Cala della Calcina

Cala della Calcina is a sweet little bay near Alghero where you get the best of both worlds — a partially equipped beach with sun loungers and umbrellas if you want the easy life, plus a free stretch of sand if you'd rather just throw down a towel. The water is genuinely stunning, crystal clear and turquoise in that way that makes you want to stay all day. It's a relaxed, unfussy spot that doesn't feel overrun, which is rarer than it should be along this stretch of Sardinian coast.