Europe’s beautiful islands few tourists know about as pretty as the Caribbean

La Maddalena is an archipelago between Sardinia and Corsica made up of seven larger islands and 55 outcrops with some of Italy‘s most amazing beaches. Tourists are relatively recent arrivals as the main island was a NATO naval base until it closed in 2008 so wasn’t geared towards tourism.

A protected national park on the Costa Smeraldo, La Maddalena has some stunning, secluded beaches. Bassa Trinità Beach is in a sheltered spot where the sea is shallow for about 20 meters out, making it ideal for families with children.

Cala Francese is a “postcard-perfect” place to relax, according to Strictly Sardinia, which hails its seclusion, beauty, and emerald sea.

The same publication recommends popular Spiaggia di Tegge near La Maddalena town centre, Spiaggia di Monte di Rena, and Spalmatore Beach.

Condé Nast Traveler says visitors to the islands will find a “friendliness and eagerness to please” among La Maddalena’s restaurateurs, hoteliers and shop owners.

It also notes many of the locals speak English thanks to the former NATO outpost, where the US Navy had a base.

Swimming, sailing and long walks are “default activities” in the region while the town of La Maddalena, which shares its name with the archipelago, buzzes with bars, cinemas, shops and eateries, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

It says visitors need to take a boat ride for views of La Maddalena’s most spectacular landscapes. These include Cala Soraya Beach on Spargi and Budelli, which is where you can find Spiaggia Rosa, a stretch of pink sand that featured in the film Il Deserto Rosso by Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni.

A range of hotel accommodation is available in the region, including high end Hotel Grand Relais Dei Nuraghi near La Maddalena; mid-range retreat Aethos Sardinia and Residenza Mordini, where prices for two people in August start from £118 per night.

Eateries recommended by Via Michelin include Ma Ma Pizza, Vera Napoli, Vuccirìa Mangiare Siciliano and Mezzopasso, which can all be found in La Maddalena town.

There is no direct flight from London to La Maddalena, but flights are available from Gatwick Airport to Olbia. Ferries run from Porto di Palau to Porto di La Maddalena. Porto di Palau is about a 50 minute drive from Olbia.

EasyJet, British Airways, Jet2, TUI, Ryanair and BA Cityflyer all fly direct to Olbia, with an average flight time of two hours 39 minutes. Skyscanner says the cheapest month to fly is October.

The best price Skyscanner found for a return flight to Olbia is £53, an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last four days at the time of writing which is subject to change.

Average temperatures in the summer months are 24C in June, 27C in July, 27C in August and 24C in September, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.