how to travel sardinia

How To Get To Sardinia: Fly vs. Ferry Costs & Benefits

This is the grand-daddy of guides on how to get to Sardinia from both Europe (especially Italy destinations) and US destinations because my ass did a lot of research last spring before my month-long road trip on the island.

I researched the fastest, cheapest, and best ways to get to and around Sardinia , so I learned quite a bit. I also spent a month driving around the island, hiking its mountains, exploring its pretty beaches from north to south, and getting lost on Sardinian roads, so the knowledge (and love) goes deep. 🤓

Here’s the gist about how to get to Sardinia .

• Sardinia has three airports: Cagliari (south), Olbia (north), and Alghero (west). Flying into Sardinia is likely the best and cheapest way to travel, and Cagliari is the biggest airport.
• Sardinia also has three main ferry ports: Cagliari (south), Olbia (north), and Porto Torres. The perks of taking a ferry to Sardinia are that you can bring your rental car or RV onboard. Olbia is the best port to ferry to, and it’s the prettiest part of the island, too! FYI, the ferries are pretty industrial, so don’t expect a romantic luxury cruise . ( Book ferry tickets here .)
• The easiest way to reach Sardinia is from Rome, Italy. Flying from Rome to any airport in Sardinia takes about 1 hour. A ferry from the Civitavecchia Port near Rome will take between 6 – 8 hours, the fastest being to Olbia Port.
• I think getting around Sardinia is best done by renting a car and doing a road trip . While there is a public transportation system (train, bus), it’s not great, and there are many beaches, hikes, and mountain trails I love off the beaten path.

PRO TIP TO THINK ABOUT: If you are going on a bigger Italy road trip that includes Sardinia, it might be cheaper and more convenient to rent a car in Rome and take the overnight ferry from Civitavecchia Port to Olbia than to fly over and rent a car in Sardinia. Food for thought…

In this post, I’m dumping all my research, lessons learned, and a few logistically odd things about Sardinia I learned along the way to help you plan your trip. So let’s jump into the details of flying and ferrying into Sardinia, how long each option takes, costs, and what to expect.

Table of Contents

How To Get To Sardinia from Italy

Sardinia is one of the biggest Italian islands, and because of this, it’s easy to get to from the mainland, especially from Rome. Here are a bunch of common ways you can get to Sardinia from Rome and Italy more broadly.

✈️ How to Get to Sardinia From Rome By Plane

You can fly to Sardinia from both Rome airports: Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino (FCO) and Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport in Ciampino (CIA).

Sardinia has three main airports you can fly into:

• Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) in the south ( biggest )
• Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in the northeast
• Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO) in the northwest

Several airlines operate flights from Rome to Sardinia , including Alitalia, Ryanair, and EasyJet, all of which are regional and budget-friendly.

In the summertime, the flights from Rome to Sardinia range between €150-200 roundtrip per person . It’s a 1 – 1.5 hour flight, and there are multiple flights a day.

If you want to visit the south of the island, I recommend flying into the capital of Sardinia, Cagliari—this is where I landed and started my road trip. This means visiting long sandy beaches like Villasimius, Chia, and Costa Rei and exploring the capital city of Cagliari.

You can also dive deeper into the Nuragic civilization by visiting the Barumini Nuraghe UNESCO World Heritage site, which showcases the impressive nuraghe , Bronze Age stone structures that are unique only to Sardinia.

Olbia is a great place to land if you want a more upscale vacation in the La Maddalena Archipelago. My Italian friends told me this is where famous and wealthy Italians go on vacation – olala !!

I know it sounds haughty, but it makes sense when you see the archipelago and the famous Emerald Coast of Sardinia. I thought this region was the prettiest on the island.

Alghero is a great place to land if you want to explore the northeast of the islands—beautiful towns like Sassari and Castelsardo ( which I stayed in! ) and my favorite little beaches around Costa Paradiso. I know I say this a lot in my posts, but I wish I could get a vacation home near this area—it’s almost as stunning as the Madalenna Archipelago!

⛴️ How to Get to Sardinia From Rome By Ferry

If you have a rental car or RV on the mainland of Italy, taking the overnight ferry from Rome Civitavecchia Port to Sardinia is your best bet. The benefit here is that you’ll have a car in Sardinia, which is ideal because their public transportation is not great.

There are three main ports in Sardinia I recommend:

➡️ Olbia (northeast) – most popular ferry route, also the shortest Duration: 5 hours (fast ferry), 8 hours (regular ferry) Info: 10 pm departure from Rome, 6 am arrival in Olbia

➡️ Porto Torres (north east) – near Alghero Duration: 7 hours Info: Popular port if you’re coming from a west European port

➡️ Cagliari (south) – least popular route, longest, don’t recommend Duration: 15 hours

PRO TIP: It might be cheaper and more convenient to rent a car from Rome and take the overnight ferry from Civitavecchia to Olbia than flying over and renting a car in Sardinia.

You can search for tickets here . The best and most frequent ferries will be from Tirrenia and Grimaldi Lines, and tickets should be around €50 per adult and €70 per car (RVs will be more expensive).

⭐️ How to Get from Rome to Civitavecchia Port

I get this question a lot because there are many cruises and ferries that leave from Civitavecchia, the closest port to Rome and its main airports. Here are the most practical options:

➡️ The easiest way to get from Rome Airport (FCO) to Civitavecchia Port is by Private Transfer . Costs about €115 per person and takes about 1 hour. ⬅️

*** Private transfers are available from Rome city center and Ciampino Airport.

If you’re coming from the main airport, since there is no direct line from Rome Fiumicino Airport (or the Ciampino Airport either) to Civitavecchia Port , you will have to take the Leonardo Express train from the airport to the city center of Rome (Roma Termini) and then change lines to get to Civitavecchia Port. The whole train trip will take about 2.5 hours. Here are the details from the city center of Rome.

✅ Train from Roma Termini to Civitavecchia Train Station. [CHEAPEST]

This is the most practical and cheapest option, but it is a local train, so there will be frequent stops. The train ride from Roma Termini Station to Civitavecchia Station is about 1.5 hours and costs about €6. I use OMIO to reserve train tickets and check schedules ahead of time.

You can also head into the Roma Termini train station to buy tickets from the machines or the ticket office and be on your way. Everything can be done in English and paid by credit card.

PRO TIP: Once you get to the Civitavecchia train station, you can walk to the port or take the local shuttle bus. The bus runs every 20 minutes, picks up at the front of the station, and costs €2 per person (pay cash on board). The ride to the port is about 10 minutes.

✅ Rent a Car at the Airport & Drive to Civitavecchia Port [CLEVER]

Renting a car in Rome and taking it on the overnight ferry to Sardinia is a clever and budget-conscious way to take a road trip to the island. This gives you the advantage of having your rental with you on the island, and it might save you money. Renting a car on the island can be more expensive, and flights are a bit more expensive than taking the ferry.

FUN FACT: In Europe, I was surprised to find that renting a car at the airport (especially when it’s not an island) is cheaper than anywhere else. This is the opposite in the USA, where the airport price-gouges you.

If you rent a car at the Rome airport, you will drive about 60km to the Civitavecchia port, which takes about 1.5 hours on the highway, and board the ferry at night – they usually depart around 10pm. Check FerryScanner for schedules and get your tickets ahead of time!

How to Get to Sardinia from Florence

To get from Florence to Sardinia, you have two main options: flying or taking a combination of train and ferry. Flying is faster, but the ferry is cheaper, and has the advantage of you being able to take your car/RV on the ferry with you.

Flying is probably the fastest. You can fly direct from Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) to airports in Sardinia like Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG), Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB), or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO). Airlines like Vueling and Alitalia often have direct or connecting flights. Direct flights take about 1.5 hours.

Your second option will be to take a train from Florence to one of the ferry ports that offer services to Sardinia, such as Porto Livorno near Pisa (2 hrs by train), Port Civitavecchia near Rome (3.5 hrs by train), or Porto Genoa (3 hrs by train). Trenitalia has frequent train services to all these ports. I use OMIO to book tickets.

From the mainland, you’ll board a ferry to one of Sardinia’s ports like Olbia, Porto Torres, or Cagliari. Ferry operators like Tirrenia and Grimaldi Lines are the more popular companies. The ferry journey alone can range from 6 to 12 hours and is usually overnight .

How to Get to Sardinia from Sicily

Again, you can take the ferry, you can fly, or you can connect somehow through mainland Italy. I think the quick and dirty way is to fly from one of Sicily’s two airports in Palermo or Catania to Sardinia. Sardinia has three airports I already talked about – the closest to Sicily being Cagliari.

The primary ferry connection between Sicily and Sardinia is from Palermo (Sicily) to Cagliari (Sardinia). This route is operated by Tirrenia, a well-known Italian ferry operator. Again, you can use FerryScanner to find and book a ticket . The ferry journey can take around 12 hours, and the last time I checked, it ran in the morning from Sicily with a late arrival in Cagliari.

If the direct Sicily-Sardinia ferry schedule doesn’t fit your plans, I would take a ferry or fly from Sicily to the Italian mainland. From here, you can catch a ferry to Sardinia from ports like Civitavecchia, Genoa, or Livorno, heading to Olbia, Porto Torres, or Cagliari in Sardinia.

How To Get To Sardinia from Europe

I think the best and fastest way to get to Sardinia is by flying into one of its main airports: Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) in the south, Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in the northeast, or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO) in the northwest.

If you want to bring your car or RV to the island, you can catch a ferry to Sardinia from ports like Civitavecchia, Genoa, or Livorno in Italy, heading to Olbia, Porto Torres, or Cagliari in Sardinia. These ferries are usually overnight and take between 6-12 hours. You can check ferry schedules and prices on Ferryscanner – it’s what I use.

What Airport Do You Fly Into for Sardinia?

• Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) in the south

How To Get To Sardinia from the USA

The best and fastest way to get to Sardinia from the USA is to fly into Rome (or a main hub in Italy), and then take a connecting flight to one of Sardinia’s three main airports – Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) in the south, Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in the northeast, or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO) in the northwest.

When I decided to go to Sardinia, I flew from Austin to Madrid and then took a regional flight via RyanAir through Sevilla and on to Cagliari, Sardinia. It was a quick cheap flight.

PRO TIP: If you’re going on a bigger Italy trip, and want to include Sardinia as part of that, you can ferry your rental car overnight from the Civitavecchia Port near Rome to Olbia in Sardinia and continue the adventure – it’s quite cheap, and the ferry takes about 6-8 hours in the summertime.

Getting Around Sardinia

Renting a car is the best way to get around Sardinia, and it’s how I went about exploring the island. There are many obvious perks to driving yourself, including the flexibility around time and ability to hit up some of the more remote hikes, villages, and beaches around the island – my favorite hike being Cala Goloritzé , a beach located in Baunei.

➡️ I use Discover Cars to check prices & rent a car in Sardinia! ⬅️

Driving in Sardinia is pretty easy, and the highways are in good shape . To nobody’s surprise, Sardinia has some super scenic drives along the coast and through the mountainous interior – like wow!

I thought the toughest part about driving in Sardinia was the smaller roads , which Google sometimes sends you on. They are unpaved, and holy shit I hope you get the car insurance with the rental – it can get rough! Don’t let that deter you; just turn back if you find yourself on one of those pebbly roads leading to God knows where. There’s always another way to get to where you need to be. Navigating narrow streets in small towns and finding parking can also be challenging.

PRO TIP: If you decide not to rent a car, maybe because you’re only staying for a few days, I recommend parking your ass in one of the main towns, my favorite being Olbia, Alghero, and Cagliari in that order.

FAQ: Getting To Sardinia

Here’s the quick and dirty frequently asked questions I had before I went on my trip.

What is the fastest way to get to Sardinia?

Flying is the fastest way to get to Sardinia , and there are tons of flights from major European cities to Sardinia’s three main airports: Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG), Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB), or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO)

Flights from Rome to any airport in Sardinia are about 1 hour and will range at about €150 roundtrip per person . I flew into the biggest airport, Cagliari, and started my road trip around the island from there!

What is the cheapest way to get to Sardinia?

The cheapest way to get to Sardinia is probably still flying , but it’s a toss-up if you have a few people with you, AND car rental costs are through the roof in Sardinia, especially in the summer, and especially if you don’t drive manual transmission ( cheaper to rent ).

Flights from Rome to any airport in Sardinia are about 1 hour and will range at about €150 roundtrip per person. A ferry from Rome will take about 8 hours overnight and cost you about €50 per person and €75 for a vehicle.

What is the best way to get to Sardinia?

The best and fastest way to get to Sardinia is to fly into one of its main airports: Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) in the south, Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in the northeast, or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO) in the northwest of the island.

I flew into Cagliari and rented a car for the month. From here, I went on an amazing road trip around the island, hiking, exploring little villages like Sassari and Arbatax (my favorite), and eating my way through the renowned food the Sardinians have gained popularity for!

How many days in Sardinia is enough?

I would spend a minimum of three days in Sardinia in one of the main beach towns around the Madalena Archipelago or the Villasimmius beaches in the south. That said, Sardinia is actually a pretty big island, so a week is best to go around the island and really give it a good go!

Is Sardinia expensive to visit?

No, I don’t think Sardinia is expensive. In fact, it’s pretty rural in most places, and to give you an example of my budget – I spent about $3,000 for a month on the island, including nice lodging and a car rental when I went in April.

A dinner out is about €30, a lot of the nature is free, decent accommodations are at around €150 a night, and good wine is cheap! Of course, you can blow up the budget if you want to stay at the best resorts in the Madalena Islands, but at that point, it’s a different budget conversation.

Conclusion: Best Way to Get To Sardinia

In conclusion, flying is the best and fastest way to get to Sardinia , and there are tons of flights from major European cities to Sardinia’s three main airports: Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG), Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB), or Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO)

Flights from Rome to any airport in Sardinia are about 1 hour and will range at about €150 roundtrip per person.

If you have a rental car or RV on the mainland of Italy, taking the overnight ferry from Rome Civitavecchia Port to Sardinia is your best bet. Tickets should be around €50 per adult and €70 per car (RVs will be more expensive). The benefit here is that you’ll have a car in Sardinia, which is ideal because their public transportation is not great.

• Duration: 5 hours (fast ferry), 8 hours (regular ferry)
• Info: 10 pm departure from Rome, 6 am arrival in Olbia
• Duration: 7 hours
• Info: Popular port if you’re coming from a west European port
• Duration: 15 hours

So what are you waiting for, get your butt off your couch and book that trip to Sardinia!

Mariana Barbuceanu is the owner and author of the Road Trip EuroGuide, a blog that inspires fellow travelers to explore Europe more authentically through slower travel and digging deeper into the culture of a place. When she isn't writing about her adventures, she is planning trips for her community and coaching people on how to take that next step towards a much-needed sabbatical.

Sardinia Road Trip Guide – 1 Week Itinerary

Sardinia has been on my travel wish list for a while now, as it is said to have the best beaches in Italy. A friend’s wedding offered the perfect excuse to visit, so we planned a week-long Sardinia road trip, driving a loop around the island, featuring a lot of food, some pretty stunning scenery and of course those Sardinian beaches.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase something I’ve recommended I may earn a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay but helps me to run this site. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

Sardinia Road Trip – 1 Week Itinerary

Sardinia has two main international airports, Cagliari and Olbia. We recommend flying into Cagliari for this itinerary, but either would be fine. We then hired a car with rentalcars.com and collected it at the airport.

Isola di Sant’Antioco – 1-2 Nights

After flying into Cagliari, we headed straight to Sant’Antioco. This is a small island off the South West of Sardinia. We were visiting this part of the island for a friend’s wedding, but it’s definitely a worthwhile addition to a road trip. The main town, also called Sant’Antioco, is located immediately upon crossing the mile-long causeway which connects the island to the mainland. Before we reached the town, we had already stopped the car after spotting hundreds of pink flamingos in the pond of Santa Caterina!

Sant’Antioco is one of the oldest parts of Sardinia and also one of the most underdeveloped when it comes to tourism. There are some great little guesthouses in the town and it’s a lovely place to spend an evening. Have an aperitivo in Piazza Italia before dinner at one of the family-run Osterias. There are beautiful beaches on this island, in particular, Spiaggia di Coacuaddus and Cala Sapone, so take some time to swim and relax in this quiet part of Sardinia.

Where to Stay in Sant’Antioco

We stayed at Hotel I Colori , which is right in the centre of town. Each room is unique and painted a different colour.

Find accommodation in Sant’Antioco

Sant’Antioco to Bosa (2 hours 50 / 225km)

The drive up the coast from Sant’Antioco is incredibly scenic, with lots of places to stop and take pictures or have a swim. If you’re a fan of surfing, make sure you stop at Capo Mannu. This is one of the best places to surf in the Mediterranean. There is a surf school and board hire available on the beach.

Bosa – 1-2 Nights

Bosa was my favourite town in Sardinia. It is absolutely stunning; filled with quaint colourful houses lining the hillside and an impressive castle at the top. We spent one night in the area, but I would have loved to stay longer. There are lots of lovely shops, restaurants and cafes along the cobbled streets and lanes, and a walk along the River Temo is a must, as well as a visit to the castle for the superb views.

Where to Stay in Bosa

There are plenty of hotels in Bosa, but we spent the night in nearby Tresnuraghes. This was another area that felt undiscovered by tourists. We stayed at a great hotel called Maison Tresnuraghes , a restoration of two old houses with a huge garden. The hotel has a lovely restaurant, but we also tried out Pizzeria Ristorante Su Palatteddu, a short walk away from Maison Tresnuraghes, which was one of the best of the Sardinia road trip!

Find accommodation in Bosa

Read our guide on the best places to stay in Sardinia.

Bosa to Alghero (1 hour / 46km)

A short drive, but plenty of gorgeous scenery and lots of photo opportunities.

Alghero – 2 Nights

This is a popular town with tourists, as many use it as a base to explore the incredible beaches north of Alghero. Sadly we didn’t have the best weather while we were here, so didn’t venture too far, but it did mean that we had more time to explore the town.

Alghero has a strong Spanish influence and was once ruled by Catalans, so you’re as likely to find paella on the menu as pasta. You can easily lose a few hours wandering the narrow streets and the coastal walls. If weather permits, relax on the beaches of San Giovanni shore and Maria Pia.

Where to Stay in Algero

We spent two nights at the stunning Villa Las Tronas , which was once a residence of the Italian royal family. As you would expect it’s a pretty luxurious place, with grand dining rooms and lounges and gorgeous views of the sea.

Find accommodation in Alghero

Alghero to Cala Gonone – The Scenic Route (3 hours 46 / 260km)

From Alghero, we considered heading north to the islands of Maddalena, but as we only had a few days left and needed to get back to Cagliari, we decided to cross the island to Cala Gonone on the east coast. You can drive this in just over 2.5 hours, but we wanted to visit some of the east coast beaches along the way, so took a longer route. If you do have longer than a week for your Sardinia holiday then I absolutely recommend adding the Maddalena to your itinerary at this point.

Upon arriving on the east coast of Sardinia, the first beach we stopped at was Cala Suaraccia, a small bay with white sand and turquoise water. It was a little cloudy, but even without the sun, the water was a stunning colour.

After a quick swim, we moved on to Cala Bradinchi, which is nicknamed ‘Little Tahiti’. It’s a really lovely spot and easy to see why it earned the name.

Further south is La Cinta, a huge beach set in front of a lagoon. This is another great place to spot flamingos!

Shortly before arriving in Cala Gonone, we drove through Dorgali and past Lago Del Cedrino. Definitely worth stopping for a photo!

Explore the best beaches in Sardinia.

Cala Gonone – 2 Nights

Cala Gonone is a lovely little town, but most people stay here to access the Golfo di Orosei, an incredible coastline of striking cliffs, caves and beautiful beaches, accessed by boat. There are some great restaurants in town and the beach is gorgeous, so it’s well worth having a few nights here.

When researching Sardinia, a beach I’d come across over and over again was Cala Goloritze; which is only accessible by boat or a 90-minute hike through the mountains. We decided the boat sounded like the more enjoyable option and hopped aboard a trip with Prima Sardegna . As well as visiting Cala Goloritze, we stopped at numerous beaches along the Golfo di Orosei, some of which I found to be even more beautiful than Goloritze. My two favourites were Cala Mariolu and Cala Biriola. The trip ends with a visit to Bue Marino Grotto, part of a huge cave network. A guide will lead you through different sections of the cave around 1km deep, which contains striking stalactites and stalagmites.

Where to Stay in Cala Gonone

We stayed at Hotel Nuraghes Arvu , which has a huge swimming pool and lovely sea views.

Find accommodation in Cala Gonone

Cala Gonone to Cagliari, The Scenic Route (2 hours 40 / 225km)

At this point in the trip, I found my favourite Sardinian beach (so far): Cala Sinzias. This beach really is stunning; it has the clearest turquoise water and white sand, easily as beautiful as beaches I’ve been to in the Maldives and Australia.

All along this stretch of coastline (Costa Rei) is a number of fantastic beaches. We only had time to enjoy Cala Sinzias before heading to the airport for our flight, but I would definitely like more time to check out the others.

What Would We Do Differently?

I’m pretty happy with our road trip itinerary and there isn’t anything I would change for a one week trip. If we had ten days I would definitely head up to the northeast to Maddalena and check out the islands up there. But overall it was great!

What to Eat in Sardinia

As with all over Italy, there are lots of delicious things to eat in Sardinia. A couple of typical things to try whilst on the island are:

Culurgiones

A filled pasta, similar to ravioli, but in the shape of a small Cornish pasty. It’s usually filled with potato, pecorino cheese, garlic, olive oil, nutmeg and mint leaves and is served with a tomato sauce.

There are a lot of sheep in Sardinia, so it’s hardly surprising that they make delicious cheese from the milk. Sardinians have been making this cheese for over 2000 years!

Pane Carasau

There are lots of different Sardinian breads, but the one you’re most likely to see is pane carasau. It looks more like a cracker or a poppadum than bread, and has been a Sardinian staple for many years; shepherds would eat them while they tended their flocks. They were often on the move for large periods of time and pane carasau lasts for over a year without going stale, so it was the perfect food to take on the road. Its name means music paper bread.

As with most islands, fish is a key part of the Sardinian diet. You’ll find lobster in Alghero, bottarga (dried fish eggs) in Oristano and dogfish in Cagliari.

Where to Stay in Sardinia

Read our article on where to stay in Sardinia and our favourite hotels.

Sant’Antioco

Hotel I Colori has great value rooms including breakfast. It has an excellent central location and parking is €5 per day.

Tresnuraghes/Bosa

Stay in one of the lovely rooms at Maison Tresnuraghes , which has free street parking. Alternatively, you could stay at one of the many hotels in Bosa , such as B&B Sandalia or Palazzo Pischedda .

Villa Las Tronas is a luxury option in Alghero with free parking. For something more budget-friendly, you could stay at Hotel Angedras .

Cala Gonone

We stayed in a classic room at the mid-range Hotel Nuraghes Arvu where parking is free. Alternatively, you could stay at one of the other hotels in Cala Gonone , such as Casa Marzane .

How to Get to Sardinia

Fly direct from London to Cagliari with British Airways, Easyjet or Ryanair.

When to Visit Sardinia

We travelled to Sardinia in May, which is part of the shoulder season. May/June and September/October are good periods to visit the island, as it’s not as busy as the months of July/August, but the weather is still warm. We did have some days of rain, but in general, it’s not a rainy time to visit.

It takes about 2 hours to drive from Olbia in the north to Cagliari in the south and less than 2 hours from the west coast to the east coast. To drive a loop or Sardinia takes around 12 hours – best experienced over a week or more.

There are no motorways in Sardinia, but the roads, in general, are in good condition. There are no toll roads so all roads are free. Be aware of speed limits – usually 90km/h on main roads and 50km/h in villages, towns and cities.

A car is recommended in Sardinia as there isn’t a great deal of public transport outside of the cities, and a car gives you the freedom to explore different parts of the island.

This is our suggested Sardinia Road Trip – If you have any suggestions for the next time feel free to share!

Travelling to Italy? Check out our other Italy guides here .

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Places to stay…..£260 a night….. a thought for those of us who can only afford 30 euros a night?

Thanks for your feedback Margaret. I’ve now added some alternative budget hotels too. 🙂

I enjoyed the blog, do people need to comment on expensive hotels, check out your own. we are going this September but flying to Olbia so hopefully doing yours in reverse, more or less. COVID permitting, just returned from montecatine after a good 5 day break. Really looking forward to Sardinia

Hope you have a great time! September should be a good time of year – still warm but past the peak tourist season. It’s such a beautiful place.

Have you ever taken the trenino verde. Wondering if it is worth my time. Macomer to Bosa looked interesting. Driving limits what the driver can see, thought it would be nice to do some train or bus trips.

I haven’t but I’m a big fan of train travel and I’m sure it would be lovely. It looks very nostalgic!

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This Italian Island Has Tranquil Villages, Stunning Beaches, and Luxury Hotels — Here's How to Plan Your Trip

Everything you need to know to plan the perfect vacation on Sardinia.

Sardinia's famous Costa Smeralda, a 12-mile stretch of dreamy shoreline along the northeast, attracts travelers looking to immerse themselves in la dolce vita. And really, with its white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, rugged coastline, ancient archaeological sites, and fascinating culture and traditions, who could blame them? The Mediterranean island truly does have it all.

Sardinia is the second-largest island in Italy after Sicily and is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The island spans 9,305 square miles (or slightly larger than the state of Vermont) and is home to about 1.64 million people. The closest land to Sardinia is another island, Corsica, which is only about eight miles north. Sardinia lies 125 miles from the coast of mainland Italy and about the same distance from the shores of Northern Africa.

The island — with its idyllic mountains and tranquil villages, giving way to bustling resort towns along its rocky coastline — offers an abundance of activities for every type of traveler. Whether you want to bask in the sun, take in the breathtaking views, or taste the local culture, the island will leave a lasting impression on you.

How to Get to Sardinia

Visitors can either fly to one of the three main airports in Sardinia (Cagliari Elmas Airport, Olbia Airport, and Alghero Fertilia Airport) or take a scenic — albeit long — ferry ride to the island. There are multiple daily flights between Italy's major cities and the island, including Rome and Milan, and many of those are operated by low-cost airlines for as cheap as €8. You can also fly to the island from many European cities, including London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Brussels, and many more.

If time is not of the essence (or you would like to bring a car), take a ferry from mainland Italy, France, or Barcelona. Sardinia has five ferry ports, so you can take the slow route whenever you wish.

The Best Times to Go to Sardinia

While many consider the Italian island a summer spot, Sardinia offers plenty to do and see year-round.

If you are after its sun-drenched picture-perfect beaches, the best time to visit Sardinia is during the peak season between June and September, when temperatures soar. If packed beaches are not your thing, consider stopping by at the end of September or October, when the sea is still warm, but most tourists have left the island.

Sardinia is also beautiful in the spring — between March and May — when the flowers and trees are in full bloom, and the weather is perfect for hiking. May is also when the Feast Of Sant'efisio Cagliari takes place. It's a multi-day festival, where thousands of participants accompany the statue of Sant'efisio from Cagliari to Nora and back, roughly a 40-mile journey.

Autunno in Barbagia takes place every fall and lasts a whopping three months. Visitors can enjoy cultural events on weekends dedicated to local arts and crafts. And every winter, the island celebrates Carnival di Mamoiada , one of Sardinia's oldest and most mysterious festivals dating back thousands of years.

