Free walking tours in San Teodoro and what to see

Must-sees

San Teodoro is a town in Gallura, on the north-east coast of Sardinia, that grew up in the 17th century around shepherds and fishermen and now lives mainly from beach tourism. The centre is small and lively, with the church of the patron saint, rebuilt in the mid-20th century, and a small sea museum with finds from a Roman-era settlement. In summer it has plenty of nightlife and attracts a young crowd.

The beaches are the main thing. La Cinta is a long strip of sand between the sea and the San Teodoro lagoon, where flamingos and other birds can be seen during migration. To the north, Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu have white sand and tropical-looking water, and from the Coda Cavallo area you look straight across to the island of Tavolara, within a marine protected area. Near the town, at Naracheddu, there is a nuraghe.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free tours in San Teodoro; the town is seen by strolling on your own. The Civitatis offer focuses on the sea and nature: a speedboat trip around Tavolara and Punta Coda Cavallo, with swimming stops at coves that cannot be reached by land, and a canyoning outing on the Pitrisconi river inland. It is also easy to find boat trips from the area's harbours to Tavolara and Molara.

How long to spend

The town can be seen in a couple of hours, but people come here for the beach. With three days you can alternate La Cinta, Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu, and keep a morning or afternoon for the boat trip around Tavolara. If you stay a week, it is worth visiting Olbia and the coves of northern Gallura. In high summer the best-known beaches fill up, so get there early.

Where to stay

Staying in the centre of San Teodoro is most convenient if you want to go out to dinner and get around on foot, with small hotels, guesthouses and apartments. To be by the beach, there are holiday residences and resorts in the La Cinta area and at Puntaldìa, with its marina. To the north, between Lu Impostu and Capo Coda Cavallo, there are plenty of holiday homes. Budoni, to the south, is another nearby option.