Favourites, most known, and hidden beaches in Salina
Before mentioning our favourite beaches, you must know that the best way that you can enjoy the island sea is by boat. Ask us how you can rent one, even without a license, or how to organize a skipper.
That being said, here are the most known top beaches ( & few hidden ones) - arm yourself with some reef shoes, a water bottle, a snorkel and, if you can, an airy mattress to be comfortable.
Punta Scario, only a 10/15 minute walk from the Principe di Salina, is enclosed in the middle of green and lush natural lava rocks and it is made of large pebbles. A beautiful rocky beach with a cute beach bar that rents sun umbrellas and small mattresses to have fun in the water with. It requires a bit of hard work to reach: you can park at the top of it (next to the light) and take a tiny path all the way down to the beach. Be sure to not bring anything heavy, because while the downhill is pleasant and full of discovery, coming up after a long sunbath might be “ a bit “ tiring. We love to go in the morning when the sun arrives.
Pollara. Also in this case the island doesn’t make it easy - but the effort is worth it. This beach has no sand but it is better described as “flat rocks created by lava gently entering the sea” part of a small and remote fisherman village where “Il Postino” was filmed. The location is incredible because is dominated by a white vertical cliff, which is part of an ancient crater. Here it is possible to bathe in the middle of a submerged crater, which dives gently into the crystal-clear water. You cannot rent sunbeds here, there is no space for them, but you can have some inflatables or canoes to explore the bay. I love Pollara any time of the day and in every season, but in the afternoon it tends to become a bit crowded because this beach offers one of the most beautiful views of the sunset available in the world. I love to stay down by the water till after sunset, when everyone is gone, and make sure to have a light to walk up in the dark
Rinella changed a bit in the past years, and it is now made of volcanic tiny round pebbles that make the water access one of the easiest on the island. It is very easy to reach and you can park next to it. You can rent a sun umbrella and a sun lounge chair, grab a granita and relax. In peak season, being easy to reach, it tends to become quite busy.
Santa Marina has a long coast full of beaches, starting from the port and going North (Capofaro, Malfa). The shore is constantly lapped by a clear, blue sea which allows the seabed to be admired above the surface by the naked eye. The closest part to the port gets quite busy, but if you move further north (passing the cemetery) there is a longshore where not many people stop by. Park by the cemetery and you will find a tiny path ending on the beach - the more you walk north the fewer the people.
Lingua is an esplanade sea level, so water access is easy all over and you can find many rocky beaches. Just in front of the restaurant and granita area, there are some natural mini pools created between the rocks. Beautiful to see but quite slippery. If you move east the rocky beach develops all the way to the lighthouse. I personally love that spot when the day is very hot: keeping the lighthouse on the left, you are at the tipping point of Lingua and you get the fresher water of the island. Plus, laying on the big rocks is comfier than pebbles. Instead, walking versus Santa Marina, leaving Lingua behind, you have a few beaches with small pebbles and sand.
Don't be fooled by the sunset, Lingua gets the best sunset light for pictures.
Capofaro - here an illegal tip- is at a tipping point of the island, water is beautiful and the road to reach the beach down below is blocked because not safe. I am not saying in any way you should follow the blocked road, but if you manage to reach it by boat make a stop, as it is a super cute spot. Few people dare the restrictions and enjoy the beach with no worries, but obviously not many, so you get privacy and crystal water.