Things to Do in Sardinia

Castello, Cagliari

Set on a hill in Sardinia's capital, the historic Castello district is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Cagliari and holds many of the city's significant landmarks. The narrow streets, flanked by ancient buildings, historic palazzos, and churches, transport travelers back in time. Some must-see sights include the Bastione di Saint Remy fort for its panoramic views and beautiful classic architecture, the Cagliari Cathedral and its bell tower, and the Archaeological Museum.

Su Nuraxi Nuraghe

Central Sardinia is home to the island's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and most important archaeological landmark, a striking example of prehistoric architecture called Su Nuraxi Nuraghe. A nuraghe is a defensive stone structure that originated in Sardinia in the Bronze Age. The complex comprises a central stone tower that once reached almost 61 feet in height and four smaller towers connected by a curtain wall.

Porto Flavia

Located near Nebida in the southwest, Porto Flavia looks like it belongs to a scene from "Game of Thrones." Directly built into the cliff and facing the sea, this port is considered a masterpiece of mining engineering that served as a loading dock. Two tunnels connect the port to a mine that once allowed workers to quickly load minerals onto the ships. Today, visitors can tour the site only by appointment and with a guide for safety reasons. The hour-long tour includes a walk along the upper tunnel that ends at the terrace, which offers breathtaking views of the sea and coastline.

The Neptune's Grotto

This two-million-year-old cave in Capo Caccia, Alghero, is one of Sardinia's most-visited natural wonders. Arrival at its entrance is either via boat or a staircase built on the side of a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Once inside, visitors are introduced to a beautiful world full of wondrous natural sculptures known as stalactites and stalagmites. The grotto is also home to one of the largest saltwater lakes in Europe, Lago Lamarmora.

Castelsardo

Castelsardo, often ranked as one of Italy's most charming villages, occupies a hill on the northwest of the island. With its landscape dominated by the perfectly preserved medieval Doria castle, colorful houses spilling down the cliff sides, and the glistening waters of the Mediterranean, Castelsardo looks like it's out of a fairy tale.

Porto Cervo

The crown jewel of Sardinia's renowned Costa Smeralda is this small resort town that, in the summer, becomes the glitzy playground of the international jet set. Its picturesque port fills up with luxury (mega)yachts, and its streets are bustling with celebrities, socialites, and political dignitaries, soaking up the Sardinian sun and dolce vita lifestyle.

Where to Stay in Sardinia

Hotel Cala di Volpe

SP160, 07021 Capriccioli SS, Italy +39 0789 976111 Marriott.com

Located on the stunning Costa Smeralda, the glamorous waterfront Hotel Cala di Volpe treats its guests to spacious suites, a dazzling beach, an Olympic-size saltwater pool, a golf course, and a wellness center and spa, among other high-end facilities. While lush, Mediterranean landscapes surround the property, it is a short eight-minute drive from the vibrant downtown area of Porto Cervo.

Hotel Li Finistreddi

Loc. Micalosu Via le Finestrelle, 07021 Cannigione +39 0789 869144 finistreddi.it

Perched on a hill in the heart of Costa Smeralda, this almost 15-acre property offers vistas of Sardinia's emerald coast and La Maddalena archipelago. Hotel Li Finistreddi has three villas with swimming pools and 19 suites with private entrances and sea views. During the day, guests can lounge by the property's two pools or take a shuttle to the dreamy white-sand Barca Bruciata Beach.

Petra Segreta Resort & Spa

Via Stazzu Malcusa, 07026 San Pantaleo +39 0789 187 6441 petrasegretaresort.com

As the only Relais & Châteaux property in Sardinia, the sprawling Petra Segreta Resort & Spa offers guests a memorable experience set against the idyllic backdrop of stunning Costa Smeralda. The resort, nestled on 12 scenic acres of verdant forest, has 25 rooms and suites set in traditional Sardinian stone houses with private patios and modern interiors. The resort's fine-dining restaurant, il Fuoco Sacro, is among the best on the island and mainland Italy and serves patrons delectable "dishes full of modern Italian flavor," according to the Michelin Guide .

La Villa del Re

Località Su Cannisoni, 09040 Castiadas CA +39 070 775 3009 Lavilladelre.com

This adults-only boutique hotel sits in a scenic park on the southeast coast of Sardinia and offers front-row views of the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Costa Rei. The property's facade invokes traditional Sardinian architecture, while its 50 rooms and suites are all about soothing palettes and timeless elegance. The private beach and chic infinity pool are perfect for enjoying the hot Sardinian sun with a cocktail in hand. The hotel's pool-side restaurant, Bella Vista, lives up to its name and treats patrons to gorgeous sea views and delicious Mediterranean fare.

Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa

Lungomare Valencia, 1, 07041 Alghero SS +39 079 981818 Hotelvillalastronas.it

With its classic tower-inspired Belle Epoque architecture, gardens, and dramatic location, Villa Las Tronas is a unique base to explore Alghero and Sardinia's northwest coast. The spacious 24 rooms are all about Old World charm, clad in marble or parquet floors, crystal chandeliers, and vintage furniture. The hotel's spa features an indoor pool, a Turkish bath, and a sauna, while the seafront restaurant offers a seasonal vegetarian menu.

Località Mucchi Bianchi, 07021 Baja Sardinia SS, Italy +39 0789 99880 7pines.com

This brand new resort opens in July 2022 in a remote cove in Baja Sardinia. With 76 light-filled, spacious rooms and suites overlooking its gardens or the sea, 7Pines is a stylish retreat just a short drive from vibrant Porto Cervino. The two pools nestled amid swaying palms and surrounded by sunbeds and cabanas are the epitome of Italian chic, while those who prefer to take a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean can head to the resort's main beach or explore the secluded coves around the property.

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Undeniably Italian, yet expressing a unique regional identity, Sardinia presents a distinctive take on the Mediterranean island experience. Blending Italian and North African influences, the Sard people fiercely embrace their diverse island home. From the coast to the wilderness of the interior, Sardinia is well worth a visit.

The best travel tips for visiting Sardinia

Best things to do in sardinia, where to stay in sardinia, best restaurants and bars, how to get here, tips for getting around, how many days do you need in sardinia, best time to visit sardinia, travel ideas for italy, created by local experts.

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When planning a trip to Sardinia, it is important to keep a few travel tips in mind. First, it is recommended to avoid the peak tourist season in August, as prices can be higher and crowds can be overwhelming. Instead, consider visiting in the shoulder season months of June, July, or September.

Additionally, be prepared for narrow, winding roads and rugged terrain in some areas. It is also worth noting that many businesses, including restaurants and shops, close for a mid-day siesta, so plan accordingly.

Planning tip : do you need help planning your trip to Italy? Perhaps our local experts can help!

Every trip to Sardinia in Italy is unique and that's why it's essential to stay protected. With our go-to travel insurance provider, Heymondo , you get great value and 24/7 support wherever you are.

Chia beach, Sardinia © Shutterstock

Sardinia offers visitors a wide range of activities to enjoy, from exploring the island's rich history to soaking up the sun on its beautiful beaches. Here is our pick of the best things to do in Sardinia.

#1 Relax at the Sardinian beaches

Even the most discerning beach enthusiasts will find their desires fulfilled with the abundant selection of swimming spots scattered along the mesmerizing coasts of Sardinia. Whether you prefer perennial favorites that have stood the test of time or hidden gems nestled within secluded coves, there's always a beach nearby.

Sardinia boasts some of the most remarkable beaches in all of Italy, guaranteeing an unforgettable beach experience for all who visit. These are some of the best beaches on the island:

• La Pelosa: Located near Stintino in the northwest, La Pelosa is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, fine white sand, and a picturesque backdrop of the medieval tower of Torre della Pelosa.
• Cala Goloritzé: Situated on the east coast, Cala Goloritzé is a hidden gem accessible only by boat or a challenging hike. It features a striking limestone rock formation called the Aguglia, pristine waters, and a small pebble beach.
• Cala Mariolu: Also found on the east coast, Cala Mariolu is known for its pristine and transparent waters, vibrant marine life, and breathtaking rock formations. Snorkeling and diving are popular activities here.
• Spiaggia di Tuerredda: Located in the south, near Chia, Tuerredda Beach is renowned for its Caribbean-like beauty. With its soft sand, clear turquoise waters, and surrounding hills, it is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
• Porto Giunco: Situated in Villasimius on the southeast coast, Porto Giunco offers a stunning landscape with fine white sand, shallow waters, and a backdrop of Mediterranean vegetation and saltwater lagoon.
• Cala Brandinchi: Known as "Little Tahiti," Cala Brandinchi on the northeast coast boasts turquoise waters, pristine white sand, and a pine forest backdrop, creating a truly idyllic setting.
• Spiaggia di Is Arutas: Located on the central west coast near Oristano, Is Arutas is famous for its unique sand made up of tiny quartz grains resembling colorful grains of rice. The beach is surrounded by stunning cliffs and clear waters.
• Spiaggia del Principe: Situated on the Costa Smeralda in the northeast, Spiaggia del Principe offers a secluded and picturesque setting with fine sand, granite rock formations, and turquoise waters.

#2 Discover the area's ancient towers

Nuraghe-spotting is one of the classic pastimes when travelling through the island. Some of these prehistoric monuments are well restored and can only be visited with a ticket; others are mossy ruins in fields, free to enter. One of the most exhilarating is the Nuraghe Mannu outside Cala Gonone.

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

#3 Take time for culinary pursuits

You’ll enjoy the exquisite sea and land-based dishes in restaurants throughout the island. That said, some of the best places are off the tourist track. You'll want to be sure to explore such inland centres as Sássari and Nuoro.

#4 Explore church treasures

You don’t have to visit galleries to see great art in Sardinia – some of the smallest, most unprepossessing churches preserve some real gems of medieval art. For example, the magnificent altarpiece in San Pietro Apostolo, Tuili, is well worth a detour.

#5 Rides and drives

Embarking on a road trip through Sardinia is a gateway to experiencing the island's awe-inspiring landscape, and it is an adventure that will leave travellers in awe. The undulating terrain of the island's mountainous interior presents an enchanting backdrop for long, leisurely journeys, allowing explorers to truly immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the region.

One of the most beloved routes is found in the picturesque area of Gerrei, known for its captivating scenery and charming villages. As you traverse the roads south of Dorgali and west of Aggius, you'll be treated to breathtaking vistas of rolling hills, rugged mountains, and verdant valleys, evoking a sense of tranquility and wonder. The roads wind through idyllic countryside, adorned with vineyards, olive groves, and grazing sheep, providing a glimpse into the traditional rural life of Sardinia.

Along the way, there are numerous opportunities to stop and explore the hidden gems that dot the landscape, from ancient ruins to quaint villages where time seems to stand still.

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#6 Spend time at the Isles of Wonder

The island has its own subgroups of islands, the most dramatic of which is the archipelago of La Maddalena, off the northeastern coast; you can explore the pristine beaches and silky waters on boat trips – join a group or rent your own motor-dinghy.

#7 Learn about local culture at the Ethnographic Museum

The Ethnographic Museum in Sardinia is a fascinating place to explore and learn about the island's history and cultural heritage. A visit to this extensive collection – crammed with masks, costumes, craftwork and musical instruments – offers intriguing insights into the local culture.

#8 Plunge into Neptune’s Grotto

Neptune's Grotto is a stunning sea cave and is a must-visit for anyone travelling to the island. Stalactites, stalagmites and eccentric rock formations are the highlights of a tour through the Grotta di Nettuno, a cave complex set in towering cliffs by the sea.

Stairways to stalactite cave of Neptune Grotto in Alghero in Sardinia © Prashant_Agrawal/Shutterstock

#9 See Tharros — one of the best things to do in Sardinia

Tharros, an ancient Phoenician-Roman city in Sardinia, offers visitors a glimpse into the island's rich history through its well-preserved ruins and stunning coastal location. Founded by the Phoenicians on a promontory jutting into the sea, this historic site retains extensive evidence of the Punic and Roman settlers who followed.

#10 Explore the beautiful landscapes of Inland Gallura

Inland Gallura boasts breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that capture the essence of the Mediterranean. Interspersed with thick groves of cork oaks, the granite rockscape of this scarcely populated mountainous zone offers unforgettable panoramas.

#11 Discover the underwater world

Diving enthusiasts will find a captivating underwater world awaiting them in the azure depths surrounding Sardinia. With its clear waters, diverse marine life, and captivating underwater landscapes, the island offers an unforgettable diving experience.

One of the top diving spots in Sardinia is the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara-Capo Coda Cavallo. This area is home to vibrant coral reefs, underwater caves, and a rich variety of marine species, including groupers, moray eels, and colorful nudibranchs. Another renowned site is the Isola di Mal di Ventre, known for its incredible visibility and the opportunity to encounter large pelagic species such as dolphins and tuna.

The Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, located near Villasimius, is another popular diving destination. Its crystal-clear waters are teeming with marine life, including octopuses, seahorses, and various species of colorful fish. For those seeking adventure, the underwater caves of the Grotta del Nereo near Alghero offer a unique and fascinating diving experience.

Other notable diving spots include the underwater archaeological site of Nora, where divers can explore ancient ruins beneath the sea, and the Lavezzi Islands, located between Sardinia and Corsica, known for their abundant marine life and stunning rock formations.

On the whole, accommodation in Sardinia is cheaper than in the rest of Italy. The main problem is the lack of availability, as the various options can be fully booked in summer. Even outside the high season, it’s advisable to book as early as you can.

As well as hotels, there are hostels, B&Bs, agriturismi (rural accommodation), self-catering villas and apartments, and campsites with bungalows or caravans to rent. There is certainly no shortage of options when deciding where to stay in Sardinia .

Colourful traditional Sardinian embroidered dresses, parading in the streets, Italy © hybridimages/Shutterstock

Full meals can be elaborate affairs. These are generally served in a trattoria or a ristorante, though these days there’s often a fine line between the two: traditionally, a trattoria is cheaper and more basic, offering home cooking (cucinacasalinga), while a ristorante is more upmarket (tablecloths and waiters).Antica Dimora del Gruccione, Santu Lussurgiu. This gourmet restaurant concentrates on local meat products (with veggie options) and charges €35 for a five-course meal..

• Dal Corsaro, Cágliari. At this venerable spot – one of Cágliari’s oldest restaurants and the only one that is Michelin-starred – the dominant tone is hushed elegance. Modern, stripped-down versions of classic fish and meat dishes are often memorable.
• Il Mosto, Aggius. This granite-walled trattoria is among Gallura’s finest, offering honest gallurese cuisine at moderate prices (€30 per head for two courses).
• Il Pórtico, Nuoro. You’ll find an innovative approach to the traditional Sard dishes on offer in this smart place with modern art on the walls.
• Mabrouk, Alghero. This is about as near as Alghero comes to a cosy neighbourhood trattoria, where there’s no written menu but a democratic €40 fixed-price dinner for everyone – including unlimited house wine and limoncello.

If you're looking to travel to Sardinia, you have several options available. One way to reach the island is by taking a direct flight from major European cities. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from mainland Italy or other Mediterranean countries.

From the UK, flights operated by Ryanair, Tui and easyJet to Alghero, Olbia and Cagliari are hard to beat for price. From the Italian mainland, there are frequent daily flights to the island’s airports from Rome , Milan and Bologna , with less frequent connections from smaller centres. Most routes are served by Alitalia, Air Italy, easyJet and Ryanair. Prices start at around €40 for a one-way Milan–Alghero ticket.

Regular, year-round ferries sail to Sardinia from mainland Italy , Sicily , Corsica and France . Reserve well in advance for summer crossings, especially if you have a car or bike. August sailings can be fully booked by May. Prices in high season start from about €40/person, depending on the route.

The cheapest tickets (“Ponte”) involve sleeping on deck. Pricier tickets include a reclining armchair and a berth adds another €45 or so. The charge for a medium car is around €130 in high season. Look out for discounts on return tickets bought in advance within certain periods, and for special deals for a car plus two or three passengers.

Trenino Verde train, Sardinia © Shutterstock

If you're looking to travel to Sardinia, you have several options available. One way to reach the island is by taking a direct flight from major European cities like Rome, Milan, or Barcelona to Cagliari, the capital city. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from mainland Italy or other Mediterranean countries such as France or Spain, which offers picturesque views of the island's coastline.

The best way of getting around Sardinia is undoubtedly by car. There are rental offices in all the major towns including Cagliari .

The island-wide bus service is run by ARST , supplemented by smaller independent operators covering specific long-distance routes, for example Turmo between Cagliari and Olbia.

Trains connect the major towns of Cagliari , Oristano, Sassari and Olbia, operated by Trenitalia . Smaller narrow-gauge lines linking Nuoro and Alghero with the main network are run by ARST . From mid-June to mid-Sept, the Trenino Verde trains take slow but scenic routes to various destinations around the island, including Bosa, Tempio Pausania and Láconi.

Beach of "Cala Gonone", Sardinia © LPuddori/Shutterstock

To fully appreciate the island's stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and charming coastal towns, it is recommended to spend at least a week in Sardinia.

That said, if you are interested in exploring the island's more remote areas or embarking on adventurous activities such as hiking, diving or sailing, then you may want to consider extending your stay to ten days or more.

To avoid the crowds, high prices, and heat, it is best to skip August when visiting Sardinia. Meanwhile June, July, and September are still hot but less busy. Swimming is possible from May to October.

Visiting in the winter can be a low-key experience, though some facilities may be closed. Spring is great for festivals and walking, while autumn offers beautiful colours for outdoor activities.

Top image: Beach of "Cala Gonone", Sardinia © LPuddori/Shutterstock

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The Perfect One Week in Sardinia Itinerary

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 25th July 2023

Categories Italy , Itineraries

Last Updated on 25th July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

In this one-week Sardinia itinerary , we will be focusing on the southern coast of the island, checking out the best shores, the capital of Cagliari, and some of the traditional villages where time seems to have stopped forever.

One of the biggest islands in the Mediterranean, and indeed one of the largest islands in Europe , there is a lot to see and do in Sardinia.

One of the most popular Italian destinations in summer, there are dozens of towns, amazing beaches, and incredible traditions to discover… and sometimes, one week in Sardinia might not seem enough to see it all.

Basic Things to Know About Sardinia

Where is sardinia, how to get to sardinia, moving around, tips to spend a week in sardinia, days 1-2 in sardinia: cagliari, day 3-4 in sardinia: villasimius, day 4-7 in sardinia: costa rei and back to cagliari.

Italy’s most popular summer destination, Sardinia, is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily (which is also Italian).

Sardinia is an important autonomous region best known for its bilingual identity, with a unique autochthonous language, Algherese Catalan, one of the twelve different linguistic minorities scattered around the country, some of them also found in Sardinia 

The island is also known for its national parks and reserves and a varied ecosystem that includes not just impressive sandy shores, but also mountains, plains, woods, and extensive uninhabited territories.

The island is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, close to the coast of the Toscana region and the French island of Corsica which is separated from Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio.

The best and most practical way to get to Sardinia is from Italy. Most people get to Sardinia by ferry from the ports of Genoa , Naples, and Rome and so a visit here can be combined with a trip to one of Italy’s most famous cities.

There are also regular commercial flights to the island landing in any of the three airports on the island: Cagliari, Olbia, and Alghero. There are also dozens of seasonal charter flights during the high season from many different Italian towns.

Although flying is faster and cheaper than boarding a ferry (oftentimes overnight), a boat will give you the possibility to board with your own vehicle, which you will soon learn, offers incredible autonomy and flexibility to move around such a big island. 

Keep in mind, for instance, that one of the most popular ferry routes (departing from Civitavecchia in Rome) takes about 14 hours while the flight Rome-Sardinia takes about an hour. 

If you’re traveling from France and want to embark your vehicle, you can take the ferry from Marseille. The journey Marseille-Sardinia can take from 11 to 17 hours. Make sure to book in advance as the popularity of the island means that prices are very elevated in the high season and so it’s best to book well in advance.

Given the impressive distances you need to travel to see the most important landmarks, but also cities, natural reserves, and beaches, the best way to discover Sardinia is to rent a car.  Check car rental prices here.

For you to get a better idea regarding distances, keep in mind that it takes about 3 hours to get from Cagliari (in the south) to Olbia (in the north), or about 2.5 hours from Cagliari to Alghero, on the western coast of Sardinia. By bus, the travel time can even double, especially in the high season.

This gives you enough flexibility to plan a smart itinerary according to the available time you have to spend on the island.

There are also buses and (very few) connecting the main towns on the island, however, schedules aren’t always practical nor are the services punctual. Generally speaking, the service is not really efficient and it will make you waste lots of precious time changing from one bus to the other in some remote bus station. 

On the other hand, if driving is not in your plans, you can still see quite a lot of Sardinia by joining different organized tours with pick-up or transfer services. This is another way to get efficient transport to see the best of Sardinia without getting behind the wheel.

As we have already mentioned above, the island is huge, so if you fantasize about seeing most of Sardinia in one week, then forget it. In general, driving times are incredibly long, which means you will be spending most of your time on the road instead of enjoying the best of the island.

This time, we have decided to explore the amazing south of the island, which will also give you the chance to check out the most important city and capital of the island. 

We did not just choose this itinerary because of the amazing beaches you can enjoy, but also because most international flights land in Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital. So if you’re not traveling from Italy, chances are that Cagliari will be your starting point for a Sardinia vacation.

Besides, staying in or near Cagliari offers more access to transport, organized excursions, boat trips, and a good highway network to reach other areas of Sardinia as well.

Finally, the best thing you can do is to keep your itinerary flexible and enjoy every stop along the way. Take enough time to see one or two sites at a time and do not pack a lot in a day. 

You won’t enjoy all the magic natural places that the island has to offer, you’ll be stressed out, and miss a lot of the fun that has made Sardinia the number one holiday spot among Italians. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our top Italy travel tips .

One Week in Sardinia – The South Coast: Cagliari, Costa Rei and Villasimius

A perfect itinerary if you land at the airport of Cagliari, moving around this trip includes stops in interesting places along the southeastern coast of the island. 

This part of Sardinia is perfect for those who cannot spend long hours far from crystal clear beaches, but who also have a passion for water sports and close contact with nature.

This itinerary is ideal for those looking to spend long hours relaxing by the sea, but that will also enjoy some nightlife activities, interesting villages, and plenty of cultural experiences.

The itinerary includes three main stops, the capital of the island, Cagliari, as well as the gorgeous seaside resorts of Villasimius and Costa Rei.

For those looking to see more, there are day trips included, such as a visit to Pula or the spectacular Chia Beach on the southern tip of Sardinia.

There is a lot to see in the capital of the island. Devote the first day in Cagliari to adapt to the unique rhythm of the city, somewhat calmer and more laid-back than in mainland Italy. It is a great idea to start by exploring San Benedetto Market, which is open in the mornings (until 2 pm).

This is the city’s biggest food market as well as the most amazing display of Sardinia’s traditional cuisine. Don’t be mistaken, if you thought you knew everything about Italian food , think it over. 

Due to the hundreds of years of isolation and the long distance that separates Sardinia from mainland Italy, the local gastronomy is completely different and it almost does not resemble what you could eat in the rest of the country.

No place is better than the market to taste Sardinia’s remarkable cheeses and cold cuts, original bread specialties, unusual pasta, and unexpected sweets.

If you like fish and seafood, the market won’t disappoint either. In fact, there is a whole floor devoted to seafood!

Next up, head to the Castello District, the oldest of the historic districts in the city, hosting some of the most important landmarks in the capital, such as the Cathedral of Cagliari, and the Bastion of Saint Remy.

This beautiful quarter is on top of a hill where, in the past, the nobles and wealthy inhabitants of Sardinia would build impressive mansions and other buildings.

Among the inhabitants of the district, there were also Spanish and Pisans. The latter fortified the area and used it as the headquarters for their naval forces. 

The district features narrow alleys, mostly pedestrian, dozens of quaint cafés and traditional restaurants, but also amazing observing points over the sea and the pristine coast, scattered along the ramparts of the district. 

When exploring the Castello district, you can also check out The Elephant Tower and San Pancrazio Tower, built by the Pisans in the fourteenth century and open to the public. Also in the same area, you can visit the Cagliari Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Royal Palace.

Finally, in the northern part of the district, there is an interesting Roman Amphitheatre and a unique Botanical Garden that, with its over 2000 plant species is a perfect example of Sardinia’s natural diversity and incredible ecosystem.

End the day heading to the Saint Remy Bastion which connects the upper and lower parts of the city and is one of the most characteristic symbols of the town.

To learn more and see the best of Cagliari, it is a good idea to join a walking tour of the old town hosted by a local like this one .

On your second day in Cagliari, why not venture beyond the boundaries of the city to learn more about the history of the island? Sardinia is home to some of the most incredible archaeological sites in the country, featuring an intriguing characteristic monument, the nuraghe. 

These fortress-type constructions were built by the ancient inhabitants of the island back in 1800 BC, approximately. 

There are more than 7000 nuraghes in Sardinia, often with surrounding fortifications and villages. These are the only tangible testimony of the ancient Sardinian civilization, also known as Nuragic, as there are no written records of this civilization.

About an hour from Cagliari, the nuraghe Su Nuraxi is the largest and most famous nuraghe of Sardinia and is the only nuraghe listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It features clear walls and fortifications and it is also the only nuraghe that has been fully excavated, around the area, there is also an interesting Nuragic village with rests of about 50 small houses. 

For better organisation and to learn even more about this mysterious place, check out this organised activity that explores this Bronze Age defence system.

Devote the afternoon to visiting one of the nicest beaches in the area, the impressive Poetto Beach. Over here, you can spend a fantastic time swimming and admiring the incredible color of the sea. This is one of the closest beaches to the city as well as a popular getaway for locals and visitors alike.

Known as one of the longest beaches on the island, the coastal resort extends for over 7 kilometers. The place is well organized, featuring exclusive beach clubs, restaurants, bars, and a variety of water sports facilities.

You can get there by car (about 20 minutes from the centre) or you can also take the bus from the main Matteotti Square.

One of the most incredible villages and beaches on the southern coast of Sardinia, Villasimius offers both relaxation and tranquillity but also some of the most incredible landscapes on the island.

Even if we decided to devote two days to the region, chances are that you won’t want to leave! Known as the pearl of the south, this incredible coastal portion of Sardinia features beautiful glimmering crystal-clear water with pleasantly warm temperatures. 

All around the area, unique clear granite cliffs, and coves, but also unexpected lagoons and lush hills.

Among the gems you can enjoy in the Villasimius region, start by heading to the promontory of Capo Carbonara promontory which is home to a protected marine area with incredible panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

Other beaches to explore during your two days in this village include Porto Sa Ruxi, Campus , Campulongu, and Riso Beach. Riso in Italian means rice and the name perfectly described the unusual rice-shaped sand that has made the place truly famous.

In the late evenings, you can enjoy a walk along the tourist harbor and have fun going shopping for souvenirs in the commercial area of the village. You can also dine delicious dishes of seafood served on the waterfront until late in the evening.

On your second day in Villasimius, it is a good idea to spend some time checking out the western side of Capo Carbonara, here you will discover the incredible beach of Cala Caterina and the marshes of Stagno di Notteri, known for the incredible number of pink flamingos that live in the area.

