Budoni’s Woodland Beach – amongst pine trees, sand and the sea

Anyone visiting Budoni who is looking not only for sunshine but also for a bit of shade now and then will find two particularly lovely spots along the bay. This is because the Pineta – the typical Sardinian pine forest – stretches almost right down to the beach in several places.

At the southern end of Budoni Bay, the beach gives way to a wonderfully shady pine forest. Right in the middle of it lies the Shardana restaurant. This spot is worth its weight in gold, especially on really hot summer’s days: it’s a marvellous place to relax under the pine trees, whilst just a few metres away the pale sandy beach and the sea await. If you fancy a swim, it’s just a short walk to the water – and afterwards you can head straight back into the pleasant shade. It’s a pretty much perfect combination for days when even die-hard sun worshippers eventually have had enough of 35 degrees. :)

It’s very similar, but even more expansive, at the northern end of Budoni Bay towards Porto Ottiolu. There, the pine forest stretches for long stretches right along the beach, until the bay finally ends at the harbour of Porto Ottiolu.

Here, you’re really spoilt for choice: set up a hammock between two pine trees and spend the day in the natural shade – or lie in the sun a few steps further along on the sandy beach and take a dip in the sea.

Personally, I prefer the third option: alternating between the two.

Lie on the beach for a while, go for a swim, soak up the sun – and when it eventually gets too warm, simply head back under the pines. There, I can have a lie in the hammock, read a book or simply listen to the wind rustling through the treetops. And as soon as the sun beckons again, it’s back to the water.

It’s precisely this mix that makes Budoni’s forest beach so special to me. You don’t have to choose between a day at the beach and a spot in the shade – you simply get both.