, a really bad smelling swamp behind the beach area, and was so crowded! Because of this, I would have skipped this for the Pools of Venice.
• Getting here: Take a group boat trip from Cala Gonone, rent your own boat, or by hike a 3.5 km trail from Cala Fuili (best for families with older kids).

Other kid-friendly beaches to explore include Cala Sisine, Piscine di Venere (Pools of Venice), and Cala Goloritzè.

Our Best Tip for Exploring the Baunei Coast

The number one thing I’d say to do that will make the biggest difference in your trip is to rent your own boat instead of taking a group boat trip to the beaches!

I know it sounds intimidating if you haven’t driven a boat before, but you only need a regular driver’s license (not a boating license) to do it. The cost ended up being the same for our own boat all day versus group tickets.

Here is the dinghy boat we rented! You can choose from a 5 meter or 6 meter boat, we opted for the 5 meter and it was perfect.

Pro tip: Because we went in May and it wasn’t peak season, we were able to negotiate the price at the marina the day we wanted to rent it. The only risk to doing this instead of booking online is if it sells out during busy season!

Taking your own boat means you can explore the beaches at your own pace, find the least crowded ones, and leave when you’re ready. We also had the most popular beach completely to ourselves for an hour after the group boats left for the day! We even saw a pod of dolphins on our way back to the marina.

If you absolutely don’t want to drive your own boat, I would opt for this coast tour with a skipper.

More Things to Do on the Baunei Coast with Kids

Grotte del Bue Marino

If you need a break from swimming, we loved exploring this sea cave! Grotte del Bue Marino has ancient cave paintings, stalagmites and stalactites, and underground pools.

Local Playgrounds

Sometimes you just have to let the kids run wild without getting everyone wet again. We played at Parco giochi and the playground in the Pine Forest!

We didn’t end up going but there is a fun aquarium in the city.

Where to Eat on the Baunei Coast with Kids

Kid-Friendly Restaurants & Cafés in Baunei

We ate a number of places but only two stood out!

First, Snoopy’s restaurant had great food along with views over the sea. I had a pasta carbonara that I still crave to this day. The kids ate either pizza or chicken and noodles. The atmosphere is casual, and there’s no need for reservations, which is great when you’re traveling with kids.

Another great find up the hill is Ristorante Pizzeria La Poltrona, where you’ll have some of the best calzones you’ll ever taste!

Where to Find the Best Gelato in Sardinia

No trip to Sardinia is complete without daily gelato, and Baunei has some fantastic spots! After sampling four different gelaterias, we can confidently say that the best by far was Gelateria Fancello. It just might be my favorite I’ve had….ever!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there is so much to explore on the Baunei Coast! Take your pick from the picturesque beaches and soak up the sun. We highly recommend spending 3-4 days here!