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Your Sardinia Vacation

With a Sardinia vacation package, you can forget about the stress of planning and put all your energy into experiencing everything this interesting destination has on offer. Your trip to Sardinia wouldn't be complete without checking out some of its best cities, starting with Olbia , Cagliari and Arzachena . When it's time to stop dreaming and start packing, Expedia will help turn your Sardinia vacation into a reality.

Top destinations in Sardinia

La Maddalena

Villasimius

The Latest Sardinia Vacation Packages

Baglioni Resort Sardinia - The Leading Hotels of the World

Reviewed on Sep 7, 2023

Miramare Cagliari Hotel Museo

Reviewed on Apr 1, 2024

Grand Hotel Cannigione

Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023

Hotel Abi d'Oru

Reviewed on Oct 8, 2023

Grand Hotel Poltu Quatu

Reviewed on Oct 5, 2022

Where to stay in Sardinia

Olbia City Centre

Unique features of Olbia City Centre include the coffeehouses and waterfront views. Make a stop by Piazza Matteotti or Church of San Paolo while you're exploring the area.

San Teodoro City Centre

You'll enjoy the parks and spas in San Teodoro City Centre. You might want to make time for a stop at San Teodoro Beach or Tavolara - Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area.

Alghero City Centre

Alghero City Centre is noteworthy for its historic sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Piazza Civica and Alghero Market.

Visitors highly recommend Lido for its beaches, and you can make a stop by San Giovanni Beach while you're in town.

Isola Rossa

Unique features of Isola Rossa include the waterfront views and beaches. Make a stop by Isola Rossa Beach or Isola Rossa Marina while you're exploring the area.

Sardinia Essential Information

Sardinia hotel deals.

Reviewed on Apr 22, 2024

Reviewed on Oct 2, 2023

Reviewed on Oct 7, 2023

Explore other types of vacation packages

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Where to go when

Frequently asked questions, discover the most popular places to visit in sardinia, port of olbia.

Start your journey in Sardinia by exploring this busy transportation hub and the charming town that surrounds it.

Pittulongu Beach

Spend a day at this beautiful beach, a perfect introduction to Sardinia’s characteristic white sands and blue waters.

La Pelosa Beach

Why not spend a carefree afternoon at La Pelosa Beach during your travels in La Pelosa?

What to do in Sardinia

Wine tour sardinia, maddalena archipelago: full-day sailboat tour with lunch, other vacations you might like.

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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.

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;-)

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Sardinia Tours & Trips

Sardinia is a unique island located in the Mediterranean sea . The territory belongs to Italy and encompasses more than 2,000 km of coastline. It is the perfect destination for travellers who enjoy spending their time at the beach or for mountain enthusiasts always on the lookout for the next hike. The island's rugged landscape is due to the presence of nuraghi, stone ruins dating back from the Bronze Age, in the shape of beehives. Cagliari is the island's capital and is an enchanting city with a powerful medieval presence.

30 Sardinia tour packages with 91 reviews

Sardinia & Corsica Sailing Adventure

Seriously amazing trip of a lifetime. We did this to celebrate my husband’s big birthday and we could not have asked for anything better. It is the top trip we have ever taken.

• In-depth Cultural

Sardinia: Magic Tour

Best service.Thanks to them for those good tour guidelines.

• Self-Guided Cycling
• Christmas & New Year

Cycling in Sardinia

My husband and I had a wonderful time touring the west coast of Sardegna. The scenery was absolutely magical. The level of riding was on the high end of medium difficulty. We could not have completed the 320 kms in 6 days without the e-bikes. The gps app was fantastic. We were leary about going self-guided prior to the tour, but the gps app made it very easy to navigate. The accommodations were a bit volatile, some nice, some not so nice. First, one of the agritourismos charged us 40 euro per person for a very mediocre meal. Unfortunately, we had to eat there as there were no other options. Additionally, they had a mean little dog that unprovoked, nipped my husband (Sa Perda Mercada). Secondly, in Gonessa at B&B Domus de Janas, there was hardly a breakfast and it wasn't easy getting access to the accommodation, i.e no service. Of the other accommodations, Villa Canu and Hotel Le Torri were nice because they had pools, Muma Hostel was acceptable, agritourismo Terranieddas was in a beautiful setting and they served a wonderful meal for 30 euro which they let us split, i.e. 15 euro per person, the Marin hotel was just ok, but they had extremely friendly and helpful employees and the best breakfast of the trip. Additionally, I didn't find the man that ran the orientation (and also led the guided tour) very friendly or helpful to those not on the guided tour. Finally, it would improve the tour for the non-guided participants if the gps routes had more information regarding stops for drinks and food along the way. In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip, met some nice people along the way and we would definitely, highly recommend this trip to others. We only offer criticisms to help better the Dolcevita experience for future participants.

• Hiking & Trekking
• Mountain Hikes
• Self Guided Walking Holidays

Sardinia's East Coast

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Walking in Sardinia

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing

Sardinian Splendours

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Island Enchantment: Sardinia & Corsica

• Walking Adventure

Best of Sardinia - 7 days

Sardinia Unveiled - Unearth the Treasures of Italy's Enigmatic Island

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The Ultimate Sardinia & Corsica Explorer

6 Days SARDINIA TOUR - from Rome

Med Sailing in Sardinia and Corsica

What people love about sardinia tours.

Great week sailing with a fantastic group of solo travellers! Nuncio looked after us all really well and involved us in decisions. A pretty relaxed pace but with opportunity to explore and sight see as well. Would definitely recommend!

Excellent private tour, comfortable accomodations, fine meals, knowledgeable tour guides, exceptional tour service.

My husband and I had a wonderful time touring the west coast of Sardegna. The scenery was absolutely magical. The level of riding was on the high end of medium difficulty. We could not have completed the 320 kms in 6 days without the e-bikes. The gps app was fantastic. We were leary about going self-guided prior to the tour, but the gps app made it very easy to navigate. The accommodations were a bit volatile, some nice, some not so nice. First, one of the agritourismos charged us 40 euro per person for a very mediocre meal. Unfortunately, we had to eat there as there were no other options. Additionally, they had a mean little dog that unprovoked, nipped my husband (Sa Perda Mercada). Secondly, in Gonessa at B&B Domus de Janas, there was hardly a breakfast and it wasn't easy getting access to the accommodation, i.e no service. Of the other accommodations, Villa Canu and Hotel Le Torri were nice because they had pools, Muma Hostel was acceptable, agritourismo Terranieddas was in a beautiful setting and they served a wonderful meal for 30 euro which they let us split, i.e. 15 euro per person, the Marin hotel was just ok, but they had extremely friendly and helpful employees and the best breakfast of the trip. Additionally, I didn't find the man that ran the orientation (and also led the guided tour) very friendly or helpful to those not on the guided tour. Finally, it would improve the tour for the non-guided participants if the gps routes had more information regarding stops for drinks and food along the way. In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip, met some nice people along the way and we would definitely, highly recommend this trip to others. We only offer criticisms to help better the Dolcevita experience for future participants.

