Both islands are built for cars, and public transport between beaches is thin. Without one, base yourself in a town with a beach in walking distance and use boat trips for the rest. In Sardinia, several famous beaches now have daily caps, fees and bookings in summer — La Pelosa (€3.50, 1,500 a day), Cala Goloritzé (€7, 250) — and Spiaggia Rosa is closed. In Sicily, the east and north coasts (Taormina–Letojanni, Cefalù, Palermo–Mondello) are easiest by train and bus; the south-west is hard without a car.
Checked 2026-09-24 · Sardinia & Sicily · Sea & islands
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Rule | Base in a town with a walkable beach |
| La Pelosa | €3.50 · 1,500/day · booking |
| Cala Goloritzé | €7 · 250/day · booking mandatory |
| Spiaggia Rosa | Closed to visitors |
| Sicily without a car | East & north coasts · avoid the south-west |
| Boats | The easy way to reach remote coves |
Sardinia
Capped beaches in 2026
Rental12 · Sardinia beach access 2026 (third-party) ↗ · Spiaggia La Pelosa · booking ↗
Book the minute it opens
Boat instead of a car
Two airports
Sicily
Easiest coasts
Reddit r/sicily · Taormina beaches ↗ · Forum awd.ru · Sicily with children without a car (RU) ↗
South-west without a car
Letojanni instead of Isola Bella
Sardinia or Sicily?
Quick answers
Can you do Sardinia without a car?
Yes, from a beach town with boat trips — but many beaches are hard to reach by bus.
Do I need to book La Pelosa?
Yes in 2026: €3.50 with a daily cap of 1,500 people.
Where to stay in Sicily without a car?
The east or north coast — Taormina/Letojanni, Cefalù or Palermo with Mondello.
Go deeper in our guides
Related answers
Sources: Rental12 · Sardinia beach access 2026 (third-party) ↗ · Spiaggia La Pelosa · booking ↗