Over here, you can also admire (or even visit), the famous islands of Serpentara and Cavoli, both known for several shipwrecks as well as impressive underwater life that you can explore scuba diving.

If you’re still fascinated about the past of the island, there are several archaeological ruins from the Nuragic age that you can visit, such as the Accu Is Traias necropolis as well as the Roman Baths of Santa Maria. 

In Villasimius, there is also an interesting archaeological museum, with interesting displays related to the shipwrecks that took place in the area over the centuries.

If you prefer to devote more time to Cagliari and only want to see the highlights of Villasimius, you can check out this Villasimius beaches day trip that also includes transportation and a short visit to Costa Rei.

Spend your last days in Sardinia enjoying Costa Rei, one of the most enchanting areas of the island. Over here, you can explore the Sarrabus a natural park and reserve with the impressive backdrop of the Sette Fratelli mountain range.

A favorite destination among hikers and fans of walks in nature, the region includes lush hills, an impressive deep blue coast, and amazing dunes.

Different beaches or, as locals call them, calas , are some of the most impressive spots you can discover in Costa Rei. One of the most impressive ones, Cala Pira, is a beautiful, although fairly small bay with crystal seas surrounded by dunes and juniper trees. 

Not far, Cala Sinzias is a protected shore surrounded by a thick pine forest, standing sandwiched between two small cliffs that give the area a private atmosphere, despite being quite close to the town of Costa Rei.

The little town is a very lively coastal resort bordered by a magnificent stretch of fine white sand in clear contrast with the deep emerald green of the sea in the area. 

The sandy beach, which is about 10 kilometers long features shallow, safe waters, and all the organized services you need, including good restaurants, and bars, but also hotels, entertainment, and shopping opportunities

On your second day in Costa Reis, you can drive to Muravera, another interesting coastal resort that hosts interesting activities and events devoted to the promotion of Sardinia’s most unique traditions and culture, the area is also known for a variety of gastronomic festivals that take place not only in summer.

For more information about the traditions of Costa Rei, it is a good idea to visit the Castiadas Penal Colony. Today a cultural center and museum this former prison dates back to 1877. 

The fields surrounding the detention center, which now produce an incredible variety of organic products, were once tilled by semi-free prisoners.

When it is time to go back to Cagliari, it is a great idea to drive from the south to the airport along one of the most impressive scenic routes in Italy. This panoramic road travels north along the coast, passing through gorgeous hills overlooking the magnificent shores of the south of the island.

Day Trips in the Area

If you have extra time during your trip or plan to do alternative things to the ones suggested in this itinerary, check out these interesting day trips that will surely add more color to your Sardinia escape:

Day Trip to Pula

Easy to reach from Cagliari, the small town of Pula is a great destination for water sports, fun entertainment, and, again, great beaches. 

Pula is located about 38 kilometers from the center of Cagliari, there are incredible shores to spend the day swimming or practicing water sports, but also an interesting archaeological site, the Ancient City of Nora which dates from the Punic times but saw its most important development during the Roman era. 

Among the things to discover are the ruins of ancient houses and public buildings, an imposing theater, and diverse thermal complexes.

If you’re visiting Pula for its beaches, they won’t disappoint, the most famous of all is Santa Maria di Pula, a 10-kilometer-long collection of coves surrounded by thick pine forests that offer natural shade and fresher temperatures.

Day Trip to Chia Beach

Turquoise calm waters and clear sand are the most distinctive traits of Chia Beach and they are worth a day trip from Villasimius, Cagliari, or Costa Rei. Also famous for its wildlife, the dozens of dolphins that come to breed on its coast, and a picturesque lagoon with pink flamingos.

Near the main seaside area, you can check out the impressive Campana Dune, another popular beach that features sand dunes over 20 meters high. 

The whole area is popular among water sports fanatics who come to Chia Beach to have fun doing kitesurfing, kayaking, surfing, paddle boating, and snorkelling.

Enjoyed reading about how to spend a week in Sardinia itinerary? Pin this article now, read it again later:

Gabi Ancarola is a journalist and travel writer who has lived over 20 years in Italy, and has been living in Crete for the last five years. She hosts culinary tours, translates and writes for her Crete travel blog The Tiny Book . She’s written for Greek Reporter and published several travel guides about Greece.

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Sardinia   Travel Guide

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Why Go To Sardinia

Sardinia, a 9,301-square-mile island situated in the Mediterranean Sea, just west of the Italian mainland, lures travelers with its unique blend of ancient culture and arresting coastal views. In his travel book "Sea and Sardinia," D.H. Lawrence wrote that "Sardinia is different." And it's true. Not only can you lounge on a white beach or wade out into clear, turquoise waters, but you can enjoy a leisurely pranzo (lunch) complete with Sardinia's own take on pasta and wine. Yes, you can snorkel among colorful fish in nearby coves, but you can also explore inland Sardinia's traditional villages and see shepherds tending to their flocks. The drive along the island's northern  Emerald Coast would convince you that Sardinia is characterized solely by glamorous hotels and ristorantes , and utterly perfect beaches, but you'd be wrong. It's also home to humble farms, forested mountains, and friendly but reserved locals… it's as Lawrence penned, different.  

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• # 1 in Best Beaches in Italy
• # 2 in Best Islands in the World for 2024
• # 15 in Best Places to Visit in Italy

Best of Sardinia

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• # 1 in Resort Valle dell'Erica Thalasso & Spa
• # 2 in Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa
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Best Things to Do in Sardinia

• # 1 in Cala Mariolu
• # 2 in Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena
• # 3 in Capo Testa

Popular Tours

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Sardinia Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Sardinia is from April to June when the flowers are in bloom, the sea waters are warm, and the temperatures haven't yet reached their July and August highs. Still, summertime in Sardinia has its perks: For instance, the Tyrrhenian Sea (east of the island) and the Mediterranean Sea waters are incredibly refreshing this time of year, and a vibrant lineup of festivals and events fill the calendar. September and October offer travelers mild weather and fewer crowds, while the months between November and March constitute low season with chilly temperatures and fewer tourists. 

Weather in Sardinia

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Buy genuine handicrafts When shopping, look for baskets, ceramics, jewelry, rugs, linen napkins and more that sport the ISOLA tags since that certifies it as a bona fide, Sardinian-made ware.
• Stick to one region At 9,301 square miles, Sardinia is likely too large to explore in one trip, so pick one region and enjoy the attractions and restaurants there to make the most of your time.
• Book accommodations early Make sure to book your accommodations several months in advance of your trip since the availability of rooms, especially during peak season (July to August), can be limited.

How to Save Money in Sardinia

• Rent a smaller car You'll not only save money on fuel, but you'll also be able to easily navigate Sardinia's narrow alleys and tight parking spots.
• Limit the dining out Purchasing most of your food at grocery stores or local markets rather than spending your euros at trattorias will stretch your travel funds a bit further.
• Travel in low season Although winter will be too chilly to swim, you can enjoy the food and attractions without the crowds, and your accommodations will be priced much lower.

Culture & Customs

The culture in Sardinia is similar to that of other Italian destinations: Sardinians have a deep fidelity to friends and family, they value traditions and good food, and they take a laid-back approach to life. And although beaches ring their island, many locals have grown up far from the tourist bustle – in the small villages that lie inland where traditional values reign and shepherding is the main industry. 

Sardinia is also heavily influenced by the Catholic church. Festivals (" festas ") that celebrate Catholic saints punctuate the Sardinian calendar, and attending Mass is still a weekly event for many locals. 

Along with speaking a Sardinian dialect, locals also speak Italian. Those working in the tourist trade likely speak some English as well, but it helps if tourists know a few basic phrases, such as "hello," buongiorno ; "goodbye," arrivederci , "please," per favore ; "thank you," grazie ; "yes," si . Sardinia's official currency is the euro. Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go.

What to Eat

Like other Italian destinations, Sardinia is serious about good food. Coffee is an art here, but ordering un caffe will get travelers a small shot of espresso rather than the big mug they might be accustomed to. A doppio espresso is a double shot of espresso. Visitors will likely be familiar with Sardinia's other types of coffee. For instance, an americano is an espresso with hot water, and its roster of milky coffees include lattes , cappuccinos and macchiatos .

Sardinia also has its own local vineyards, which produce Sardinian wines, such as vermentino whites, cannonau reds and vernaccia whites and fortified wines. Visitors can try these and other Sardinian wines at enotecas or wine bars around the island, or they can plan a visit to the wineries or wine cellars for tastings. Some of the favorites include Sella e Mosca , Antichi Poderi di Jerzu and Tenute Olbios , among others. 

The island also has its own specialty breads, pastas, cheese, meat, fish and seafood dishes, and sweets. For instance, visitors should stop by a panetteria (bakery) and pick up a loaf of civraxiu , a round loaf with a crispy crust and soft center. The hard, tangy pecorino cheese is a Sardinian specialty, as are creamy goat cheeses, such as ircano and caprino . The island's many different pastas include a saffron-flavored malloreddus and a ravioli-type pasta stuffed with pecorino or ricotta, called culurgiones . 

Lobster, tuna and octopus all feature heavily on Sardinian menus, as do suckling pig, lamb and goat. Sardinian sweets, meanwhile, vary by region. For instance, different parts of the island add ingredients, such as cinnamon, mulled wine, vanilla or orange blossom, to the traditional papassino , a dessert made with raisins.

Getting Around Sardinia

The best way to get around Sardinia is by car. It's the easiest way to hit the places on your itinerary, though it's not the cheapest option. Using public transportation will save you some cash, but the trains and buses aren't the most reliable or efficient ways of traveling around the island. And the only way to reach some islands like La Maddalena , for instance, is by hopping aboard a ferry.

To get to Sardinia, most travelers fly from Italian or European cities into one of Sardinia's three main airports, located on the outskirts of Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero. A variety of domestic flights transport visitors between the mainland's airports, including Rome , Milan , Naples , Bari, Bologna, Turin, Venice and Verona. If you'd rather take the ferry, there are several routes available from cities like Naples, Palermo, Genoa, Livorno and Civitavecchia (outside of Rome). There are also ferries from mainland France and Spain to Sardinia, but these sailings can take as long as 12 hours. Grandi Navi Veloci , Moby Lines and Tirrenia are the three principal ferry operators offering regular service between mainland Italy and Sardinia. There are multiple arrival ports in Sardinia, including in the north, along the east coast and in the south.

Entry & Exit Requirements

A passport that is valid for at least six months after your planned departure date is required for United States citizens traveling outside the mainland by air or sea, as well as for U.S. citizens trying to re-enter the country. U.S. citizens do not need a visa unless they plan on staying longer than 90 days. Visit the U.S. State Department's website for more information on exit and entry requirements.

Sardinia's 1,000-plus miles of coastline are characterized by rock formations and transparent blue waters.

Explore More of Sardinia

Things To Do

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Itinerary: 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Sardinia – All the Best things to do and see

How to visit sardinia in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days.

You’re planning to visit Sardinia for your next trip?

Great choice!

For a weekend or more, you will enjoy the beautiful landscapes , beaches and coves with crystal clear water .

If you have planned to do a 2 to 5 days trip (for the luckiest ones!), you will find in this guide the perfect itineraries depending on:

• The duration of your stay
• You airport of arrival.

You will see, organizing your trip to Sardinia will be very easy!

• You select the itinerary of your choice depending on the duration of your holidays
• For each leg of your itinerary, you click on the links to read my detailed articles . The best things to do, where to stay etc.. I tell you everything!
• Thanks to my selection of the best accommodations for each city, you book your hotels nights in 1 click.

So, what are the best things to do in Sardinia in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days?

2 days in Cagliari and its surroundings

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If you’re in Sardinia for a weekend , you’ll have to focus on a quite a small area to be sure to make the most of your stay. You should also limit the time spent driving/in public transportation.

On the bright side, you can choose between 3 airports of arrival in Sardinia:

• Cagliari , the capital, in the South
• Olbia, in the Northeast
• Alghero , in the Northwest.

All these 3 cities are excellent destinations for a 2 days stay in Sardinia.

I will give you a detailed itinerary for these 3 cities , so you will be able to decide according to your interests and the prices of flights.

Here are the best things to do in Cagliari on your 1st day:

• San Benedetto market, to discover all the local delicacies
• The Castello neighborhood, the old town of Cagliari
• Saint Remy Bastion and its scenic view over the whole city
• The Santa Maria cathedral
• The palazzo di Citta
• Cagliari National Archaeological Museum
• Poetto beach , the closest to the city.

On the second day, you should go explore the area. Depending on what you like to do , you could either:

• Visit Su Nuraxi nuraghe, the only UNESCO World Heritage site of Sardinia
• Visit Nora archeological site , an antique city that used to be very powerful.
• Explore the coast around Villasimius , known to be home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia

For more information about visiting Cagliari and its surroundings in 2 days, you should read my article: The 10 Best things to do in Cagliari .

In this detailed guide, I also give you my list of the best hotels in the city depending in your budget.

If you choose to fly to Olbia , no need to spend time in the city itself, as there is nothing really interesting to visit there.

However, you will be lucky enough to spend 2 days on the Costa Smeralda , one of the fanciest places in Sardinia !

During your weekend, you will enjoy stunning beaches and chic seaside resorts.

Best places to see on the Costa Smeralda in 2 days:

• Porto Cervo, the “capital” of Costa Smeralda, located only 40 minutes driving away. Features a marina with beautiful yachts and luxury shops
• Enjoy the beaches: Grande Pevero beach, Capriccioli, Principe beach and Cala di Volpe are among the most beautiful ones
• Visit other seaside resorts: Poltu Quatu, Baia Sardinia or Cannigione
• Porto Rotondo, similar to Porto Cervo
• Arzachena, home to many historical sites
• A 1-day boat trip to the Maddalena archipelago

If you want more details about the best things to do on the Costa Smeralda, you should read my article: Costa Smeralda: the definitive guide .

Alghero is a beautiful medieval town by the sea.

Here are the best places to visit during your 2 days stay in Alghero:

• The historical center : take a stroll in its narrow paved streets and discover the numerous small local shops.
• Piazza Civica, the main square
• The lungomare, to go for a walk by the seaside and reach the beaches
• The Neptune caves, to see the stalactites and stalagmites
• Porto Conte National Park, to go hiking next to the sea
• Lido San Giovanni beach or Maria Pia beach , the closest beaches.

For more information about Alghero, you can read my detailed article about the city: The 6 Best things to do in Alghero . In this guide, you will also find my selection of the best hotels depending on your budget.

3 days in Sardinia

Here are the best things to do for your 3 days trip to Sardinia, depending if you land at Cagliari, Olbia or Alghero airport.

• If you’re staying 3 days in Cagliari , you should spend one day exploring the city (you can read my article about the best things to do )
• On the second day , go to Villasimius and its beautiful beaches for a relaxing day by the sea.
• On the third day , you can visit either the Nora archeological site or Su Nuraxi nuraghe . These are major historical sites to visit on a trip to Sardinia.

For more info about the best things to do in Cagliari and its surroundings, you should read my article: How to visit Cagliari?

For a 3 days trip to Olbia , I recommend:

• 1 day on the Costa Smeralda: visit Porto Cervo, and enjoy the beautiful beaches!
• 1 day in the inland part of Costa Smeralda: you can explore the area around Arzachena , where many archeological sites are located. For example, you can see there several nuraghes and the giants’ tombs. You can also visit San Pantaleo village , a lovely traditional village offering great views over the nearby mountains.
• Do a 1 day boat excursion around the Maddalena islands. This archipelago features some of the most beautiful beaches of Sardinia! Some of them are only accessible by boat. There are departures for this kind of day trip from most of the seaside resorts on Costa Smeralda, such as Poltu Quatu, Baia Sardinia or Cannigione.

For more information about Costa Smeralda, you can read my article: The 10 Best things to do on the Costa Smeralda. And as always, you will also find in this guide my selection of the best accommodations.

If you want to visit Alghero and its surrounding in 3 days , I recommend the following itinerary:

• 1 day in the city of Alghero : a stroll in the old town to discover piazza Civica, Alghero cathedral and its bell tower, then go on the ramparts to enjoy the sunset.
• 1 day to go on an excursion to the Neptune caves (by boat from Alghero or by car). In the afternoon, you can hike in Porto Conte Natural Park and then end the day at Porto Ferro, a very wild beach located nearby.
• 1 day in Bosa, located one hour drive from Alghero. With its colored houses by the river and castle dominating the village, Bosa is clearly worth a look! From Serravalle castle , you can also enjoy a great view over the sea and surrounding mountains. You can end the day at one of the beaches near Bosa . My favorite ones are Compulittu beach and S’Abba Drucche.

For more information about Alghero and its surroundings, you should read my article All Best things to do in Alghero .

4 days in Sardinia

If you’re going on a 4 days trip to Sardinia , you will also have 3 options: explore Cagliari, Olbia or Alghero region.

Here is my recommended itinerary for a 4 days stay in Sardinia from Cagliari:

• 1 day in Cagliari , to visit the capital of Sardinia: the Saint Remy Bastion, the Castello neighborhood, the Santa Maria cathedral, the National Archeological Museum, Poetto beach and so on… There are many places to visit in Cagliari!
• 1 day in Villasimius, to enjoy the sun and the beautiful beaches of the area. Spiaggia Simius and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco are great beaches! You can also go to the isolated coves of Capo Carbonara.
• 1 day along the SP71 scenic road that goes from Chia to Teulada. On this 25km road, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches of southern Sardinia! On the way, you can stop whenever you want to take a dip. Don’t miss Cala Cipolla, a nice cove with big rocks and crystal clear water.
• 1 day on Sant’Antioco island . There too, you’ll be able to enjoy very beautiful beaches such as Cala Lunga or Cala Sapone.

For more information about the SP71 scenic road and Sant Antioco, you can read my article: The 25 Best things to do in Sardinia.

I also give you my best tips and hotel recommendations in my 1 week itinerary in Sardinia .

• On the first day, visit Porto Cervo, the capital of this very chic Sardinian coast. You’ll be able to gaze at the yachts in the marina and discover the luxury boutiques. You can also go take a dip at Liscia Ruja beach, Cappriccioli, or Principe beach.
• On the second day , travel more inland to go explore interesting archeological sites around Arzachena. Giants’ tombs, nuraghes… You will love it if you are interested in history!
• 1 day to explore Maddalena island, the main island of the archipelago. The best way to discover the island is to drive along the scenic road. You can also make several beach stops at Bassa Trinita beach, di Monte di Rena beach, or Capocchia du Purpu beach (my favorite!)
• Another day to visit Caprera, the neighboring island. This island, wilder than La Maddalena , is also home to amazing beaches, but you’ll have to walk a bit to reach them.

If you want more information about la Maddalena, you should read my detailed article: All my best tips to visit la Maddalena.

• 1 day in Alghero old town: you’ll be able to see the main attractions such as the cathedral and the various churches. It’s also a good idea to go on the ramparts at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset. You can also go to San Giovanni beach or Maria Pia, 2 beautiful beaches located close to the city.
• 1 day to visit Neptune cave + hiking in Porto Cervo National Park. You can end the day at Porto Ferro beach, the wildest beach in the area.
• 1 day in Bosa, a lovely and colorful town located by the river. You can also visit Serravalle castle, it offers a great view over the surroundings.
• 1 day on Pelosa beach, probably the most popular beach of Sardinia! Turquoise water, fine sand… Just enjoy a relaxing day there!

If you’re planning of visiting Alghero and its surroundings, you should read my detailed article: Alghero: The definitive guide .

5 days in Sardinia

If you want to visit Sardinia in 5 days, I recommend you the following itineraries:

• 1 day to visit Cagliari, the capital. Take a stroll in the Castello neighborhood, where all the main monuments such as the cathedral or Saint Remy Bastion are located. From there, you will get the best view over Calgari and its surroundings. End your day on Poetto beach.
• 1 day in Villasimius for a relaxing day at the beach. You can go to Simius beach or Porto Giunco, the 2 most popular ones. If you prefer wilder coves, I recommend you to head to Capo Carbonara.
• 1 day to do a mini road trip on “La Strada Panoramica della Costa del Sud” (SP71 road). This 25km long road between Chia and Teulada will allow you to discover beautiful landscapes and stunning beaches!
• 1 day on Sant’Antioco. Explore the island and go to Cala Lunga or Cala Sapone for a relaxing beach break.
• 1 day on San Pietro island (Sant’Antioco’s neighbor). Similar to Sant’Antioco, the best things to do there is to explore the island and enjoy its beaches! During your day, you should also go to Capo Sandalo, the best viewpoint of the island.

You will find every information you need to visit Cagliari in my detailed article: The 10 Best things to do in Cagliari

You’ll also find tips, itineraries ideas and hotel recommendations in my guide: The Best itinerary for 1 week in Sardinia

• 2 days on the Costa Smeralda: spend one day in Porto Cervo and the beautiful beaches in the surroundings. On the day after, you will discover Sardinia’s history and visit archeological sites located around Arzachena and San Pantaleo village.
• 1 day in Maddalena island: follow the scenic road to see all beaches and best viewpoints of the island. If you want to take a dip, my favorite is Capocchia du Purpu beach (it looks like the Seychelles!).
• 1 day in Caprera island: the perfect island to do a bit of hiking and discover magnificent coves such as Cala Serena, Caprarese, Coticcio or Brigantina. You can also go to Teialone lookout point and enjoy the 360° view over the whole archipelago.
• 1 day on a boat excursion to discover more beaches of the Maddalena archipelago (you need to book it by clicking here ).

For more information about the Costa Smeralda, you should read my detailed guide: How to visit the Costa Smeralda?

• 1 day to visit Alghero , to visit the historical center with the cathedral and the ramparts. The city is also famous for its red coral jewelry stores.
• 1 day to visit Neptune caves + hike in Porto Conte Natural Park + relax at Porto Ferro beach.
• 1 day in Bosa: Go to the castle located at the top of the hill to enjoy the view! You can also walk along the Corso Vittorio to shop for souvenirs or to find a good restaurant. In the afternoon, you can go to one of the beaches located nearby.
• 1 day on Pelosa beach, the most famous beach of Sardinia. Rent a sun bed and enjoy a relaxing day!
• 1 day on Asinara island , a must-see during a trip to Sardinia. Take the boat from Stintino and visit the island with the tourist train, by bike or by Jeep.

You can read my detailed guide about Alghero here: All the best things to do in Alghero .

For your 2, 3 , 4, or 5 days itinerary in Sardinia, you will need to rent a car . It’s the best way to visit the island and make the most of your stay!

When I need to rent a car, whether in Malta , Sicily or anywhere else, I always use the Booking.com Cars website , for a few (good) reasons:

• It’s easy to compare prices between different car rental agencies. Who is the cheapest? Who has the best customer reviews? You’ll know everything in just a few clicks!
• The full protection insurance gets you covered in case of any damage, accident or if the car is stolen. Tested and approved, they refunded me more than 1200 euros to date!
• Modifying or canceling your booking is free.

Bonus: Booking Cars also offers the “Best Price Guarantee” . If you find a similar vehicle cheaper somewhere else, Booking Cars will refund you the difference!

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your itinerary in Sardinia, you should book it with Samboat.

Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental.

So, what are you waiting for to book your boat trip in Sardinia? 😊

Sardinia travel Guides

• Buy the Lonely Planet Sardinia guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
• Buy the DK Eyewitness Sardinia guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

Discover all my articles about Sardinia: All Voyage Tips articles about Sardinia are listed here.

• The 25 Best Things to do in Sardinia
• Itinerary: 1 week in Sardinia – How to visit Sardinia in 6, 7 or 8 days (North or South)
• Itinerary: 10 days in Sardinia – The definitive guide to visit Northern Sardinia in 10 days!
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Sardinia – The perfect 14, 15 or 16 days itinerary in Northern Sardinia
• Itinerary: 14, 15 or 16 days in Sardinia – The perfect 2 weeks itinerary in Southern Sardinia
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Sardinia – With all my best tips to visit the whole island in 20 or 21 days!
• Itinerary: North West of Sardinia (1 week) – How to visit Sardinia in 6, 7 or 8 days from Alghero
• Alghero: The 6 best places to visit
• Cagliari: The 10 best things to do in and around the city
• Costa Smeralda: The definitive guide to plan your stay
• Gulf of Orosei & Supramonte: The 10 best things to do
• La Maddalena: All my best tips to visit the islands

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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Discussion 2 comments.

Hi Vincent! We’ve got four nights on Sardinia, end of May. Flying in and out of Cagliari. We often like renting a car to see more than just the city we’re staying in. Any tips for day trips from Cagliari?

Hello Patrick,

You’ll find all my recommendations for things to do around Cagliari in the “What to do around Cagliari in 4 days” section of this article. For example, I recommend going to Villasimius, Sant’Antioco and taking the road from Chia to Teulada.

Enjoy your 4-day trip to Sardinia!

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The Perfect One Week Sardinia Itinerary And Travel Guide

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: February 17, 2024

Categories Italy

Sardinia is a beautiful Italian island in the Mediterranean sea. It's a great holiday destination, with incredible beaches, interesting history, and of course delicious food (think pizza, pasta, gelato, and more).

Sardinia is a perfect place for a road trip, check out this detailed one week Sardinia itinerary below for inspiration!

One week Sardinia itinerary

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

A week in Sardinia: map

You can find our Sardinia one-week itinerary on the map below, including the highlights and accommodations we stayed at.

Click here for the interactive map.

One week in Sardinia itinerary

• Day 1: Explore Alghero and take a cooking class .
• Day 2: Go for a short drive north and swim in the turquoise waters around Spiaggia della Pelosa.
• Day 3: Take a boat trip around the La Maddalena Archipelago and admire the yachts at Porto Cervo.
• Day 4: hike Tiscali mountain .
• Day 5: visit the ancient nurarghe Losa and relax at Spiaggia di Is Arutas.
• Day 6: explore Oristano and wander the ruins of Tharros.
• Day 7: stroll around the cobblestoned streets in colorful Bosa and return to Alghero.

What is the best time of year to go to Sardinia

The best time to visit Sardinia is April – June, and September – October. During these months the temperatures are between a comfortable 18°C and 26 ° C.

And while April is too cold to swim, the abundance of beautiful wildflowers more than makes up for it!

July and August are very hot and also the busiest months on the island, with high accommodation prices and crowded beaches.

September is when we visited the island of Sardinia, we had beautiful weather and no rain. October usually sees a bit more rainy days, however, the beaches are (almost) empty and there are several festivals during this month.

Winter in Sardinia is moderate with temperatures usually between 11-14 °C. If you don't mind colder weather, this can be a good time to visit. There will be very few tourists and there are good bargains to be found for (fancy) accommodation.

That being said, there are parts of Sardinia that get the occasional snowfall (such as the mountains of Gennargentu) so do your research if you plan to visit Sardinia in winter.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

How to get to Sardinia

The easiest way to get to Sardinia is by plane as there are daily direct flights from lots of cities in Europe . Sardinia's three main airports are:

• Alghero Airport
• Cagliari Airport
• Olbia Airport

It takes around 3 hours to travel from Alghero or Olbia to Cagliari. Therefore, it's worthwhile choosing your flights carefully to maximize your time in Sardinia. For example, you could fly into Alghero Airport and depart from Cagliari.

