+ 5 secret bonus beaches to check out
Salina is a picturesque island located in the Aeolian archipelago off the coast of Sicily, Italy. The island boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, making it a popular destination for beach lovers. Its worth mentioning though that Salina does not have a real sand beach. Salina has a lot of pebble or stone beaches. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best beaches in Salina that you should definitely visit during your stay and tell you about some of the more hidden spots you might wanna try.
Best beaches to visit in Salina
Pollara Beach (the beautiful one)
Pollara has the clear uncontested most beautiful beach of the aeolian islands.
The beach is a crescent-shaped beach located in a natural amphitheater. It is surrounded by towering cliffs, creating a stunning backdrop for sunbathing and swimming. Pollara Beach is also famous for its appearance in the Italian movie “Il Postino.” Make sure to bring your camera to capture the incredible views from this beach as this is the most beautiful beach of Salina.
The beach is really small. Parts are not reachable during high tide or wind (the part where you are able to see Punta Perciato Arch). Getting into the water can be quite slippery (as its basically one huge rock). Reaching the beach is also the longest walk from both where the bus stops (Pollara church) or where you can park your scooter compared to other beaches on Salina. Lots of steps are to be climbed after your dip in the sea, but the view, especially at sunset is not to be missed!
Pollara beach is great for swimming, taking pictures and watching the sunset. Pollara beach is a must for snorkeling as it has to most beautiful and riches underwater landscape and animals.
Rinella Beach (the large & chill one)
Rinella Beach is a small pebble beach located in the charming village of Rinella. The beach is known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning views of the surrounding cliffs. The beach is perfect for a quick dip or a relaxing day in the sun. It is the largest beach with black mini stones (it used to be the only sand beach of the island but was enlarged in 2021 with stones). As it faces south make sure to bring shoes! There are several bars and restaurants nearby where you can enjoy a refreshing drink or a delicious meal. Best way to get here is by bus. As some of the ferries also stop here you might consider a evening dip after you returned from your day on another island. You can also rent umbrellas and SUPs.
I would highly recommend Rinella beach for families as everything is really close and its easily reachable!
Spiaggia dello Scario (the spectacular one)
Spiaggia dello Scario (the spectacular one): Spiaggia dello Scario is a secluded beach located in the village of Malfa. The pepple beach is accessible by foot or by boat + has a bus stop nearby and is surrounded by spectacular rocks around the beach, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. You can rent umbrellas and matresses to lie on right at the beach. A small bar ensures you don’t need to make extra trips for food or drinks. The only downside is the lack of bathrooms.
With the huge rock in the water its also quite photogenic and also an ok spot for snorkeling.
Santa Marina Salina Beach
Santa Marina Beach is the longest beach on Salina. You can easily rech the beach as its located in the main town and is easily accessible by foot or by bus right next to the port. The beach is ideal for families with children, as the waters are shallow and calm. The beach offers several amenities, such as beach umbrellas, loungers, and water sports equipment.
I would recommend this one to everyone, as its large, is very close to restaurants and bus stops.
Lingua Beach
Lingua Beach is a small pepple beach (partly with some sand) located in the village of Lingua. It can be easily reached via bus or scooter. The beach is perfect for swimming and sunbathing and offers stunning views of the nearby islands. The beach is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, creating a tranquil and picturesque setting.
I would highly recommend Lingua beach for families and people not wanting to go into wavy water, as especially closer to the south its offering a very protected area in the water to play in. Be sure to check out the surrounding restaurants. It is less interesting for snorkeling.
Secret beaches in Salina
- Spiaggia de la Nonna / Spiaggia di Prà Venezia: Both beaches are very close to each other and have bigger pebbles and also areas with vulcanic stone. It is a short walk from Rinellas church to get their but this beach is not very crowded.
- Spiaggia di Praiola: This beach can only be reached via boat and is placed between Rinella and Pollara right on the spectacular cliff leading up to Monte dei Porri. If you are lucky you can spot the wild goats up in the mountain and you also have a great view to the arc Il Perciatino
- Beach close to Lingua cemetery: This beach without name is pretty hidden and therefor less crowded. As all Salina beaches it consist of pebbles. You can reach it through one of the two small passage from the main road, as its directly north-east of the cemetry its easy to reach. The beach is small and has no amenities.
- Beach at the Lingua lighthouse: Right south to the Faro di Punta Lingua you can find a pebble beach that indeed isn’t the greatest to get into the water, as its quite shallow fast, but a really nice foot path from Lingua makes this an option if the other beach is too crowded.
- Capo Faro stairs beach: Although this doesn’t really count as a beach, its a great spot is you are close. It consist of some broken stairs where weather took a toll already and is great for a quick dip. The beach is hidden right by the Capo Faro lighthouse where you have a short walk down to the water.
- Other beaches: There are more beaches on Salina that can only be reached via boat – not all of the beaches are safe due to dropping stones from above. Be always aware that due to weather not all the cliffs will stay intact over time – in winter waves up to 4 meters will slowly eat away on the islands rocks so a beach that was fine before can be dangerous.
What should I bring to Salina to enjoy the beaches?
If there is one thing I would recommend to bring it would be water shoes! If you are packing one additional item, water shoes or slip proof flip flops are a must have on most of Salinas beaches as well as other aoelian islands. Not only smaller and larger rocks instead of sand makes it more difficult to get into the water but the black vulcanic beaches are no fun to walk on if the sun is out.
Which beach is the best with kids on Salina?
Definitely Rinella is the one that is really great for children. Everything is nearby, its easily reachable and has only little stones so its easy to walk on it with shoes. As its on the south side of the island and there is no natural shade make sure to rent or bring some kind of shade. Alternatives that are family friendly are Lingua beach (with more protected water) and Santa Marina Salina.
Whether you’re seeking a secluded beach or a bustling one with amenities, Salina has something for everyone. Make sure to add these beaches to your itinerary for a memorable beach experience in the Aeolian Islands. Also check out which places are great to watch the sunset from!
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