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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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Popular Tours

Catamaran tour to the Maddalena Archipelago from Cannigione

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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.

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The 11 Best Things to Do in Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia (Sardegna in Italian) is Italy’s second-largest island after Sicily. With a rocky coastline interrupted only by sublime beaches of turquoise, cobalt, and cerulean water, it’s a vacanza da sogno (dream vacation) for Italian mainlanders. Yet, for most non-European travelers, it’s still an undiscovered gem. 

Beyond its stunning beaches, Sardinia yields a ruggedly scenic interior, archaeological sites that predate Rome by thousands of years, world-class museums, cities with well-preserved historical cores, and traditional culture and folkways may make you forget you’re still in Italy. Here are some top things to see and do on this Mediterranean island of wonders. 

Drive Along Sardinia's Most Beautiful Highway

Francesco Bergamaschi / robertharding / Getty Images

You'll need a car to explore the best parts of Sardinia fully, so make the most of your vehicle and take a drive along the scenic SP71. Italy designates its national scenic byways as strada panoramica , and the SP71 highway along the southernmost tip of Sardinia is a detour worth taking.

Drive about 45 minutes south of Cagliari's capital city, and you'll see a turnoff for the SP71 toward the town of Chia. The scenic road is only about 16 miles long, but you should set aside at least a couple of hours to complete it, giving yourself plenty of time to stop along the way. Stop at any one of the coves along the route for an intimate time at the beach, and follow signs for the Faro Capo Spartivento for a short hike to a lighthouse with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

Discover the Colorful Town of Bosa

If you wish you could experience the beauty of Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast without the hoards of tourists, then Bosa is the place for you. This seaside town features colorful houses and rolling hills as the more well-known destinations on the mainland. Still, because of Bosa's relative remoteness, you won't see many non-Italians there. The pastel-colored houses against the water look like real-life postcards, and you can climb to the top of the Castle of Serravalle for a panoramic view of the whole town. It's about a two-hour drive north from Cagliari, but it brings you closer to all other gems in the island's northern part.

Explore Cagliari’s Castello Neighborhood

Lola L. Falantes / Getty Images

You'll likely start your trip in Cagliari , Sardinia's capital and most populous city with over 5,000 years of history. The walls of its imposing hilltop citadel are narrow, winding medieval streets; a comprehensive  archaeological museum ; defensive towers (some of which can be climbed for knockout views of the coast); and the ornate 13th-century Saint Mariàs Cathedral. Roman and Carthaginian ruins are a short walk outside the old city walls. Add in a few pit stops in the area's cozy bars, restaurants, and shops, and you've got an excellent way to spend an afternoon and evening.

Get Posh on the Costa Smeralda

Katja Kreder / Getty Images

Sardinia’s “Emerald Coast” rivals the French Riviera as an undisputed playground for Europe’s rich and famous, with a large number of Russian oligarchs and their mega-yachts thrown in for good measure. The summertime action centers around Porto Cervo, home to breathtakingly expensive waterfront villas; bronzed, beautiful statues; all-night discos; and encamped paparazzi hoping to catch the latest peccadillo of some Italian politician or film star. This is the place to visit if you want to vacation like a celebrity.

Plumb the Mysteries of Nuragic Culture at Barumini

pubblimage di davide cau / Getty Images

From around 1500 BCE to the Punic Wars in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, the Nuragic peoples were the dominant culture on the island. They left behind more than 7,000  nuraghi ,  beehive-shaped stone fortresses surrounded by smaller hive-shaped buildings and, often, a defensive wall. The best example of an extensive Nuragic village is  Su Nuraxi at Barumini , a UNESCO World Heritage site about one hour north of Cagliari.  

Ride a Gommone in the Golfo di Orosei

Roetting / Pollex / LOOK-foto / Getty Images

The “hidden” beaches, coves, and grottoes of the  Golfo di Orosei on the island’s central-east coast are some of the most spectacular scenery in the Mediterranean. The best way to reach them is by  gommone , or zodiac raft, which can be hired at either Cala Gonone or Marina di Orosei. You might see dolphins frolicking in the raft’s wake, and you’ll stop at several different beaches to swim in waters so clear and blue they defy superlatives.

Walk Alghero’s Seafront and Descend Into Neptune’s Grotto

Buena Vista Images / Getty Images

On the northwest coast, Alghero’s 13th- to 16th-century seaside ramparts face Spain and speak to its past as vassalage of the Crown of Aragon—an ever-shrinking percent of the population still speaks Algherese Catalan, a dialect more closely related to Spanish than Italian. Explore Alghero’s pretty, well-preserved  centro  before heading to  Neptune’s Grotto (Grotto di Nettuno) , a great stalactite sea cavern reachable by boat or via a 654-step rock-cut staircase.

Discover Sardo Traditions in Nuoro

De Agostini / Diego M.Rossi / Getty Images

In the rugged, mountainous interior, the city of Nuoro and its surrounding province preserve indigenous Sardinian folkways, from sheepherding to traditional costume, music, dance, and rituals.

Nuoro’s excellent  ethnographic museum  attempts to sort it all out, but it is best experienced in smaller towns like Mamoiada, Oliena, or Orgosolo, which is famous for its contemporary murals. The region has some of the island’s best hiking with  nuraghi , prehistoric tombs, springs, and caves dotting the rocky landscape, plus plenty of random sheep, donkeys, and goats.  

Sample Cannonau, Bottarga and Carasau

Like every region of Italy, Sardinia is proud of its food and wine. Don’t leave without trying cannonau, a hearty red wine made from grenache grapes, or vermentino, an acidic, citrusy white. Thin, crispy  carasau  bread is on every restaurant table, and some variation of  spaghetti alla bottarga  (made with mullet roe) is on every menu. If fish eggs aren’t for you, try  culurgiones , pasta pockets stuffed with potato and ricotta. Sardinian cheeses swing heavily towards sharp pecorino or, for the daring,  casu marzu, a sheep’s cheese with live maggots. Finish your meal with a glass of sweet  mirto , a liqueur made from myrtle berries.

Visit the Seaside Ruins of Nora or Tharros

The ancients valued waterfront property just as much as we do now, and the archaeological sites of Tharros, near Oristano, and Nora, near Cagliari, attest to this. The cities date to at least 1,000 BCE and were inhabited over time by Nuragic peoples, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans, all of whom left their marks. Both sites are partially underwater. You may see colonies of pink flamingos near Nora. Just outside Tharros, stop at the exquisite 6th-century Church of San Giovanni di Sinis, one of the oldest on the island. 

