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Now let the sea day I'll be doing. Hello, my name is Claudia. I was born and raised in Sardinia and I still call it home. I am the mastermind behind the Streetly Sardinia Travel Blog and now the Streetly Sardinia Podcast where each week I'll bring you the best Sardinia has to offer and share my most insightful tips that will help you plan and a memorable trip to my wonderful island. In the last episode I talked to you about Cala Brandinki beach, which is an incredible protected beach near San Teodoro. This week I will share with you my tips on visiting San Teodoro. Let me stress that if you want a more detailed version of today's episode, you will find it on my blog, streetlaserdina.com the episode description will share a link to the blog post, so don't forget to read that for more information. Also, let me remind you that if you ever need more tips and help to plan your trip to Sardinia, you can book a one hour travel consultation with me. The link for that is in the episode description. Now today's topic San Teodoro San Teodoro is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Sardinia, is located on the border between the Galura and the Baronia regions and it's always been famous for the stunning colors of its sea. It's a part of Sardinia I love visiting because it has a lot to offer. I never miss a chance to go explore the beaches, the nearby islands and even the inner region. The main reason to visit San Teodoro is indeed the gorgeous beaches. I've already taught you about Calabrandinki, but the small town has much more to offer. It has a fun vibe. There are clubs and bars for legendary nightlife, so it's often a place for for younger crowds. If you're planning a trip to northeastern Sardinia, you should definitely consider using San Teodoro as a base. Now continue listening because I will share everything you need to know. First of all, is San Teodoro worth visiting? Yes, it is worth visiting if you want easy access to some of the best beaches in northeastern Sardinia without the prices of the Emerald Coast. Though I have to say San Teodoro isn't exactly cheap. It's a great destination if you want clear water, sandy beaches, lively summer atmosphere. It's especially good for beach focused trips and boat excursions, but if you prefer historic towns or a quieter year round feel, other Sardinian destinations, for example Cagliari or Alghero, may suit you better. Where to Stay in San Teodoro if you Decide to spend at least part of your trip in Sardinia. In San Teodoro. You'll be glad to know that there are a lot of good accommodation options in town. But it isn't a compact town. I mean, it's not. It's not big in terms of how many people live there throughout the year. That's very small, but it's spread out. The best areas are the town center, which is great for restaurants and nightlife. Walkable, there's evening markets. There's the Trenino access, which takes you to the beach in case you don't want to rent a car. I will tell you more about this. Then there's La Chinta area, which is the best beach access without feeling isolated. It's close to the main beach, it's still near town, and it's a good family balance. There's Capoco da Cavallo, which has the best scenery and quieter says granite coastline near multiple coves, but requires a car. And then there's outside town, where you'll find rural stays, agriturismi quiet bases, but you'll be dependent on a car. The best time to visit San Teodoro is. Well, my opinion. It's either late May or early July and September. These months offer warm weather, swimmable sea temperatures. But it's still quite cold in May and fewer crowds than the peak summer. June and July are especially balanced. Days are long and sunny. The beaches are lively, but still manageable. And all seasonal services are open. The sea conditions are calm, which makes it great for swimming and boat trips. Last time I was there, it was towards the end of July. It was really busy. Some beaches were impossibly crowded. September is another strong option. The sea is still warm, visitors numbers drops as schools reopen, prices for accommodation decrease and the atmosphere feels more relaxed while everything is still operating. But on the other hand, days in September are much shorter. Much like the rest of Sardinia, San Teodoro sees its busiest time in August. That's when Italians go on vacation. Beaches, roads, restaurants get incredibly crowded, so expect higher prices and more limited parking opportunities. Spring and early autumn can still work if you want quieter conditions, but most beach services and tours will not be running while they will have a reduced schedule. How long should you stay in Santiago? Most travelers spend between three to five days. That's enough time to enjoy the main beaches, take a