{"id":13233,"date":"2026-06-12T17:43:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/?p=13233"},"modified":"2026-06-22T10:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T08:49:09","slug":"palau-sardinia-the-gateway-to-la-maddalena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/palau-sardegna-la-porta-d-accesso-alla-maddalena\/","title":{"rendered":"Palau, Sardinia: the gateway to La Maddalena"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Palau, Sardinia: the gateway to La Maddalena<\/span><\/h2>\n

Read this if:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Are you planning a\u00a0<\/span>holiday in Sardinia<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and you\u2019ve only ever heard of Palau as \u201cthe place you set off from for La Maddalena\u201d. Well, stop for a moment. Palau isn\u2019t just a seaside stopover. It\u2019s one of those places you don\u2019t expect: picture-perfect beaches, a lively town centre, a wild coastline, and a strategic location that few other towns can boast. Here, I\u2019ll tell you all about it: where it is, what to do<\/a>, where to stay, where to eat, and why you should consider it as a base for your\u00a0<\/span>Summer in Sardinia 2026<\/span><\/strong> instead of just rushing past it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where is Palau? And why have I never thought of it before?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Palau is located on the\u00a0<\/span>the north-eastern coast of Sardinia<\/span><\/strong>, in the\u00a0<\/span>Gallura<\/span><\/strong>, just a few kilometres from\u00a0<\/span>Olbia<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(about a 40-minute drive) and right opposite the\u2019<\/span>La Maddalena Archipelago<\/span><\/strong>. It is literally the closest point to the archipelago: the stretch of sea separating it from the island of La Maddalena is called\u00a0<\/span>Asinelli Pass<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and is only a couple of kilometres wide.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you're arriving by plane, you'll land at\u00a0<\/span>Olbia<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(Costa Smeralda Airport). From there, take the SS125 northwards, passing through\u00a0<\/span>Arzachena<\/span><\/strong>, and in half an hour you\u2019re in Palau. Simple.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why haven\u2019t you ever considered it?<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Probably because everyone\u2019s talking about\u00a0<\/span>Costa Smeralda<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Porto Cervo<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Baia Sardinia<\/span><\/strong>. Palau is quieter and less glossy, but its sea is every bit as good as that of its more famous neighbours. In fact, in some ways, it\u2019s even more authentic.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is there to do in Palau? Beaches, hiking, excursions and much more<\/span><\/h2>\n

The right question isn\u2019t \u201cwhat to do in Palau\u201d but \u201chow many days do I need to do it all?\u201d. Because there\u2019s so much to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

The beaches of Palau: not just \u201cthe one in front of the harbour\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s start with\u00a0<\/span>beaches<\/span><\/strong>. Palau has a rugged coastline, with\u00a0<\/span>coves<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0hidden and\u00a0<\/span>sandy beaches<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0that will make you forget the most famous sights.<\/span><\/p>\n

Porto Faro Beach:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0probably the most beautiful in the area. White sand,\u00a0<\/span>crystal-clear water<\/span><\/strong>, with consistent winds (as it\u2019s exposed to the mistral). It\u2019s a popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but it\u2019s also spectacular simply for a swim. Please note: the wind can be strong, so if you\u2019re looking for a relaxing day by the lake, this isn\u2019t the place for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Talmone Beach:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0small and sheltered, with an old military fort overlooking it. It can be reached via a short descent from the road.\u00a0<\/span>Background<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0sandy and mixed with rocks, ideal for\u00a0<\/span>go snorkelling<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sciumara Beach:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0the largest, with\u00a0<\/span>light-coloured sand<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and shallow water for several metres. Perfect for families with children.<\/span><\/p>\n

La Sciumara:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Please note, there is also \u201cLa Sciumara\u201d (without the article), which is another cove not far away. Local names can sometimes be confusing, but the great thing is that you can drive from one to the other in ten minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cala Capra Beach<\/a>:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0accessible only by sea or after a short\u00a0<\/span>hiking<\/span><\/strong>. If you have a dinghy, don\u2019t miss it. If you don\u2019t, you can still get there on foot via a path that starts from the road to Porto Faro.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boat trips in La Maddalena (and why Palau is the best starting point)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Palau is the ideal base for a\u2019<\/span>excursion<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0in the Archipelago of\u00a0<\/span>La Maddalena<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. Ferries depart every half hour (Compagnia delle Isole, Delcomar) and in 15 minutes you\u2019re at\u00a0<\/span>La Maddalena<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(the main island). But the real spectacle is the archipelago:\u00a0<\/span>Caprera<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Spargi<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Budelli<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Saint Stephen<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Razzoli<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can:<\/span><\/p>\n