Lazzaretto Beach, Alghero: How to Get There and What to Expect

Why Lazzaretto beach is worth the trip from Alghero

The main draw is the water. It is transparent, with blues and turquoises over a sandy seabed broken by patches of rock, which makes it unusually good for watching fish and starfish close to shore. The trade-off is temperature: the sea here stays cold even in summer, so treat it as a refreshing plunge rather than a warm bathe.

Behind the sand, Mediterranean scrub runs up towards the Lazzaretto Tower, and the mix of nature and history gives the place more character than a plain resort strip. Small wild inlets sit around the main beach, so you can choose between facilities and near-solitude within a short walk.

Getting there by car

From Alghero, take the SS 127 bis towards Fertilia and Porto Conte. After roughly 8 km a sign on the left marks Lazzaretto beach, and a narrow lane leads down to the parking area; the drive takes about 15 minutes in total. The lane is tight for passing oncoming cars, and in peak season the traffic direction may be reversed so that you enter from the Bombarde side instead.

Parking beside the beach is straightforward in principle but needs planning in July and August. Guarded lots close to the sand take cars and campervans, with charges of about €1–2 per hour depending on the season, and they fill quickly.

A free dirt road on the right offers an alternative, but it fills very easily and turns chaotic at busy times. Parking on the roadside curbs is prohibited and fines are common, so the guarded lot is the lower-risk choice on a summer weekend. Motorbikes park free within the guarded area.

Arriving by bus

ARST urban buses run from central Alghero, with the main stop at Via Catalogna, to a Lazzaretto stop in about 20 minutes. A separate BeachBus shuttle also leaves Alghero for this beach and others nearby. Neither timetable nor fare is fixed here, so look up current times with ARST before you set out, particularly outside high season.

The bus stop is the Lazaretto stop used by the beach shuttle, which drops you within walking distance of the sand. Travelling by bus removes the parking problem entirely, which matters most on Sundays in July and August when the lots can be full by mid-morning.

The bike path from Alghero

A bike path leaves Alghero and runs almost all the way to the beach, a ride of about 9 km, with the final stretch on an ordinary road that can be busy in peak season. The return leg includes a significant climb, which you can break up by routing back via the side road through Le Bombarde.

The sand and the water

The main beach runs for roughly 300 metres of fine white sand, wider in the centre and narrowing at the sides. That central width is where you will find the space for sunbeds and umbrellas; the tapered ends feel more intimate and connect to the surrounding coves.

The water shallows gently over sand before you reach the rockier patches, so weaker swimmers can stay in the clear, pale shallows while stronger swimmers head for the varied seabed further out. Bring water shoes if you plan to explore the rocky sides, where the entry is less forgiving underfoot.

Swimming and snorkelling

Snorkelling is the standout activity: the rocky flanks of the beach shelter a shallow, varied seabed where fish and starfish are easy to spot with a mask. The scrub paths to the coves are rocky, so sturdy sandals or water shoes make the walk more comfortable.

Kayaks and paddleboards can be hired at the kiosks for a closer look at the coast, and boat trips from Alghero sometimes call at the beach. If you prefer a self-guided day, a mask, snorkel and a pair of reef-safe shoes cover most of what the shoreline offers.

Wind and sea conditions

When the mistral blows, the sea here can turn choppy, so a windy forecast changes the day from a gentle swim to a bracing one. Check the wind direction before committing, and treat the beach as a fair-weather destination for swimming, keeping to the sand on a gusty day.

The coves either side

Small paths through the Mediterranean scrub lead east and west of the main beach to intimate coves that appeal to anyone wanting privacy and untouched scenery. They are the reason Lazzaretto feels quieter than its popularity suggests, but the walking is rough and best done in proper footwear rather than flip-flops.

Facilities

Two kiosk-bars serve food, drinks and ice cream behind the sand, and there are toilets and showers on site. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented on the main beach, though rates are not set out here, so ask at the kiosk on arrival. A ramp from the right-hand bar area gives step-free access to the beach.

Recycling bins sit at the entrance, and it is worth carrying your own water and sun cream alongside what the kiosks sell, since the nearest shops are back in Alghero. If you want a wider choice of lidos and town-side facilities, the beaches closer to town make an easier base.

How busy it gets

In July and August the beach and parking can fill by 10:00, with Sundays the worst of it. Arriving by 9:00 in high season, or coming after 17:00, gives you a far more relaxed experience; cycling or riding a motorbike sidesteps the car park entirely.

Best time to go

High summer brings the crowds and the fullest car parks, while the shoulder months around them give you the same white sand and clear water with more breathing space. The sea stays cold even in summer, so anyone who prefers warm water should weigh that against the clarity and choose their month accordingly.

Nearby beaches and the coast around it

Lazzaretto sits just along the coast from Bombarde beach, making the two an obvious pairing for a day that combines a serviced swim with a second strand. Further south, you can compare notes with the town beaches on the wider guide to Alghero beaches, or look north to La Pelosa beach for a very different Sardinian setting. If you are weighing up another Sardinian base, the best beaches in Olbia offer a comparable mix of coves and clear water to set against this stretch of coast.

Closer to Alghero, Maria Pia beach and the Lido di Alghero are handy when you want sand without the drive, while Bosa Marina rewards a longer excursion down the coast. Each has its own character, so mixing Lazzaretto with a town beach gives you both the wild and the convenient sides of the Riviera del Corallo.

Combining the beach with history

Nuraghe Palmavera, a Nuragic village site, lies less than 2 km away, which makes an easy archaeological stop before or after your swim. Trails through the scrub above the beach lead towards the Lazzaretto Tower with views along the coast, so a half-day here can combine sand, snorkelling and a short walk.

What to bring

Pack water, food and sun cream even though kiosks are on hand, since supplies make the coves and the quieter ends of the beach more comfortable. Add water shoes or sturdy sandals for the rocky paths, and a mask if you plan to snorkel the rocky edges where the seabed is at its most varied.

Plan Your Day at Lazzaretto

Lazzaretto rewards a little planning: arrive by 9:00 in July or August, use the guarded car park rather than the roadside, and accept that the sea will be cold and clear rather than warm. Take the bus from Via Catalogna if you would rather skip parking altogether, and keep ARST's current timetable to hand for the return leg.

Build the day around a swim and a snorkel on the main beach, then walk one of the scrub paths to a cove for the afternoon, finishing with Nuraghe Palmavera or a second stop at Bombarde. That combination gives you the best of this stretch of the Coral Riviera without fighting the midday crowds.