boat trip and explore the surrounding areas without rushing. If you prefer slow travel, consider staying for up to a week. It makes sense. There are lots of great beaches, many things to do inland, so you will not get bored. How do you get to San Teodoro from Olbia? Well, you have several ways of getting there by car. You can rent a car in Olbia and the drive is easy and straightforward. It's just about 30 minutes or by bus. There are two bus stops in Obia where you can hop on the bus and go directly to San Teodoro. You can get tickets at a classic tobacco shop or at the vending machines at the airport. How to get to the beaches from San Teodoro? Well, if you do not want to rent a car for your trip to Sardinia, you can count on the free shuttle bus that connects the town to the various beaches and and neighborhoods. It runs from the end of May till early October. Must be booked in advance on the official website San Teodoro Express. It's available in several languages, included English. Which are the best beaches in Santiago? Well, let me mention them all. Lu Imposto. One of the most popular beaches in San Teodoro. It has four fine dunes of white sand and incredible vegetation that creates a beautiful environment. The views are stunning. It's one of the most popular beaches in northern Sardinia, but it's protected, much like Calabrandinki, with which it shares a parking lot. If you want to visit, you have to book in advance and arrive really early. There's plenty of space for everyone, at least compared to Calabrandinki. The beach is serviced, so you will find kiosk. You will find beach clubs at the beach, where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds in case you don't want to bring your own. Calabrandinki, which is right next door, is also known as Little Tahiti, while it is protected, is not secluded, by which I mean that it can get terribly crowded. Last time I was there, we opted to rent an umbrella and some beds, and it was quite costly. This is definitely not one of the cheapest beaches in Sardinia. It's perfect for families, though, because it's a very sandy, fine white sand beach. It has all the services you may possibly need, and the sea is very shallow and calm on a regular basis. La Cinta is the main beach in San Teodoro. It's famous for its colors and for the fragrance of junipers and wild lilies filling the air. It's easy to reach and spacious. It's about 5km long, which means 3 miles you can walk there from the center of Santoro. It's often crowded, but it's a safe bet when other beaches are too busy. Busy because this is the largest in the area, and much like the other beaches I've mentioned, it's incredibly well equipped. You will find kiosks, you will find beach clubs. And behind the beach there is a San Teodoro lagoon, which, depending on when you visit, you may be able to admire pink flamingos. Then there's Cala d', Ambra, which is easy to reach from the center of San Teodoro. It's less than half a mile. On the other hand, because it's so easy to reach, it means it's often crowded. You will find clear shallow waters and soft sand, making it a great spot spot for families. It's a great spot for kite surfing, diving, snorkeling, and it's fully equipped with whatever you may need for your day. Then there is Capocoda Cavallo, which is located inside the marine area of Tavolara. It's a stunning peninsula north of Calabrandinki, famous for its waters that are always still, no matter the wind. If you like snorkeling, it's a great place to visit. If you have a car, you must drive to Belvedere Punta S. The viewpoint gives you an incredible clear look at the variety of the landscape in the area. The main beach is a long, curved stretch of sand. It's suitable for swimming and one of the best spots in this part of the island for kayaking. And rentals are usually available in the summer if you don't have your own kayak. Another beach I want to mention is Cala Girgolo. It's much quieter than other beaches in the area. It's a mix of pebbles and sand, beautiful granite formations shaped by the wind and the sea, and several small coves where you can sunbathe and relax. It's known for the Turtle Rock, which is its symbol, and it has clear and shallow waters that are perfectly safe to swim in calm conditions. Access, though, is via a dirt road and facilities are limited. Finally, I want to mention Cala Suaracha. It's in the Capo Coda Cavallo area, known as Calabrandinki S because it's very close to Cala Brandinki. It has fine white sand, shallow, clear waters and it's suitable for swimming. It faces Tavolara island and has incredible views. What else can you do in Cala Brandinki? Well, there is a museum that you may want to visit. It's Museo delle Civilta del Mar, which has a strong emphasis on the coastal activities of this part of Cerdina, but unfortunately it's