Following the recognition of the best Italian beaches that earned the Blue Flag 2024, it is now the turn of Italian beaches to be ranked among the most beautiful in the world. Two of these beaches are located in Sardinia, close to each other, and one in Sicily, on the small island of Lampedusa. According to worlds50beaches.com, Cala Mariolu is ranked 2nd, Cala Goloritzè 19th, and Rabbit Beach 50th among the most beautiful beaches. In Europe, only Italy features three beaches on the list, followed by Greece with two.
As noted in the 2024 ranking presentation by worlds50beaches.com, the list of the world’s most beautiful beaches is the “culmination of countless days spent by our judges, beach ambassadors, and the World’s 50 Beaches team exploring beaches all over the world”. May this Italian list inspire you to plan your next beach vacation in Italy!
Even because these three Italian beaches have limited access and require reservations for entry. To preserve the beauty of these locations, Cala Goloritzè allows a maximum of 250 visitors, Cala Mariolu 700 visitors, and Rabbit Beach 550 visitors per day.
Cala Mariolu in Sardinia
A gem on the central-eastern coast of Sardinia, in the municipality of Baunei in the province of Nuoro. An intimate cove characterized by white and pink pebbles that will reward you after a walk through the wild nature or a boat trip.
According to legend, the cove is named after a fisherman who used to store his freshly caught fish in a small cave near the beach. However, the fisherman didn’t know that a monk seal lived there, which would come out of the water and eat the fish hidden in the cave. When the fisherman couldn’t find his fish, he would exclaim “acca cestà mariolu” (there’s a thief here), and from then on, this exclamation gave the place its name.
Other names for this beautiful beach include “is pùligi de nie” (the snow fleas) for the round, white, and pink pebbles mixed with the sand, and “ispuligiada ‘e nie” (snow spray).
The panorama is striking for its endless shades of blue, emerald green, and light blue. The cliff surrounding the cove reaches 500 meters in height and drops steeply into the water both to the north and south, making Cala Mariolu accessible by land only through a challenging trek through dense Mediterranean scrub.
The shallow seabed is worth exploring with a mask or scuba gear for those who want to dive deeper. It is home to various species, and sometimes dolphins can be seen offshore. Out of the water, you can spot peregrine falcons, Eleonora’s falcons, shag cormorants, and golden eagles.
A large rock serves as a pier. The cove is more conveniently accessible by sea, with private boats or services departing from the ports of Arbatax, Cala Gonone, and Santa Maria Navarrese. Near the beach, there are many caves, including one within the cove: it begins with a small beach and extends ten meters deep, the result of the sea’s incessant work over the centuries. Not far away is the impressive Fig Cave.
Only 250 people are allowed on the beach per day, during two time slots: 7:30-10:00 and 14:00-17:00. The entrance fee is 6 euros. For more information and to book a visit to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, visit here or download the app “Heart of Sardinia”.
Cala Goloritzé in Sardinia
Cala Goloritzé is also located in Baunei, in the southern part of the Gulf of Orosei in the province of Nuoro. Here, sea and mountains harmoniously converge in a Mediterranean gem formed by a landslide in 1962. It is famous for the 143-meter-high pinnacle that towers above it, known to free climbing enthusiasts for its climbing routes, the most famous being the Symphony of Windmills (Sinfonia dei Mulini a Vento).
Another distinctive feature of this beach is the natural arch on the right side of the bay. Additionally, a freshwater spring hidden among the rocks flows into the sea from underground. Accessible by land via a scenic trail, Cala Goloritzé was declared a “natural monument” by the Sardinian Region in 1993 and a “national monument of Italy” in 1995.
The reason is simple: this place looks like a painting from a fantastic dream. The seabed has an otherworldly clarity, the turquoise waters are fed by underwater karst springs, and marble rocks sculpted by time emerge from the sea, including a natural arch and the famous pyramid-shaped spire of Monte Caroddi.
Cala Goloritzé is not only the most photographed beach in Ogliastra but also consistently ranks among the top ten most beautiful beaches in Italy according to TripAdvisor users. The enchanting scenery is overseen by the “lady of the house”, the grand spire coveted by climbers worldwide and a nesting habitat for Eleonora’s falcons.
Cala Goloritzé is also a haven for trekkers. To reach it, you must hike a 3 km trail with a 470-meter elevation change: about an hour of descent and an hour and a half of ascent on the return. But trust me, the long walk will be rewarded by arriving at an unspoiled oasis.
By sea, access is much easier: charter services (in groups) and dinghy rentals are available from the ports of Arbatax, Cala Gonone, and Santa Maria Navarrese. However, there are specific restrictions: anchoring is prohibited within 300 meters of the shore. You’ll find marker buoys at the entrance, and from there, you can either swim or approach by rowing. To book your visit to Cala Goloritzé, visit here or download the app “Heart of Sardinia”.
Rabbit Beach in Lampedusa (Spiaggia dei Conigli)
Don’t be misled by its 50th place ranking: in 2013, TripAdvisor travelers voted this one the most beautiful beach in the world! It is an authentic marvel in a dreamlike setting, immersed in an enchanted atmosphere, with incredible marine life and crystal-clear blue waters that attract tourists from all over the globe. A true earthly paradise, singer Domenico Modugno called it the “pool of God”.
The beach is located opposite Rabbit Island, on the southwest side of Lampedusa. This tiny island rises in the center of a wide bay and is the realm of the yellow-legged gull, which nests here. The origin of the name is interesting and somewhat controversial. In an 1824 map by Admiral Smith, “Rabit Island” appears for the first time, but in subsequent maps, it was incorrectly translated from English (rabbit = coniglio). It seems more plausible that it derives from the Arabic term “rabit” (meaning which connects, which links), suggesting a possible reference to the isthmus that occasionally forms between the islet and the coast.
According to another theory, the name originated because many years ago, a colony of rabbits reached the islet when it was connected to the mainland. When the sand bridge disappeared, the rabbits were trapped and reproduced, becoming so numerous that the place was named Isola dei Conigli (Rabbit Island).
Rabbit Beach is the largest beach in Lampedusa. It can be reached by walking along a path that leads to this wonderful beach of fine sand and crystal-clear water. To protect the natural environment and ensure a respectful experience, access to Rabbit Beach is allowed during one of two scheduled time slots (morning 8:30-13:30, afternoon 14:30-19:30), for a maximum of 550 people per slot. Entry is free.
From the beginning of June, you can book until August 6, and from the beginning of July, you can book until October 15. You can book only one time slot per day and only once a week. Each reservation can include a maximum of 2 people. For more information and to book your visit to Rabbit Beach, click here.