Get Away From It all on Asinara

If the summer beach crowds get to be too much, island-hop to  Asinara National Park , northwest of Porto Torres. There are a few accessible beaches, plus hiking, bike rentals, and bird watching. You can even arrange to sleep at the one  basic hotel within the park . Try to spot one of the albino donkeys indigenous to the island, as well as feral horses, goats, pigs, and maybe even the occasional mouflon, a wild, horned sheep. Access to the island and park is limited, so you’ll need to book passage with an authorized boating company.

Khan Academy. "Nuragic Architecture at Su Nuraxi Barumini, Sardinia." Retrieved April 15, 2021

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Vacations in Sardinia

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Most popular sardinia flight and hotel deals, all inclusive vacation packages to sardinia, search by stars, search by review score, search by board, search by price, search by freebies, when to book a vacation in sardinia, tips for finding sardinia package deals.

• There are loads of types of vacations in Sardinia and the cost will depend on what type of trip you’re taking and for how long you’d like to stay. Here are the latest prices for a 3 night trip for 2 travelers: Top vacation $749; Family vacation $660; Romantic vacation $852; Luxury vacation $1,259; Budget vacation $517.

Why should you book a vacation package to Sardinia?

With a package holiday, you can cut the cost of enjoying the upmarket Costa Smeralda, find somewhere affordable within reach of the Maddalena Islands, or be close to medieval gems like Sassari or the capital, Cagliari.

When should you book a vacation package to Sardinia?

Sardinia's peak holiday season tends to run from late June to the middle of September. April, May and October tend to offer fine weather (and the benefit of some gorgeous flowers in spring). February can be an offbeat time to go, with hardly any crowds and spectacular equestrian displays during the island's carnival celebrations.

Where should you stay in Sardinia during your vacation?

For any vacation type in sardinia:.

The Hotel Le Palme in Porto Cervo is one of the best value hotels on the Costa Smeralda, with its attractive palm fringed setting, seawater pool and proximity to the beach. It's around 20 miles from Olbia Airport via Highway 125.

The laid-back Hotel Corbezzoli is a stone's throw from Porto Ottiolu's superb beach in northwest Sardinia and is another all-round winner thanks to its poolside cocktail bar, free parking and large grounds. Again, it's around 20 miles from Olbia by road.

For family vacations in Sardinia:

Costa Rei's Villa Rei Sole is one of Sardinia's finest family hotels, offering spacious self-catering villa accommodation close to the beach and boasting a quiet, but not too isolated location. Cagliari Airport is around 50 miles away via the SS125 highway.

The 4-star Hotel La Conchiglia in Cala Gonone has a stunning location overlooking the Orosei Gulf. The highly rated restaurant, canoeing excursions and nearby coastal scenery makes it ideal for families. It's about 90 mins drive from Olbia on the SS125.

For romantic vacations in Sardinia:

Close to the mysterious ancient ruins at Nora, the Hotel Costa dei Fiori is the perfect romantic bolthole. Rooms tend to have sublime views from their balconies, secluded beaches aren't far away and everything is furnished beautifully. It's also just 25 miles drive from Cagliari Airport.

The Country Hotel Vessus offers an upscale retreat in rural Sardinia. This renovated manor nestles in picturesque olive groves and is an atmospheric, friendly family-run option with comfortable rooms. Very close to the beautiful city of Alghero, the hotel can easily be reached from Alghero Airport via the SS291.

For luxury vacations in Sardinia:

Possibly Sardinia's premier luxury retreat, Arbatax Monte Turri overlooks a breathtaking private beach (accessible via clear glass elevators), as well as a relaxation spa and easy access to the unspoiled Bellavista peninsula. Airport transfers are available from both Cagliari and Olbia.

Cagliari's plushest hotel, the Regina Margherita is right at the heart of this mesmerizing city. Next to the bustling Via Roma, home to most of Cagliari's boutiques and fine dining options, it's a short walk from the port and the Castello. Even better, it's only 10 mins from the airport by taxi.

For budget vacations in Sardinia:

The ideal base for exploring the natural beauty and beaches of the Ogliastra region, the Hotel Santa Maria in southeastern Sardinia is a budget gem. Wreck diving or free climbing excursions can be booked with ease, as well as boat trips around the coast. Airport transfers can be arranged, but it's an easy drive along the SS125 from Cagliari.

Just outside the appealing ancient town of Bosa, the Mannu Hotel is another outstanding affordable option, with a popular traditional Sardinian restaurant (check out the suckling pig) and a convenient location around an hour's drive from Alghero Airport.

Where to stay in Sardinia

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Sardinia Revealed

How To Plan a Trip to Sardinia in 14 Steps – An Easy Guide

Are you wondering how to plan a trip to Sardinia and not sure where to start? I hear you! Trip planning can be overwhelming even for seasoned travelers, and Sardinia is a wonderful destination but often not an easy one.

From crafting an itinerary to deciding where to land and when is the best time to go, my guide will help you remember every step to plan a perfect Sardinia holiday.

Table of Contents

Sardinia trip planner – My step-by-step guide

Decide when to go.

Sardinia is a big summer destination in Italy because of its beautiful beaches. I get it, I also like to discover the coastline, but the island has its own appeal all year round. While in summer you will be spending most of your time on the beach because it’s too hot, in the other seasons, you will be more able to explore the inland, the beautiful Sardinian towns and their traditions and landmarks.

Apart from the weather, you can also research important dates and events, local festivals, holidays, and fairs to decide when to travel to Sardinia.

Check out my full guide to the best time to visit Sardinia

Create your own itinerary

Sardinia is Italy’s second biggest island so it’s hard to visit everything in one trip. I suggest creating an itinerary that includes a bit of everything, from traditional specialties to archaeological sites to enjoying its famous coastline.

Something else that is always very interesting to do in Sardinia is to attend a local festival or food fair ( sagra ). For example, are you going to Sardinia in February ? Then you shouldn’t miss Carnival celebrations such as Oristano’s Sartiglia and Mamoiada’s Mamuthones .

Traveling around Sardinia is quite easy, but so is also getting lost. Directions are not always perfectly marked and sometimes reaching points of interest is not very straightforward. This is why, in my customized Sardinia itineraries I include all the necessary tips for a smooth holiday such as the best roads to take, how to reach all the mentioned places, extra activities in each area, and also what and where to eat.

Decide how long to stay

Whether it’s your first holiday in Sardinia or you have already visited the island, I always suggest staying for at least one week. You are probably not going to find much traffic on the roads, but if you want to explore different places, you are going to spend some time traveling.

Two weeks is probably the best amount of time so that you can have a diverse trip and enjoy different experiences.

Do you want this guide to always be available offline? Check out our step-by-step planner with a few bonuses!

Budget your holiday

When wondering how to plan a trip to Sardinia, setting a budget is one of the first decisions you need to make. Some areas in Sardinia can be quite expensive, especially in the Costa Smeralda from May through October with peaks in July and August. While Costa Smeralda is an extreme example because it’s the most expensive area in Sardinia, in summer, prices rise all over the island’s coastline.

