At a glance, if you are in a hurry
Villasimius does not have one beach: it has a dozen, all different, spread around the Capo Carbonara headland. The practical consequence is that here you do not pick a beach once, you pick one each morning according to the wind. One day only, go to Porto Giunco. Travelling with small children, Simius. Want Punta Molentis, you have to book. And either way you need a car.
| Beach | What it is like | Best for | Sheltered from | Booking? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porto Giunco | White sand between sea and lagoon | The postcard day | Mistral | No, but paid parking |
| Simius | Long, sandy, close to town | Families, half days | Mistral | No |
| Punta Molentis | Cove among granite rocks | Anyone who books ahead | Most winds | Yes, 150 places a day |
| Campus | Wide and breezy, western side | Space and swell | Sirocco | No |
| Cala Caterina | Small enclosed bay | Windy days | Mistral | No |
| Spiaggia del Riso | Quartz grains near the marina | Snorkelling, a short stop | Mistral | No |
| Costa Rei | Very long shoreline to the north | Walking out on shallow water | Mistral | No |
The wind rule, and here it matters more
Villasimius sits on a headland, and that is its greatest asset: it has beaches facing east, south and west within a few kilometres. Which means a windy day does not ruin the holiday, it simply moves it.
With the mistral, the commonest summer wind, coming from the north-west, the eastern side of the headland stays calm: Porto Giunco, Simius, Cala Caterina. With a sirocco from the south-east the opposite applies and it is worth moving over to Campus, on the western side.
Locals do this without thinking about it and visitors work it out on day three. Anyone who knows it from day one gains two days of swimming.
Porto Giunco: the one in the photographs
If you have seen a picture of Villasimius, it was almost certainly Porto Giunco. It is a strip of fine white sand pinched between the sea, an almost unreal turquoise here, and the Notteri lagoon behind, where flamingos gather in summer.
Above the beach stands the Spanish tower of Porto Giunco: the climb is short and steep, ten or fifteen minutes, and from the top you see the headland, the Isola dei Cavoli and the lagoon on the other side. It is the viewpoint we recommend to every guest, best early in the morning or towards sunset.
The seabed shelves very gently, so it works with children too. The limitation is parking: in high season it is charged and fills by mid-morning. Anyone arriving at eleven in August drives around in circles.
Simius: the most convenient, and that is no criticism
This is the town beach, long and wide, minutes from the centre. It lacks the drama of Porto Giunco but has everything else: fine sand, shallow water, lidos and kiosks alternating with free stretches, and the option of walking home or driving for two minutes.
It is the right choice for half days, for late afternoons and above all for anyone with small children who does not want to load the car every time. Many of the families staying in our houses end up using Simius on weekdays and the other beaches when they feel like moving.
Punta Molentis: beautiful, and capped
It is a cove set among pink granite rocks, with water that changes colour with every metre of depth. It is also small and fragile, which is why access is regulated.
In 2026, 150 people a day are admitted by land, with a contribution of €10 per person, from 6 June to 31 October. Booking is online on the Villasimius council portal. Places do run out, so this is a beach you plan a few days ahead, not one you stumble upon.
Rules and charges change from season to season: it is always worth checking official channels before travelling. If there is no space, the natural second choice is Cala Caterina, which has the same enclosed feel without the queue.
Campus, Cala Caterina, Spiaggia del Riso
Campus lies on the western side of the headland, facing the gulf and catching the wind. That makes it the right beach when the other side has a sirocco, and it is also where you find most space in August. The water is livelier and the landscape more open.
Cala Caterina, towards the Timi Ama area, is a small sheltered bay with the maquis running almost down to the water. It is the choice for windy days and for anyone wanting somewhere quieter.
Spiaggia del Riso, near the marina, takes its name from quartz grains that look like grains of rice. It is small and not the easiest for a full day, but for snorkelling and a short stop it is worth the detour.
The marine reserve and the boat trips
The whole headland falls within the Capo Carbonara marine protected area, which also takes in the Isola dei Cavoli and the Isola di Serpentara. It is divided into zones with different rules on navigation, anchoring, fishing and diving.
For beachgoers almost nothing changes. It matters a great deal for anyone arriving in their own boat or wanting to dive: there are limits on moorings and activities, so check first. Dive centres and organised excursions already operate inside those rules, so they are the simplest route.
Boat trips leave from the marina and run around the headland to the Isola dei Cavoli, with its lighthouse, and out to Serpentara. In high season it pays to book a few days ahead. It is one of the things guests ask us about most, along with parking.
Getting there, and why you need a car
Villasimius is about fifty kilometres from Cagliari, just under an hour along the SS125 and the coastal road, which is beautiful and should be driven unhurried. From Cagliari-Elmas airport allow about an hour and a quarter.
There are ARST coaches from Cagliari, but the problem is not arriving: it is moving around once you are here. The beaches are far apart, local links are few and seasonal, and without a car you end up tied to one beach, which throws away the advantage of the headland. If you are hiring, book well ahead: between July and August the island genuinely runs out of cars.
Anyone coming by ferry can dock at Cagliari and drive the last stretch. We cover this in more detail in the guide on getting to Sardinia.
When to come, and what to expect
The season runs from late May to early October, peaking in July and August. June and September are the best months: warm sea, long days, liveable beaches and lower prices. In August the sea is at its best, but so is the traffic on the coast road and the queue for parking.
Off season Villasimius changes a lot: some businesses close and the town empties. That is not a fault, it is information: anyone coming in October or May finds a quiet and beautiful place, but should know it in advance. To get your bearings on timing, see the guide on when to visit Sardinia.
The things people always ask
Three, in order of frequency. Parking: in summer almost every beach has paid, limited spaces, so an early start beats any strategy. The sand: you cannot take it, it is prohibited by regional law and the airport checks are real. Shade: there is almost none naturally, and parasols do not last long in the wind, so a low beach tent is the most useful thing you can buy.
If you are weighing up where to stay, our page on Villasimius describes the areas and what changes between the town, the coast and the Capo Carbonara side. And if you already have dates in mind, write to us: we will tell you what is free and which beach you will be closest to.
Where the figures on this page come from
This guide was last updated in August 2026. Fares, timetables and beach access rules change every season, so rather than asking you to take our word for it, here is where we checked: Villasimius council for the cap, contribution and dates at Punta Molentis, and CTM Cagliari for public transport fares in the regional capital. If you find a figure that no longer holds, tell us and we will correct it: we would rather have a page that is right than one that looks complete.
