An island off an island, La Maddalena is a special place to visit. It’s stunning and picturesque, with a turquoise-blue coastline, sandy beaches, and super charming towns. This tiny island is just off the northeastern coast of Sardinia, Italy, and is easy to reach by boat hire or ferry. La Maddalena is also the largest island of the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, which includes seven main islands.
I visited La Maddalena, Italy, during our trip to the Costa Smeralda, and absolutely adored it. The island itself is a popular day trip for good reason: it’s simply gorgeous! In fact, it was one of our favorite days during our entire Europe trip last fall. We visited La Maddalena, Spargi, and Caprera, docking just off the coast and swimming through the amazing beaches. And after doing it ourselves, I can’t recommend it enough as one of the best things to do in Sardinia.
Short on Time? Here’s My Top Pick for the Best Place to Stay to Visit La Maddalena:
I’d recommend basing yourself in Costa Smeralda, as it has wonderful hotel and vacation rental options and is only a 20-minute drive from Palau port. I’ve also included a couple hotel recommendations on La Maddalena if you’re looking to stay a night or two on the island.
Costa Smeralda
- Romazzino, a Belmond Hotel ($$$$), for the best luxury boutique hotel
- Hotel Cala di Volpe ($$$$), for the best chic luxury hotel
- CPH | Pevero Hotel ($$$), for the best relaxed luxury resort
- Hotel Balocco ($$), for the best design-for-dollar hotel
- 2 Bedroom Cala Granu Condo with View/Garden (Where We Stayed), for the best spacious stay with shared pool
- 1 Bedroom Garden Condo Near Cala di Volpe, for the best quieter garden condo
- 2 Bedroom Stone Villa House, for the best charming traditional stay
La Maddalena
- Hotel Excelsior, for the best in-town luxury hotel
- Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma, for the best adults-only luxury resort stay
- 2 Bedroom Colorful Home, for the best traditional in-town stay
- 2 Bedroom Bright and Modern Home, for the best modern in-town stay
La Maddalena Tours
- Large Boat 7 Hour Tour With Time in Downtown La Maddalena, a full-day group boat tour with stops at top archipelago beaches and free time to explore La Maddalena town.
- Premium Catamaran, Small Group Tour with Lunch, a small-group catamaran day trip through the archipelago with lunch, drinks, and snorkeling included.
- 16 Meter Sail Boat Small Group Tour with Lunch, a full-day sailing experience on a 16-meter boat with lunch and stops at the archipelago’s most scenic coves.
- La Maddalena Archipelago Private Boat Tour with Skipper, a private boat charter with a local skipper so you can customize your route and linger at your favorite stops.
Helpful Guides to Plan Your Trip
Planning a trip to Sardinia? Start with my guides to the best places to stay in Sardinia, best things to do in Sardinia, and my 10-day Sardinia itinerary. Then don’t miss my guides to the best beaches in Sardinia, Costa Smeralda, Alghero, Baunei Coast, San Pantaleo, and how to visit La Pelosa beach.
Travel Tip: The best way to explore Sardinia is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car and driving in Sardinia is quite easy. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting La Maddalena, Sardinia
What to Know About La Maddalena Archipelago Before Visiting
What are the La Maddalena Islands?
The La Maddalena Archipelago is a collection of islands off Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda. It includes seven main islands, as well as many much smaller islands dotting around them. Here are some of the bigger islands:
- La Maddalena — This is the largest island in the whole archipelago, but still small enough to explore! It includes the namesake town of La Maddalena, the largest on the island. The island is so picturesque, and also quite bustling in the evenings with restaurants.
- Caprera — The second-largest island in the archipelago, Caprera is a natural reserve. And the nature here is truly stunning. Caprera is also known as one of the historic homes of Giuseppe Garibaldi.
- Spargi — Known for amazing granite formations and incredible beaches, Spargi is also totally uninhabited.
- Budelli — Budelli is also uninhabited, and is most famous for the Spiaggia Rosa, or Pink Beach. This tiny island is also a popular spot to stop offshore for photos of the famous pink sands.
- Santa Maria — Another small island in the northern part of the archipelago of La Maddalena, Santa Maria is also incredibly scenic. You can reach the beach of Cala Santa Maria by water. It’s a popular spot on many boat tours of the archipelago.
Is La Maddalena Worth Visiting?
La Maddalena is absolutely worth visiting. If you’re looking for incredible beaches and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s a hard one to beat. Also, since La Maddalena is so close to the Costa Smeralda, it’s a relatively easy spot to add to your trip.
How Do You Get to La Maddalena?
There are a few different ways to reach La Maddalena. You can take a ferry from Palau to reach the island in just a short distance. Another great option is a day trip boat tour leaving from the main island of Sardinia. Boat tours can be a wonderful way to discover the different islands, especially if your goal is to swim and visit beaches.
Can You Stay on La Maddalena?
It’s definitely possible to stay in La Maddalena, especially in the main town on the island. If you have more time, this is a wonderful option to explore the island and the beaches!
Keep in mind that La Maddalena is a small island, so you’ll find limited options. Right in La Maddalena town, one idea is Hotel Excelsior, which has charming rooms and a central location. Or, just outside town, Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma also includes a spa and a pool.
Can You Drive Around La Maddalena?
Yes! Driving around is a great way to explore La Maddalena. Especially if you’re taking the ferry from Palau, you can drive directly onto the ferry, and you’ll have your car to explore the island.