Apart from accommodation, your budgeting for a trip to Sardinia will also include items like food, whether it’s eating out or grocery shopping, transport, admission to landmarks, parking if you have a car, and renting a lounge and shade on the beach.

Check out my cost breakdown of a holiday in Sardinia

Decide where to stay

When booking your accommodation in Sardinia, several factors can impact your choice. Do you prefer a villa on the beachfront or budget accommodation inside the city? Are you going in summer and need to go near the coast or off-season to visit the inland?

Sardinia offers a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury villas on the Emerald Coast to the eco-resorts to private apartments in the cities’ historic centers. Depending on your budget and travel needs, in Sardinia, there is a solution for every traveler.

If you want an all-inclusive holiday, a 5-star resort or a luxury villa by the beach is your best bet. On the other hand, if you are traveling on a shoestring, renting an apartment or booking a hotel in a smaller village would save you quite a lot. For example, on the western coast in the Oristano province, small towns like Narbolia and Riola offer very affordable accommodation because not right on the beach but with a 5-minute car ride, you are on the coast.

Check out our guide to the best areas to book your hotel in Sardinia

Pick the right airport

Once your itinerary is laid out and you have decided where to start your trip, whether it’s north or south Sardinia , you can choose the best airport for you to land in. The airports in Sardinia are three: Olbia-Costa Smeralda in the northeast, Alghero in the northwest, and Cagliari in the south.

Suppose you are visiting the eastern coast such as the Orosei Gulf and the Ogliastra region, or northern Sardinia such as Santa Teresa di Gallura, La Maddalena Archipelago, and the Strait of Bonifacio. In that case, Olbia airport is the one to choose.

To visit southern Sardinia and also the more central areas such as Oristano province, Sulcis, and Medio Campidano, I suggest landing at the Cagliari-Elmas airport. On the other hand, if you are aiming to explore the northwestern coast such as Bosa, Stintino, La Pelosa Beach, and L’Asinara, you should land in Alghero.

Book your flights

Now it’s time to research and book your flights. You can either check directly the airlines’ websites or travel comparison sites like Skyscanner to compare prices and schedules.

Sardinia is connected to many European capitals and larger cities as well as many Italian regions , so it won’t be difficult to find a flight.

…or ferries

If you are reaching Sardinia from Rome , Genoa, Palermo, Ajaccio, or even Barcelona and Nice, you can opt for the ferry instead of flying.

This is the best way if you are traveling by car and with children so you can carry more luggage, and move around more comfortably. Obviously, this way you won’t need to rent a car once in Sardinia.

Check out my guide to the different ways to get to Sardinia

Make a wise packing list

We all have our favorite items we can’t travel without. However, apart from the essentials such as your smartphone, camera, bags and clothes, in Sardinia, you will find everything you need in your daily life like shampoo, soap, sunscreen, and medicines that can be sold over the counter.

I suggest packing what you know you will need the very first days upon landing and obviously your clothes, shoes, swimwear, and a backpack or sling bag.

Do you need a car?

Are you only staying in Cagliari or are you planning to travel around? Are you traveling independently or are you part of a group tour?

To reach smaller towns, many archaeological sites, countryside accommodations like an agriturismo, or even several beaches, driving is your best option. This is why I often recommend renting a car in Sardinia . If you are not confident driving in places you are not familiar with, you can hire a local driver.

Understand public transport

The modes of public transport in Sardinia mainly come down to three: trains, buses, and ferries. You would use the train to reach the larger cities but also small towns. Once you get off the train, however, you are on foot or you need to rely on the ARST company’s local buses that are not frequent and don’t reach all the points of interest.

To reach some of the smaller islands off Sardinia’s coast such as La Maddalena archipelago, L’Asinara, or Carloforte, you will have to take the ferry whether you are by car or using public transportation.

Research local customs

Sardinia is very rich in culture and traditions, and apart from its beaches, delving into the local traditions is what makes a trip there unforgettable. Each town has its own dishes, festivals, costumes and mores, and joining the locals in the celebrations will give you a precious insight into Sardinian life and spirit.

Carry a small glossary/dictionary

In Sardinia, English is seldom spoken, so if you are exploring the island on your own, you will need to be able to speak some Italian. This is especially true if you are in smaller towns, while popular tourist landmarks might have English-speaking staff.

I suggest carrying a small dictionary or using a language app

Check out our handy guides to learn some basic Italian useful when traveling.

Stay connected

Staying connected online is helpful on many occasions such as finding your way when driving, booking hotels last minute, or finding a restaurant’s phone number.

Most hotels provide a WiFi connection and when you are outside, if your provider has expensive roaming fees, you can think of purchasing an Italian SIM card or an e-SIM data and calling plan such as Airhub .

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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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One week in Sardinia: Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary + My Best Tips

• A week in Sardinia: which Itinerary for 6, 7 or 8 Days?

You want to go for a 1 week trip to Sardinia and you’re looking for the best Itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you 2 recommended Itineraries for a week in Sardinia.

Depending on where you will land ( Cagliari or Olbia), these 7 days itineraries in the North or South of Sardinia will allow you to discover some of the best places to visit on the island.

If you prefer to visit the North, you will discover the Costa Smeralda and Maddalena islands whereas the south will allow you to enjoy the region around Cagliari and Sant’Antioco island.

For both itineraries, in addition to the best things to do and must-see attractions , I will also give you all my best tips as well as a list of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

So, what are the best places to visit during your one week trip to Sardinia? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

Where to stay on Costa Smeralda

Where to stay in maddalena, where to stay in capo testa / santa teresa di gallura, where to stay in olbia, where to stay in cagliari, where to stay in teulada, where to stay in sant’antioco, where to stay on the iglesiente coast, where to stay in oristano, visit sardinia in 1 week: north or south , renting a car in sardinia: my best tips, other activities for 1 week in sardinia, renting a boat in sardinia, you’re traveling in sardinia these articles will help you, itinerary: one week in northern sardinia, 1) costa smeralda / porto cervo (2 days).

You want to visit Northern Sardinia in one week? Then you should ideally take a flight to Olbia airport.

As Sardinia is a big island, you will need to rent a car to make the most of your stay.

In order to get the best price and not be scammed , you should book your car in advance on Rentalcars.com. I will tell you why I always use this website at the end of this article, in the “Renting a car in Sardinia: My best tips” section.

You will quickly notice that Olbia isn’t a very interesting city to visit, so just grab your car and head directly to the Costa Smeralda! It will be the perfect place to start your 1 week itinerary in Northern Sardinia .

The Costa Smeralda stretches from Porto Rotondo in the Gulf of Cugnana to Cannigione in the Gulf of Arzachena.

With its many luxury hotels, villas and shops, the Costa Smeralda is clearly the fanciest place in Sardinia . If you’re there during high-season, you might even spot a few celebrities during your trip!

