If you’re looking for a great beach town in Italy, you’ll love San Teodoro. This vibrant town is on the northeast coast of Sardinia, and a place where I loved unplugging for a few days.This is a quintessential vacation spot with immaculate beaches, calm swimming conditions, and hotels at a variety of price points. If you want to beach the way the Italians do, San Teodoro is THE place!
San Teodoro has calm beaches good for families, like La Cinta, and quieter, stunning beaches like Cala Brandinchi (Little Tahiti). Here, you can visit the off-shore islands of Tavolara and Molara, which are absolutely stunning and limit visitors to keep things quiet.My husband and I spent 12 days driving around Northern Sardinia, and I planned on San Teodoro being the last place we visited. We saved it for last because we knew we would be ready for some relaxation at that point, and because it’s close to Olbia, we could easily get to our ferry.Although beaches are the main draw here, there are plenty of other things to do in San Teodoro to make a longer stay worthwhile. These include adventure activities in the mountains and learning about Sardinia’s Bronze Age history.
Whether you’re planning a longer road trip around the island like me, or just want to lie on the beach the whole time, here are all the top things to do in San Teodoro, Sardinia.This post was published in February 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Hannah Cooper.
Best Things to Do in San Teodoro, Italy
I mean, let’s be honest — Sardinia has the best beaches in Italy, and some of the best beaches in Europe. These beaches are the reason why Italians barely visit the Caribbean!Start with La Cinta Beach: my favorite beach in Sardinia, and all of Italy! This long sweep of white sand forms a crescent in the bay just north of town. It’s popular with kite surfers and is walkable from the town center.During summer, you can take the Trenino Teodorino tourist train to La Cinta as well as the nearby Cala d’Ambra, which sits east of the town center.
Cala Brandinchi, the beach known as Little Tahiti, is a smaller cove further north with pristine snorkeling conditions. Lu Impostu Beach sits in between these two beaches and offers gentle swimming conditions and kayak rentals. There are also several golf courses nearby. These two beaches are accessible by car or taxi – it’s a long walk from the closest bus stop. Heading north, Cala Cirgolu is farthest afield. This is a mix of sand and pebbles and has some striking granite boulders which you can clamber over for scenic views of the bay. You can get there by public transit on buses 514 and 609, which take about 45 minutes.
Cala Ginepro is another option for a beach day south of San Teodoro. You’ll need a car to get there, but the reward is a much quieter spot to sunbathe and swim. There is also an unusual canal north of the main beach. One big piece of advice: if you want a chair and umbrella, you’ll need to get there early. Charlie and I got to La Cinta at 9:00 AM and we got the last two chairs available at the club. Keep in mind that many San Teodoro visitors reserve chairs in advance for the week or the month.
Visit the Tavolara and Molara Islands
Taking a boat tour to the islands of Tavolara and Molara is the number one activity for visitors in San Teodoro! While tourists are not allowed to land on Molara, you’ll sail close to the island, explore gorgeous spots off the mainland coast, have a few swim stops, and have time to visit Tavolara Island independently.This was one of my favorite activities that I did in San Teodoro. I do recommend that you bring good sun protection, as my tour was on a zodiac — a big rubber boat with zero shade whatsoever. I was lucky to have a wide-brimmed hat and a sarong.
The tour goes on to visit the island of Tavolara, a rugged limestone massif rising 565 meters above sea level. It looks straight out of Jurassic Park! There’s a cafe by the port, and there are some walking trails nearby. Be sure to stay on the paths, as the island is protected. Slightly longer, this four-hour tour of Tavolara and Molara also stops at Cala Girgolu, Capo Coda Cavallo, and the Grottino Proratora. And this tour comes with a glass of local wine at the end!
As a classic seaside resort for Italians, San Teodoro has an ample selection of restaurants and hotels. I even came across a craft market one night during my visit. Staying somewhere central means you can get away without a car rental and use a mix of public transport, the tourist train, and tours for getting around.
Another popular spot for beach connoisseurs of Sardinia, Capo Coda Cavallo juts out just north of Cala Brandinchi. This peninsula has yet more gorgeous beaches and coves, including Cala Suaraccia, which is popular for kayaking.
If you have a car, you can drive all the way to the Belvedere Punta Est from where you’ll see all the different types of landscapes, including mountains and sea grottos. The main beach on Capo Coda Cavallo is a long, sweeping crescent where you can go for a swim or rent a kayak.
If you’re interested in nature and bird life, you’ll love eeing the flamingos at Stagno di San Teodoro! Visiting this lagoon is one of the more unique things to do in San Teodoro. The birds rest at the San Teodoro Lagoon during their migration in summer.If you’re in San Teodoro without a car, the Trenino Teodorino is a godsend! It’s not an actual train on tracks, but a train on wheels that carts you around town. And while kids love this train, adults love it just as much for both its practicality and its sightseeing potential.
This is a tourist train that links the main parts of town with the closest beaches of La Cinta and Cala d’Ambra. It’s a lifesaver if you don’t want to rent a car or deal with parking on a hot summer’s day.The Trenino Teodorino is in service between from June 1 until September 15. Tickets are sold on board and cost 2.50 EUR ($2.60 USD) one-way, 5 EUR ($5.25 USD) for a return, or 20 EUR ($21 USD) for a weekly pass.
