Costa Rei suits beach-first villa stays in south-east Sardinia, a seaside strip about 10 km long with fine pale sand. Few homes have a pool, and in August around 40,000 people share the beaches.
Costa Rei is not a town but a seaside frazione of Muravera, in the Sarrabus region, stretching about 10 km from Porto Pirastu to Cala Sinzias and several kilometres from Muravera's centre. Thousands of villas and small houses have gone up here in recent decades. Beaches are fine, very pale sand and mostly free to use. At Cala Pira an Aragonese tower stands over dunes framed by junipers. The homes are mostly small to mid-size houses and apartments with a garden and air conditioning, spread along the coast, and few have a pool. There is a church and plenty of shops selling Sardinian crafts, and after dark the choice is mini-golf at Sant'Elmo beach, a few nightclubs or an open-air cinema. In August the population reaches around 40,000.
Small town with ten named beaches, including Porto Giunco and Punta Molentis, beside the Capo Carbonara marine park created in 1998.
The parent municipality, about 45 km north-east of Cagliari and a centre of citrus growing; its spring Citrus Festival fills the streets with the scent of oranges and lemons.
About 35 km east of Cagliari, site of Italy's largest penal colony, opened in 1875 and used until 1956.
Sardinia's capital, with the medieval Castello district and Poetto beach, which runs for about 8 km.
Fly to Cagliari Elmas, about 7 km from the city, with British Airways from Gatwick (seasonal) and Ryanair from Stansted. From Cagliari the SS 554 heads east towards the Costa Rei resorts. ARST buses serve the province, but a private vehicle is a great help, and with homes spread along the coast you will want one.
Summers are almost rainless, with Cagliari averaging highs of about 32 C in July and August, so book a house with air conditioning. August brings the peak crowd of around 40,000. The mistral blows from the north-west on and off through the year and is most prevalent in winter and spring. In spring, Muravera holds its Citrus Festival.
Yes, if the beach is the plan. The sand is fine and pale, most beaches are free to use, and the strip runs for around 10 km so there is room. Evenings are simple: mini-golf at Sant'Elmo beach and open-air cinemas.
No. Costa Rei is a frazione of Muravera spread along about 10 km of coast and several kilometres from Muravera's centre. It has a church and shops selling Sardinian crafts, but you will drive for most things.
Villasimius is a small town of around 3,700 people with ten named beaches and the Capo Carbonara marine park; Costa Rei is thousands of villas strung along one long beach. Pick Villasimius for a town base, Costa Rei for space on the sand.
Very. In August, at the peak, the population reaches around 40,000 because of the thousands of villas and small houses built here. Expect full beaches and book early if you want a house near the sand.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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