For your first day, you should go to Porto Cervo, the “capital” of Costa Smeralda located just 40 min away by car from Olbia. Depending on your landing time in Sardinia, you may have time to make a few stops along the way.

If you do, you should definitely stop by one of the following beaches: Liscia Ruja beach, Capriccioli beach, Romazzino beach or Principe beach. They are all very beautiful!

Spend your first night on the Costa Smeralda.

On the day after, start your day with a stroll at Porto Cervo Marina to admire the yachts and sailboats, and walk around the commercial streets. Don’t miss the “Stella Maris” church located next to the harbor!

In addition to the luxury, the Costa Smeralda is also famous for its archeological sites , including a few famous Sardinian nuraghes .

So let’s go around Arzachena town to visit the Nuraghe La Prisgiona and see Giant’s graves. The great thing is that it’s only 25 min away from Porto Cervo.

While you’re there, another must-see is the village of San Pantaleo . This charming and authentic village offers a beautiful scenic view over the mountains.

And at the end of the day, head to a beach close to Porto Cervo or to one of the other seaside resorts of Costa Smeralda such as Poltu Quatu, Cannigione or Baia Sardinia.

If you want more information about the Costa Smeralda, you should read my detailed article: The 10 best things to do in Costa Smeralda .

You get it, the Costa Smeralda is the most touristic and expensive place of Sardinia . There are many luxury hotels, so it’s really perfect if you’re looking for an upscale experience!

However, the best hotels are fully booked months in advance, so you should really book your accommodation as early as possible.

• Residenza Capriccioli: Located just 3min walking from Cappricioli beach and 8km away from Porto Cervo. Studio and apartment with kitchenette and balcony/terrace starting from 100€ per night. Considering the area, it’s one of the cheapest accommodations available so book ahead of time! Strong points: walking distance to the beach, the swimming pools, great location. The best choice on the Costa Smeralda if you’re traveling on a budget!
• Grand Hôtel Poltu Quatu: Located in Poltu Quatu, 12min away from the beach. Very spacious and bright double room, with traditional Sardinian furniture, starting from 190€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the location, excellent breakfast, friendly staff. It’s my favorite on the Costa Smeralda for its amazing value for money!
• Cervo Hotel,Costa Smeralda Resort: Located in Porto Cervo, 15min walking from the beach. This 5* hotel offers comfortable and warm double rooms, starting from 280€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: exceptional setting, staff always available, calm, nicely decorated. It’s my recommendation for a romantic stay on the Costa Smeralda!
• Cala Di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel: Located in a natural setting, only 6 min walking from the beach. This luxury hotel on Costa Smeralda offers splendid double rooms with a view on the gardens or on Cala di Volpe bay, starting from 400€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: 5 stars service, the private beach, stunning setting, friendly staff. It’s the best choice for a luxury stay on the Costa Smeralda!

2) The Maddalena archipelago ( 3 days )

The next stop of this week in Northern Sardinia is the Maddalena archipelago .

Made of 7 islands, the archipelago is a dream destination for beach lovers and hikers!

From Costa Smeralda, it takes about 40min by car to reach Palau , the departure point for the ferries to Maddalena island .

There is a departure every 30 min: the trip lasts 20 min and costs about 40€ for one car and two people . The ferry boats takes you to the main island of the archipelago: La Maddalena island.

For your first day in La Maddalena, you can drive around the island on the scenic road . It’s the best way to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and make stops along the way at the numerous beaches!

Bassa Trinita, Monte di Rena and Spalmatore beach are the most popular ones, but I personally prefer Capocchia du Purpu beach . With its big rocks and turquoise water, it looks just like the Seychelles!

Spend the night in one of the hotels recommended below.

Let’s continue this 6, 7 or 8 days itinerary in Sardinia with Caprera island , another island of the Maddalena archipelago. You can go there by car: simply cross the bridge linking La Maddalena to Caprera island.

Over there too, get ready for beautiful beaches . The only difference is that you’ll have to walk a bit to reach them .

Caprera island is wilder than its neighbor, making it a great spot to go hiking . Most of the hikes are very easy and reward you with a beautiful cove to take a dip. And during your walk, you may even see the famous Caprera wild goats!

In my opinion, the best beaches of Caprera are Cala Serena, Caprarese, Coticcio and Brigantina.

Between hiking and swimming, you can easily spend the entire day on the island. There are also nice viewpoints, the best ones being the Teialone lookout tower or the Batteria Poggio Rasu Superiore.

A the end of the day, go back to La Maddalena island to spend the night.

For your 3rd and last day , you should explore the other islands of the archipelago.

They are only accessible by boat , so the best way to visit them is to opt for a 1-day boat excursion . You should book it in advance here to make sure to have a seat!

All departures are from La Maddalena port . During the day, you will be able to enjoy the beaches on Budelli, Santa Maria, Spargi and Razzoli island. It costs around 40€ per person, lunch included. It’s really an amazing day trip!

Spend one last night on Maddalena island.

Find out all the best things to do in La Maddalena in my detailed article: How to visit La Maddalena?

• AHR Residence Leonis La Maddalena: Located in the center of La Maddalena. Fully furnished spacious studio starting from 70€ per night. Strong points: the location (very close to the port and restaurants), fully equipped kitchen, high quality bedding.
• Residenza Mordini: Located only 100 metes way from the Maddalena port. Comfortable and spacious double room starting from 110€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: warm welcome, quiet atmosphere, close to the city center, homemade breakfast. It’s my favorite place in Maddalena for its great value for money!
• Residenza Marginetto: Located on the Northern part of the island, and just one minute walking from the beach. Holiday home with kitchen, living room, patio and barbecue starting from 110€ per night. Strong points: the very quiet location at the edge of the island, stunning surroundings, direct access to the beach. This is the best choice for relaxing holidays!
• Grand Hotel Ma&Ma Resort: Located 100 meters away from the Punta Tegge beach. This luxury hotel, the only 5 stars of the island, offers splendid double rooms starting from 250€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the pool, the spa, the very attentive staff, the proximity to the beach. It’s the best hotel for a luxury stay in the Maddalena archipelago!

3) Capo Testa / Santa Teresa di Gallura (1 day)

It’s already the 3rd part of your one week itinerary in Northern Sardinia! This morning, you will take the ferry back to Palau.

Once in Palau, head to Capo Testa , located not far from Santa Teresa di Gallura seaside town. It will take you around 35 min by car to get there.

Capo Testa is a former granite carry , full of giant rock formations with surprising shapes. Located on the sea side, it’s an amazing spot to take stunning pictures!

As the site is quite large, you can easily hike around for a few hours. You can also go to several beaches:

• Cala Francese , left of the Capo Testa lighthouse when you arrive from the parking lot
• Cala di l’ea, south of the lightouse, near the “Valle de la Luna”.

There’re a few more beaches around Capo Testa, so you can spend the afternoon at one of them . I recommend you “ Spiaggia Zia Culumba “, with its big rocks and crystal clear water. On the left of this beach, you can also take a small path by the sea side to reach small hidden coves.

