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Porto Rotondo

Below you will find some useful information, including our favourite local spots, so you can make the most of your time in while in town!

​🍽️ Restaurants

A few local restaurants we recommend for dinner on any nights outside of the wedding weekend.

  • Paramare (walking distance): relaxed harbourfront restaurant serving great seafood.

  • Ami (walking distance) Welcoming and fun spot serving seafood and Italian classics, with live music in the evenings (we celebrated our engagement here!).

  • Da Giovannino (walking distance): a Porto Rotondo historical and upscale institution, serving refined Sardinian cuisine.

  • Ristorante Lu Stazzu (a short drive away): rustic farmhouse restaurant serving traditional Gallurese dishes with panoramic views over the bay.

  • Jaçanã Churrascaria (a short drive away): an elegant churrascaria serving traditional Brazilian grilled meats, with seaview and live music.

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🍹 For a Drink & Happy Hour

  • Mamér: a chic waterfront spot for aperitivo by the port. Sunsets here are hard to beat.

  • Il Bar della Piazza: the classic bar in Piazza San Marco, at the heart of town. Great for people-watching over a spritz.

  • Coffee Pot: also located in Piazza San Marco, ideal if you fancy a cocktail and you can stay for some sushi.

 

⛵ Renting a Gommone (RIB Boat)

One of the best ways to experience the coastline around Porto Rotondo is by renting a gommone (rigid inflatable boat) for the day. With a RIB you can explore hidden coves, anchor off pristine beaches, and discover nearby islands at your own pace. It's genuinely one of the highlights of a Sardinian summer.

 

Here are trusted rental companies that offer options with and without boat license:

  • SopraSotto: very convenient from Hotel Sestante, offering RIB and boat rentals with skipper options available. They also rent scooters.

  • TenderOne: a local institution with over 30 years of experience, based right on Via del Molo in Porto Rotondo. They offer an excellent fleet for all group sizes. 

  • All Rent Sardinia: a highly-rated rental service specialising in high-end RIBs, with guided skipper options available. 

 

🚶 Getting Around

  • On foot: Porto Rotondo's village centre is wonderfully walkable. Most restaurants, bars and shops are just a short stroll from the main square and the hotels.

  • Maremare: a free shuttle bus that loops around the village every hour. We'll share the full timetable and stops as soon as they are available for the season.

  • Renting scooters, e-bikes and bikes is also an option at Rubix or again at SopraSotto.

 

🏖️ Local Beaches

  • Spiaggia dei Sassi / Tartarughino Beach (walking distance / Maremare stop).

  • Spiaggia Ira (walking distance / Maremare stop).

  • Marinella (reachable by scooter or car): long stretch of fine sand and turquoise sea.

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🛒 Supermarkets

  • Nonna Isa: best stocked local supermarket and just opposite to Hotel Sestante.

  • Market il Molo: a convenient option in the centre of town, with all the essentials and a great deli.

 

🛎️ Other Services

  • Careddu Hair & Beauty: our local hair salon recommendation in case you’d like to prep for the celebrations.

  • Consorzio Porto Rotondo: the official resource for everything happening in Porto Rotondo, including events, services, transportation etc. visit the website or download the app.

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The Rest of Costa Smeralda

If you have some extra days, this corner of Sardinia has some truly spectacular gems to discover.

Here are our top recommendations. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need additional suggestions!

🌊 Nearby islands (reachable by boat for day trips)

  • Tavolara: a dramatic limestone island close to Porto Rotondo and a great day trip. Interesting fact: the north side is restricted as it hosts a NATO/US military base.

  • Isola di Mortorio: a tiny protected island with crystal-clear waters, just offshore Porto Rotondo. The water is simply spectacular.

 

The islands below are further away and best reached with a larger licensed RIB or boat (aka the small no-license RIB would not work if starting from Porto Rotondo.)

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  • Caprera: the famous archipelago, a paradise of white beaches and turquoise sea. The unmissable stop is Cala Coticcio, nicknamed "Sardinian Tahiti". Cala Napoletana and Cala Serena are equally beautiful and less visited.

  • Spargi & Budelli: two stunning islands within the archipelago. Cala Corsara on Spargi is one of the most iconic bays in the area, while Budelli is home to the famous Spiaggia Rosa, whose sand gets its unique rosy hue from crushed coral. You can no longer land on it, but passing by on a boat is stunning.

  • Isola Piana & Bonifacio: further north towards the Strait of Bonifacio. Isola Piana is famous for the sandbar that connects it to the coast, creating a shallow turquoise lagoon that is spectacular. Bonifacio, just across the strait in Corsica, is a stunning fortified town perched on white limestone cliffs and well worth a visit / grabbing lunch if you have the time.

 

🏖️ Beaches (easily reached by land)

  • Spiaggia del Principe: widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia, with impossibly clear water and fine white sand.

  • Liscia Ruja: a long, wild stretch of fine sand with stunning turquoise water, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches on the Costa Smeralda.

  • Capriccioli: a beloved sheltered cove with shallow turquoise water, great for snorkelling.

  • Grande Pevero: a stunning, less-crowded bay with dramatic granite rocks and deep blue sea.

 

🏘️ Towns to visit

  • San Pantaleo: a charming hilltop village with great restaurants and a lovely market. Lovely around sunset time.

  • Porto Cervo: the iconic heart of Costa Smeralda, known for its glamorous marina, high-end shopping and social scene.

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