Flight prices are dependent on your travel dates. But you can generally expect tickets to be more expensive during summer and cheaper in the off-peak season.

Check the best ticket deals on Kiwi.com

How to get around Sardinia

Sardinia is a large island and public transportation is very limited. Getting around by bus is a time-consuming and tedious process, which is why I highly recommend renting a car to explore the island (but before check my guide to driving in Sardinia ).

We also rented a car for our trip to Sardinia and it's the best way to explore the island!

Having your own wheels gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and to visit all the places in Sardinia you want to see.

Keep in mind that the roads on Sardinia aren't always in the best condition, with lots of twists and turns. That's why we only averaged around 50 kilometers a day.

Not to say you can't cover more ground, but there are lots of interesting sights in Sardinia and you'll also need plenty of time to admire the splendid views along the way!

I especially loved the coastal road from Bosa to Alghero, which offered stunning views of the Capo Caccia. Be sure to include this road in your Sardinia trip itinerary.

Driving on Sardinia

Let's get one thing straight: traffic regulations don’t exist in Sardinia . Well, at least they seem to be more of a suggestion than actual rules.

The local residents raced over the winding roads, while we were keeping the recommended speed, meaning we created more than one traffic jam behind our car.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Sardinia?

Renting a car in Sardinia is surprisingly affordable! We rented ours via Rentalcars and paid €215 for a week: €175 for the rental fee and €40 for insurance against damages. Plus, we spent €95 on fuel.

Things you need to know about renting a car in Sardinia

Where to stay in Sardinia

We stayed at six different accommodations, you can find all of them in the table below. I booked all our accommodations online via Agoda and Booking before our trip.

Further down in the post you can read more about our personal experience with these accommodations.

Note: Prices for these Sardinia accommodation options are dependent on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Press ‘click here' under book to see the latest prices on Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

The hotels and apartments listed in the table above are all nice accommodations that I would gladly stay in again myself.

That being said, these accommodations were pretty basic. Clean and comfortable? Absolutely! But simple, no-frills hotels.

Best resorts in Sardinia

If you're looking for more luxury, these 3 excellent resorts in Sardinia might suit you better:

• Bajaloglia Resort : this 5-star resort offers the best views over Castelsardo. It's perfect for couples looking for a quiet and luxurious stay in one of the most beautiful bays or Sardinia. Click here to book .
• Hotel Cala di Volpe : this luxury hotel prides itself on its beautiful interior design and impeccable service. Surrounded by a lush, green Mediterranean landscape, you'll slip into holiday mode in no time… Click here to book .
• Baglioni Resort Sardinia : this secluded resort offers a private beach inside the Tavolara Marine Reserve. Views are absolutely breathtaking and the staff will go out of their way to make sure you have an unforgettable stay. Click here to book .

Is Sardinia expensive to visit?

No, traveling to Sardinia doesn't have to cost a fortune. In fact, my husband and I traveled to Sardinia on a fairly low budget.

In total, we spend €1000 for a week , which comes down to an average of €143 per day (for the two of us together). This includes all expenses for accommodation, transportation, food, and activities.

To give you an idea of the prices, an espresso generally costs around €1, a pizza is €5-8 and you can get a scoop of the most delicious gelato for only €2.

Also, to cut costs, we bought breakfast and lunch in a supermarket (bread, tomato, cheese, pepper, and salt, delicious!) or at little bakeries.

For dinner, we mixed up eating out and cooking ourselves. To celebrate our anniversary, we ‘splurged' (restaurants in Sardinia are still cheap compared to the Netherlands) on an excellent dinner at this restaurant , which was totally worth it.

1 week in Sardinia: 10 things to do

Sardinia should be on any Italy bucket list or Italy itinerary . It's a beautiful island with a lot of history and beautiful villages.

Sardinia is the 2nd largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a week won't be enough to explore everything it has to offer.

Most Sardinia attractions in this post are located in the north of Sardinia. However, I've added several must-visit places in South Sardinia under the ‘more things to do in Sardinia' section' further down this article.

If you also want to explore the South, I recommend spending at least 2 weeks in Sardinia because there is so much to see!

1. Explore Alghero

Start your 7 days in Sardinia in Alghero, one of the larger cities on the island though still very walkable.

With its charming historic center, narrow cobblestoned streets, boutique stores, and excellent restaurants and bars it's easy to spend a day in Alghero and a great place to visit on your first day.

Alghero highlights, besides strolling around the centro storico , are the impressive Sea Walls built in the 16th century, La Piazza Civica, and of course the Cattedrale di Santa Maria, one of Alghero's landmarks.

A trip to the nearby Grotta di Nettuno, located in Capo Caccia, is one of the best things to do in Alghero, though I don't particularly recommend this tour during summer as it gets very busy.

Outside of peak season, this impressive cave with spectacular stalactites and stalactites and other rock formations is definitely worth a visit!

An excellent evening activity in Alghero is taking a cooking class . A local host will teach you how to prepare a four-course meal with typical Sardinian dishes using local produce.

After your hard work, you get to enjoy these dishes accompanied by a glass of local wine, a perfect way to end your Alghero itinerary.

Click here to book your Sardinia home cooking class !

2. Take a swim at Spiaggia della Pelosa near Stintino

On your second day in Sardinia, head to La Pelosa, one of the best beaches in Sardinia .

This Spiaggia (Italian for beach) can be found on the Stintino peninsula, in the north of the island. It's approximately a one-hour drive from Alghero.

The crystal clear water has an absolutely stunning blue color and you don't even need a snorkel to see the fish dart around in the water!

We crossed the water to a tiny island about 10 meters from the coast, which had a little beach and just a few people on it.

To get to this beach, we picked our way over the slippery rocks with a bag full of valuables, probably not the smartest thing to do without a dry bag.

Luckily we got across without falling into the water and drowning all our electronics. In any case, La Pelosa is a lovely place to spend some time.

3. Hop on a boat trip around La Maddalena Archipelago

On the next day, it's time for one of the most popular Sardinia tourist attractions: a boat trip around the Maddalena Islands .

The Maddalena Archipelago consists of seven larger islands:

• La Maddalena
• Caprera island
• Santo Stefano
• Santa Maria

Only La Maddalena, Caprera, and Santo Stefano are inhabited. The largest town is Cala Gavetta on Maddalena Island.

There are also many small uninhabited islands in the archipelago, clear water in all shades of blue and fantastic beaches such as Cala Coticcio (Caprera) and Cala Lunga (Razzoli).

One of the highlights of any boat tour around La Maddalena is Spiaggia Rosa which means pink beach . It can be found on Budelli Island and is probably one of the world's most beautiful beaches.

However, you can only admire it from afar as disembarking here is strictly forbidden. And with good reason, before these regulations were established people often took shells and sand as a souvenir, wreaking havoc on the natural environment.

Booking a Maddalena boat tour

A boat tour in the Maddalena archipelago is one of the most popular day trips in Sardinia and rightly so. It's a fantastic experience around some of the most beautiful scenery the island has to offer.

You can book a boat tour online , which I strongly recommend when traveling in the high season (July and August).

If you are traveling outside peak season there is availability on most days. There are several tour operators in the harbor, so it’s usually not a problem to book on the day itself.

Most tours start around 10 am and finish around 6 pm. There are several itineraries but most tours have 3 or 4 stops on the different islands of La Maddalena.

Click here to book a Maddalena Archipelago boat tour online

Parking at Palau (departure point of the boat tour)

A little word of advice, reserve enough time to park your car! There is a real problem shortage of decent parking lots and it can be quite expensive the closer you get to the harbor.

We parked a little outside the city center, which was free and just a short walk to the harbor.

4. Wander around Porto Cervo

Porto Cervo is located in northern Sardinia in the area that's called the Costa Smeralda (the Emerald Coast). This small town is one of the most expensive resorts in the world.

We felt a bit out of place amidst the billionaires relaxing on their luxury yachts in their expensive clothing. Still, it's a good place for a morning stroll and an (expensive) cup of coffee or gelato.

5. Hike Tiscali Mountain

One of the most unique places to visit in Sardinia is the Nuragic village of Tiscali, hidden in the mountains.

It's estimated that these ruins date back to the first millennium BC. You can either visit Tiscali village independently or j o in this excellent full-day tour (includes transport, lunch, and a knowledgeable guide).

Getting to the village requires a two-hour hike in the beautiful Valle di Lanaittu , be sure to carry plenty of water as you'll be climbing a lot and a large part of the track is exposed.

Click here to book a hiking tour of Tiscali mountain and village .

6. Visit the ancient Nuraghe Losa

Nuraghi are a strange phenomenon and are only found in Sardinia. Basically, they are ancient fortified towers built from large rocks.

There are around 1100 spread around Sardinia in various conditions; some are in very good condition while others are almost completely destroyed.

We visited Losa (admission €5 per person), one of the largest and the most complete nuraghe in Sardinia , complete with watchtowers and a spiral staircase inside the main building.

Losa is an impressive structure and one of the best-preserved archeological sites. In my opinion, it's one of the best places to visit in Sardinia if you're interested in history.

I personally find it incredible these massive constructions were built so many years ago without any modern equipment.

7. Relax on Spiaggia di Is Arutas

Spiaggia di Is Arutas is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia (and there are more than 15 of them !) The beach is made up of tiny quartz fragments, similar to grains of rice, in colors ranging from green to white and delicate pink. 

This makes Spiaggia di Is Arutas a unique beach to visit and definitely one I recommend putting on your itinerary for Sardinia.

Note that during the summer months the beach can be packed so it's best to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Bring a snorkeling mask and explore the underwater world, or go for a swim in the crystal waters.

8. Explore Oristano

While you'll be spending most time exploring the sights around Oristano, the village itself is also worth a visit.

Wander around the Centro Storico , grab a cup of espresso at one of the cafes, visit the beautiful Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and snap a picture of the Statua di Eleonora D'Arborea.

When visiting during lunchtime or in the evening, there are plenty of places to eat in Oristano. Trattoria Portixedda and Blao Ristorante are some of the best restaurants and serve fresh seafood as well as typical Italian dishes.

9. Visit the ruins of Tharros

Tharros is a historic site where you can explore the ruins of a former Roman town founded in the eighth century BC.

The signage around the site is pretty good and you can read about the history of this former capital of the Judicate of Arborea.

At the site, you will find the remains of several temples, Roman baths, an amphitheater, and some other constructions.

Allow yourself an hour or two to wander the ruins of Tharros and imagine what life must have been like millennia ago…

10. Stroll around beautiful Bosa

I loved Bosa, a beautiful village situated on the west coast of Sardinia by the Temo River (the only river in Sardinia).

The houses are painted in various bright colors and the narrow streets feel almost like a labyrinth. There are little coffee and gelato bars everywhere and the overall atmosphere is really friendly.

The castle up on the hill is worth a visit, mainly for the spectacular views over the main town and the sea. We were lucky to visit on the last day of the Nostra Signora di Regnos festival.

During the festival the village looks even prettier because of all the colorful flags, palm tree leaves and little altars build for the Virgin Mary.

More things to do in Sardinia

If you've got more time available, consider adding these activities to your Sardinia travel itinerary as well.

Dolphin-watching and snorkeling tour

The waters around Sardinia are rich in marine life, such as dolphins and whales. Join a boat tour from Olbia and watch dolphins swim free near the boat in their natural habitat.

Enjoy snorkeling among colorful fish and explore limestone caves and cliffs.

Click here to book a dolphin-watching tour

Go scuba diving

If you love the underwater world as much as I do and got your PADI, this full-day diving trip in the Gulf of Orosei is a great option.

You'll be doing three dives, under the supervision of an experienced dive master, in the clear waters just off the coast of Cala Gonone.

Click here to book your scuba diving trip

Spend more time on the east coast of Sardinia

If you've got a few extra days in Sardinia and love white beaches, the east coast of Sardinia is perfect for you. This part of Sardinia is simply stunning, each bay more breathtaking than the previous one.

Base yourself in fancy Baglioni Resort (see picture below), explore San Teodoro village, take a boat trip to Tavolara island and relax on pretty Cala Brandinchi.

Explore Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and is known for its historic center. You can easily spend a whole day exploring its cobblestoned streets and narrow alleys.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Cagliari:

• Castello: this medieval town is part of Cagliari and dates back to the 13th century. It's situated on a 100-meter-tall hilltop and overlooks the rest of the city. Don't miss the Archeological Museum, Cagliari’s Cathedral and the iconic Torre di San Pancrazio and Torre dell’Elefante.
• Stampace: the oldest district in Cagliari where you can find the Roman Amphitheater, the lovely Botanical Gardens, and plenty of excellent restaurants and bars.
• Villanova: go shopping in this colorful Cagliari neighborhood. Pick up a souvenir such as local olive oil or ceramics and visit the imposing San Saturnino Cathedral.

Join this walking tour with a local guide to learn more about the history of this beautiful historic city on Sardinia.

Admire the famous pink flamingos

These beautiful creatures are called Sa Genti Arrubia in Italian and have lived on Sardinia for generations. The Molentargius pond near Cagliari is one of the best places to see them.

You can visit the Natural Park independently or join this fun 2-hour bike tour . Read more about the pink flamingos of Sardinia here .

Budget accommodation in Sardinia

Accommodation in Sardinia is plentiful and there is something to be found for every budget. Below you can read more about the places we stayed during our trip.

Alternatively, you can check Booking.com for more hotel options in Sardinia.

Accommodation in Alghero

We stayed at Alghero 4u Guesthouse . Max, the host, was very friendly and showed us around the apartment.

He also gave us a map of the city and recommended a pizzeria which turned out to be excellent! Budget accommodation with everything you need and in a good location, 10 min walk to the center of Alghero.

It's a bit noisy, we didn't mind, but if you are looking for a quiet stay this isn't for you (you share the kitchen and bathroom with other guests).

Price indication: €60

Click here to book Alghero 4U Guesthouse

Accommodation in Isola Rossa

We spent one night in Isola Rossa Appartamenti . The view from the veranda was beautiful, looking out over the sea and a beautiful sunset. The apartment was quite big and very clean.

The bed was comfortable, however, linens are not included. Bring your own bed linen and towels or pay an additional fee for a linen pack.

Also, there was a kitchen but no soap or sponge to wash the dirty dishes.

Click here to book Isola Rossa Appartamenti

Accommodation in Palau

The location of Costa Serena Village is absolutely stunning, with a beautiful view of the bay. The apartment itself is basic but clean and has good cooking facilities.

Please note that the swimming pool and shop are closed during the low season.

Price indication: €140

Click here to book Costa Serena Village

Accommodation in Sos Alinos

The absolute best thing about Cala Liberotto Residence is the outside kitchen, how cool is that! The rest of the apartment is nice as well, with a comfortable bed and a big clean bathroom.

Price indication: €120 per night

Click here to book Cala Liberotto Hotel Residence

Accommodation in Nuoro

In Nuoro, we stayed at Terry's House . Very friendly staff who gave us excellent advice about Mastro Pizza. The room has a very comfy bed, a modern and clean bathroom, and excellent Wi-Fi and.

Please note that there is no private parking available (but lots of public parking).

Price indication: €65 per night

Click here to book Terry's House

Accommodation in Oristano

Everything about Sa Domu e Crakeras was fantastic, from the warm welcome with local wine and homemade cookies to the location (in the city center of Oristano) to the room itself, excellent!

The room is very clean, the bed really comfy, the bathroom is new with a large shower and the air conditioning is a nice extra.

The ‘courtyard' looks really cute but is also convenient for parking the car. Highly recommended!

Price indication: €60 per night

Click here to book Sa Domu e Crakeras

Sardinia road trip itinerary: in conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this Sardinia travel guide and it has inspired you to road trip to Sardinia.

If you have any questions about putting together the best itinerary for your Sardinia vacation, leave a comment below, send me a message or take a look at my custom itinerary planning service .

This post was updated in February 2024.

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

How would you advise splitting the days between different areas of the island? Did you move to a new accomodation every day? Thanks!

Monday 31st of May 2021

We moved to a different accommodation pretty much every day (we only stayed in Oristano for 2 nights). Driving was quite slow as many roads had so many twists and turns so I was happy not to cover too large of a distance each day. That being said, if you prefer driving a bit further during some days in exchange for not having to pack up your stuff every day, that is definitely possible as well.

For example, you could easily visit Bosa from Alghero. You could even base yourself in Alghero for a couple of days and explore Oristano, Spiaggia di Is Arutas, Tharros and Spiaggia della Pelosa as day trips. Hope this helps!

Enjoy your trip:-) Lotte

Friday 15th of December 2017

Thank you for your willingness to share. We intend to be in Sardinia in April. We'll stay in Olbia for seven days. Do you have any suggestions for this kind of trip? Thanks again, Rita.

Monday 18th of December 2017

You are most welcome, I love writing about my travels:-). About your question, if you have a rental car you could easily visit Porto Cervo. You could also make a cruise around the Maddalena Islands. Depending on how far you want to drive you could also visit Nuoro (should be around 1,5 hour from you). And of course there are lots of small beaches around the East Coast which are yours to discover;-). Enjoy your trip!

Sunday 15th of October 2017

Hi brilliant story of your trip and helpful I wondered what time of year did you go and also is it quite cheap to eat in restaurants ? Thanks Sarah

Thank you, happy to hear that:-). I was on Sardinia at the start of September (2014), just after peak season. I was surprised how affordable eating out is. Obviously it depends where you go but a pizza is about 10 euro and we paid around 50 euro (including wine) for our fancy dinner at Ristorante Fronte Mari. Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip,

Katie McCraith

Thursday 13th of April 2017

Your trip sounds fantastic :)! Where did you hire your car from?

Friday 14th of April 2017

Hi Katie, it was a really nice road trip! I rented a car via Rentalcars.com. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions and enjoy your trip:-).

Wednesday 6th of January 2016

Fijn, zo'n helder overzicht! Het is toch altijd lastig inschatten hoeveel een reis gaat kosten.

Thanks Aniek:-) Ik vind het ook altijd prettig om te weten wat de gemiddelde dagelijkse kosten ongeveer zijn. Alhoewel je het natuurlijk zo duur kan maken als je zelf wilt;-)

Tiny Footsteps Travel

How To Get To Sardinia: Ultimate Guide For Travel In 2024

Heading to Italy, and thinking of including Sardinia Island in your itinerary? Good choice. You can travel to Sardinia from mainland Italy easily, but you can also get to Sardinia from any international destinations. If you’re weighing options on how to get to Sardinia, then you’re in the right place.

I mainly headed to Sardinia because of the scuba diving. When I got there, I was so amazed by the beauty- it felt different from the rest of Italy. With medieval towns, a gorgeous coastline, and beautiful nature , Sardinia is more slow paced, quaint and with its stone buildings, has an otherworldly atmosphere.

Between beaches, hiking, scuba diving, shopping and exploring villages, I was so glad that we made time for Sardinia and I’m sure that you’ll be glad you did too. If you’re heading to Sardinia with kids , or for a relaxing adult adventure -we’ve got you covered.

So let’s talk about your options for getting to Sardinia. Let’s jump in!

How to Get to Sardinia

There are two ways to get to Sardinia: by air , or by ferry.

Flying to Sardinia is faster and cheaper, but taking a ferry allows you to bring your own car. The ferry also has some entertainment for kids, which might be a benefit if you’re travelling through Italy with little ones.

Let’s go through the two options of air and ferry to Sardinia so you can weigh the information and decide which is best for you.

Flying to Sardinia

As you can see in the map above, Sardinia Island has three airports: Olbia , Cagliari and Alghero . There are flights to all of them from many European cities, but it may not always be a direct route. There are plenty of direct flights from mainland Italy.

Pro Tip: Flights and ferries to Sardinia are a different price for residents than for tourists. If you’re a tourist, be sure not to select a resident flight option. You will be asked to pay for a new flight, and getting your money back for the original resident flight is a hassle you don’t want.

There are no direct flights to Sardinia Island from outside of Europe , so you’ll need to already be in Europe to get a direct flight to Sardinia. Of course, if you’re already on mainland Italy, then there are plenty of direct flights to all three Sardinia airports daily.

Cagliari Airport: Southern Sardinia (Main Airport) 

Cagliari is the capital and largest city in Sardinia and is located in the south of the island. Cagliari is the main airport and city on Sardinia. Flying here is especially convenient if you’re looking to visit the southern part of Sardinia , but you can also rent a car and drive wherever on the island you wish. (This is what we chose to do.)

How long does it take to fly to Cagliari , Sardinia?

• Cagliari from Rome: under 50 minutes
• Cagliari from London, UK: 2h 45 mins

Pro Tip: Use Skyscanner to see all airline options and be able to select the flight that fits with your schedule and budget the best

Nearby attractions and things to do in Caligari:

Cagliari Airport brings you close to the city of Cagliari , which you can see in a day or two. (I don’t recommend spending your whole trip there, but it is worth spending a day sightseeing.) In or near Cagliari, you can find:

• Archaeological sights , such as the Bastion St. Remy which you can climb and get picturesque city views from the top
• Take a tour of Nora , a pre-Roman archaeological site
• Beautiful cathedrals and churches, such as the Cathedral of Calgliari (pictured above)
• An amazing underground tunnel in Cagliari that you can explore
• Poetto beach , an 8 km long strip that offers stunning views of the Gulf of Cagliari, just 20 minutes from downtown Cagliari
• Hiking in the Sette Fratelli Mountains Park , a breathtaking mountainous range, just over an hour from the city of Cagliari

Olbia Airport: Northeast Sardinia

Olbia is in the northeast part of Sardinia , close to Costa Smerlda. This is probably the most popular destination for honeymooners and couples, and the most expensive, luxurious area on the island. (I’ve heard that celebrities travel here.)

In this area, you can do scuba diving, boat tours to the islands, explore the quaint towns, and enjoy world-class beaches that make you feel like you’re in paradise.

There are flights to Olbia from many cities in Italy, and throughout Europe, but here’s an idea of how long it takes to fly to Olbia:

• Olbia from Rome: 1h 5 min
• Olbia from London, UK: 2h 30 min

Nearby attractions and things to do in Olbia:

• Explore the ancient city of Olbia; there are museums, archaeological and historic sights. A fun way to do this is a 1-hour tuk tuk tour.
• Take a boat tour to Maddalena archipelago , which are islands that have been inhabited since the prehistoric times and are surrounded with the clearest, most turquoise water
• Explore the nearby marine life and even WW2 plane wrecks underwater with Nautilis Dive Centre
• Explore the quaint town of Palau
• World class beaches – the east coast of Sardinia has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, such as Principe Beach , Brandinchini, Capriccioli, and La Celvia

Alghero Airport: Northwest Sardinia

Alghero is a city is in the northwest part of Sardinia . Its a beautiful, medieval coastal city with ancient walls and cobblestone old town, and almost feels like a fairy tale.

It’s very busy in the summer months with tourists, but there’s a reason for that. Whether you choose to fly into Alghero, or simply stop here to explore, you’ll be glad you saw it.

• Alghero from Rome: 1h 5 mins
• Alghero from London, UK: 2h 30 mins

Nearby attractions and things to do in Alghero:

• Alghero Historic Centre (Centro Storico) which is the medieval old town , with narrow streets, cobbled alleys and lots of boutiques, shops and restaurants
• Neptune Caves (Cape Caccia), which is a stunning grotto , just 30 mins outside of Alghero
• Porto Conte Regional National Park , a seaside conservation area with hiking trails and beaches. Great for hiking and spending time outdoors
• Le Pelosa Beach , on the coastline of the northwestern tip of Sardinia- white sand and tranquil blue waters, its great for swimming and snorkeling

Conclusion: Flying to Sardinia

As you can see, all three airports in Sardinia offer great benefits in terms of what there is to do nearby. Regardless of the one you choose, you can still travel to the areas on other parts of the island.

Travelling to Sardinia by Ferry

Everything you need to know about travelling to Sardinia by ferry, the lengths of times, different ferry ports and what they have to offer

As you can see in the photo above, there are several ferry ports on Sardinia island, but the main two main ones are Cagliari and Olbia.

The advantages of travelling by ferry are that you can bring your own car. However, this isn’t the only reason to take a ferry. Some people prefer ferries if they’re travelling with kids or if they want more space and room for luggage.

Ferry to Sardinia from Italy

Ferries to and from Italy to Sardinia are often overnight, and last anywhere from 7-15 hours, depending on where you’re going or coming from. There are restaurants on board, entertainment for kids, and cabins that you can sleep in.

It’s not a luxury, high-class cruise, like a Disney Cruise , but the ferries are pleasant enough.

There are a few different ferry companies that you can sail from Italy to Sardinia (or back) with; the two main ones are Moby (pictured above), Tirrenia, Corsica Ferries and Grimaldi .

You can take a ferry to Sardinia from the following places in mainland Italy:

• Civitavecchia (82 km from Rome ) to Caligari, Arbataz, Olbia and Porto Torres
• Livorno (near Pisa) to Olbia or Golfo Arranci
• Naples to Caligari
• Genoa (in northern Italy) to Porto Torres

The ferry company you choose to will depend on if you have a strong preference for where you’re coming from or where in Sardinia you wish to dock at. For example, Moby lines only sails to Olbia from Livorno, Italy.

If you wanted to sail to Porto Torres for example, then you’d need to sail with Tirreni or Grandi Navi Veloci, as they’re the only two ferry companies that go to Porto Torres from mainland Italy.

Pro Tip: Use Direct Ferries to see all the schedules and port options for your ferry trip to or from Sardinia. This makes it easy to see all of the available options rather than having to check each website individually.

Choosing your Ferry port in Sardinia

Regardless of which port in Sardinia you choose to sail into, you can’t really go wrong. They all have beautiful attractions nearby, and there are perks to each one. If you’re renting a car in Sardinia, then you can all of the top destinations within a few days.

So just because you sailed into Olbia, for example, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to drive over to Porto Torres (its about a 90 minute drive.)

However, here are the highlights of each of the ports, to make your decision easier:

• Cagliari: beautiful old town, historic city centre with museums and artifacts, hiking in the Sette Fratelli Mountains Park
• Arbatax: visit the nearby Red Cliffs, an impressive rock formation, Rocce Rosse museum, hiking in the Supramonte mountain range or the Gennargentu National Park, beautiful beaches such as Orri and Cea beach
• Olbia: charming old towns, boat trip to La Maddalena Archipelago, the 11th century Basilica of San Simplicio church, beautiful sandy beaches with crystal-clear water such as Pittulongu, Bados and Marinella
• Porto Torres: ancient town with Roman architecture (it was the first Roman settlement, so needless to say, its history is very rich) quaint old town with old city walls, stunning nearby beaches, hiking

Ferry to Sardinia from mainland Europe

You can get ferries to Sardinia from France and Spain. Grimaldi Lines sails from Spain to Sardinia.

From France, you can depart from Nice to go to Sardinia by ferry. From Nice, you can sail to either Porto Torres or Golfo Aranci.

Check Direct Ferries to view schedules and timetables and book your ferry

Getting to Sardinia: FAQs

Here are the most common questions that travellers ask (and that we wish we had asked) about getting to and around Sardinia island in Italy

What is the fastest way to get to Sardinia?

The fastest way to get to Sardinia is undoubtedly, by flying. Flying is cheaper and quicker, but there are perks to taking the ferry too, such as being able to more easily bring kids, pets or luggage. Plus, you can bring your own car on the ferry, which saves you having to rent one on Sardinia.