To be honest, Capo Testa was one of the best places I visited during my trip to Sardinia!

In the evening, you should sleep in Santa Tereas di Gallura , the closest city to Capo Testa. The city center is lovely, with lots of restaurants and café terraces.

• La Reggia Di Nausicaa: Located 10 min walking from Santa Teresa port. One bedroom apartment with a kitchenette starting from 55€ per night. Strong points: the swimming pool and friendly staff.
• Villa Gandamar: Located 2km from the city center. Big and comfortable double room starting from 80€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: great breakfast, lovely atmosphere, very quiet. It’s my favorite hotel for its amazing value for money!
• Hotel Corallaro: Located in Santa Teresa’s historical center, 2min from the beach. Modern double room starting from 140€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the swimming pool, close to the beach, very helpful staff. It’s the best choice for a romantic stay in Sardinia!

4) Going back to Olbia (1 day)

If you’re doing a 7 days itinerary in Northern Sardinia , it will be time for you to head back to Olbia.

If your flight is at the end of the day or early the morning after, you can enjoy the beach one last time in the morning.

Then drive back to Olbia, 1h20 away from Santa Teresa di Gallura, to take your flight back home or spend one last night in Olbia (if your flight is early in the next morning).

This one week itinerary in Northern Sardinia is now over! Now you know what to do in Sardinia for 6, 7 or 8 days from Olbia.

If you plan to spend 8 days in Northern Sardinia:

• Spend one more day around Capo Testa . For example, you can go to Costa Paradiso (50 min away from Capo Testa) and enjoy the magnificent Li Cossi Beach.
• Residenze del Centro: Located in the heart of Olbia. New, clean and modern apartment starting from 65€ per night, with an additional breakfast 10€. What I loved: high quality accommodation, helpful staff, good location.
• Jazz Hotel: Located 2km away from the city center and 500m from the airport, Comfortable and modern double room starting from 100€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: modern design, friendly staff, the swimming pool. It’s the perfect hotel to stay at the end of your trip to Sardinia as it’s so close to the airport (10min on foot), but you don’t hear any plane noise! It’s my recommendation in Olbia for its amazing value for money!
• Maison et charme hotel boutique: Located 100m away from the city center and 3km away from the airport. New and well decorated luxury suite, starting from 120€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the decoration, the room is very comfortable, the owner is always available.

Itinerary: one week in Southern Sardinia

1) cagliari (1 day).

To visit Southern Sardinia in one week , you will need to land in Cagliari, the island’s capital.

As the island is quite big, you will also need to rent a car . In order to get the best price, you should really book it in advance!

I personally always use Rentalcars.com website, as it’s by far the most convenient. I will tell you everything you need to know a bit below, in the “Renting a car in Sardinia: My best tips” section.

Let’s now start this one week itinerary in Southern Sardinia with the visit of Cagliari.

Depending on your arrival time, you can visit:

• Il Castello: the city’s ancient district, where all Cagliari’s must see attractions are located
• The Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Sanctuary of the Martyrs
• The Saint Remy Bastion and the Umberto I terrace, offering a beautiful view over the whole city
• The Palazzo di Citta, housing a Sardinian paintings museum

And if you’re in the mood for some beach time, you should go to Poetto beach . It’s 7 km long , so you’ll be sure to find a free spot to enjoy your first day in Sardinia.

For more ideas about the best things to do in Cagliari, you should read my article: Visit Cagliari: the Definitive guide.

• Birkin Castello: Located in the Castello district and 50 meters away from the Cathedral. A very cozy and comfortable double room from 60 € per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the location, the rich breakfast, the helpful staff.
• Budget Rooms Cagliari : Located in the old town. A well decorated and warm double room from 85 € per night. Pros: the location to visit Cagliari on foot, the friendly staff.
• Hotel Villa Fanny : Located 1 km from the centre of Cagliari, 15 minutes walk away from the harbour. A double room with refined and luxurious decoration from 130 € per night, breakfast included. Pros: the kindness of the staff, the calm, the perfect bedding, the excellent and varied breakfast. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Cagliari!

2) Teulada (1 day)

On the day after, let’s continue this 6, 7, 8 days itinerary in Southern Sardinia on one of the most beautiful scenic roads of the island: the SP71.

The road begins in Chia , 1h away of Cagliari, and goes for 25km until Teulada . You’ll drive along the seaside the whole time and enjoy stunning views between the sea and mountains .

The best thing about the Strada Panoramica della Costa del Sud is that you can easily park your car on the side of the road and enjoy beautiful coves and beaches .

One of my favorites is Cala Cipolla , with its crystal clear water and big rocks.

While you’re there, you should also take the path on the right side of the beach . It leads you to Capo Spartivento lighthouse, located on the top of a hill . From there, the view over the whole coast is breathtaking!

Plan to picnic on one of the beaches and spend the day enjoying the wonderful Southeastern coast of Sardinia.

Spend the night in Teulada .

• B&B Su Tostainu: Located in Teulada. Clean and spacious double room starting from 60€, breakfast included. Strong points: lovely hotel, good breakfast.
• Hotel Jasmine: Located 600m away from the city center of Teulada. Spacious double room with balcony starting from 70€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: friendly welcome, high quality bedding, good value for money.
• Agriturismo S’Arxola: Located in Teulada. Comfortable double room starting from 95€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: its location between countryside and sea, excellent traditional homemade breakfast, friendly and helpful owner.

3) Sant’Antioco island (2 days)

Third stop of this one week itinerary in Southern Sardinia: Sant’Antioco island , 40 minutes away from Teulada.

No need to take a ferry, there’s a bridge to go there. You will directly arrive in the main city of the island: Sant’Antioco city.

Park your car close to the port and the tourist information office and go for a walk along the pier. Don’t hesitate to also stop by the Basilica di Sant’Antioco Martire and go visit the archeological museum.

Then, get back to your car and go explore the island’s best beaches .

The best options are: Maladroxia (small resort), Coa Quaddus (wilder), Cala Sapone and Cala Lunga .

The latter, with its transparent shallow water is in my opinion the most beautiful beach of Sant’Antioco. It’s quite wild and a bit hidden, as it’s located at the end of a cove.

Spend your first night in Sant’Antioco.

On the day after, you should go to San Pietro, the neighboring island.

To get there, you’ll have to take a ferry from Calasseta town (departure every hour). The trip lasts about 30min and costs 35€ for two people and a car, roundtrip.

In San Pietro , you’ll arrive in the city of Carloforte. There isn’t any specific place to visit there, so you can just take a walk along the seaside and maybe stop by one of the many coffee shops and restaurants.

After, it will be time to explore the island by car!

• Pass by Spiaggia La bobba and walk along the path on the seaside until you reach the famous column shaped rocks.
• Follow the coastline of La Conca to enjoy beautiful views over the cliffs
• Take a beach break at Spiaggia Spalmatore, the most popular beach of San Pietro
• Enjoy the stunning scenic view at Capo Sandalo!

