geocalia
Day itinerary · 41.10° N · 9.53° E
A pink-granite beach first thing, snorkelling by boat towards the Monaci lighthouse in the afternoon, Porto Cervo at sundown and a Gallura dinner on a terrace by the sea.
Part of Olbia and the Costa Smeralda
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
Along the SS125, the SP73 and the SP94 to Via Romazzino; car park with 25 spaces
Arrive before ten · paid car park · there is a small bar
Orso Diving Club · Monaci lighthouse from 15:00 to 17:30 · €55 adults, €30 under-8s · booking
+39 0789 99001
The Piazzetta, the harbour and the church of Stella Maris
Tuesday to Saturday · ask for a table on the terrace
Viale Giovanni Maria Orecchioni, 07021 Liscia di Vacca, Porto Cervo · +39 0789 91344
In Olbia around 22:45
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
This is the day most people picture when they think of the Costa Smeralda, but put in an order that works: the beach first thing, while there is still room in the car park; a boat and snorkelling in the afternoon, when the beach fills up; Porto Cervo at sunset, when it comes alive, and a dinner with the sea in front of you. You need a car, and it is best to book the boat and dinner before you set out.
Fly to Olbia: from Spain there is only a direct flight from Barcelona. With your hire car, Spiaggia del Principe is about 40 minutes away by the SS125, the SP73 and the SP94.
8:45 · Leave Olbia. Head for Via Romazzino. The beach car park has 25 spaces, and you pay.
9:30 · Spiaggia del Principe. Two arcs of white sand separated by a pink-granite headland, 300 metres on foot from the car. There are sunbeds for hire and a small bar; bring water and something to eat. Stay until after lunch.
15:00 · Snorkelling from Poltu Quatu. Orso Diving Club sails by boat towards the Monaci lighthouse from 15:00 to 17:30: €55 for adults and €30 for under-8s, with mask, snorkel, fins and shorty wetsuit. The boat anchors and you swim to the coves. Book on their website or by phone.
17:45 · Porto Cervo. A few minutes from Poltu Quatu. Stroll around the Piazzetta and the harbour and go up to the church of Stella Maris, by Michele Busiri Vici, with its Mater Dolorosa attributed to El Greco.
19:30 · Dinner at Lu Pisantinu. At Liscia di Vacca, two kilometres away. A terrace by the sea, handmade Gallura pasta such as chijusoni with guinea-fowl ragù (€32) and fish of the day. Open Tuesday to Saturday; dinner comes to more than €90 per person.
22:00 · Return. To Olbia, about 45 minutes.
Lu Pisantinu is closed. Go back to Olbia and have dinner at Bacchus, the restaurant of the Jazz Hotel, which is open every day.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the chijusoni with guinea fowl ragù and black truffle or the culurgiones with crustacean sauce, and for a main course the rack of lamb or the fish of the day from the display.
What to order: at lunchtime, the paccheri with stracciatella or the Bacchus salad; in the evening, the black fregola with clams and bottarga or the Bortigali beef tagliata.
What to order: let yourself be guided by the fixed menu and do not fill up on the board of cured meats and cheeses: the zuppa gallurese, the oven-roast meat and the ricotta with honey come afterwards.
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
From June to September, with warm water and the diving centre in season. Tuesday to Saturday only, because Lu Pisantinu is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Tips
The snorkelling depends on the weather and a minimum number of participants; dinner fills up in summer.
Capriccioli is sheltered from the north-west.
It is 45 minutes at night on winding roads.
Questions
€55 for the snorkelling and from about €90 for dinner per person, plus the beach car park.
Tuesday to Saturday, because of the restaurant. Otherwise, any day in season.
Yes, swapping the beach for Capriccioli and dinner for Bacchus. Snorkelling costs €30 for under-8s.
Fly to Olbia, with a direct flight only from Barcelona, and hire a car.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/costa-smeralda/itineraries/beach-snorkel-and-dinner-with-a-view
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/costa-smeralda/itineraries/beach-snorkel-and-dinner-with-a-view