What airport do you fly into for Sardinia?

You have three airports to fly into on Sardinia island: Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero. The largest one and main city is Cagliari .

How long is ferry from Italy to Sardinia?

It depends where in Italy you sail from. You can sail from Civitavecchia (north of Rome), Livorno (near Pisa), Naples, Sicily, or Genoa. The length of time you’ll be on the ferry travelling to or from any of these places to Sardinia will range from 8 to 15 hours.

Is Sardinia an expensive destination?

Yes, Sardinia is noticeably more expensive than mainland Italy – you can expect to pay a bit more for accommodations and food. This is to be expected though, because many of their goods are imported from mainland Italy and other areas – this adds to the cost of the product.

What is the best month to visit Sardinia?

The most popular time to visit Sardinia is the summer, with average highs reaching 32 °C (89.6°F.) There is also more frequent service during the months of May through to September, since this is when most tourists visit. For example, ferries and flights travel more frequently in summer months than any other time of year.

Can you get around Sardinia without a car?

Yes, you can get around Sardinia without a car. You can bike (although likely not throughout the whole island unless you’re extremely ambitious) and there are also taxis. Taxis can be hailed on the street, or you can book them online. There is also public transportation in Sardinia – ARST, which operates buses throughout the island, and Trenitalia, a train network throughout Italy, including Sardinia. Renting a car is probably the easiest option, but you have these other options as well.

Final Thoughts on Getting to Sardinia

Regardless of your method of travel to Sardinia, you are sure to fall in love with its medieval and ancient buildings, its natural beauty, and stunning beaches, laid back atmosphere and kind people. Whether you’re travelling with kids, or you’re on your honeymoon, Sardinia will have activities that will leave you fondly remembering your trip forever.

We chose to do both: we flew from Rome to Sardinia (to the Cagliari airport), and rented a car to drive around the island. When we returned to mainland Italy, we took a ferry from Sardinia to Livorno, which is near Pisa.

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Contents - Open To Read

If you love traveling, there’s a great chance you’ve heard about my amazing island and are wondering how to get to Sardinia. Don’t worry, I got you covered. As a local I know exactly how to guide you, so read on!

You have two main options for getting to Sardinia:

• FLIGHTS: There are flights to Sardinia , and getting on a plane is fast and relatively cheap.
• FERRY: Taking a ferry from mainland Italy is a great way to get to Sardinia if you wish to travel with your car and enjoy the slow ride.

Getting to Sardinia is one thing, but moving around once you’re on the island is another, so let’s also talk about that. I will tell you everything I know to guide you, including how to get from the airport to the city center, and more.

Read more on the topic:

• How to Move around Sardinia by Public transport
• How To reach The main destinations by car
• The Ultimate Guide to Rent a car in Sardinia

Below is a recap of what I will cover in this article. Click on the topic you want to read to get directly to that chapter

1) Flights to Sardinia

• Major Airports
• Flights To Sardinia from the US
• Direct Flights To Sardinia from the UK
• Getting to Sardinia from Outside Europe
• Cheap Flights to Sardinia

2) Ferry to Sardinia

• How long is a ferry ride to Sardinia?
• Major Sardinia Ports

Ferry from Italy to Sardinia

• Ferry from Rome to Sardinia
• Ferry from Sicily to Sardinia

3) Getting Around Sardinia FAQs

• Is it worth renting a car in Sardinia?
• Sardinia Public Transport: How to get around the island without a car (by bus and train).
• Is Sardinia easy to get around?
• Can you get around Sardinia without a car?
• How do people get around in Sardinia?
• How long does it take to get around Sardinia?
• What are the roads like in Sardinia?
• Driving in Sardinia: All you need To know

Flights to Sardinia-Italy

With more and more tourists choosing Sardinia as their next summer destination, recent years have been marked by an increasing frequency of flights to Sardinia .

With three major airports, Sardinia is now well connected. Not only are there Rome, Milan, and Naples to Sardinia flights, Sardinia is now easily accessible with flights from many Italian cities and cities from other parts of Europe.

How to Book A flight To Sardinia

SKYSCANNER : Since this is my N.1 choice for 90% of my flights around the world, I highly recommend it . I never had any issues and it saved me hours of research online. It’s easy to use and compares every possible airline for the route you need. It is also convenient if you can’t book a direct flight to Sardinia.

My honest review: I compared the prices when booking with Skyscanner or directly through the airline website, and sometimes you pay a bit more when booking with Skyscanner. This doesn’t apply to all the flights and routes, so if you have time, do some research (especially for direct flights), for non-direct flights It’s better to just go with it, as the research can be exhausting!

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO SARDINIA HERE

Direct Flights To Sardinia From Europe

Yes, Sardinia also has direct flights from Paris, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Stockholm, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dublin, Brussels, Geneva, Budapest, and many more which I’ll talk about below. Let me guide you on a detailed tour of each of Sardinia’s airports and other helpful tips when choosing to fly to Sardinia.

Direct Flights to Sardinia From The UK

Ryanair :  Routes covered from Stansted, Luton, and Dublin to Alghero, and from Gatwick to Cagliari.

Local’s tip: check out for additional taxes and fees and restrictions on luggage when booking! Ryan air might be cheap but is not convenient if you stay on the east coast, as the roads from Alghero to Olbia are not easy to figure out. Maybe it’s better to spend a bit more with other companies and travel stress-free!

 EasyJet:    Gatwick, Luton and Bristol to Olbia and from Stansted to Cagliari.

Tips: I used Easy Jet when I lived in London and they have very convenient prices. In winter they just fly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday , whilst from May on they have daily flights. Be careful as the prices are shown don’t include the check-in baggage (around 20 euros for 20kg). They will also ask you to choose your seat, insurance, car, hotels, etc. I usually decline.

British Airways:   Heathrow to Olbia and Cagliari.

Tips: The flights to Cagliari are only on Mondays , Thursdays, and Saturdays. To Olbia, they only operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The prices are inclusive of taxes, no hidden fees, and are pretty similar to the low costs companies.

Thomson Flights:  London Gatwick to Alghero. 

Tips: Honestly? I don’t recommend them. They only fly on Saturdays and the prices are VERY expensive.   I give you this choice just in case everything else is fully booked and you don’t have a fixed budget. Ps: If you happen to book with them, and you don’t find “Alghero” on the choices is because they put it under “Sardinia- Alghero”.

How to Get to Sardinia From the US

All flights from the United States to Sardinia require a stopover in London or another European city. You can take the Rome to Sardinia flights or another option like Milan before continuing to one of the three airports without a layover.

The airport for Sardinia with the most flight and airline options is Cagliari, which serves the island’s southernmost region.

Which Airlines Fly To Sardinia From the US and Canada 

From the US

American Airlines, ITA Airways (Ex Alitalia), and Delta have direct flights to these possible layover airports, not only from New York but also from Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

From Canada

If you are coming from Canada, you can fly from Toronto or Montreal with Alitalia and AirCanada with one stopover in Europe before a direct flight to Sardinia.

Visa Requirements for Sardinia

As long as you don’t intend to stay for longer than 90 days, US citizens or Canadians can visit Sardinia and mainland Italy as tourists without a visa. However, you must have a passport with at least six months of remaining validity after the date of arrival into the country and enough blank pages for entry stamps.

How to Get To Sardinia from Outside Europe

The same with coming from the United States, there are no direct flights from other countries outside of Europe like North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia to Sardinia, so you will have to fly to other major airports in Italy. Getting to Sardinia from Rome or Milan is your best option.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Sardinia

Are you looking for a cheap flight to Sardinia ? (Who isn’t, right?) 🙂

You can find plane tickets from New York for $587 one-way and $1,052 round-trip. You need to reserve at least three weeks before your planned departure to receive a discounted rate, especially if you plan to fly during the summer.

1) Find The Best Time To Travel To Sardinia

The months of September, October, and November are still high/mid-season (price-wise), but from mid-October on, it’s mainly middle to low season, and the prices finally decrease. May is the cheapest month to travel to Sardinia (and one of the most incredible months to do so, not only for the cheap flights!).

2) Fly with Low Cost/Cheap airlines to Sardinia

If you want cheap flights to Sardinia , take advantage of low-cost airlines. To find the cheapest flights to Sardinia, keep an eye out for special offers from budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet. During their recurring flight sales, prices frequently drop dramatically. Also, consider traveling to Sardinia during the low season . The benefits will surprise you.

• One word of advice regarding these low-cost companies: The ticket might be cheap, but they try to rip you off by adding surcharges for the luggage and other little things. Careful when you book your flight. If you notice that the final price is much higher than the starting price, you probably left the insurance box or other extras selected. If you genuinely want to stay cheap with them: travel light and never tick any unnecessary boxes 🙂

3) Fly to Sardinia in Off season /winter

Even though there are fewer flights during the off-peak winter months, there are still at least once weekly flights to all of Sardinia’s major airports. Before booking your trip, check out the flights first. Some direct flights are canceled during the off-season.

FIND YOUR CHEAP FLIGHT TO SARDINIA HERE

Airports in Sardinia:

Which Sardinia airport is better? It all depends on where you decide to stay in Sardinia or, at least, where you will start your holiday.

There are three main airports in Sardinia you could fly into:

• Cagliari Elmas Airport , just a few kilometers away from the city of Cagliari – South of Sardinia,
• Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport at the north-eastern part of Sardinia
• Alghero Fertilia Airport in the north-western part.

All three airports are a quick ride from their city center, so no worries, I’ll tell you how to get to the city center from each one below.

Cagliari Elmas Airport

IATA Airport Code: CAG

Cagliari Airport is 7 km northwest of Sardinia Island, nearby Elmas town, thus the name Cagliari Elmas Airport (little curiosity: I live 15 min from the airport, my town is the next one after Elmas, very convenient :).

Cagliari airport is the busiest airport in Sardinia , with 5 million passengers. If you’re spending time in South Sardinia, this is your airport of choice.

Direct Flights To Sardinia -Cagliari Airport

There are direct flights to Cagliari to over 30 cities, and airlines like British Airways, EasyJet, Luxair, Air Berlin, and Ryanair fly to and from Sardinia. Rome to Sardinia flights for Cagliari Airport directly are at 247 flights monthly, followed by direct flights to these cities:

National Flights From Italy To Cagliari

International Flights From Italy To Cagliari

• London Gatwick
• Basel Mulhouse

Cagliari Airport Amenities

This airport in Sardinia is equipped with all essential facilities for your comfort and includes ATMs, business centers, shops, cafes, restaurants, and executive lounges. You can also take advantage of the parking space for long-term and short-term use (click here for the rates). There are rental car service desks at the arrivals area of the airport from companies like Europcar, Hertz, Firefly, and Goldcar.

Main Airlines flying into Cagliari Airport: 

Presently, 20 airlines offer flights to Cagliari (Sardinia). Ryanair, which connects 39 airports to Cagliari (Sardinia), runs most of the flights, with Volotea as the second airline with the most flights. Other airlines flying to Cagliari include EasyJet, Alitalia ( recently rebranded as ITA Airways), Neos, Eurowings, and Wizzair.

How to get from Cagliari Airport to the city center

There are a few ways you can get to the city as soon as you arrive in Sardinia. The choice depends on whether you want to stay comfortable or make one last effort and drag your luggage up and down the bus or train.

It only takes about a 10 to 15- minute and 25 euro (taxi) ride to get to the city center. Consider paying an additional charge for the nighttime service, from 10 pm to 6 am.

Buses depart for the City Center every half-hour; this method is the least expensive mode of transportation. There are two bus terminals at the airport.

The buses that depart from the area directly outside the arrivals area operate between 8.40 am and 11.30 pm, while the buses from the departures area run between 5.20 am and 10.30 pm. You must buy the tickets before boarding at the newsstand in the arrival area and at the McDonald’s in the departure area.

• From Cagliari To The Airport

Suppose you are traveling to the airport from Cagliari. In that case, you must board the buses on platform eight at the ARST bus terminal (located near the train station in Piazza Matteotti) and pay 0.67 euros for a single journey. For inquiries, ARST bus company has toll-free numbers: 800 865042 or 070 4098327 (I doubt they will speak good English, but you can try or ask a local if needed, we are always ready to help if we can!) 🙂

You can also use the train service from the airport from 5:00 am to 11:45 pm, with a 20-minute waiting time before each departure. You will reach the center of Cagliari in 7 minutes at most. Purchase train tickets from the train station or a machine located at the airport’s arrivals area for € 1.30 per way.

You can easily walk to the train station outside the airport’s arrivals. As soon as you get out, head on your left towards the multi-level parking space; you’ll find it there. It takes around 5 to 8 minutes to get there (considering your luggage too).

B UY YOUR TRAIN TICKET IN ADVANCE HERE

Alghero Airport

IATA airport code: AHO

Alghero Airport, also called Alghero Fertilia, 8 km northwest of the city center, is the leading international gateway o Northwest Sardinia.

Direct Flights To Sardinia -Alghero Fertilia

Direct flights are coming from the following cities (helpful in planning your trip if you arrive from the US, another country, or even from Italian towns without direct flights):

National Flights from Italy To Alghero

• Venice Marco Polo

International Flights From Italy To Alghero

• Brussels Charleroi
• London Stansted
• Other Cities with less than ten flights a month

Main Airlines flying into Alghero Airport: 

• Alitalia ( now Ita Airways)

How to get from Alghero Airport to The city Center

Being Alghero Airport quite close to the city, it’s easy to find the perfect option for your needs; let’s see how:

This airport in Sardinia also uses ARST (Regional Bus Service ). Route 9373’s last stop is at Via Catalogna- Alghero. The same bus travels back to the airport and is available every hour from 05:20 am to 11:00 pm. They have a seasonal route to Stintino and Santa Teresa Di Gallura from June to September. Very useful if you decide to stay in one of these lovely locations and don’t want to rent a car in Sardinia.

You can buy the bus tickets for local connections from an automatic vending machine, which is open 24 hours a day at the airport. For more information, you may call (+39) 079 2639200 or email [email protected] (again, I can’t guarantee their English is up to your expectations, but you can try)

You can also find taxis immediately outside the airport’s arrivals area. The fare to the city center is around 25 €. (But always ask beforehand to avoid scams)

RENTING A CAR

If you wish to rent a car in Sardinia, you can find companies that offer car rentals, assistance, and information like road conditions and routes. You’ll find their offices inside the terminal right outside the arrivals lounge.

• Local’s Tip: Don’t wait to rent the car upon arrival in Sardinia; likely, you won’t find much availability. I recommend you book in advance using a reputable comparing tool. Then you can go straight to your stand at the airport and show them your booking. No-fuss or extra stress!

BOOK YOUR CAR DIRECTLY HERE!

Olbia Airport

IATA airport code: OLB

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, 5 km from downtown Olbia, is the central hub on the northeast coast of Sardinia.

Olbia is a city in the famous Sardinian region of Gallura. The city, located nearby the Costa Smeralda touristy area, is known for its beaches, historic sites, and year-round mild temperatures (all over Sardinia except for the mountain areas in the hinterland).

The airport has numerous connections to mainland Italy and locations in continental Europe and the UK. For example, there is Rome to Sardinia flights direct to Olbia.

Below is the list of cities with direct flights from Olbia

National Flights from Italy To Olbia

International Flights from Italy To Olbia

• London Heathrow
• Basel Mulhouse Freiburg

Main Airlines flying into Olbia Airport: 

• Alitalia (now ITA Airways)

How to get from Olbia Airport to Olbia city Center 

This airport is also well located, and it’s easy (and cheap) to get to the city by public transport

To get to Olbia city center, ride buses n. two and n. ten which will take you into town in around 10 minutes. They depart every 10-20 minutes. You can purchase the tickets for €1.50 at the information desk inside the airport terminal. You will find the bus stop 50 meters away outside the airport near the arrivals area.

Should you decide to take a taxi, you can find them near the arrivals area, just outside the terminal building. The minimum fare is € 3.50; after that, the cost is € 2.60 for the first 5 km and €1.90 per kilometer for the last 35 km. The average fare to the city from Olbia Airport is € 15.00. But, as usual, ask for an approximate price in advance.

You will find car rental agencies, like Dollar, Auto Europa, Europcar, Avis, Budget, and Hertz (to name a few) upon getting to the terminal. Most of them are close to the arrivals area at the Terminal Autonoleggi, while others have nearby depots and will arrange pick-up services for you.

If you want to rent a car for your trip to Sardinia, make your reservations well in advance since there may not be as much of a selection available during major holidays and the summer.

If you can’t find a direct flight to your preferred airport in Sardinia , you can still travel the entire length of the island in three max four hours (depending on the route, traffic, and speed). The scenery along the way is sometimes breathtaking, and it wouldn’t be entirely a disadvantage.

Ferry to Sardinia

What if you wish to take your car with you? After all, having it will give you more freedom to roam around and explore the island without the need to rent a car in Sardinia.

The good news is that Sardinia ferries will take you and your car to the island. However, it is essential to note that the ferry to Sardinia can be more expensive, so you will have to book way in advance if you wish to lower the price.

BOOK YOUR FERRY TO SARDINIA HERE

How long is the ferry ride to Sardinia?

In short, it depends on the port of departure, the route, and the type of ferry: Travel duration is five to 6 hours and a half for day trips. If you travel at night, it can take from 10-12 hrs. Travel time also varies because daytime ferries include fast ferries (more expensive).

If you want to save money, you’d better go for the conventional slower ferry. It may take longer, but you won’t mind too much if you’re in a comfortable cabin or while you’re enjoying the sight of the clear blue waters from the ferry dock.

Sardinia ports cater all year round to ferries going to and from Naples, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Livorno, Piombino, Salerno, and Savona. There are also ferries going to Sardinia from other European locations like Barcelona, France, and Corsica with connecting ports of Toulon, Nice, Ajaccio, Bastia, and Bonifacio. The ferry operation increases in frequency during summer.

Sardinia Major Ports:

There are 5 main ports catering ferries to Sardinia , namely:

Port of Arbatax – Tortolì

Port of cagliari.

• Port of Golfo Aranci

Port of Olbia

Port of porto torres.

Sardinia also has other smaller ports, namely:

• Port of Santa Teresa di Gallura
• Port of Stintino
• Port of Alghero
• Port of La Caletta
• Port of La Maddalena
• Port of Palau
• Port of Calasetta
• Port of Carloforte
• Port of Porto Vesme
• Port of Santa Maria Navarrese

Usually, the smaller ports mentioned above serve as private and tourist ports from where the touristic boat tours depart in summer.

• Local’s Tip: The most famous ones are Palau for the trip to Arcipelago della Maddalena boat trip, Santa Maria Navarrese for the Golfo Di Orosei tours (also served by Arbatax Port), Stintino and Porto Torres main Port to reach the Asinara Island, and Porto Vesme, Carloforte and Calasetta to reach the Isola di San Pietro and Carloforte town.

The Port of Arbatax in the municipality of Tortolì is the best choice if you are traveling with a car, camping van, caravan, and trailer and visiting the east coast of Sardinia.

• Civitavecchia – Arbatax
• Genova – Arbatax

Ferry Companies:

Tirrenia company and Grimaldi provide service to the port, with operation from 2:00 pm to 0:00 am, but the frequency of the ferries may vary according to the high and low seasons. Grimaldi Lines runs ferries weekly, Tuesdays and Saturdays, between Civitavecchia and Arbatax. The departures are often in the evening, and the crossing takes about nine hours.

Tourist Attractions Nearby:

• The most beautiful beaches of Golfo di Orosei and Ogliastra
• Porto Frailis
• Red Rocks celebrated with music festivals

The Port of Cagliari is southern Sardinia’s direct access by sea. You’ll see the city from the ferry, first at a distance, and up-close when your ferry docks. The bus and train station are just 200 meters away from the harbor; you can’t miss them!

If you get slightly confused exiting the pier, head towards Piazza Matteotti, on the left; everything you need is there, from the main bus and train station to an ample parking space.

The Cagliari harbor is one of the most prominent Italian seaports for those traveling with a car, camper, caravan, and trailer. Besides the convenient ferry from Naples to Sardinia, the port also caters to other useful routes.

• Civitavecchia – Cagliari
• Naples – Cagliari
• Palermo – Cagliari

The Grimaldi Lines is currently the only company serving Cagliari port with daily and weekly ferry trips from South Sardinia to Civitavecchia (Rome) and Southern Italy (Naples and Palermo- Sicily). No ferries are traveling to Cagliari from outside Italy.

Tirrenia and Moby Lines are not serving Cagliari port anymore. If you’ve traveled to Sardinia in the past, you know they used to for many years. But you don’t have to worry about these details.

In May 2022, I planned a fantastic trip to Rome and Tuscany by car and quickly booked online my return tickets from and to Sardinia using a useful comparative searching tool . You insert the route/port you need, and it finds you all the ferry companies serving that route so that you can immediately book the best deal!

If you have already decided to take the ferry, my advice is to book your ticket sooner rather than later.

Tourist locations nearby:

• Southern Sardinia Coast:Villasimius, Costa Rei, Pula, Chia, Tuerredda beach
• Sulcis Iglesiente: Porto Flavia, Cala Domestica, Nebida
• Oristano: San Giovanni Di Sinis, Santa Caterina, Tharros, Is Arutas beach and more

Port of Golfo Aranci -Sardinia

Port Golfo Aranci, located merely 20km from Olbia, serves as another gateway to Costa Smeralda and surrounding areas. If you wish to avoid the crowd in the bigger city, this port is a good choice for you.

Golfo Aranci Port is a great access point to many breathtaking beaches and tourist attractions, such as:

• Sardinia Northeast: Costa Smeralda, Arzachena, La Maddalena,Sand Santa Teresa Di Gallura
• Sardinia Southeast: San Teodoro / Budoni.

Routes to and from Golfo Aranci:

• Civitavecchia – Golfo Aranci
• Livorno – Golfo Aranci
• Piombino – Golfo Aranci
• Savona – Golfo Aranci
• Ajaccio – Golfo Aranci
• Bastia – Golfo Aranci
• Porto Vecchio (Corsica, France) – Golfo Aranci
• Nizza and Tolone (France) – Golfo Aranci

Ferry Companies: 

Port Golfo Aranci is served by Corsica Ferries , which operates a fleet of cozy and up-to-date ships.

One of Sardinia’s most prominent ports is Olbia’s port. Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport is a short 4.7 km, 8-minute ride by car from the Port of Olbia.

The port on the island’s northeast coast is the closest one from which you can reach Sardinia by ferry from Italy. The ferries can take you there in less than 5 1/2 hours. There are nine wharves in the Isola Bianca sector of the port of Olbia where fast ferries and passenger ships can dock.

You can quickly get to the central and southern part of Sardinia from the port of Olbia by taking the SS 131 bus to Abbasanta (or renting a car and driving). From there, you can opt to head east or west.

EAST: The SS 125, also known as Orientale Sarda is ideal for traveling to popular coastal tourist destinations, including Olbia, San Teodoro, the Golfo di Orosei, up to Costa Rei, Villasimius and Cagliari.

It takes a little longer but will gift you with breathtaking panoramic views. Probably, for this reason, some tourists renamed it “Sardinian Route 66” 🙂

WEST: Going west means you will be driving along SS131/E25, which has a speed limit of 110 km/h from km 35.000 to km 108.300, the fastest speed limit on the island, so it is also the quickest way to reach your destinations in Sardinia. SS131 (also known as “Carlo Felice”) is considered the island’s main artery and, starting from Olbia, connects the city with Oristano and Cagliari.

The road is ample in some traits and a bit less in others. Currently (update 2022), there are many deviations in the trait close to Nuoro and Oristano due to undergoing structural works, and it can get slow at times. Apply caution when driving, especially at night, and always follow the signs to Cagliari.

• Civitavecchia – Olbia
• Genova-Olbia
• Livorno-Olbia
• Piombino-Olbia

Tourist locations nearby: (very similar to the ones nearby Golfo Aranci port, they are 20 min away by car)

Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), Tirrenia, Moby Lines, and Grimaldi Lines are the four ferry companies that run the routes to Olbia. Each week, they provide up to 79 ferry and hydrofoil crossings (fast ferries). The duration of the rides might range from 5 to 12 hours, depending on the port of departure.

Another major port for ferries in Sardinia is the Port of Porto Torres. Located on the Northwest Sardinia coast and easily accessible by plane, car, or train. Many ferries come and go from the mainland towards this port, including international ones, with the following routes:

Porto Torres- Sardinia Routes

• Civitavecchia – Porto Torres
• Livorno – Porto Torres
• Génova – Porto Torres
• Toulon – Porto Torres
• Ajaccio – Porto Torres
• Porto Vecchio – Porto Torres
• Marseille – Porto Torres
• Nizza – Porto Torres
• Barcelona – Porto Torres

Some of the best Sardinia places to visit when arriving by Ferry at Porto Torres are:

• Stintino with its famous “La Pelosa Beach,”
• Asinara Island
• Costa Paradiso
• Castel Sardo (to name a few)

Grandi Navi Veloci and Tirrenia are the companies that guarantee the frequency of the routes, with an increased frequency during the peak season and a reduction during the low season. Nevertheless, there is at least one daily connection.

Suppose you intend to remain in northern Sardinia. In that case, Porto Torres is an excellent harbor to dock at because it will be convenient for you to reach the Asinara Archipelago and Alghero/ Stintino and many other lovely Sardinia places.

Up to 133 ferries go to Italy each week, 41 of which depart from Rome (Civitavecchia port) for various ports in Sardinia, making them some of the busiest and most frequently traveling ferries.

You have a wide range of options when choosing your ferry route because there are many other ports in Italy that you can depart from, such as Genoa or Napoli. If you are on an Italy Road Trip ) and want to include Sardinia -which you should 🙂 -you’ll have plenty of choices!

Ferry Sicily to Sardinia

Can you get a ferry from Sicily to Sardinia? Yes, you can! ( Ferry Sicily to Sardinia has one route, the “Palermo-Cagliari,” with three weekly connections. Palermo to Cagliari is one of the routes Grimaldi Lines runs once daily, while the Tirrenia route to Palermo- Sicily runs twice daily.

• Local’s Tip: You should conduct a live search for crossings from Sicily to Sardinia to acquire the most recent information because the frequency and length of crossings on some routes vary.

Getting Around Sardinia

You have two main options to get around Sardinia:

• By renting a car beforehand and collecting it upon arrival in Sardinia
• By using Sardinia public transport

Each option has pros and cons, which I will cover in a breeze, so stay tuned because being a local, I can give you some helpful tricks and valuable information to decide what’s best for your needs!

Is it worth hiring a car in Sardinia?

The easiest and best way to travel around Sardinia and explore the island is exploring by car , so to be very straightforward, my answer, as a local, is YES, is it worth all the money you spend to hire a car in Sardinia, trust me on that. 

Having a car offers a world of possibilities to explore even the most remote places and beaches in Sardinia. Although Sardinia’s public transportation is reasonably priced, it is not, let’s put it this way, “ideal” 🙂

This means it can be difficult or impossible to visit Sardinia’s most picturesque places by going off the major roads. Sardinia’s public transportation system needs a massive “redo” and provides better connections, so your options for travel will understandably be limited.

Sardinia Car Rental: 

Car rental service is available as soon as you land at any of the three major airports. But it’s also best to book in advance to save money and, even more importantly, find a car available!