Spend another night in Sant’Antioco.

• B&B LA VELA: Located in the city of Sant’Antioco. Double room with balcony and sea view starting from 60€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: Calm, great view, very friendly owner.
• Complesso Residenziale Isola dei Mori: Located 10min walking from Cala Sapone. Fully equipped studio apartment with kitchenette starting from 85€ per night. What I loved: being able to cook your own food, calm, close to the beach.
• Mercury Boutique Hotel: Located between Cala Sapone and Cala Lunga. Bright and spacious double room with balcony and sea view starting fro 100€ per night. Strong points: 2 swimming pools, very generous buffet style breakfast, good atmosphere and nice view. It’s simply the most beautiful hotel on Sant’Antioco island!

4) The Iglesiente coast (1 day)

Your one week tour in Sardinia will now take you to the Iglesiente coast.

First, you will head to Fontana Mare beach, offering a nice view over the surrounding mountains.

Then, you will reach Nebida and Masua . From these two locations you can see the famous Pan di Zucchero (“sugar loaf” in English). With 133 meters high, it’s the tallest faraglioni of Sardinia.

You may not know it, but in the past, Iglesiente was the mining region of Sardinia . So nowadays, a popular tourist attraction is to visit one of the former mines!

The most famous one is for sure Porto Flavia , dug 600 meters deep in the cliff. You will need to book your visit in advance at Iglesias tourist information office.

After your visit, you should spend some relaxing time at Cala Domestica. Located at the end of a cove, it’s really a great spot to take a dip. And if you want to have a drink or eat something, there’s also a small snack bar .

This beach is a must-see during your 7 days itinerary in Sardinia!

At the end of the day, head to Portixeddu area for the night. If you want to enjoy the beach again, there is a 3km long beach next to the town. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the sunset!

• B&B Raggio di Sole: Located in Fluminimaggiore. Comfortable and bright double room starting from 60€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: very relaxing place, great welcome, stunning view. It’s my favorite accommodation for its great value for money!
• Agriturismo Fighezia: Located in Fluminimaggiore. Double room with mountain and sea view starting from 85€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the view from the rooms, extremely calm, high quality meals.
• La Rosa Dei Venti: Located in Buggerru. Very spacious and warm double room starting from 115€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the breakfast on the roof with a view, the calm, the friendly welcome.

5) Oristano / Cagliari (2 days)

Let’s continue this one week Sardinia itinerary and go to Oristano!

Oristano is located about 1h25 by car from the end of the Iglesiente coast. Don’t go directly to the city (you will have time to visit it later) and continue driving towards the Sinis Peninsula . There, you will find beautiful beaches such as San Giovanni di Sinis and the Spiaggia di Capo San Marco.

The peninsula is also home to a famous Sardinian archeological site: Tharros . It costs 5€ to visit the site, however, I prefer to warn you: there isn’t much to see. Even if you don’t want to visit the site, you should however definitely go for a walk around San Giovanni tower and the Capo San Marco lighthouse.

At the end of the day, go to Oristano and spend the night there .

In the evening, you can go on a stroll to see:

• The piazza del duomo
• The cathedral
• The Chiesa di San Francesco
• The piazza Eleonara d’Arborea
• The piazza Roma.

Then, have dinner in one of the many restaurants in the area and don’t forget to stop for dessert at Barbagelato for a good ice cream . It’s simply the the best ice cream shop of all Sardinia!

Spend the night in Oristano.

If you’re visiting Southern Sardinia in 7 days, it will now be time to head back to Cagliari and fly back home. If your flight is at the end of the day, you can spend one last morning at the beach somewhere around Oristano, as it’s only 1h away from Cagliari.

If you visit Southern Sardinia in 8 days:

• On that extra day: in the morning, go visit Bosa (1h away from Oristano)
• Spend the afternoon at the beach

If you’re in Southern Sardinia only for 6 days, you can either:

• Not go on San Pietro island (and only go to Sant’Antioco)
• Skip Oristano
• Sa Domu e Crakeras: Located in the center of Oristano. Basic but very clean double room starting from 45€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: free private parking, excellent service.
• Hotel Il Duomo: Located in the heart of Oristano’s historical center. This hotel used to be a mansion and offers spacious, pleasant rooms in a very elegant style. Starting from 80€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: great location in the center, calm, nice common spaces, great breakfasts with many different dishes. It’s my favorite hotel for its great value for money!
• Hotel Raffael: Located in the Sinis peninsula, in Putzu Idu, 5min walking from the beach. Bright and spacious double rooms, most of them with their private fully equipped terrace and view on the garden. Starting from 140€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: calm, big garden with a swimming pool, the terrace, excellent and generous breakfast, very friendly staff. It’s the best hotel for a romantic stay around Oristano!

As you have seen in this guide, to visit Sardinia in one week, you will need to choose between the North and the South of the island.

A Northern itinerary is great if you don’t mind going in quite crowded and touristy places . Northern Sardinia is really the fancy part of the island, with many luxury hotels and relatively high prices.

I won’t hide you that the Costa Smeralda and Maddalena islands are the most famous destination for 6-7 days trip to Sardinia.

With that in mind, it’s essential to book your accommodations in advance! Also, don’t worry, the beaches, even if a bit crowded, are absolutely stunning.

You should visit Southern Sardinia if you’re looking for a more authentic experience , less mass tourism-oriented.

In the South, Beaches are wilder and as beautiful as in the North! The South is also a better choice if you’re traveling with your family , as the region is more tranquil and laid back.

Anyway, no matter if you choose to go to the North or the South, you will for sure enjoy amazing beaches and relax under the sun during your 6, 7 or 8 days trip to Sardinia!

If you have any question to plan your itinerary in Sardinia, and don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. Together, we will plan you a perfect week in Northern or Southern Sardinia.

As I told you in the 2 itineraries, you will need to rent a car in order to make the most of your 1 week trip to Sardinia.

To rent it, I recommend you to use Rentalcars.com website. It’s the one I always use, no matter if I am traveling to Sicily , Spain, Malta , Thailand or even Canada ! It’s really user friendly and it offers some really cool features:

• You can easily compare prices between all the car rental agencies in 1 location
• You can get the “full protection insurance”: you will get refunded in case of any damage, accident or if the car is stolen (tested and approved on many occasions! They refunded me more than 1300 euros to date)
• Canceling or modifying your booking is free
• They have the “Best Price Guarantee”: if you find cheaper elsewhere for a similar car, Rentalcars.com will refund you the difference!

You want to do more activities during your 1-week trip to Sardinia ?

No problem!

I have created for you a list of the best activities you can do on the island.

