Palau, Sardinia: a travel guide for visitors

Visit Palau

Palau is a town on the north-east coast of Sardinia, and the town where you can catch a ferry to explore the Maddalena Archipelago.

Discover Palau

Italy This Way review: the town of Palau does not have a great deal to offer visitors, but it has lovely coast nearby and is the starting point for exploring the islands of Maddalena, so visitors are likely to find themselves here sooner or later...

Harbour in Palau

The centre of Palau is dominated by the ferry terminal and a large car park, neither of great interest, but you can also walk around the harbour, with views across the surrounding hills and across the sea to the islands.

Behind the car park area there is a small town centre where you can find several restaurants and hotels and a small supermarket.

If you are visiting La Maddalena, you can stay in a hotel in Palau and get the ferry across to Maddalena, or book a hotel in La Maddalena itself and then visit either with or without your car. We chose the first option, but recommend you take the second option - Maddalena is a nicer place to stay. If you do stay in Palau, be sure to follow the coast walk described below

Beaches of Palau

There is not a beach in the town centre in Palau, but if you follow the coast towards the north a short distance (just beyond the ferry terminal) you reach the Spiaggia di Palau Vecchio, which is an attractive small beach in a nice setting. The beach is too small and too close to the ferries to be a a favourite, but will certainly keep your children happy if you are staying in the town.

A second beach can be found to the east of the town centre at Spiaggia di Baia Saraceno, which is also in attractive surroundings but is harder to reach and quite small and rocky, so it is less adapted to children.

Palau coast walk

Our favourite activity in Palau is the coast path that follows the coast to the north as far as the lighthouse called Faro di Punta Palau. The return walk takes about one hour, unless you pause for a drink along the way.

This walk is one of the easiest ways in Sardinia to see the lovely coastline, with weather worn boulders along the coast and beautiful views towards Maddalena, as well as small sandy areas. The walk also passes next to a beach, and through a small pine forest, the Pineta di Palau vecchio.

Faro di Punta Palau, lighthouse in Palau

Attractions nearby

The principal highlight nearby is the Archipelago of Maddalena and the village of La Maddalena. You can organise boat trips around the islands as well as the ferry to reach the islands directly in the centre of Palau.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Sardinia guide.