When my friends want to visit Sardinia and are planning to rent a car at the airport, I shiver in horror, knowing that they probably won’t find any availability on short notice.

As with any other place, off-season auto rental in Sardinia costs less than in peak season, and the availability shouldn’t be an issue in this case, but it better be safe than sorry.

Check availability and book your car directly here!

What type of car should you rent:

Are you planning an adventurous trip? Best to rent a small SUV or a 4-wheel drive vehicle because going off the beaten track to explore more rural areas equates to more challenging roads.

Sardinia Family Holyday: Make sure the car is equipped with a seat for the kids, or bring your own if you can. The cost might be relatively higher for this extra feature.

Car Rental in Sardinia and Insurance:

Like car renting in other places, check the vehicle before hitting the road and don’t hold back spending extra euros for insurance. It’s best to be prepared for any eventuality, especially on vacation. I always choose the one that includes everything and with the possibility of changing the driver.

More about everything you need to know to hire a car in Sardinia in an upcoming article. If you want to know when it’s up, please subscribe to my newsletter (no spam), and you’ll get an email when it’s ready!

Public Transport Sardinia: How To Get Around Without A Car.

Without a car, you can travel around Sardinia by public transport ( (by train, bus, or a combination of the two). And if you are more adventurous, you can explore Sardinia by bike.

• SARDINIA BY TRAIN

Trenitalia officially operate s trains in Sardinia (we have jokes about this company in terms of being on time, but I digress) 🙂

If you are quite the romantic, you’ll probably imagine an idyllic setting of you relaxing on a train as it creeps along the hinterland, observing the splendid Sardinian view from the window, going from one enchanting village to the other.

The reality is just a bit different 🙂 if you plan to reach multiple destinations, this will not be an easy undertaking.

Sardinia railway network is not as extensive and organized as you would want it to be (alas!). The connections between the east and the west are non-existent, and the railway is missing in most coastline villages and cities.

Sounds adventurous? Perhaps! Practical? Not really, unless you are traveling Sardinia with a backpack and nothing else.

Nevertheless, If you are an adventurous backpacker or want to stay put in one place, then using the train in Sardinia might be an option.

Train routes in Sardinia

The rail network connects all the main towns, with some trains running on more minor local routes. The main line goes through Cagliari-Oristano-Porto Torres and (with a change of trains in Chilivani) To Olbia as well. That’s it.

Train Costs in Sardinia

Several daily departures go from the southern part of Sardinia to the northern region and vice versa. The tickets are cheap, and you can buy them online. The longest route from Olbia to Cagliari can be completed in 4 hours and costs around 18/19 Euros.

Where to buy a Train Ticket

You can buy your Train tickets (to the main cities) directly online at the OMIO website or the official Trenitalia website . I mentioned Omio first because I find it much easier to navigate, it’s more precise on the changes of trains and the times of layovers, plus it gives you the visual route.

• Local’s Tip: Do Not forget to validate the ticket at the train station (insert it into the machine at the beginning of each platform). If you don’t validate the ticket, it is not valid, and you will get a fine. This rule applies to every train in Italy.
• SARDINIA BY BUS 

ARST operates the public buses in Sardinia, runs along with the major cities, and stops at the villages and towns on the way. Gladly, given the lack of trains 🙂

• Local’s Tip: There are fewer buses on weekends and during the holidays. So plan if you wish to travel to remote villages during these times, and find another traveling method if you don’t want to get stranded.

Purchase the tickets in advance from tobacco kiosks or at newsagents near the bus stop. You can buy your ticket from the bus driver on some routes but expect a small surcharge.

The official ARST website is complicated to navigate, even for a local, and it doesn’t have an English version. That’s why I’m here. In my following guide on how to get around Sardinia by public transport, I will help you with all the details you might need. Don’t worry 🙂

• SARDINIA BY BIKE 

Finally, if you have the strength, stamina, and spirit of adventure, you can bike around the breathtaking places in Sardinia. You can only expect the roads to be busy in the high seasons.

Bike Rentals Sardinia

Bike rentals are available at resorts and in major cities of Olbia, Alghero, Cagliari, Palau, Santa Teresa Gallura, and La Maddalena at € 10 per day. But note that cycling on the main road of the island SS131 is not allowed.

Taking the bike with you in Sardinia: Costs

If you wish to take the bike with you on regional trains, you can purchase a separate ticket good for 24 hours at € 3.5. The ferry charge bikes an additional fee of € 3 to € 10.

Read more (coming soon): Public Transport in Sardinia: How to move around without a car

The Takeaway of Flying To & Getting Around Sardinia

If you have read this far, congratulations! It was quite a long read, I know. I wanted to be as detailed as possible. And if you feel this guide is lacking in some areas, no worries, more detailed, in-depth articles on how to get around Sardinia are coming. I got you covered!

In need of vital information not covered here? Comment below, and I’ll do my best to help you!

Sardinia is not only rich in crystal-clear waters, soft white sand, and delicious food. The island will also seduce you with its people’s innate sense of hospitality (bragging much?? :D).

So you can expect help from the friendly locals when you need it. We, Sardinians, cannot wait to welcome you (the foreigner or “strangiu” in the Sardinian language) to our fabulous island!

PS: Do you know that Sardinian is not an Italian dialect but a different language? My friends from mainland Italy never understand a word when my parents talk with each other 😉

“A Si Biri!” ( See You soon)!

Read My Articles about Sardinia:

• Where To stay in Sardinia for Everyone (Couples included)
• One week in Sardinia: the Best Itinerary For you!
• Best Sardinia Beaches You can’t miss on Your Trip
• Fabulous reason to Visit Sardinia in Low Season
• Amazing Things To Do In Sardinia in Summer
• Unique Things To Discover in Sardinia During Winter
• Best Costa Smeralda Beaches With Map
• Sardinia By Car: The Ultimate Guide on How To Get Around the Island!
• Sardinia Photos: My 15 favorite Instagram Pictures!
• Sardinia Travel Guide: Unmissable Places To See and Things To Do!
• Sardinia Holidays for Families: Where To Stay with your kids!
• Sardinia Solo Travel: A Backpackers guide by a Local!
• Sardinia Camping: Your Guide (By a Local)
• Sardinia Travel Guides
• Sardinia in 2 weeks: Best Itinerary
• Sardinia in 3 weeks: Best Itinerary

Hi clelia I was hoping you could help me – we’re heading to Sardinia in late August flying in and out of Olbia. I was wondering if it’s possible to get a bus from Olbia to Palau, from Palau to Cala Gonone and then Cala Gonone to Olbia. Thanks!

Hey Lauren, sorry for the super delayed response, I’ve been having some IT issues with my website! So… good question. It is not impossible but tiring and not easy. The Olbia-Palau is pretty easy using the ARST buses(see timetables and stops in the link) From Palau to Cala Gonone, there is not a direct bus for sure, and you’ll have to go back to Olbia, change bus to Nuoro and change again from Nuoro to Cala Gonone (and same for the way back). From Olbia to Cala Gonone by bus (via Nuoro) it takes almost 5 hours, but you will have to be extra careful to catch the connecting buses so you might wait for the second one for a while or having to rush depending on the timetable you choose. As you can see it’s not ideal, but if you don’t mind a little adventure, it is possible.

I hope this helps! Cheers Clelia

Hi Clelia , I’m traveling with wife and two kids one 13 and 5 years old on Aug 2 for 10 day can you please tell me where should be a great fun area for kids to visit and stay , I was planning to rent a car as well to go around island do I need more than 10 days Thank you Tony

Sorry for the super late reply but I’m having some IT issues to sort out on my website! Regarding your question, tricky one as it depends on what your kids love to do the most…I’m guessing that water parks, the miniature of Sardinia, seeing the donkeys and simply enjoying their time on the beach will be great for them. For this reason, I’d recommend the south part of Sardinia, you can base yourself in Cagliari and take day trips to the water park near Pula, the Sardegna in Miniatura (pretty cool for adults as well),and then just visit the awesome beaches around Villasimius on the south east and Chia/Cala Cipolla/Tuerredda Beaches on the south west. You can also ass a boat trip to Porto Flavia ( an old fascinating mine site and see the famous rock and then visit the site itself) by booking a day trip. Possibilities for kids are truly endless. I hope you’ll have a great time!

Cheers Clelia

Hi Clelia, I am considering going to Alghero 23rd May for 8 nights with my Son. Do buses run regularly to the beaches down the coast as want to try and keep the cost down. Regards

Hi Joanna, sorry for the late reply, I hope you will still read it! As for your question, being Alghero a city where local lives all year round, there are bus services to the main beaches yes. Obviously what I recommend is to rent a car, as you will see a lot more but if you can’t, in between public transport and maybe a tour or two, you might be able to see nice things. Regards Clelia

Hello Clelia, we (1 couple, no kids) are planning a week in Sardinia in mid September. Flying into Cagliari, We would like to visit Villasimius, then Gola Su Gorropu, then coastal for a few nights – maybe Cala Gonone or Teodoro, then back to Cagliari for our flight home. All on public transport. I am finding it difficult to find out online if there are public buses up the east coast to do all this. Could you advise? We love snokelling in shallow waters (not strong swimmers) so advise on any other good beaches would also be welcomed….

HI Maeve, Ahi ahi public transport in Sardinia! 🙂 You can certainly do some of the activities and visit some of the places but the best parts will be out of reach. Still, you can take the bus from Cagliari to reach Villasimius quite easily, but be aware that depending on the company they might leave you at a stop in the main road and you’ll have to walk. The main company servicing this route is ARST . Unfortunately, the website is just in Italian and even for Italian people is super disorganized if you ask me. You can’t book online anyway so you’ll have to go from the airport to Cagliari Piazza Matteotti (don’t worry, every bus/train from the airport stops in there as it is the main hub for train and buses) and from there, there is the ARST station on the right of the train station. You go there and buy your ticket, not sure if they will understand English, it really depends on who is doing the shift that day 🙂 Ask if the bus stops in Villasimius center or not.

For Cala Gonone… unfortunately you are not in luck. It’s not impossible to get there but not easy either. No way you can catch a bus from Villasimius to Cala Gonone, so far there are no buses that connect the two villages. You’ll have to go back to Cagliari and take either the train passing via Oristano, then stop and take another train or bus and finally a taxi that will cost you a fortune for a total of God only knows how many hours on the road.

A Better Option would be to Go directly to San Teodoro bu Bus. I used it a couple of times with a private company called Turmo Travel. Usually it stopped in the center of San Teodoro but I was having a look at their website now and it says that the stop is on the main road. Weird. I should call them and ask 🙂 But yet again you can ask them prior to purchasing the ticket. You can find them in the same bus station as ARST.

For Su Gorropu, bad to say it like that but if you are not in the Golfo di Orosei area, forget about it as even the organized tours only depart from the nearby villages.

You found it difficult to find buses on the east coast because… after Villasimius/Costa Rei there are very few options. As I told you, public transport in Sardinia is somehow embarrassing so my suggestion is to rent a car if you can or to just chose one place (either Villasimius or San Teodoro) and stay there, they are the best options and bets connected villages on the east coast with the possibility of booking day excursions so that you don’t have to stay stuck in the same beach for the whole trip.

Sorry to give you so many bad news but it’s our reality, unfortunately!

Clelia, thank you so much for your precise and prompt reply!! Unfortunately it is not what I wanted to hear :-). I will look at rental cars so……I do want to see as much as possible of your beautiful island….

Thanks Maeve,

I know… I feel bad when I have to give “bad news” and it truly drives me crazy that in an Island like Sardinia, the connections to the best places are that bad. It’s not good for the tourists but especially for the locals who have to move and don’t have a car.

I hope you’ll find a good deal and will enjoy my Island as much as you can! Clelia

Hy which is the best way to travel in sardinia bus or train? We are coming in August and we are havbing kids with us

Thanks for stopping by! It all depends on your Itinerary really. I usually don’t recommend public transport, to be honest. Especially if you have kids, it is only good for solo adventure travelers with a backpack or 1 piece of luggage as, unfortunately, we don’t have the greatest public transport network. If you still can’t rent a car, then you will have to carefully plan your itinerary and only choose locations that are well served by buses (like Villasimius, San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura).

By Train in even more trickier as we have a direct train from Cagliari to Oristano and then if you want to go all the way up north you have to change trains in Chilivani, not exactly ideal as you will have to stay with their timeline (not exactly ideal), sometimes waiting hours for the next train, and sometimes they even suspend the trains and put you on a random bus instead. That’s why I discourage people to use this method if they are traveling with kids and more than one piece of luggage.

I hope I could be of help.Let me know if you need more info.

What a page you have created! It’s just fantastic

My boyfriend and I are coming to Sardinia for the last week of September. Our intention is to fly into Olbia and stay one night then travel by train to Cagliari for 2 nights then back to Olbia for 4 nights.

Our plan was to stay in Cagliari and visit Villasimius for the day. Then return to Olbia, by train and spend time visiting La Maddalena, San Teodoro, Costa Smeldarada taking day trips from the centre of Olbia. I have noticed in your other responses to people that you don’t advise staying in Olbia. We are having a couple of nights at the end of our trip staying just outside Olbia at the Hotel Luna Lughente.

Given your comments on public transport do you think our itinerary is achievable? And if the city centres are not ideal where (town) would you advise we are best staying given we are reliant on public transport.

I shall look forward to reading your reply.

Hi Jane, sorry! I just saw your comment now (IT issues with the comment section!) I hope you had a great stay in Sardinia! Cheers Clelia

Natalie, Fantastic website, so full of information that I feel I can trust your advice. We are coming to Sardinia for two weeks in September. Where should we stay? We are happy to spend a week in one area and a week in another. Overlooking a harbour would be good as would a village with several eateries. We will hire a car. Requirements include; local culture, history, walking distance to several bar/cafes. Village squares are great, we travel for food. NOT required are beaches, swimming pools, Irish pubs, bingo, night clubs. Thanks in anticipation IanNatalie, sito web fantastico, così pieno di informazioni che ritengo posso fidarmi del tuo consiglio. Stiamo venendo in Sardegna per due settimane in settembre. Dove dovremmo rimanere? Siamo felici di trascorrere una settimana in un’area e una settimana in un’altra. Affacciato su un porto sarebbe bello come un villaggio con diversi ristoranti. Noleggieremo un’auto. I requisiti includono; Cultura locale, storia, a pochi passi da diversi bar / caffetterie. Le piazze del villaggio sono ottime, viaggiamo per il cibo. NON sono richieste spiagge, piscine, pub irlandesi, bingo, night club. Grazie in anticipo Ian

Sorry for the late reply, just trying to catch up with the several comments, emails and private messages about Sardinia! Difficult to answer your question without having a budget first, but I don’t know if you had the time to read my other article with 9 ideas for itineraries in Sardinia (even if it says in one week you can obviously adjust it to your needs and combine 2 itineraries together as many people in the comments did).

However, if you are traveling for the food and culture, my best bet would be the Golfo di Orosei Area including also the inland small villages that will provide you with an authentic cultural experience and great nature. If you have time you can spend one week in there and the second week nearby Oristano/Tharros (to visit the ruins) with a day trip to the Barumini Nuragic complex, which is by far the best historical/cultural site in Sardinia and has been added to the Unesco heritage site official website.

Hope it helps! Cheers Clelia

Thanks Clelia V. much looking forward to Sardinia. Budget was not an issue. What was important was Sardinia and somewhere in walking distance of an evening. Beaches were not needed, local food was very important. Have booked self-catering. Winrent car at Olbia airport. One night in Olbia (late arrival.) 5 nights Alghero 5 nights ​Cagliari 5 nights San Pantaleo

I love your useful comments. My boyfriend and I are visiting Sardinia for 10 days. We are flying in to Cagliari and leaving from Olbia. What is the best itinerary for our stay? Where would you recommend we could go explore without needing a car? We would like to rent bikes and visit nice beaches and enjoy some nice mountain views too.

Hey Dahlia, thanks for your comment! You didn’t tell me when you are going to visit Sardinia, so it is not easy for me to give you specific advice. What I know is that if you want to have a fulfilling ecperience, you will need to rent a car. My brother is passionate about biking and even him uses the car to reach certain destinations in Sardinia, he brings the bike with him in the car and then starts exploring the nearby areas. Biking all around Sardinia is quite impossible, given the luggage, you’ll have to take with you etc. Areas you can explore without needing a car? Not many… I don’t know how many kilometers you can bike, but if you’re talking about places where you can reach the mountains and the beach in 10 minutes… I’d only say San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura and Villasimius for the beaches. For the mountains is a bit trickier as you should base yourself in Cala Gonone/Dorgali/baunei but biking in there would take some more effort than just an easy stroll.

Sorry for the bad news, but I don’t want to give false expectations to the people who wish to visit Sardinia!

Hi Clelia! I love your website and your name! 🙂 I just booked a bargain easyjet flight for me andmy partner into Oblia on 30th sept, return on 7th October so will have 7 days to explore the island! I’m going to book an air b and b and a car but I wondered if you could tell me if there will be any way to get to Maddelena at this time of year? The tour I saw that takes you around the Maddelena archipelago only runs until September. Is there any boats that still go there in October?? I would be very sad to miss out on seeing the island but will have fun touring and exploring coves of Sardinia if it’s not possible. Will we be able to hire our own boat and discover the coves ourselves in October? Thank you for your website!

Hey Julie, it’s hard to say really. It all depends on the weather. If the companies see that the weather is still good in October, some of them might be able to still be taking you for the boat trip. September is more predictable, October becomes tricky for the boats because of the sea, so you can only wait and see if you’re lucky! Regarding renting your own boat, if you have the skills and don’t need anyone to guide you, it might be an alternative solution but yet again, if the weather is not favorable I would not recommend it. Some year people still go to the beach in Sardinia until mid-October, other years at the end of September is already a bit cold with showers here and there. Good luck!!! 🙂

Hello, Thank you for this amazing blog! Best quality I’ve ever seen! I understand that it is an absolutely “must” to rent a car, so could you please recommend any car rental company? We are looking for a company that offers full insurance (no excess) for a reasonable price and if possible admits payment in cash, as I would like to avoid freezing 2,000EUR on my credit card that I may never see back (we travelers all know bad practices of car rental companies…)

Thank you very much for all the information you shared with us!

Hey Caroline, I get where you are coming from! Renting a car is almost like playing the lottery, there are several car rentals that provide good services but I can not tell you a specific one at the moment. The times I have rented a car I always checked Rentalcars (which is on the sidebar of my blogs about Sardinia). In there you can check out and compare several car companies and please also check out their individual policies. I think the best practice is to either contact them or give them a call asking for details (I prefer the email so that I have a record of what has been said should I need to contest something with the company later on). I hope you will have a great time in Sardinia!

Hello! Thank you so much for producing this website, it is incredible. I was wondering if you could provide me with a little more specific advice? My friend and I are both 22 and we will be in Sardinia from the 4th of July for 10 days. We are flying into Olbia and out of Cagliari. Could you suggest the best places to visit within this time frame? I have looked into car hire and I think it is too expensive for our budget, so we will have to rely on public transport. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you

Hey Rebecca, sorry for the late reply but as usual I’ve been overwhelmed by requests! Since you don’t want to rent a car I would suggest you base your holiday in Sardinia either in Villasimius or San Teodoro as they are the best-connected places by bus and have a local beach usually at walking distance from your hotel/apartment. Or you can rent a bike and it’s still doable. Also, they have local buses that will take you to the closest destinations and beaches and plenty of night life if you want to have a bit of fun. I did both when I was penniless in my twenties and had an absolute blast!

Dear Clelia,

First of all thank you for this super informative blog! We are three university students who would like to visit Sardinia for nearly 4 days between June 3-7. We haven’t booked our flights yet as they don’t really differ much in terms of price and times. So we can fly to Alghero, Cagliari or Olbia and are hoping that you can help us figure out which region would suit us the best. We are into cultural sightseeing and devouring copious amounts of delicious local food, but I think beautiful beaches with calm waters(swimming is the absolute priority when visiting the beaches) are also a must in Sardinia. We can’t drive, so renting a car is out of question and we are limited to public transport. Which region would be the better option for us?

We would appreciate your help very much, thank you! Cansu

Sorry guys, I just saw the message 🙁 I hope you had an amazing time in Sardinia

Hi Clelia, we are going to Sardinia for only two days in June. If you only had two days there what would you do and where would you stay? Thank you David

if you only have 2 days (I’m guessing you will fly to Sardinia), your best options are to stay near the airport, so: Cagliari: discover the beaches of Villasimius and Chia/Tuerredda by renting a car, check out the lovely old town, the view from the Bastione di San Remi’ and have a walk / hike to La Sella del Diavolo to admire Cagliari from the top!

Olbia: You can book a place nearby (I wouldn’t suggest Olbia town as it’s not the best), I’d rather stay in San Teodoro or Palau/Arzachena and rent a car to visit Cala Brandinchi and possibly a day trip to Tavolara. If you can hike, there is an incredible trek to the top. The village of San Teodoro has everything you need to enjoy your 2 days (bars, restaurants)

Alghero: Visit the beautiful “La Pelosa beach” during a day trip in Stintino, enjoy the beautiful sunsets over the coast and visit the Nettuno Grotto, either by boat or walking tour.

There are a few articles where I go into details for these 3 cities: 1) Top 10 Sardinia beaches (check out San Teodoro) 2) Sardinia for couples: For Alghero and Cagliari 3) Sardinia in one week: Again for San Teodoro (in here some details are still missing but there are many information that can be useful for you

I’m really surprised with your website. I love it. We´re a couple who wants to visit the island and enjoy its beaches, gastronomy and customs. We don´t like the crowds but not staying in an isolated place. We want to go 15 days in July (6 to 20). In what areas do you advise us to stay in order to know the island well?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Martín (Spain)

Hey Martin! Ahhh what a question you asked me! July is the high season so it’s nearly impossible to avoid the crowds I’m afraid! As I always say when I get to a place and it’s full of other people I have the mindset that I AM PART OF THE CROWD too! So where you should go? The places that are slightly (and I repeat… slightly!!) less crowded during high season are on the west coast, so everywhere near Oristano (San Giovanni di Sinis and Tharros ruins to name the most popular ones), going further south in the “Iglesiente” (near Iglesias town), you can see the beautiful Masua and Pan di Zucchero, experiencing the local Sardinian vibe of a small village called Nebida. Not much is in there but it is still an experience for itself.

Another place that is “slightly” less crowded is Costa Paradiso and Budoni beach. I’m not a super huge fan of that beach because I’m very spoiled, but it’s a nice big beach with a quiet village (I used to go to the beach by bike).

Last but not least, another option is a village that I truly loved, Baunei in the Golfo di Orosei area. It’s not on the sea but has beautiful views and the traditional Sardinia vibe. If you have a car you can explore super interesting areas, the villages of Dorgali, Orosei and Cala Gonone, each for a day trip, and Baunei is a perfect place for hiking to the marvelous Cala Goloritze which is a must in my opinion, especially if you go there super early in the morning. The area will be obviously more crowded than it is now in July but at least it will be 10000% worth it, I can guarantee you!

The rest of Sardinia, at least where the sea is involved, is pretty much packed with tourists, nothing we can do about it, everyone wants a little piece of paradise for themselves, right? 🙂

I hope it helps!

Hello, I am traveling to Sardinia near the middle of May through a cruise. From what I understand is the port is in Cagliari. What types of transport is available to travel from there to Cala Mariola, or Cala Goloritze beach?

Hey Matthew,

If you are in Cagliari, and on a Cruise, it’s basically impossible to get to Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritze in a day. You would need AT LEAST one night and 2 days, even better if you have 2 nights near Baunei,where you can trek down to Cala Goloritze. So from Cagliari: Car—-> Baunei—–> Trek to Cala Goloritze (I wouldn’t recommend the bus for this, it would take forever) For Cala Mariolu, the only way to reach the beach is by boat, so from Cagliari: car or bus to Arbatax Pier (which is the nearest to Cagliari)—-> boat trip to Cala Mariolu.

As you can see, it’s quite a trip, Sardinia is way bigger than people imagine. Why don’t you take the time you have to visit the Sputhern nearby beaches? Villasimius or Chia/Tuerredda area are also very good choices and can both be reached by bus, with Villasimius being a lot better because of the proximity of the Village to the beaches, while in Chia you would have to walk quite a lot to get there if you only use the bus.

Hope it helps Cheers Clelia

I was more than happy to discover this great site. I want to to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!!

I definitely savored every little bit of it and i also have you book-marked to see new things in your site.

Thanks so much lulur! I’m so overwhelmed by comments and requests via email and it’s refreshing to see that all the work and passion I’m putting into helping people with their Sardinian holidays is appreciated 🙂

Thank you for your excellent blog. My wife and I are thinking of spending 2 weeks in Sardinia from November 28 to December 11. However, it seems that is not advisable as many hotels and restaurants are closed, and many towns empty out. What do you think? And what places would you recommend for a December trip? Thank you so much for your help.

Hi Ernie! Thanks for stopping by!In December the main touristic villages are a bit dead of course but you can still enjoy the beauty of Sardinia! I’d say to make the most of it you would need to base yourself in the bigger cities where the local usually live (hey we go to restaurants in December!) 🙂 Cagliari could be the perfect starting point for your holiday, everything will be full functioning, you might even be lucky and have a few sunny days, and even if it’s relatively cold you can stll enjoy walking on the beaches nearby with the bonus that they will be completely deserted. Cagliari also has a lot to offer in terms of History, traditions and lovely spots like the old city center, the bastione with its spectacular view and much more. If two weeks in there seem too much and you want to change a bit, I recommend you go to either Oristano or Alghero. Both big cities, so everything will be functioning and so much to discover in the surroundings.

Anyway, my main suggestion is: stick with big cities and rent a car to discover the surrounding villages/beaches and historical/cultural sites. Sardinia is beautiful all year round!

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Hello Clelia, We will be coming to your island for just a short trip of three nights in May. We will be on our Honeymoon! What we have planned is to fly into Olbia an renting a car an driving to Cala Gonone for a few nights. The plan is to rent a boat on go to some of the beaches like Cala Luna. Do you have any tip or ideas we should know?

Thanks Keith F.

Hi Keith, sorry I’ve just seen your comment now! If you are still in time, you can have a look at my huge guide on Sardinia for couples where I give away all the necessary tips for Cala Gonone! Cheers

Hi from Sydney, Australia! My partner and I have only 4 nights – any suggestions on where we should base ourselves in Sardinia? We are arriving from Milan and need to fly to Rome after our stay, any recommendations on flights/ferries would also be very useful! We have quite a jam-packed month in Europe, so these 4 nights will be our downtime – looking for beautiful swimming beaches, restaurants with atmosphere and perhaps a bit of nightlife as well. Planning to hire a car to see as much as possible. Any suggestions at all would be much appreciated! Thank you, Lara

Hi Lara, sorry just saw your comment! when are you coming to Sardinia? Did you also check out my article Sardinia for couples? In there I give a lot of useful tips for different locations and you could choose one from there. From what you say, I think either San Teodoro or Cala Gonone would be great choices! Cheers Clelia

hi i am going to sardinia from the 6 to the 9 of october 2015 i am arriving from corsica so the only port available during that time period is santa teresa

i wanted to stay in Olbia near a beach do you have any recommendations? also i wanted to know how i could get around from santa teresa port to Olbia near a beach

Bus? Train?

thank you for your help steph

Hi Stephanie, to be honest I think that sicne you are arriving in Santa Teresa di Gallura, that could also be a great base for you, without the need of going to Olbia, where there are no great beaches (I’m talking in the immediate surroundings of the city).

i I were you i’d check out Rena Bianca beach, which is the main one in Santa Teresa and from there go by bus to the nearby Palau area. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that there will still be boats to the Arcipelago della Maddalena in October (it all depends on the weather). If they are still available, I highly recommend the trip, if not you can just relax at the beach. The public transports to the beaches in low season are not ideal but if you ask the local tourism office they will give you some information about which beaches are reachable by bus from Santa Teresa.

