Villasimius and Costa Rei day trip from Cagliari
A day trip to Villasimius and Costa Rei from Cagliari: the Spanish fort of Fortezza Vecchia on the Capo Carbonara headland, a swim at Spiaggia del Riso, Porto Giunco beach with the flamingos of the Notteri pond, the sandbar of Punta Molentis and Cala Sinzias, ending on Costa Rei's long white beach at the Scoglio di Peppino. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Villasimius and Costa Rei in 1 day
Day 1
Fortezza Vecchia
Sixteenth-century Spanish fort on the Capo Carbonara headland above the marina, with views over the bay; opening times are seasonal.
Spiaggia del Riso
Small beach of pale, grainy sand like grains of rice, with clear shallow water near the marina, good for a morning swim.
Porto Giunco beach and the Notteri pond
Long white beach between the turquoise sea and the Notteri pond, where pink flamingos feed for much of the year.
Punta Molentis
Narrow sandy isthmus to a rocky point with water on both sides, one of the clearest seas of the area; summer access is limited.
Cala Sinzias
Long sandy bay with shallow water and pines behind it, at the south end of the Costa Rei coast, good for the afternoon.
Scoglio di Peppino, Costa Rei
Granite rock on Costa Rei's long white beach, which runs for kilometres north of it; shallow, clear water for a late swim.
Getting there
Villasimius is about an hour from Cagliari by car on the winding coast road, and Costa Rei is a little further north. Regional ARST buses run from Cagliari to Villasimius, but a car is needed to move between the beaches.
Staying in Cagliari? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Villasimius and Costa Rei
June and September are the best months: the sea is warm and the beaches are less crowded than in July and August. August is busy and the roads and car parks fill early. In spring and autumn the coast is quiet and green, though the water is cooler.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Villasimius and Costa Rei on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Villasimius and Costa Rei on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Villasimius and Costa Rei on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Villasimius and Costa Rei
- A car is needed: the beaches are spread along the coast and buses don't link them.
- Punta Molentis has limited access in summer: a car park admits a fixed number of cars and the road closes when it is full, so arrive early.
- The wind decides the day: when the mistral blows, the beaches facing east and south are usually calmer.
- Bring water, shade and snorkelling gear; the sea around Capo Carbonara is a marine protected area with very clear water.
- Look for the pink flamingos on the Notteri pond behind Porto Giunco, best seen early or late in the day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Fortezza Vecchia: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0
- Porto Giunco beach and the Notteri pond: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Punta Molentis: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
- Scoglio di Peppino, Costa Rei: Alex10, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