closed for renovations at the moment. Then there is the Santoro Lagoon which I've already mentioned, which is a great place to spot pink flamingos. It's easy to access because it's basically by La Chinta beach. So very very easy to get there. There are several churches in San Teodoro. The main one is the church of Santodoro Martyra which is dedicated to the patron saint and it hosts the main religious events in town, including the feast of San Teodoro, which is in November. Of course, San Teodoro is a great base to explore some of the most beautiful impressive islands of Sardinia. These two are Tavolara and Molara. They're easy beach by both from Porto San Paulo and Calafinanza, which are just north of San Teodoro. And they are part of the Tavolara Marine protected area. Tavolara is the larger of the two, more striking one from a distance. It's a limestone massive that rises sharply from the sea and it's visible from much of the Galura coast. It's famous for its curious history. History. In the 19th century the Bartoleoni family declared it the Kingdom of Tavolara, which was semi recognized at the time by the by the King of Italy. Today part of the island is accessible, the other part is military zone. Both from Porto San Paulo and Olbia land at San Palmato Rediterra beach where you find a small beach, a couple of simple restaurants. The main, the most famous one being Il Redi Tabolara which was featured on TV shows on BBC and Nat Geo. There's a tiny cemetery right behind the beach and some hiking trails that lead towards the mountain bays. The hike, although requires a guide and excellent swimming climbing skills. Molara, which is south of Tabolara, is quieter and even more remote. It's a private island. There's zero tourist infrastructure and restricted access. If you want to visit, you have to to enroll in a tour that is run by Associazione Molara. Don't worry, I'll share the information for this in my blog post and the link to my blog post as I said, is in the episode description. The waters around Molara are great for snorkeling. They're among the clearest in northeast Sardinia, especially the famous Piscina di Molara spot which is a great swimming area. If you want you can take a guided boat tour that takes you to both islands. You cannot disembark in Molara, but you can snorkel in the Piscina di Molara Another place you may want to visit near San Teodoro is Nuraghe San Pietro, which is an archaeological site close to the small town of Torpe and dates from the Nuragic period which spans from 1800 to 900 BCE. It's a fun place to visit if you have a bit more time to explore. There's also the chance of doing a lot of adventure sports, canyoning, hiking, mostly in the Rio Pietriccioni area around Monteniedu. There's a bunch of guided hiking tours that you can take. It's a great break from the beaches, especially interesting if you're visiting this part of Sardinia's lightly off season. Finally, I want to mention two other incredible things that you can do in San Teodoro. One, you can take a cooking class, which is a great chance to learn a bit more about Sardinian food, the way we prepare it, the way we enjoy it, and there are plenty of wineries that you could visit. My favorite one nearby is La Contra Alta, which is just 25 minutes from Santiago. It's up on the hills, you can admire great views off the coast and it offers several wine tasting options depending on how much you are into wine. And it's open on a Sunday too. Some tips if you want to visit San if you're traveling there in August, book early. Try to secure a room no later than February. The longer you wait, the fewer options you'll have to find something that is affordable. Arrive early at the beach in peak season, I say no later than 8:30 at most beaches. Otherwise arrive around lunchtime when some people leave for lunch. Wind affects the beach conditions more than you may expect. This coast of the island is quite exposed to the winds, especially Mistral. Rent a car. Honestly, I know it's an added cost, but having a car makes it so much easier to explore Sardinia. Finally, book boat tours in advance. Boat tours sell out during high season now this brings me to the end of my episode. Before I share the topic of the next episode, let me remind you that you will if you ever need more tips and and help to plan your trip to Sardinia, you can book a one hour travel consultation with me. The link for that is in the episode description, so make sure to read. That of course is my blog streetleesardinia.com that has even more tips to plan your trip and it's free to read. Next week I'll be telling you everything you need to know on Santa Teresa di Galura. Finally, if you like my podcast, share with your friends who are coming to Sardinia and give it a five star rating and a good review. And. And until next week, goodbye.