I wouldn’t count on trains to be honest,the buses are usually more and cover more routes! Good luck!

HI CLELIA! AWESOME BLOG! I LOVE IT … SUPER USEFUL! IM FROM VENEZUELA AND I HOPE SOME DAY HAVE THE TIME TO DO THE SAME WITH MY COUNTRY …

WELL, IM PLANNING TO VISIT SARDINIA WITH MY BOYFRIEND AT THE END OF AUG FOR ONLY 5 DAYS. WE LIVE IN LONDON AND WE HAVE OPTION TO TRAVEL TO ALL THE AIRPORTS IN THE ISLAND. HOWEVER, AS WE ONLY HAVE FEW DAYS, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS IN JUST ONE AREA…. WHICH AREA WOULD YOU RECOMMEND ? AND WHICH AIRPORT WE SHOULD ARRIVE?

THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR US IS THE BEACH AS SUCH… CLEAR WATER AND WHITE SAND…. ROMANTIC BUT NOT SUPER QUITE…. AND OF COURSE GOOD FOOD / RESTAURANTS…

PLEASE, HELP ME…. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! XX

Hi Catherine, sorry I’ve missed your comment! I hope you had a great stay! 🙂 Note for the other people commenting: If you don’t receive a reply within 7 days, feel free to add an extra comment with a reminder as I’m literally overwhelmed! Thank you 🙂

No sobs needed, boyfriend has decided to spend holiday apart from me 2 days before I arrive , fri 24th, at elmas, cagliari airport. I am determined to go for a shorter version of about 5 days. Want to stay somewhere easy to get to, preferably family, run, friendly b&b or hotel so I have someone to talk to AND where I can go to beaches- I need a rest. I do not want to drive. I speak good italian, tho’ not your dialect ( yet!) Caroline Ps I am a young 52, I work with children so have a mental age of about half that, and am sporty – could hire a bike?!

Hey Caroline,

Sardinia by yourself can also be a very rewarding experience if you speak a bit of Italian (don’t worry Sardinian people speak Italian not just our language)! If I were you I’d go to places like Costa Rei or Villasimius where you can easily rent a bike and have a chance to talk to the locals and visit the nearby beaches. I don’t suggest other nice areas as they would be difficult to visit without the car!

There are plenty of B&B and small hotels everywhere in Sardinia (unfortunately I don’t know them all). All I can say it’s that the beaches easy to reach by bike are also the more touristy so you’ll have to sacrifice a bit of traditional vibe. To get that you’ll have to go inland or to places like Dorgali, Baunei or Orosei, but I honestly don’t recommend using the bike there if you don’t know the road…

Hope it helps (even if you’re leaving tomorrow) sorry but I’ve been overwhelmed with work these days and I’m just catching up with all the messages now! Cheers Clelia

Hi! Me and my family are visiting Sardinia for 2 weeks in august. I’m trying to figure out how long it’ll take to drive from Olbia to Sant’Antioco? Many thanks and kind regards, Boel

Hey Boel, thanks for stopping by! Going from Olbia to Sant’Antioco is a hell of a ride 🙂 (about 3-4 hours). You’ll have to drive to Nuoro first then head towards Oristano and from there follow the indications to Carbonia. If you have a GPS it will be much easier to plan your itinerary in advance and don’t get lost! Cheers Clelia

You really have a great website with a lot of helpful information :). We (2 p) are flying into Alghero end of July and we have approx. 11 days. We are planning on retning a car but not sure where to stay? Maybe 2-3 different places? As we are a bit late many places seem fully booked and i am having some problems finding priceworthy accomodation, do you have any tips? Thank you in advance!! Regards, Natalie

Hi Natalie, Thanks for your message! I know, now the best places are clearly fully booked but you can still try and find some last minute offers. What I noticed is that when I use booking.com for my trips (and also to check the availability for people who use my consultancy services), they usually have discounted prices for good places when there are some last minute cancellation and the hotel/resort wants to fill in the spot.

As per the itinerary, with 10/11 days I’d stay in 2 places max for a relaxing holiday where you can actually see more of a place and 3 places if you want to discover more about Sardinia.

Since you are flying into Alghero I’d recommend the northern part. My favorite places in the North are Stintino, San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura and Golfo di Orosei. For Stintino and San Teodoro you can even stop for just 1 day on the way, visit La Pelosa (stintino) and Cala Brandinchi beach (San Teodoro) and then stay put in the other locations. The must is the boat trip in Cala Gonone, everyone knows that I’m obsessed with that and you can’t leave Sardinia without this experience!

As for the Accommodation, you can try and check if they have special offers in here (I always look at the reviews to choose my place!)

Alghero Orosei Baunei San Teodoro Santa Teresa Cala Gonone Stintino

My husband and I are going to Sardinia on July 4 for 10 days. This is our second trip. Three years ago we were in Costa Esmeralda and loved it. This time we are going to stay in San Teodoro because we saw the La Cinta beach and decided that we must visit it. We are renting a car to visit some nearby places and beaches, any special must see nearby? And what about restaurants near San Teodoro? Can you recomend us some reasonable ones, preferable where the locals eat? We spent a lot of money eating in Porto Cervo the last time, and we do not intend to spend that much this time. Is San Teodoro as nice and fun as they describe it? I am a regular contributer to Tripadvisor and I like your website. It comes from local with plenty of knowledge that I feel I can trust, Thank you.

A bit delayed with my reply, but here I am 🙂 I bet you spent a lot eating in Costa Smeralda as it’s the most expensive part of Sardinia! San Teodoro is definitely cheaper and you can find good resturants serving local dishes for a decent price like in here and here .

San Teodoro, together with Villasimius is one of the best places for its nightlife, I’ve been there on holidays a few times and loved it. La Cinta and Cala Brandinchi are very nice even if during peak season can get quite crowded so my advice here is to go early in the morning and use a car to move away from La Cinta (visit Capo Coda Cavallo, Lu Impostu, Budoni) as La Cinta is a place where people without a car tend to stay and even if it’s quite big it fills up with tourist pretty quickly during the day.

I still love it, but some people expect to find it deserted and quiet during the summer month, so their expectations can be totally wrong. I know Sardinia and I also know that to find a beautiful beach not crowded in peak season is almost impossible (not to mention the weekends), so I just deal with it and still enjoy the beauty of the beach even if I have to share it with other people 🙂

I think it’s quite important to point this out so that people know what to expect.. I hope you’ll have a great time here!

I would like to say the site is amazing.

I am due to fly this saturday to Olbia and we are looking to stay in near Pittulongu Beach & Pellicano Beach – After looking at your guide I was little worried that I will miss out on the best beaches you have outlined. This is my second visit and we stayed on algero – I must say the beaches we visited were amazing. I cant remember the exact name of them.

I am trying to create an itenaray and will be staying for 6 nights. I dont really want to drive but I was trying to understand a fairly central location on the east cost so we not to far from olbia but not miles away from the south. Can you please advise. or make any suggesstions.

I am looking for a nice clean beach holiday, golden sands, to relax. I assume the beaches above will do this? Im i positioning myself in terms of location to go to the your no1 choice in your best beaches section? if not what would you suggest? would you stay around olbia? are you aware of any boat trips from the beaches outlined above or nearby?

Thank you so much

Glad you liked my website 🙂 Unfortunately, I’ll have to rush all the requests these days as I’m traveling and the internet is not very good, so I’d say my n.1 choice is Golfo di Orosei without any doubt. But for white sand beaches the ones around Olbia /Costa Smeralda are awesome. I also created another great guide with all the info on some more beaches (it’s a guide for couples but you can get A LOT of info even if you are not going for a romantic Holiday), check it our as it’s basically a book of the best places in Sardinia, How to get there, boat trips and more!

Near Olbia there is the Boat trip to Arcipelago della Maddalena and I talk about that one too on my new guide 🙂 Hope this helps!

We are thinking to come to Sardegna, we shall stop in Cagliari I am lookng for somewhere relaxing but at the same time not isolated and happy not to be too far away from centre etc. Where is best to stay? I would like a nice resort, yet as I said before don’t want to be isolated Thanks 🙂

Hey Stephanie! Sorry, I’ve been incredibly busy these weeks as I’m traveling non stop until the end of June! You can check out my new guide (it’s for couples but I go into great detail for the Cagliari area with advice on EVERYTHING!), it took me one month to put it together and I’m sure you will find the help you need in there! If not, write a comment below the guide and I’ll try to help 🙂

I just stumbled across your site and this is VERY short notice but I am flying into Olbia tomorrow late afternoon and have 6 nights on the Island ( travelling solo) and wanted to mix up some time on the coast visiting some nice beaches if it’s warm enough, with some hiking nothing too far inland. Would you recommend I base myself somewhere for the entire 6 nights or perhaps split it between two towns say, and if so, where would you recommend that’s no more than 1-1.5 hrs from Olbio airport? Thanks so much and I appreciate your help at such short notice. Sally

I guess this was bad timing as I couldn’t reply to any message for the past few days as I was traveling too! I hope you have a great time in Sardinia! 🙂

Hi First congrats to the amazing website super useful!!

i am going there 10 days beginning of august with my best friend (2 girls 30 years old)

We have many questions such as: – how much does it cost to rent a car for 10 days (all included insurance and whatever hidden costs?) – is it worth renting a car or is it easy to move around? – there is so much to see, is 10 days sufficient to see most of the island? – or shall we plan to only stay in 1 area for 10 days (north OR south?) – would you find it useful to stay 5 days north and 5 days south? – how long does it take from north to south in car?

thanks so much

Hey Julie, Thanks for your message! I’m writing a short note to all of you who asked me for some tailored itineraries to let you know that I’ll be replying to everyone in 3-4 days as tomorrow I’ll be heading to Rimini to speak at a conference, so no time to work o the blog, but stay tuned! 🙂

Hi Julie! Thanks for your message!

I loved it as it reminded me of the times I spent driving around Sardinia with my best friends! such good times!! Ok, straight to your questions! 🙂

-how much does it cost to rent a car for 10 days (all included insurance and whatever hidden costs?)

Since I never rented a car in Sardinia (I have my own), I’m still studying the best options for my readers and at the moment my best advice would be, check it online, there are a few very good websites for renting cars and they offer you the major companies which are in my opinion also the most reliable. What I usually do when I try something new is google the name of the company adding “reviews” or “scams”, this way you’ll see immediately if the company has some major issue. Obviously I’d expect every company to have a few complaints here and there, but the majority of the reviews have to be good to convince me!

– is it worth renting a car or is it easy to move around?

Straight answer: YES! it’s definitely worth it. Public transport in Sardinia is not ideal and not easy to understand (even for the locals!). Don’t get me wrong, when I was younger I traveled around Sardinia by bus and trains so it’s doable but it’s not the best way, also considering that the best beaches are usually only reachable by car, so you’re going to miss out if you don’t rent a car!

– there is so much to see, is 10 days sufficient to see most of the island?

I know, right!? Unfortunately, Sardinia is not a small island (some people tend to think that you can see everything in one week…I wish!!), so 10 days are good enough to see 2 max 3 places without rushing too much

– or shall we plan to only stay in 1 area for 10 days (north OR south?)

If you want an absolutely relaxing vacation or want to discover a specific area more, be social and meet new people, then this is a great option. I stayed even 2 weeks in the same place and I had the opportunity to really discover the surrounding areas and meet some great people! If you wish to see more than one place, 10 days are Ok, which leads to the next question!

– would you find it useful to stay 5 days north and 5 days south?

In my opinion, yes it could certainly be done, but if I had to follow my preferences, I’d stay in 2 places that are relatively close to each other and possibly on the same coast. I usually recommend to check out the Golfo di Orosei area for the boat trips (awesome) and then head up north to Cannigione/Arzachena for the other smashingly beautiful boat trip to the Arcipelago della maddalena. If you want to have a bit more of social life, San Teodoro is also a good choice, but it can be very crowded in peak season, so it depends on what you want to get from your holiday. For relaxing times, maybe San Teodoro is not the right choice, for fun times, definitely yes!

Visiting the North and the south is also possible in 10 days (splitting the holiday in 2) but it’s more stressful and I’d recommend only 2 places as a base so you can actually see something. A possible itinerary including North and South could be :

1) Palau Area and Villasimius (located on the same coast) 2) Stintino/Alghero and Chia/Tuerredda beach 3)Santa Teresa Di Gallura and Costa Rei

There are so many combinations really, but I particularly like these ones to get to see some of the best beaches around

– how long does it take from north to south in car?

From Alghero (west coast) to Cagliari is 3 hours max (going slow and including a few stops) from Olbia (east coast) to Cagliari is also around 3 hours if you take the main road 131 passing through Oristano, and this is also the easiest and fastest way, but if you want to stop to check out some nice spots, there is the coastal road passing through San Teodoro, Nuoro and then the Muravera/Costa Rei and Villasimius areas.

This route is longer and you can choose it only if you plan to stop for a day or 2 in one of these places, and it’s also a bit wilder and panoramic in some places, but there are more turns and it’s more stressful (but I love to drive and stop in random wild places, so I prefer this route actually).

If you don’t want to be too adventurous, just go for the main road and you’ll cross Sardinia in 3 hours max.

hope this helps! Cheers Clelia 🙂

Hi ! I came across your website and decided to book a week in Sardinia in end of July for me and my family. Do you have any recommendations for good restaurants? We are staying in Stintino, Alghero and La Maddalena.

Btw, we love your tips on beaches, hopefully we can visit a few of them. Have a nice day ! / Olle

I’m just about to finish a massive guide which will cover some restaurants in Alghero and some other places. MY recommendations for restaurant is to always ask around when you’re there, that’s because sometimes they might have changed the management over time so the locals know the new trends and the best places to eat out!

Usually, the Hotels and resorts are the best places to ask, but if you are able to communicate with the locals is obviously even better! I always found the best places by chatting with people.

But still, stay tuned as In one day (hopefully) I’ll be publishing the new guide whit tons of new info. It was meant to be addressed to couples, but it’s so detailed that it can be easily used by anyone!

Hiya! My husband and I weren’t really sure where to go this year on holiday, but after coming across your website and the Best Sardinian Beaches page, it made our mind up! Anyway, we have booked to go to San Teodoro. The picture of the beach just won us over! But I wonder if you can help us with one little thing? We have booked flights and a hotel but now need to arrange our transfers from Oblia airport to the hotel. We’ve looked on line and it looks as though this is an hours drive but the companies are charging around £150 return. Is that about the going rate or would we be better to jump in a taxi when we get there (around 8pm on a Saturday night)? Many thanks for your help Claire

Hey Claire, glad I “convinced” you to visit my island! 🙂 As for the transport, which companies did you check out? as 150£ is way too much to get to San Teodoro from Olbia! Did you check ARST website? It’s the most popular bus transport in the Island and the prices are not that high! I checked out for you as their website is not only just in Italian, but even Italian people find it hard to understand it.

So there is a bus departing from Olbia Airport at 9:50pm and arriving at S. Teodoro at 22: 26 PM. A single ticket for that distance (a little more than 30 km) doesn’t cost more than 5 euros (and it’s an inflated fare if you buy the ticket directly on the bus).

This bus is available from mid-June until mid-September. Paying 150£ is getting scammed!!! Hope it helps! 🙂

I love the site. Great info. I am looking to visit Sardinia in july. Family of 3. 1 Adult and two children. Where would you recommend

Thanks in advance

Hi Emmanuel it all depends on what you want to do, how long you want to stay and what you’d like to see the most. I suggest you to check out my other articles (and replies on the first one as they are very detailed, depending on the needs): Top Sardinia Beaches Sardinia for Families (This one gives you general info and I’m going to add more info in the next few weeks!)

Hope it helps! Ps: A reminder for everyone leaving a comment: the more specific you are, the better is for me to give you a helpful answer as people have different needs and Sardinia has so much to offer!

Thank you 🙂

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• How to get around Sardinia
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For the smaller islands

Transfer to the islands of Carloforte and La Maddalena is available by various daily ferries managed by maritime companies or other private operators. Other smaller islands such as Tavolara, Asinara, Cavoli and Mal di Ventre are located within Parks and Marine Protected Areas and can be visited according to the standards of each area: read up on how to access the area and the rules of conduct on the websites of the entities that manage them.

Travelling by campervan

It is useful to remember that free camping in Sardinia is not always possible, but there are authorised stop-over sites that can also be used for the discharge of water and rubbish.

Hire a vehicle

At all airports and in major cities you can rent cars and other vehicles. In the high season it is best to book them in advance. Besides the B license (or equivalent if you are not Italian) you may be required a to provide a credit card in the name of the driver.

Safe driving

In summer, especially along the coast, the roads are very busy, so please take that into account when planning your journey and remember that, when not signposted, the speed limit is 50 km/h inside built-up areas and 90 km/h for non-urban roads. Remember that it is illegal to drive after taking alcohol or drugs and also to throw rubbish out the window, especially cigarette butts due to the risk of fire. In inland areas of the island pay attention to wild animals that may cross the street.

In case you require assistance, contact your insurance company or car rental agency. The road assistance service is also insured by the ACI and you can call the free number 803 116, or 800 116 800 if calling from abroad.

For emergency cases you can find useful numbers here .

Travelling by boat

For the recreational tourist Sardinia offers many havens and marinas, where you can also rent dinghies and sailing boats and find out any information on standards and special permissions that may be relevant to some stretches of sea. In case of an emergency at sea call the free number 1530 for the Coast Guard.

Getting around with public transport

The railway line connects Cagliari with Sassari, Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci, Iglesias and Carbonia. Buses connect all locations, including the smaller ones. In major cities there are special lines of urban transport. In the case of long journeys you will need to change your means of transport - check the site http://www.sardegnamobilita.it/ for timetables, travel times and connections.

Getting around by car and motorbike

The lack of motorways does not prevent you from easily reaching any destination.

The island can be crossed by the SS 131, a fast dual carriageway that connects Cagliari to Sassari and Porto Torres. From the Abbasanta junction the road forks to Olbia through Nuoro: other fast roads intersect with the 131 connecting other locations. Cagliari is connected with the SS 130 in the south west of the island and with the new SS 125 at the eastern part and up to the north.

Petrol stations are located along the main arterial roads but also in towns crossed by the dense network of secondary roads.

• How to arrive in Sardinia
• Travelling safely
• The weather in Sardinia
• Disabled travellers
• Practical advices
• Where to sleep
• We walk in Sardinia
• Nature and well-being
• Discover the culture
• Must see events
• An island to be discovered

Things to do

• Calendar of events
• Itineraries

Places to see

Matador Original Series

A First-Timer's Guide to Sardinia, Italy

F or Italians, Sardinia is synonymous with “Costa Smeralda” (Emerald Coast), the summer playground of the rich and famous. But the natural and cultural attractions of the second-largest island in the Mediterranean are available to many travelers, not just the glitterati who gather on their mega-yachts at Porto Cervo every August.

The lifestyle of Sardinia alone is an attraction, since people here live longer, healthier, and better lives than almost anywhere else . Some villages boast almost 10 times as many centenarians (people more than 100 years old) per capita than the US. It could be that the food has something to do with it, but the stunning ocean vistas, strong family ties, and cohesion of the unique community likely all contribute, too.

Here are the best places to go and sights to see in Sardinia, Italy, plus advice on when to go, where to stay, and regional specialties you definitely don’t want to miss.

Getting there and around

• When to visit Sardinia
• What to do in Cagliari
• What to do in Alghero
• What to do in Bosa
• What to do on the Sinis Peninsula
• What to do on Asinara
• What to eat and drink
• Where to stay on Sardinia

The best way to get around Sardinia is by car, either driving yourself or by hiring a private driver. The distances are not huge, and it takes less than four hours to drive from Cagliari in the south to Santa Teresa Gallura in the north. Going from Oristano in the west to Tortoli in the east takes less than two hours. But the entire perimeter of the island is 1,149 miles, and it’s not a place to rush. You’ll want to allow enough time to linger on breathtaking seascapes, or stop for scrumptious meals.

The best time to visit Sardinia

The unique Carnevale celebrations of Barbagia start in January each year. Photo: Tore65 /Shutterstock

The best time to go depends on what you want to do. Summer is ideal for beaches and water sports , but it’s also the most crowded and costly. Spring and fall are perfect for hiking, outdoor sports, and sightseeing. If folkloric traditions are your thing, aim for Christmas (December), Carnevale (February), and Easter (March or April) for special ceremonies and markets, religious and not.

Of particular note is the Carnevale celebration in Barbagia , in the heart of Sardinia. It begins its Carnevale celebrations each year on January 16 with the bonfires of Sant’Antonio Abate. “ Su Karrasecare “(Carnevale in the Sardinian dialect) is closely tied to the area’s agro-pastoral traditions, with pagan roots different from anywhere else in Italy.

Throughout the year, every town has its own sagra, or local food fair; you can find the schedule for most of them online . The wettest and rainiest month is November, and the coldest is January, with an average daily high and low of 58 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. But that also makes them the least crowded and most affordable.

What to do in Sardinia

Photo: Roman Babakin /Shutterstock

Cagliari is the largest city of Sardinia and the island’s major airport hub, but it feels uncongested, with sunshine, ocean walks, wide tree-lined avenues, and pastel-colored buildings. The varied architecture is living testimony to the many cultures that have contributed to Sardinia over the centuries: Phoenicians, Punics, Romans, Greeks, Spanish, and mainland Italian city-states.

The elevated historic area, Castello , holds the most important architectural and cultural monuments of Cagliari, including churches, palaces, museums, museums in palaces, the bastions of Santa Croce and St. Remy, the “Elephant Tower” (with a marble elephant to justify the name), and a building called “The Ghetto” (near the former Jewish ghetto). The best way to see it is on foot with a guided or self-guided walking tour – though you can also hitch a ride on the Cagliari tourist train through Castello, too. It’s only 10 Euros, and you buy your tickets on board.

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archeological Museum) merits a visit for two intriguing exhibits: a collection of bronze Nuragic statues (the bronzetti ) and 16 of the 28 “ Mont’e Prama ” stone giants.

The bronzetti are mysterious because bronze contains copper, and there are no copper mines in Sardinia. Experts speculate that locals traded obsidian – a hard volcanic rock found on this volcanic island — for the desired copper. The stone giants are part of a collection of 28 massive sculptures discovered near Mount Prama, starting in 1974. Some are up to 10 feet tall and date between the 11th and 8th centuries BCE. That makes them the oldest anthropomorphic (human-like) sculptures found in Mediterranean Europe. The statues’ eyes are hypnotically large and compelling, leading some to whisper that aliens were the original role models.

Poetto beach in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Torruzzlo /Shutterstock

About an hour north of Cagliari is Sardinia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site: Su Nuraxi di Barumini . There, you’ll find nuraghi, a special type of defensive structure found only in Sardinia. They date to the Bronze Age and are defensive stone towers shaped like truncated cones. The complex at Barumini is arguably the best example of nuraghi, but you’ll find them all over the island.

The three-day Festa della Madonna del Naufrago (the festival of the shipwrecked Madonna) is a yearly event held above and below water every third week in July. It’s held off the coast of the Isola dei Cavoli south of Capo Carbonara , about an hour southeast of Cagliari. In addition to the usual processions, food feasts, and music, the festival includes a ceremony held 33 feet underwater in which a priest blesses a 10-foot-tall statue of the Madonna. Only divers and fish can “hear” the blessing, but no one questions its power to protect sea-going fishermen and sailors.

Also at Capo Carbonara is a wide lagoon called Stagno Nottieri (Nottieri Pond). It’s home to both migratory and year-round pink flamingo populations. Guided tours will take you there, but it’s easy to find Nottieri — and the birds — on your own.

Photo: Grzegorz Majchrzak /Shutterstock

The city of Alghero lies along a coastline known as the Riviera del Corallo (Coral Riviera), named for the coral deposits exploited there. The Museo del Corallo (Coral Museum) in the city center is a testament to the importance of that resource, the city’s coat of arms even includes a red coral branch, and shows off the artistry of local craftspeople able to enhance the beauty of red coral in jewelry and other objets d’arte. The museum is open daily, and tickets are only 5 Euros (about $6).

A walk on Alghero’s 13th-century-and later ramparts is a visual delight, with the sea and sun reflecting the pale ochre walls and towers, churches, domes, and forts. Alghero is one of only a few Italian cities to have maintained 70 percent of its original walls and is a gorgeous place for a leisurely stroll.

A strictly Sardinian curiosity is that a small (and diminishing) number of locals speak a variant of Catalan , reflecting the rule of the city for hundreds of years by the Aragons of northeastern Spain. Additional proof of the impact of Spanish culture is in the city’s nickname: Barceloneta , or “little Barcelona.”

Alghero offers a variety of interesting museums, churches, and fortresses. The city doesn’t have any must-do sites to check off in a frenzied fashion like Paris or London, but worthy of a visit is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Immacolata di Alghero (Alghero Cathedral), where construction started in 1570 but wasn’t completed for 150 years. The cathedral’s Torre del Portal (Port Tower) was built in 1560, and was the control point for access to and from the city center. It’s also known as the Torre degli Ebrei (the Jewish tower), perhaps because the Jewish community helped fund it. The entire site is free to visit.

The many steep stairs leading to Neptune’s Grotto on Sardinia. Photo: marcociannarel /Shutterstock

About 14 miles from Alghero is Porto Conte Park , where you can visit Neptune’s Grotto , or Grotto di Nettuo . If you start your visit on land, you’ll need to go up and down 656 steep and not-easily-navigated steps. But you’ll be rewarded with the sight of a half-mile sandy beach, an underground salt lake, and four soaring limestone rooms inside the cave. You can also take one of the many daily boats headed to the grotto from nearby Port of Alghero (just buy tickets at the port). If you’re coming from land, you can buy your cave tour online. If you come via boat, you can just buy your ticket when you arrive, as tickets to the cave aren’t included in the cost of the boat ride.

For those who prefer to exert themselves underwater, Nereo, off Capo Caccia , is the largest submerged marine cave in the Mediterranean.

Phtoo: DaLiu /Shutterstock

Bosa’s reputation as one of the prettiest villages in Italy is richly deserved. Its pastel-hued homes and wrought-iron balconies set on a hill overlooking the sea are reminiscent of Chile’s Valparaiso . Little more than a mile away is Bosa Marina, the town’s beach area that’s known for clean and clear water. Dominating the landscape is the Malaspina Castle , where all visits include a guided tour in multiple languages and admission is 6.50 Euros (about $7.50)

Wine is a central part of life here, particularly the (usually) white Malvasia wine from the region.