Rental Car Tip: We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car in Sardinia is quite easy. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
Can You See La Maddalena on a Day Trip?
You can definitely see La Maddalena on a day trip! La Maddalena is only a 20-minute ferry or short boat ride from Palau, so it’s an easy add-on to your Sardinia trip. In fact, I really recommend it as part of any larger Sardinia itinerary! If you’ll already be in the Costa Smeralda, it’s not much farther to go, and well worth visiting.
The Best Ways to Take a Day Trip to La Maddalena
Self-Visit By Ferry or Hiring a Boat
The perk of a self-visit is you get to decide your exact itinerary! You can do as we did, and hire a boat to stop at different beaches and bays for swims. Or, you can drive onto the ferry, and you’ll have a car to explore the island itself. Both are great options; it just depends on what kind of trip you’re looking for.
By Ferry
The ferry to La Maddalena leaves from the port of Palau, and takes just 20 minutes to reach La Maddalena. You can walk onto the ferry, or drive on with your car. The ferries run quite frequently, and it’s a relaxed crossing to La Maddalena. Ferry reservations aren’t necessary; you can buy a ticket at the terminal.
By Hiring a Private Boat (What We Did)
Renting a boat is exactly what we did on our trip to La Maddalena. We rented a dinghy (a Marlin 630, the largest boat that didn’t require a license) from MD Service Palau. It’s the easiest way to self-explore, and when you rent, they will give you a rundown on how to operate the boat. As people who have not self-driven a boat in over a decade, it was quite seamless to do!
A Quick Note on Renting Boats: We found that dinghy rental prices varied from 180 to 400 euros per day, depending on the type of boat and time of year. It’s also best to reserve a boat in advance. Be sure to check the wind, wave, and weather forecasts before you reserve and before you depart. Windfinder is our go-to site for wind, wave, and weather forecasts while in Sardinia.
Take a Guided Boat Tour of La Maddalena
A guided tour of La Maddalena is a great option for a way to see the islands with minimal effort. You won’t have to do much besides book the trip and show up! A boat tour is also a wonderful way to see beaches and La Maddalena from the water, as this could be harder to organize on your own or if you don’t want to rent your own boat.
- Large Boat 7 Hour Tour With Time in Downtown La Maddalena, a full-day group tour from Palau with stops at Spargi, Budelli’s natural pools and pink sand beach, plus free time in La Maddalena town — food and drinks available on board.
- Premium Catamaran, Small Group Tour with Lunch, a small-group catamaran day trip with lunch included, stopping at three islands for swimming and snorkeling in the archipelago’s turquoise waters.
- 16 Meter Sail Boat Small Group Tour with Lunch, a full-day sailing experience departing from Maddalena or Palau, with stops at Cala di Santa Maria and Spargi plus a Sardinian aperitif and lunch on board.
- La Maddalena Archipelago Private Boat Tour with Skipper, a fully customizable private day trip with an experienced skipper, stopping at La Maddalena’s historic center, Caprera, Santa Maria, and more.
The Must-See Spots for a La Maddalena Sardinia Boat Trip
Cala Coticcio (Caprera)
Cala Coticcio, on the island of Caprera, is known as one of Sardinia’s most beautiful beaches. Since the entire area is strictly protected, you can only visit by sea or by booking a tour with a certified environmental guide. This absolutely stunning cove has pink granite rocks and clear, shallow waters perfect for snorkeling.
Cala Corsara (Spargi)
On the island of Spargi, the beach of Cala Corsara is another one of the archipelago’s most well-known beaches. With white sands and crystal-clear waters, it’s an idyllic place to spend an afternoon relaxing.
Natural Pools / Porto della Madonna (Budelli)
The Natural Pools near the island of Budelli are only accessible by sea, and known for calm, turquoise water.
Spiaggia Rosa (Budelli)
Also on Budelli, the Spiaggia Rosa (or Pink Beach) is one of the most famous places in the Maddalena archipelago. The fine sands are a beautiful light pink that comes from the crushed shells of marine microorganisms and corals. It’s striking, and one of the most famous beaches in all of Italy.
Cala Santa Maria (Santa Maria)
This sweeping beach is known as one of the best spots for swimming on La Maddalena. With soft sands and shallow waters, it is a popular stopping point on different boat tours of the archipelago.
Staying Overnight in La Maddalena: Best Hotels on La Maddalena
If you have time in your Sardinia itinerary, I’d recommend staying overnight on La Maddalena for two nights. You’ll find so much to see and do here, and this will allow you to explore the beaches at a relaxed pace. Beyond the coasts and beaches, staying overnight will also give you a chance to explore the towns and get more of a sense of the island.
Another benefit that I think is key to keep in mind is potentially quieter beaches. Since you won’t be confined to the boat tour schedules, you’ll have more flexibility. That means you can visit the more popular beaches in the early morning or late afternoon and likely expect fewer crowds.
Staying in La Maddalena town is a popular spot, like at Hotel Excelsior in town. Staying in town also means you’ll be within walking distance to restaurants for dinner, which can be a convenient option. Or, you could stay at Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma just outside of town. You’ll also find a lot of small, charming B&Bs dotted around the island.
Best Hotels on La Maddalena
- Hotel Excelsior, for the best in-town luxury hotel
- Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma, for the best adults-only luxury resort stay
Best Airbnbs on La Maddalena
- 2 Bedroom Colorful Home, for the best traditional in-town stay
- 2 Bedroom Bright and Modern Home, for the best modern in-town stay
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1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
