Cala Goloritzé has moved from Sardinian icon to global bucket-list beach. After taking first place in The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2025 ranking, the small cove on the Baunei coast has attracted even more attention from travelers searching for Sardinia’s clearest water and most dramatic coastline. But visiting it is not as simple as driving to the beach: access is protected, places are limited, and reaching the shore requires a real hike.
For the 2026 season, the most important number to remember is 250. That is the daily limit for visitors accessing Cala Goloritzé, and in the busiest periods demand can exceed availability. In July 2026, Baunei mayor Stefano Monni said the beach had been effectively sold out since the beginning of April, confirming just how important advance planning has become.
Why Cala Goloritzé became the world’s number one beach
The World’s 50 Best Beaches ranked Cala Goloritzé number one globally in its 2025 list. The ranking highlighted both its wild scenery and the conservation measures that have helped preserve the cove. The beach lies on the eastern coast of Sardinia in the territory of Baunei, in Ogliastra, surrounded by limestone cliffs and dominated by its unmistakable rock pinnacle.
The recognition has inevitably increased international interest, but Cala Goloritzé was already one of Sardinia’s most protected coastal destinations. Its limited-access system is not simply a response to a fashionable ranking: it is part of a broader effort to prevent overcrowding in a fragile natural setting.
How to reach Cala Goloritzé
The standard visitor access is on foot from Su Porteddu on the Golgo plateau above Baunei. Official Baunei tourism information describes a route of about 3.5 kilometres with roughly 500 metres of elevation difference. Allow around 1 hour 30 minutes for the descent and approximately two hours for the return climb.
The uphill journey is the part visitors should not underestimate, particularly in summer. The official guidance requires closed shoes with good grip, preferably trekking footwear, and enough drinking water for the route. There are no normal beach facilities waiting at the bottom, so this is better approached as a hiking day that includes time by the sea rather than as an ordinary beach stop.
Official information recommends reaching the trail entrance by 10:00 to avoid walking during the hottest part of the day. The trail opens at 7:30 and the entry window closes at 14:00. Visitors should always check the latest official instructions before setting out, since operating times and access arrangements can change.
The 250-person limit and booking
Cala Goloritzé is capped at 250 visitors per day. Access therefore needs to be booked rather than left to chance, especially during the main summer season. The booking system is linked to Heart of Sardinia and the Baunei tourism service; current 2026 guidance indicates that reservations open 72 hours before the chosen visit date.
This restriction explains why travelers searching for the “best beaches in Sardinia” need to treat Cala Goloritzé differently from many other coves. Turning up at the trailhead without checking availability can mean missing the beach entirely. The limited number also helps preserve one of the qualities that made Goloritzé internationally famous: a spectacular natural environment that is actively protected rather than allowed to absorb unlimited crowds.
Sea access is also tightly controlled. Boats cannot simply land on the beach, and the protected offshore area keeps normal boat traffic away from the shore. Travelers taking boat excursions along the Baunei coast can admire Cala Goloritzé from the sea, but that should not be confused with having permission to disembark on the beach.
Cala Goloritzé or Cala Mariolu?
Cala Mariolu is another name that appears constantly in searches for Sardinia’s best beaches, and it lies on the same extraordinary Baunei coastline. The two should not be treated as interchangeable, however. Goloritzé is particularly defined by its protected access, hiking route and strict daily visitor limit. Cala Mariolu is often included in boat itineraries along the Gulf of Orosei and has its own access arrangements.
For travelers choosing between them, the practical question matters as much as the scenery. Cala Goloritzé rewards people prepared to reserve ahead, carry hiking equipment and make the climb back to the Golgo plateau. A boat-based day along the coast offers a very different experience and may suit visitors who do not want to undertake the trek.
The worldwide attention of 2025 has made Cala Goloritzé more desirable, but it has also made planning essential. Check the official Baunei tourism information and booking availability before traveling, start early, bring proper footwear and water, and respect the access rules. The 250-person ceiling may make a place harder to secure, but it is also part of what protects one of Sardinia’s most remarkable stretches of coast.
