La Pelosa is, in our view (arguably), the most impressive beach in Europe. The only other one that comes close is Illetes in Formentera, the same powder-white sand, the same improbable turquoise water, the same low Mediterranean light, but La Pelosa has a medieval tower rising out of the sea just offshore and a 360-degree panorama of the Asinara archipelago that Illetes cannot match. If you are going to Sardinia, getting onto this beach should be near the top of the list. It is genuinely that good.
We have written about La Pelosa as part of our guide to the best beaches in northern Sardinia, but the booking system has become complex enough that it deserves its own post. Getting in is no longer as simple as turning up early, there is an official reservation system, a mandatory mat rule, a parking headache. This post covers all of it, plus what to do when you cannot get a slot.
How to Book La Pelosa in 2026
All reservations go through the official site: spiaggialapelosa.it. Ignore any other site offering tickets, as the municipality has not authorised third-party sellers, and several unofficial ones have appeared over the years. The ticket costs €3.50 per person; children under 12 enter free and do not need a reservation.
The beach is capped at 1,500 visitors per day, split across two booking windows:
- Advance window: 500 spots are released for the entire season (15 May–15 October) and can be booked at any time. These go fast for peak July and August dates, so book as soon as you know your travel dates.
- 48-hour window: The remaining 1,000 spots are released exactly 48 hours before the access date, at 8:00am (Italy time). If you want the 30th of July, they go live at 8:00am on the 28th. These also sell out quickly in high season, so set an alarm.
One practical note: each reservation covers a maximum of four people. If you are travelling in a larger group, you will need multiple bookings, which means having more than one person ready at their device at 8:00am when the 48-hour window opens.
After 6 pm: Free Entry
If you cannot secure a ticket, there is one unofficial workaround: the reservation system is enforced until around 6 pm. After that, entry is generally free, and the beach is quieter as day-trippers head back. The light in the late afternoon and evening is also stunning; the tower turns gold, and the water goes a deeper shade of blue. It is not the same as a full day, but it is genuinely beautiful.
The Mat Rule
La Pelosa has some of the finest silica sand in Europe, and the authorities are serious about protecting it. Since 2017, it has been mandatory to use a beach mat; you cannot put towels or swimwear directly on the sand. The rule exists because the sand is uniquely fine and has been visibly darkening from the oils and dyes in fabric left directly on it. Mats are rented on-site for a few euros, or you can bring your own.
Enforcement varies, on busy days there are wardens, on quieter ones less so, but the fines are real, and the logic is sound. The sand at La Pelosa is part of what makes it extraordinary, and it is noticeably whiter and finer than almost any other beach we have been to. Bringing a thin mat adds almost nothing to your bag and takes roughly two seconds to lay down. Better to just do it.
Parking: the Biggest Headache
Parking near La Pelosa is genuinely difficult. The road running down to the beach has a small number of on-street spaces that fill up by mid-morning in July and August. The best app for street parking in Italy is EasyPark, which it covers the paid zones around Stintino and saves you the cash and the panic of finding a machine. Plus, you can extend the time from your mobile phone without leaving the beach. This app can also be used in many other places in Italy and other places in Europe (20+ countries). If you sign up with this link, you get €4 in credit to use.
What most visitors miss is the private parking lot uphill, all the way up if you follow the road. It costs roughly the same as street parking, sometimes less, and is more likely to have spaces when the road is full. It is not signposted especially well, but if you overshoot the beach and continue up the hill, you will see it on the right.
When You Can’t Get In: Our 2026 Experience
This summer we went to Stintino as a group of eight — two families — and could not get onto La Pelosa. The 500 advance spots had gone weeks earlier. At 8:00am on the 48-hour window, two of us were on the site the moment bookings opened. We were both in the queue simultaneously. The 1,000 spots sold out in under 15 minutes. Neither of us got through. That is how competitive it is in peak season, so if you are going in July or August and miss the advance window, be ready for the real possibility that the 48-hour slots will be gone before your queue position comes up.
We ended up at Il Gabbiano, a short drive back towards Stintino, and it turned out to be a very good day. We booked umbrella and sunbed sets with no trouble, the restaurant had a proper menu and tables right on the terrace, and the sea was exactly the same water, the same Gulf of Asinara, the same translucent blue. It was not La Pelosa, but it was genuinely lovely, and we left without the vague anxiety that comes with trying to get eight people onto a protected beach.
