Cala Goloritzé on the Golgo plateau above Baunei is one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches, and it can only be reached on foot via a demanding hike. We visited this bay in October 2026 and share our experience here: how to get to the parking lot, what the hike and the ticket cost, and why the detour to the lesser-known viewpoint is worth it.
Last updated: October 2026
Facts about Cala Goloritzé Best time to visit: May–June & Sept.–Oct. Location: Gulf of Orosei Ticket required: €7/person, max. 250 visitors per day More info: Heart of Sardinia
Highlights
Pebble beach between limestone cliffs
Free-roaming donkeys, cows & pigs along the way
Punta Salinas viewpoint
Only reachable on foot, no boat landing
Cala Goloritzé: one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches
Cala Goloritzé lies in the Gulf of Orosei not far from Baunei, framed by steep limestone cliffs and overlooked by the 143-meter-tall rock spire Aguglia di Monte Caroddi, where daring climbers can often be seen rappelling.
Not far from the beach you’ll also spot the natural rock arch L’Arco di Goloritzé – the bay is protected as an Italian national monument and was named one of the World’s 50 Best Beaches by a well-known travel website in 2025.
The bay was actually formed by a rockslide in the 1960s, and to this day it can only be reached via a hiking trail – there’s no road or parking lot directly at the beach.
For us personally, Cala Goloritzé was very impressive, but not the most spectacular beach we’ve seen on Sardinia – however, the hike itself and of course the Punta Salinas viewpoint are an experience in their own right.
Cala Goloritzé isn’t a classic sandy beach, but rather a pebble and shingle beach with many large stones and boulders you can lie on comfortably. One point many people underestimate: in the shoulder season (late September, October) the sun disappears behind the cliffs as early as around 1:30 pm, while in summer the beach stays in the sun a bit longer.
So don’t cut your arrival time too close, and come in the morning rather than the afternoon – otherwise, depending on the season, you’ll quickly end up sitting in the shade. Plus, the beach isn’t crowded yet early in the morning.
The route to the starting point of the hike runs a few kilometers outside Baunei, first paved, then as a gravel track across the Golgo plateau. Along the way you’ll frequently encounter free-roaming donkeys, cows, pigs and sheep, some standing right in the middle of the track and surprisingly happy to be petted.
The Su Porteddu parking lot (Google Maps) is right at the start of the hike, and there’s no other place to park along the way. Parking during the day is free; anyone who wants to stay overnight there pays €10 per person, which includes access to hot showers and toilets.
There’s also a restaurant right at the parking lot that we can genuinely recommend.
The hike to the beach
From the parking lot, the main trail is well maintained and fairly easy to follow. Plan for about 1–1.5 hours for the descent of over 500 meters in elevation, and more like one and a half to two hours for the ascent.
The trail alternates between forest and steep rocky cliffs, which keeps it mostly shaded. Since you’ll be walking over a lot of loose scree, good footing and the right shoes are very important.
If you just hike down to the beach, you can’t really get lost and don’t need a hiking map or app. It’s a different story if you take a small detour, which we’d definitely recommend.
Detour to the Punta Salinas viewpoint
A side trail to the Punta Salinas viewpoint is absolutely worth it – from there you get a fantastic view of the beach and the entire coastline of the Gulf of Orosei. Only a fraction of hikers take this detour – no wonder, since the path there is neither signposted nor marked, and it’s also very strenuous.
So make sure to download a hiking map for your phone beforehand (e.g. OrganicMaps), otherwise you definitely won’t find the right way. The path itself is really steep and strenuous, and the way back from the viewpoint to the main trail also runs awkwardly over loose scree and gravel. After descending from the viewpoint, you rejoin the regular trail down to the beach and continue down to the bay along with the other visitors.
We definitely recommend visiting the viewpoint first, since the route is even steeper and more strenuous the other way around.
Cala Goloritzé hike
On this hike you’ll experience one of Sardinia’s most popular beaches and can also climb up to a truly spectacular viewpoint.
Ticket required: booking through Heart of Sardinia
To access the beach itself, you absolutely need a ticket, which you must book in advance through the official platform Heart of Sardinia. The ticket costs €7 per person and can be booked at most 3 days in advance. A maximum of 250 people are allowed on the beach per day, so it sells out quickly during peak season.
In the shoulder season, like during our visit in October, you can usually still get a ticket as late as the day before. You can still do the hike without a ticket, but you won’t be let onto the beach itself.
Opening hours: when the trail & beach are accessible
During our visit in October, the trail could no longer be entered after 2:00 pm, and the beach had to be vacated by 4:00 pm. In peak summer season, the hours are more generous: you can still start the trail into the afternoon, and the beach can be used until early evening (6:00 pm).
Regardless of the season: start as early as possible, by 10:00 am at the latest, to leave yourself enough time for breaks and the detour to the viewpoint. The trail to the beach opens no earlier than 7:30 am, by the way.
Only reachable on foot – not even directly by boat
Even though boat tours from Cala Gonone or Arbatax, for example, pass by Cala Goloritzé, the boats aren’t allowed to dock there. Boats have to keep a distance of about 200 meters from the bay, so guests can only view the beach from there.
Anyone who actually wants to set foot on Cala Goloritzé can only get there via the hike from the Golgo plateau.
Nearby: Cala Mariolu & the village of Baunei
Not far from Cala Goloritzé is the hike to Cala Mariolu, considered one of the most beautiful bays in the Gulf of Orosei – though we haven’t done this hike ourselves (yet). The small village of Baunei itself is also worth a stop and makes for a quiet alternative to the more touristy spots along the coast.
Frequently asked questions about Cala Goloritzé
Do you need a ticket for Cala Goloritzé?
Yes, a ticket through the Heart of Sardinia website is required for the beach itself (€7 per person, bookable up to 3 days in advance, max. 250 visitors per day). You can hike without a ticket (and even reach the viewpoint), but you won’t be allowed onto the beach.
How long does the hike to Cala Goloritzé take?
The descent takes about an hour, while the ascent takes more like one and a half to two hours. For the detour to the Punta Salinas viewpoint, plan for an extra 1.5 hours.
Can you reach Cala Goloritzé by boat?
No. Boat tours do pass by the bay, but aren’t allowed to dock at the beach. The beach can only be reached via the hike from the Su Porteddu parking lot.
How much does parking cost at the Cala Goloritzé Hike?
Parking at the Su Porteddu trailhead is free during the day. Anyone who wants to stay overnight there pays €10 per person, which includes access to hot showers and moderately clean toilets.
Is the detour to the Punta Salinas viewpoint worth it?
Absolutely, if only for the panoramic view over the beach and coastline. The path is unmarked and steep, though – download a hiking map beforehand, or you won’t find the right way.
Cala Goloritzé lies along the same stretch of coast as Cala Gonone, which is also where boat tours in this direction depart from. For the full tour through the south and east of the island, you’ll find everything you need in our 7-day Sardinia road trip.
Are dogs allowed on the beach at Cala Goloritzé?
You’re allowed to bring dogs on the hike (and even to the viewpoint), but dogs aren’t allowed on the beach itself. There’s a small picnic area just before the beach where you can wait with your dog while your companions go down to the beach.
