Italy's Popular Beach Destination Is Requiring Reservations And Fees Before Visiting

Italy is a bucket-list destination for many people, and it's no wonder. Between the rich history, incredible food, and gorgeous locations, it's got something to excite, no matter what aspect appeals to you most. However, Italy has been cracking down on overtourism, and that may affect how you plan for your next vacation, especially on the island of Sardinia.

The lovely Sardinia is a popular destination for beach-goers and sun-worshipers. However, many beaches on the island are now requiring reservations and fees before visiting. If you don't plan ahead, you might not be allowed in. While this isn't true for every beach on Sardinia, the ones that need pre-planning are some of the prettiest shorelines in the country.

These scenic locations include spots like the breathtaking gem of a beach, Cala Goloritzé, on the eastern side of the island; the popular La Pelosa in the north; and Tuerredda Beach in the south. There are caps on the number of visitors that are allowed per day, and some of them even have time limits. You'll have to move fast when planning, know which beaches require what, and double-check parking fees and other restrictions instead of simply visiting on a whim.

If you're planning a trip to Sardinia, you need to find out what's required for entry as early as you can — otherwise, you may be out of luck. For instance, La Pelosa Beach requires reservations between May 15 and October 15 and is restricted to 1,500 reservations per day; you can make a reservation on the beach's website. This beach releases 500 reservations that can be booked at any time, but the other 1,000 are released two days beforehand, so you may want to hover that mouse over the reservation button. For other beaches, you can check municipal websites, official websites for each location, or Heart of Sardinia, which has instructions and information for many of the more well-known beaches. Note that not all of these picturesque shoreline destinations allow such a high number of reservations. For instance, Cala Goloritzé only allows 250 at a time. Also, be aware that the periods requiring reservations vary by beach, and there is a fee (along with parking fees, in some cases) for most of these, costing a few euros. The fees and limitations may be frustrating, but in addition to mitigating overtourism, this is being done to help protect the environment. 

The good news is not all beaches require bookings. For instance, if you're visiting the newest Blue Zone in Arzachena, the nearby Capriccioli Beach doesn't generally require reservations (as of this writing), but it's a good idea to check before your trip in case anything has changed. Finally, before you plan your Italian vacation, you can get an idea of what to see in each region with our map of Italy.