Alternatives When La Pelosa Is Fully Booked
All three options below are within a few kilometres of La Pelosa. None of them requires booking.
1. Spiaggia della Pelosetta
Best for: families who want the La Pelosa experience without the booking stress
La Pelosetta is the smaller beach immediately adjacent to La Pelosa — the same white sand, the same view of the tower, the same water. The only meaningful difference is that it is not subject to the access limit. It is smaller and can get crowded in peak season, but arriving early (before 10am) usually means you can find a spot. Umbrellas and chairs can be hired from the beach bar on site. It is not a consolation prize, on a calm day with the tower in view it is genuinely one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
2. Il Gabbiano
Best for: groups, families with young children, anyone who wants a proper lunch
Il Gabbiano is a fully-equipped beach club and restaurant a few minutes’ drive from La Pelosa, back towards the town of Stintino. You can book umbrella and sunbed sets in advance via ilgabbianostintino.it, which is exactly the kind of straightforward process that La Pelosa is not. The restaurant is good — we had pasta and grilled fish on the terrace and the kitchen was clearly taking it seriously. For a group of eight, it was, honestly, a better day out than a crowded La Pelosa would have been.
3. L’Approdo (Windsurfing Centre Stintino)
Best for: watersports, active families, those wanting something a bit different
L’Approdo is the equipped beach run by the Windsurfing Center Stintino, active since 1986 and offering considerably more than sunbathing. Alongside the usual umbrellas and sunbeds, they hire out windsurfers, SUPs, canoes, and pedal boats, and run sailing and windsurfing courses. There is a bar-restaurant metres from the water. Book through windsurfingcenter.it or via BookYourBeach. If you have children who want to get on the water rather than just lie on it, this is the most useful of the three alternatives.
Practical Summary
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official booking site | spiaggialapelosa.it |
| Season | 15 May – 15 October |
| Daily cap | 1,500 visitors |
| Advance spots | 500 — bookable any time |
| 48-hour spots | 1,000 — released at 8:00am, 2 days before |
| Ticket price | €3.50 per person (under 12s free) |
| Max per booking | 4 people |
| Mat rule | Mandatory — no towels or swimwear on sand |
| Parking app | EasyPark |
| After 6pm | Generally free entry, no reservation needed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Pelosa beach free to visit?
A reservation costs €3.50 per person and is required between 15 May and 15 October. Children under 12 enter free. After approximately 6pm, access is generally free and no reservation is needed.
How far in advance can you book La Pelosa?
500 of the 1,500 daily spots can be booked at any point during the season — essentially as far in advance as you like. The remaining 1,000 spots are released at 8:00am exactly 48 hours before the date you want. Book the advance allocation as early as possible for July and August dates.
Why do I need a mat at La Pelosa?
The sand at La Pelosa is unusually fine silica, and direct contact with towels and dyed fabrics was visibly darkening it over time. Mats are mandatory to protect the beach. They can be hired on-site or brought from home — a thin foam mat or a microfibre one works fine.
What is the best parking option for La Pelosa?
Street parking on the road to the beach fills up quickly in high season. There is a pay-and-display car park on the hill behind the beach which often has spaces when the road is full, and it is sometimes cheaper. Use EasyPark for street parking payments.
Can I visit La Pelosa with a large group, or will the booking cap be a problem?
Yes, but the limiting factor is speed rather than group size. In peak season the 1,000 spots released 48 hours in advance sell out in under 15 minutes — we had two adults queuing simultaneously the moment the window opened and neither got through. The advance allocation of 500 spots is your best option for a large group: book as early as possible in the season, before those go too. If all else fails, La Pelosetta and Il Gabbiano are both within a few minutes of La Pelosa and require no advance booking.
What are the best alternatives to La Pelosa if it’s fully booked?
The three closest alternatives are: Spiaggia della Pelosetta (right next door, same view, no booking needed), Il Gabbiano (a beach club with restaurant a few minutes’ drive away, bookable in advance), and L’Approdo (the Windsurfing Center Stintino beach, good for watersports and active families).