The Sinis Peninsula

Tharros, on the Sinis Peninsula. Photo: Gabriele Maltinti /Shutterstock

About one hour to 90 minutes south of Bosa is the Sinis Peninsula , where you can encounter more of the Mont’e Prama stone giants. Head to Cabras to visit the Museo Civico Giovanni Marongiu . It’s a compact, handsome space built in 1997 to house six of the 28 giants found to date. Signage is in Italian and English, and it’s currently being enlarged to accommodate an additional 13 statues currently in Cagliari.

A great second stop on the peninsula is Tharros . It’s a crossroads of Sardinian conquest, with Nuragic, Phoenician, Punic, and Roman ruins layered on an extensive site. You can even see ridges in the surviving slabs of road that show where carts and chariots once rolled. It’s the most-visited archeological site in Sardinia, and open almost every day, with tickets priced at 9 Euros (about $10). You can email in advance to request a guided tour in English at no cost, but if you haven’t planned ahead, you can wander around independently or hire a private guide in town. Combined tickets are available for the archeological park and Civic Museum, and a train runs between the two in summer.

If you happen to be visiting Sardinia in September, you may want to plan your trip to see the tiny town of San Salvatore. It looks like a deserted Mexican village, with low-slung homes in sun-hardened yellow. In fact, it was used as a film set for spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the town is empty 350 days of the year — but during a concentrated period bracketing the first week of September, San Salvatore comes alive for the Corsa degli Scalzi , or “Race of the Barefoot.”

Up to 800 men run barefoot the seven miles from Cabras to San Salvatore while carrying a religious statue. A week later, a group of shoeless women walk the course in reverse, bringing the statue back to Cabras. The women are dressed in traditional costumes, the men in white garments. In between the two races are food festivals, performances by musicians and actors, religious programs, parades, and the chance to see a sleepy little 17th-century ghost town come to life.

Asinara National Park

Photo: Stefano Rulli /Shutterstock

Asinara is a small island above the northwestern tip of Sardinia. The name is Italian for “donkey-inhabited,” but the name is thought to derive from the Latin word “sinuaria,” meaning sinus-shaped. It used to be known as the “Alcatraz of Italy,” but today, most of the island is a national park. Visitors are drawn by the island’s stunning beauty and curious wildlife, including albino donkeys, wild boars, goats, and wild sheep.

The park is reached via public ferry from Porto Torres , though many tour operators offer their own transportation to the island. Hiking is a popular activity, with other activities like snorkeling, diving, and watersports available from operators in the island’s town of Cala d’Oliva

Where to eat and drink on Sardinia

Fregola with clam sauce. Photo: Alessio Orru /Shutterstock

Restaurants across the island range from simple trattorias to elegant eateries. Michelin currently recognizes 50 restaurants , six of them honored with star status. There are so many good restaurants that it’s not so much where to eat as what to eat.

Sardinian cooking stems from a pastoral society, not from the sea. But restaurants began adding seafood to their menus as the growing number of tourists demanded it, and the habit stuck. Dishes not to miss come in the form of fregola con cozze (toasted balls of semolina dough in a spicy tomato-and-clam sauce), taglioline con sugo di mare (a ribbon-like pasta, similar to spaghetti but much thinner, with a seafood sauce), and malloreddus (ridged semolina shells that look like smaller gnocchi and are served with seafood or sausage).

Another star of the show is culurgiònes . The dish of semolina-based ravioli filled with potatoes and cheese (usually pecorino Sardo) is topped with variations of mint, garlic, saffron, or other culinary whims. It differs from other ravioli by the distinctive wheat ear ( spiga ) design on each piece. That makes it a little thicker, so it can stand up to a thicker ragù sauce with wild boar punctuated with locally grown herbs.

Panadas are a typical Sardinian savory pie, filled with meat, potatoes and legumes. Photo: fabiano goreme caddeo /Shutterstock

Panadas are another typical dish, and each area of Sardinia has its own favorite. Panadas are the local version of Spanish empanadas. The dough is made with semolina flour and lard in southern Sardinia, though the lard may be replaced by olive oil elsewhere. The fillings change by region and season, but it’s usually combinations of vegetables like eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, artichokes, or potatoes and some kind of meat; lamb is the most classically Sardinian. The dish is usually served with garlic, mint, and pecorino Sardo. The latter is a pride of the island and a major export. So is, despite the name, pecorino Romano . It’s just as likely to come from Sardinia as from Rome.

Sometimes found on menus but more commonly spotted in gift shops is bottarga , the salted and pressed roe from gray mullet or tuna. It’s known as the “oro di Cabras “(gold of Cabras), but you can find it all over Sardinia.

Ditto for the wines (this is Italy, after all). The best known are vermentino and cannonau , with producers north and south taking advantage of distinct micro-climates. Many organizations offer wine tours, and there are two official wine associations: the Strada del Gusto Nord Sardegna and the Strade dei Vini della Sardegna . (Google Translate helps for following the various brochures.)

A local favorite restaurant in Cagliari is Luigi Pomata , whose eponymous chef is known as the king of red tuna. The fish is used in dishes like “ porgi l’altra guancia ” (“turn the other cheek.”) Cleverly, it’s tuna cheeks braised in honey and served with cooked endive.

Where to stay in Sardinia

Casa Clat in Cagliari. Photo: Booking.com

As a sought-after summer tourist destination, Sardinia offers more than 22,000 lodging options, from modest bed and breakfasts to ultra-luxurious resorts charging more than $10,000 per night.

As a rule, coastal accommodations cost more than inland rooms, and hotels and resorts are pricier than agriturismos (farmstays). Since Italians stay for several weeks or more during the summer, be prepared to book well in advance during the high season.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

In Cagliari, Casa Clat is highly rated, with suites housed in a building from the 18th century and a well-balanced mix of historical and luxury details. It has an on-site restaurant and bar, plus an ocean-view rooftop and garden area with a small pool. Rates start around $260 per night.

The pool at Agriturismo Sa Jana. Photo: Booking.com

Airbnbs are also readily available in Cagliari, and highly rated options include this Airbnb with a rooftop terrace (starting at $170 per night), this artsy and airy Airbnb (starting at $130 per night), and this penthouse with a hot tub and lots of outdoor space (starting at $164 per night).

In Alghero, Airbnbs are cheaper and easier to find by the coast. Good options include this one-bedroom beachfront condo , this beach house with a garden just south of Alghero in Putzu Idu, or this fun houseboat that can sleep four guests .

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How to spend a perfect holiday in Sardinia

S ardinia is undoubtedly best known for limpid turquoise sea and exquisite beaches on the Costa Smeralda, but there are plenty of those elsewhere on the island too, and for a fraction of the price. Food and wine is just as important here as well – the island is a designated ‘Blue Zone’, a region where the people live longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on the planet.

But unless you’re a fan of the History Channel, you might not know that Sardinia is one of the most mysterious places on earth. The oldest landmass in Europe, it has archaeological sites, discovered in the 1970s, that date from between 1900 and 730 BC (Sardinia’s Stonehenge). Little is known about the Nuraghic civilisation, but there are over 7,000 stone fortresses (the oldest in Europe) around the island, and some of the giant statues created are over eight-feet tall, giving rise to the notion that Sardinia might really have been a ‘Land of the Giants’.

Scroll down for our suggested day-by-day summary of the best things to see and do. For further Sardinia inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels , restaurants ,  nightlife , beaches  and  things to do .

In this guide

How to spend your weekend, insider tips.

When should I visit Sardinia?

Where to stay in Sardinia

What to bring home

Essential information: what to know before you go

Base yourself in the pretty port of Cagliari, the island’s capital, where there are regular street markets and plenty of lovely bars and restaurants, and begin day one by heading west to the charming town of Pula. From here it’s a short drive to visit  t he Roman and Carthaginian ruins of Nora  that lie in front of the sea and which include mosaics, temples and thermal baths. The tours are fascinating, thanks to the enthusiastic guides who provide plenty of information about the site.

After a morning of exploring, head back into Pula where you’ll find a host of places to eat and drink. S’Incontru on Piazza del Popolo is one of the liveliest. Take a terrace table, and watch the world go by while waiting for your wood-fired pizza, topped with the likes of prosciutto cotto e rucola (ham and rocket) or frutti di mare (seafood). There's also a sushi bar and vegetarian options.

After lunch it's back to Cagliari, with its handsome 19th-century biscuit-coloured buildings and the impressive Museo Archeologico  which has exhibits dating from 6,000 BC. Unmissable is the Sardinian 'stone army': the large sculptures are 500 years older than China’s Terracotta Army. Afterwards, try not to miss the Cagliari Antiquaria flea market (Piazza del Carmine, every Sunday of the month, except the third), where you’ll find local crafts, linens, old maps and books, and historical ephemera.

Rafè Coffee & Shop  is a great pitstop for a drink or lunch, as well as a bit of shopping (they sell local honey and pretty ceramics). Then it’s well worth a trip to popular Poetto beach , a short bus-ride away, or head for Molentargius , the regional park where over 10,000 of its inhabitants are flamingos.    

It’s a short trek up to the historic centre to admire the Torre dell’Elefante which has been recently restored and now offers spectacular views over the town and beyond. Insider tip: the tower can only be visited with a guide and reservation (closed Monday).

If you made the hike up, reward yourself at the nearby  Caffè Libarium Nostrum , which overlooks the tower, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s a prime spot for a sundowner. The appetisers (think cheese croquettes, crudo ham, crisps and nuts) come free, and the spacious terrace offers views over the city, port and sea beyond. There's also a full dinner menu, for which booking ahead is advisable. For more dinner recommendations, see our guide to the best restaurants in Sardinia .

On the northwest coast, Alghero overlooks the sea and is a delight to wander around. Once conquered by the Catalans, some of the townsfolk still speak ‘Algherese’, a variant of the Catalan language, and the historic centre is still known as ‘Barcelonetta’. There are plenty of shops, as well as a marina where boats sail for the caves of Capo Caccia and Neptune’s Grotto. Alternatively you could take a trip to Anghelu Ruju, where there’s large collection of Domus de Janus (pre-Nuraghic tombs that were thought to be ‘fairy houses’, though they are actually tombs).

Food here has a distinctly Spanish twist, and paella can be found on many menus. After a bracing walk along the sea ramparts, follow your nose to Les Arenes pizzeria for a metre of pizza, or book online for Catalan aragosta (lobster, a local specialty) or the famous porceddu (suckling pig).

By car, you can arrive in Nuoro in less than two hours. It’s the capital of the province of the same name, and birthplace of Grazia Deledda, the only Italian woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. As well as visiting Deledda’s house , the town has a superb Museo del Costume , where visitors can explore the island’s distinctive culture. Close by, in the delightful Piazza Sebastiano Satta, named after the famous Italian poet, you’ll find sculptures by Sardinian-born Costantino Nivola.

From here you could head up towards the Costa Smeralda, stopping off at Olbia to visit the Museo Archeologico , which is shaped like a moored ship, in front of the old port. Displaying important relics of ancient Roman ships, this is a fascinating place to start delving into the history of this seafaring city before heading on to Porto Cervo to visit the beautiful Stella Maris church, built by the Aga Khan in thanks for allowing his development of the area.

When dusk starts to fall, Porto Cervo has a small Piazzetta where the rich and glam sip cocktails with nary a thought for the bill (a coffee could cost €5/£4.50, and something with alcohol might set you back €30/£28), or you could splash out on an fabulous dinner at award-winning Blù Restaurant ). Don't miss the  branzino  (sea bass) baked under salt, and black fregola (handmade Sardinian 'couscous' blackened with charcoaled vegetables) served with prawns and asparagus.

For a more authentic Sardinian experience, try  Agriturismo La Colti , where you'll want to save room for desserts, which include the famous  seadas  (a large 'raviolo' filled with ricotta and drizzled with honey). Night owls wishing to coninue the evening, see our guide to nightlife in Sardinia .

Island hack

If it’s beaches you’re after, and you can’t hack the dizzying prices of glitzy Costa Smeralda, know that Sardinia’s beaches are spectacular wherever you pitch up. From Olbia, Cannigione is worth checking out. Once a fishing village, it has a host of pretty beaches, local markets and restaurants serving typical Galluran cuisine. It's also the perfect jumping off point to visit the Maddelena Archipelago.

Attractions

There’s a festival going on somewhere, wherever you are in Sardinia. Plan your trip to coincide with one of them, and experience Sardinian culture at its best, for free. The most famous of all is Sant’Efisio, which takes place over four days in May. Start at the church of Sant’Efisio in Cagliari and watch the representatives from every corner of the island displaying their spectacular costumes, some on horseback, others accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.

Neighbourhood watch

The further south you go, you’ll discover that prices drop with every mile covered. For example, La Caletta’s La Nuova Torre restaurant does a mean pizza for around €12 (£10), and then you could take a stroll around the port and hit up one of the simple local bars that line the main drag, Via Nazario Sauro.

Several of the swankier hotels have their own beaches, even boats, so it’s possible to arrange a private dinner on the beach, go dolphin- and whale-watching, or even arrange a romantic night-time cruise. For example, Delphina have eight hotels in northern Sardinia, and several boats at their disposal, including a magnificent 1927 sailing boat.

There’s one golden rule: avoid August. That’s when the whole of Italy with mothers and kitchen sinks in tow storms the island, flooding the beaches and booking up all available accommodation. Prices go up too, and it can be excruciatingly hot. Just about any other time is fine, with May/June seeing the island at its best, with the clearest skies, while a balmy, post-blitz serenity descends on the island in September, when the crowds have departed and the sea is at its warmest. The depths of winter can see resorts looking a little drab and forlorn, though, and some places are closed until Easter.

Where to stay

Luxury living.

Modern family-owned  Gabbiano Azzurro Hotels & Suites  has rooms overlooking the sea decorated with Moorish-style arches, lights sculpted into white walls, and Sardinian crafts made from wood or ceramics. It has its own private beach, and a first-class chef, plus a hotel boat which is used for trips to the nearby islands and dolphin-watching.

Boutique Bolthole

Su Gologone , Sardinia’s top country lodge, basks in a stunning mountain setting. But it’s more than a hotel: dedicated to bringing the best of Sardinia to guests, it’s a colour-drenched oasis of authenticity, art and beauty, a world away from the bling-obsessed Costa Smeralda. A five-minute walk will take you to the bucolic spring that gave Su Gologone its name.

Budget Beauty

Characterful and well designed, The Place Cagliari – a converted, traditional, 19th-century building – has six rooms, each one with its own charm. Plump for the Suite Regina Elena, a huge space with a beamed ceiling, animal skin rug, and its own sauna and freestanding claw-foot bath in the bedroom. There’s a small café area on the ground floor and little library with interesting reference books about Sardinia. For more recommendations of the best places to stay in Sardinia, see our guide .

Mirto is a delicious liqueur, unique to Sardinia and nearby Corsica, made from the berries of the myrtle plant. If you’ve only brought cabin luggage, there are plenty of delicious scented soaps and moisturising creams made from the berry.  

Sardinia’s pottery is plain, often white, and decorated with simple, but ancient, designs thought to represent good harvests and fertility: fish, chickens, and the Sardinian lapwing ( pavoncella ).

Know before you go

Essential information.

Embassy in Rome:  (00 39 06 4220 0001;  gov.uk )

• Emergency services:  Dial 113
• Tourist offices and information:  There’s no office covering the whole of Sardinia but you’ll find loads of information at  sardegnaturismo.it . The most useful local offices are: Palazzo Civico, Via Roma 145, Cagliari (00 39 070 677 7397;  cagliariturismo.it ); Largo Lo Quarter, Alghero (00 39 079 979054; algheroturismo.eu ); Municipio, Corso Umberto, Olbia (00 39 0789 52206;  olbiaturismo.it )
• Currency:  Euro
• Telephone code:  Dial 00 39 when calling Italy from abroad, and always use the full area code wherever you call from (070, 0789, etc).
• Time difference:  +1 hour
• Flight time:  From UK airports to Sardinia is two to three hours.

Local laws and etiquette

• Note that the law requires drivers to carry personal ID, licence and car documents while on the road, and all cars must have a warning triangle and reflective jacket on board. Speed-radar detectors are banned.
• Covid restrictions have relaxed somewhat, but Sardinians still take them seriously, so visitors should wear masks wherever indicated, or when asked.

Jan Fuscoe is Telegraph Travel’s Sardinia expert, and spends much of the summer there. She’s met a woman who weaves gold thread from giant mussel ‘bisso’, and hung out with a Sardinian beekeeper, but can mostly be found swimming in the sea.

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8 of the best things to do in Sardinia

Mar 21, 2024 • 8 min read

Experience the best of Sardinia with this guide to the top things to do © David C Tomlinson / Getty Images

With an 1800-km-long (1118-mile-long) shoreline sloping into some of the clearest Mediterranean waters, it's easy to see how Sardinia has become one of Italy's most coveted summer destinations.

Sparsely populated and naturally rich, the island's main draw has long been the collection of coves, white sand beaches and dramatic cliffs dropping into the ocean that line up along Sardinia's rugged perimeter. But you'd be wrong to think that coastal bliss is all the region has to offer.

Italy's second island by size (after Sicily) intrigues those who travel beyond the obvious with its geographical diversity and cultural complexity. Remnants of the mysterious Nuragic civilization are surrounded by the Mediterranean scrub that covers much of the dry interior, where hiking opportunities abound. Cyclists looking to explore the island at a slow pace can expect low-traffic roads that provide spectacular views. Sailing enthusiasts can explore archipelagoes of smaller islands hovering on transparent waters. And there's more – mouthwatering culinary traditions , rural villages and folk festivals can all be part of your Sardinian itinerary if you plan it right. Here's our guide to the top experiences in Sardinia.

Can't decide whether to go to Sardinia or Sicily? We can help .

1. Meet wild donkeys on the national park island of Asinara

A short ferry ride from Stintino or Porto Torres leads to Asinara , the uninhabited island emerging from the deep blue waters of northwestern Sardinia, whose protected lands are home to a large population of albino donkeys, wild horses and friendly goats. Before it was declared a national park in 1997, Asinara functioned as a penal colony and later as a maximum security prison, hosting some of Italy's most infamous criminals.

The paths that run through this sun-bleached island starting from Cala Reale connect the coves that hide behind lush hills with ancient watchtowers and abandoned prison infrastructure. A restaurant, a hostel, a cafe and a diving club open seasonally between spring and autumn, but for the rest of the year, you'll find the indigenous white donkeys (known as Asinara donkeys) roaming freely along the often deserted paths.

Planning tip: Asinara is ideally explored on a bike (or e-bike), which can be rented in Porto Torres or Cala Reale. This is a popular spot between June and September, but during the low season, the island is often empty. If you do visit in the low season, stock up on water and supplies before taking the ferry, as there is nowhere to buy food.

2. Sail in the Archipelago della Maddalena

Sardinia's first national park, established in 1994, is split between seven islands and several smaller islets scattered in turquoise water off the northwestern corner of the region. Providing some of the most impressive scenery Sardina has to offer, the archipelago is a spectacle worth taking in from the sea.

Isola Maddalena , the archipelago's main island, sits at the heart of the national park, surrounded by Caprera – historically important for having hosted revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi during his exile – Budelli, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, Spargi and Razzoli. Most of these islands are uninhabited, including Budelli with its famous pink beach that is now a protected environment and can only be admired from a distance.

Planning tip: Ferries operated by Delcomar run between Palau and La Maddalena, taking 15 minutes to cover the distance. In summer, boat tours depart regularly from La Maddalena and Palau, running through the national park and stopping at various beaches along the way.

3. Try some criminally good cheese

With three million sheep – nearly two for each person – roaming Sardinia's rugged interior, it's no surprise that cheese has become one of the regional staples. The island's pecorino sardo is one of Sardinia's main culinary exports, and it's worth trying in all its varieties. Farms and cooperatives producing traditional cheese are easily found when driving through countryside roads – stop by to buy a wheel of pecorino or join a tasting session.

Pecorino is not the only cheese Sardinia is famous for. Casu Marzu is one of the island's best-known foods due to its illegal status; in 2009, the Guinness Book of Records proclaimed it the most dangerous cheese in the world. Why? Casu Marzu is made by allowing maggots to hatch in the cracks of the sheep's cheese and digest its proteins to turn it into a creamy product. Not something for the fainthearted. In fact, an EU law has made buying and selling Casu Marzu illegal in Sardinia – with high fines in place for those who do.

Planning tip: Many farms and agriturismi in the countryside sell cheese directly to the public. When driving around, just look for signs pointing to caseifici , which will usually be happy to let you taste some of their products.

4. Explore the traces of the Nuragic civilization at Nuraghe Su Nuraxi

Thousands of nuraghi – stone-built towering structures erected by the obscure Nuragic civilization between 1800 and 700 BCE – mark the Sardinian territory, offering the chance to observe the ruins of some of the island's early settlements. The largest nuraghe – Sardinia's only UNESCO World Heritage site – is found in the village of Barumini. The core of the fortified complex of Su Nuraxi dates back to 1500 BCE and was later expanded with the addition of circular towers interlocking with each other. The archaeological site was discovered in 1949, and excavations have brought this ancient village back to light. It's the only nuraghe that has reemerged in its entirety in Sardinia.

Planning tip: The site can be visited with a guided tour only, available in both Italian and English. It's a popular day trip, s0 expect lines and bring water if you are visiting in the summer.

5. Join a folk festival

The relaxed atmosphere of Sardinia's cities is put on pause during the many festivals that take place year-round on the island. Carnival is one of the most awaited folk events – the city of Oristano celebrates in early February with the Sa Sartiglia festival, where up to a hundred masqueraded horse riders compete in the historic center, all trying to pierce a star with their swords. 

Parades also take place in Mamoiada, south of Nuoro, where Carnival translates into the procession of Mamuthones and Issohadores, mysterious figures whose origins are believed to date back to the Middle Ages. The Mamuthones are represented by sinister men hiding behind black wooden masks and dark furs, carrying cowbells hanging on their backs. The Issohadores escort these eerie characters along town streets wearing red shirts and white trousers.

Cagliari also celebrates Sant'Efisio, the saint believed to have helped the city get rid of the plague in the mid-17th century – on May 1, thousands of people in traditional costumes parade through Sardinia's largest city.

Planning tip: Carnival is usually celebrated with dancing and mask parades, held on the last Sunday of Lent and Shrove Tuesday. While these festivals are spectacular, they are not meant as entertainment for tourists, and one should be aware of their cultural significance when visiting.

6. Hike the long-distance Cammino di Santa Barbara

Running through the beaches and mountains of Sardinia's southwest, Cammino di Santa Barbara is a long-distance hiking route that links the historic mining sites of one of the lesser-visited areas of the island. Stretching for 500km (311 miles) along routes carved by miners over centuries, this month-long trek blends wild nature with culture, allowing you to hike from village to village in a loop starting and ending in Iglesias. Besides astonishing vistas, ancient churches, archaeological sites, wineries and medieval hamlets dot the way.

Planning tip: A month-long hike requires some preparation. The Cammino di Santa Barbara's official website provides detailed information on all sections of the itinerary and accommodation options. This adventure is best done in spring or autumn when temperatures are still bearable. It is possible to cover many of the sections by bike if you prefer cycling over walking.

7. Snorkel or dive in the Mediterranean

Dolphins, tuna, octopuses, seahorses and many other underwater creatures populate the seas surrounding Sardinia. There's no better way to discover the exciting seascapes than to put a mask on and dive into the depths of the Mediterranean. The eastern coast of the island is typically less windy and more suitable for beginners, but options are available on both sides.

Immerse yourself in the rich ecosystem of Golfo di Orosei , in the northeastern part of the island, where experienced scuba divers will have the chance to see the relic of the Nasello ship that sunk in the 1940s. Alternatively, discover the natural treasures of Riviera del Corallo, in the area of Alghero , where spectacular rock formations form the backdrop of each dive.

Planning tip: Diving schools are available in most major coastal destinations, including Olbia, Isola Maddalena, Asinara and Alghero. Many diving tours only run in the summer, so book ahead if you are planning to join an underwater excursion.

8. Go caving in Grotta di Nettuno

The promontory of Capo Caccia, on the western Sardinian coast, not only offers awe-inspiring views of the city of Alghero opposite the gulf, but it also houses one of the most impressive networks of caves on the island. Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune's Cave) extends for 2.5km (1.5 miles) inside the rocky mountain, allowing for a walk in the dimly lit halls where impressive stalagmite and stalactite concretions have formed over the course of centuries around lakes and sculptural formations.

Planning tip: Grotta di Nettuno is found 24km (15 miles) north of Alghero. To enter the cave, you'll need to tackle the 654 steps of the Escala del Cabirol. Alternatively, you can reach the cave by sea – a ferry regularly departs from Alghero, crossing the Riviera del Corallo and taking you directly to the entrance in approximately 40 minutes.

This article was first published Jul 7, 2019 and updated Mar 21, 2024.

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The ‘impossibly beautiful’ beaches on popular holiday island with clear blue waters and herds of sunbathing cows

• Ryan Gray , Travel Reporter
• Published : 11:38, 27 May 2024
• Updated : 12:19, 27 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

AN ISLAND in Europe is home to beaches that have been described as "impossibly beautiful" and are even frequently visited by animals who seem to enjoy relaxing on its shores.

Herds of cows are regularly seen hanging out on the sand, looking out to sea, which is said to range in colour from azure to deep green.

The cows are Italian and live on Piscinni and Berchida beaches in Sardinia , two of a few places on the island where the cattle are known to enjoy a day out at the seaside.

They have become something of an attraction in their own right, with people heading to the shores to meet the bovine beach-goers, while also enjoying the stunning scenery.

The stretches of seaside are recommended by Italy Villas , who said it was "the picturesque sight that you can reasonably expect to behold, should you find a vacation rental in Sardinia and plan a day at the truly singular and unique beaches."

They added: "Imagine, if you will, perfectly white, soft sand meeting crystal-clear, sparkling depths that range in hue from azure to deep green depending on the day.

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"Oh, and on those sands, looking out into that impossibly beautiful sea, is a group of beige, cream, and tan cows, all laid out and enjoying the beach."

Along with the cows, Berchida Beach has plenty of amenities and resources for families looking to enjoy a day out by the seaside .

It has showers, bathrooms, kiosks selling snacks, ice-creams, and drinks, as well as sun lounger and umbrella hire and canoe and pedal boat rentals.

Meanwhile, on the south coast, Piscinni Beach is literally known as "cow beach" because of its resident herd.

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Casa Teulada included the bay in its list of the best beaches in Sardinia.

They said: "Piscinni Beach is also known as the ‘Cow beach‘ for the amazing number of cows that lay at the sun during the off season!

"It is quite spectacular both the view of this stretch of sand and the amount of animals sampling the ‘Dolce Vita'.

"Makes you think how life’s not too hard in Sardinia and milk must be very good indeed!"

One person who visited Berchida to meet the cows was Instagram user Giusi Casada, who shared video footage from their trip.

They wrote: "Every year, in spring , the wonderful Berchida beach is invaded by a herd of white cows.

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"[It has] very fine white sand and crystal clear water, in scenery among the most beautiful in Sardinia ."

Giusi's followers were amazed by what they'd seen.

One wrote: "Heaven! This is how all animals should live."

Another said: "These cows are living their best life and I’m jealous."

A third added: "Something so unique and cool and different about this! Cows on a beach ! Now imagine if it's zebras or camels."

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