Golfo Aranci holidays

Holidays to Golfo Aranci put nature in the spotlight – dolphin-spotting, beach-going and hillside hikes top the to-do list.

A relaxed way of life

The small fishing town of Golfo Aranci, on Sardinia’s northeast coast, is just a 20-minute drive from Olbia, but it feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here, things are on the go-slow. Most of the action centres around the idyllic beachfront, while the town itself is made up of terracotta-roofed houses mixed in with a sprinkling of restaurants and bars.

Best-in-class beaches

Golfo Aranci is blessed with some of the best beaches in Sardinia. There’s more than half a dozen dotted along the town’s southern shoreline, and they all show off latte-tinted sand and water that’s as clear as glass. Prima Beach and Terza Beach are the two most popular. The water in the former is shallow enough for even little splashers to feel confident in, and the latter’s backed by a string of restaurants and bars.

Dolphin-roamed waters

The waters around Golfo Aranci are teeming with bottlenose dolphins, so it’s a popular spot for wildlife lovers. For the best chance of spotting the pod in their natural habitat, hop on a boat from the town’s harbour to nearby Figarolo Island. While you’re there, you can drop anchor near the pebble beach for a spot of snorkelling – the shallow sea’s home to huge swathes of colourful fish.

A must-see natural park

Another perk to staying in Golfo Aranci is that you’ll have the Capo Figari Natural Park on your doorstep. This 850-hectare reserve is a sea of green that can be easily explored on foot or by bike. For panoramic vistas of the sea and nearby islands, make a beeline for the Promontory of Capo Figari. It takes around three hours to walk to the top, and the scenes that await are worth every minute.