Simply click on the links below for more information and to make your reservations:

1) Northern Sardinia

• From Palau: Full day boat trip + snorkeling in Spargi and Budelli islands + lunch included
• From Porto Cervo or from Baia Sardinia : Mini-cruise + snorkeling in Cala Coticcio, on the island of Caprera
• From Porto Cervo or from Baia Sardinia Cruise + visit to the beaches and bays of the island of Caprera, with swimming stops
• From Porto Cervo : Day trip – Dolphin and whale watching + Snorkeling around the Maddalena Islands – A half day trip is also possible.
• Jet-ski tour around Caprera island from Baia Sardinia
• Jet Ski Tour around Spargi island from Baia Sardinia.
• Cruise around the Costa Smeralda to discover its most beautiful beaches
• Windsurfing course at Porto Pollo
• Diving session near the Maddalena archipelago
• Boat trip to the Lavezzi islands (Corsica) – departure from Santa Teresa di Gallura (north of Sardinia)
• Stand Up paddle tour (between Stintino and Castelsardo).

2) Southern Sardinia

• 3-hour kayak tour with a guide in Cagliari
• Kitesurfing lessons near Cagliari
• Via Ferrata (hiking) or climbing at the Pan di Zucchero (on the coast of Iglesiente)
• Kitesurfing lessons (Island of Sant’Antioco)

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: 2, 3, 4, or 5 days in Sardinia – With all my best tips + accommodation suggestions! (North + 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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Discussion 25 comments.

We don’t usually rent a car. How would you describe driving in Maddalena?

Hello Doris,

No problem to drive in La Maddalena, the roads are in good conditions. On the main scenic road, there are parking spots on the side allowing you to stop and enjoy the view or go to the beach.

Same on Caprera island, the roads are pretty good.

I did a 3 weeks road trip around Sardinia and overall, the roads are great Sardinian people drive carefully – The driving style is very different than the one in Sicily or south of Italy for example!

Enjoy your trip to Sardinia!

Is it reasonable to arrive on the ferry from Corsica, rent a car in the north, then drive south to a rental house? Can having a central location, doing day trips, give a nice taste of the island?

Hello Grace,

If you want to drive from the north of Sardinia (the ferry arrival from Corsica is in Santa Teresa) to the south (for example, Cagliari), it’s a little over 3.5 hours.

I wouldn’t advise you to take one accommodation in the centre of the island because it’s really lost in the mountains. And in the end, you will drive a lot every day.

If you only have a week, it’s best to visit either the South or stay in the North.

Enjoy your stay in Sardinia!

Thanks for these wonderful tips. We will travel to Sardina and have one week. We will land in cagliari and were thinking combining South (3 days) and North (4 days) and leave the rental car in Olbia and fly to Nepal from there. The main goal of the trip is to relax and see and enjoy the best beaches and sea. I wonder if this is possible. Where are the best and most interesting beaches and scenary? Is it possible for you to suggest an itinary based mainly on seaside holiday with a number of different beaches? Thanks again!

Hello Volkan,

Thank you very much! I’m glad that my one-week itinerary in Sardinia is helping you to plan your stay.

For the most beautiful beaches, you can already find all my recommendations in this article.

If you arrive in Cagliari and want to spend 3 days in the South, you can stay in the surroundings and go to the beaches of the SP71 road and Sant’Antioco island.

After that, you can go north, stopping at Cala Gonone to visit the coves of the Gulf of Orosei.

Then the most beautiful beaches in the North are on the Costa Smeralda and the archipelago of La Maddalena. You can find detailed information about these places here: Destination Sardinia .

Enjoy your week in Sardinia!

Hi Vincent Thank you for your usefull itinarary of sardinia , i want go there by my housband for our honey moon and relaxing there. I come frome Iran And i go to austria and then italy I want to know for a week relaxation trip , and also swimming and sunning in the beach in middle of september which beach is your recomand ? I read your itinarary but you recomandad several beaches i want a sandy beach with warm water and also a hotel near that . Can you help me ? Thank you and Best Wishes Hoora

Hello Hoora,

I would recommend you to stay in the North of Sardinia, in the Costa Smeralda area. You have several very nice hotels perfect for a honeymoon on the sea front (you can click on the name of the hotels to see the pictures and all the information): – Hotel Abi d’Oru in Porto Rotondo – Pevero Hotel in Porto Cervo – Hotel Romazzino in Porto Cervo – Hotel La Rocca Resort & Spa in Baja Sardinia – Hotel Li Finistreddi in Cannigione.

Great site, thanks Vincent. We are planning a ladies trip mid September and I’m hoping we can all do 10 days. I truly can’t decide north or south!! We like the hike, bike, be in charming towns, enjoy the beach, etc. We will of course have a car possibly even have to do 2 unfortunately with luggage. Please let me know what you think of my itinerary? not sure of the order yet. Assuming mid September will still have availability and not be outrageous prices on Costa Smeralda but I could be wrong????

Fly into Olbia and stay in Porto Certo or Rotunda (will try and do airbnb’s since we have 4 people) or if not stay at a 5 Star hotel for only a night then over to La Maddalena for 3 nights (is that too long?) we can hike on Caprera Island like you suggest.

Santa Teresa *(looks lovely to me()

Next would be Asinara National Park (should we base in Stintino?) also see Castelsardo?

Alghero OR Bosa? Where to base? Friend said Bosa is a must see and it looks perfect to me.

Orosei for a boast day?

I just don’t see how we can see entire island in 10 days if we want to do airbnb’s and not change hotels constantly. Trying to figure out order of towns and where it’s best to base. We will do regional flight from Rome so assuming we can go in one city and out another? Might pay drop off fees with rental car. Please help if you don’t mind. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Thanks Jamie!

Regarding your itinerary: – Ok for one night towards Porto Cervo – 3 nights in La Maddalena is perfect – Santa Teresa ok – You can pass by Castelsardo on the way between Santa Teresa and Asinara – For accommodation you can look between Porto Torres and Stintino. – Alghero is more lively than Bosa, there are more restaurants and things to do in the area. You can visit Bosa from Alghero, as it’s only 50 minutes by car. Bosa is just a photo opportunity, it’s a short visit. – I’m not sure if you have time to do the day trip to the Gulf of Orosei. For 10 days, the programme is already quite full.

You can rent the car in Olbia and return it to Olbia, it will save you extra costs.

Hi Vincent, love your site, am finding it very helpful! I will be in Sardinia for 7 nights, flying into Olbia from Nice and then flying out of Cagliari to Bari. Am trying to work out the my travels from north to south, am currently thinking: – fly into Olbia in the morning and drive to to Orosei region (stay either in Orosei, Cala Gonone or Dalgari), spend 3 nights here for hiking and boat tour – drive west to Bosa, stay here 3 nights and explore north/south – drive Bosa to Cagliari, exploring Cagliari town on last day Would love your thoughts, thanks!

Hi Rachael,

Thank you so much! I’m glad my blog is helping you plan your one week itinerary to Sardinia. What you have planned is perfectly feasible, no problem.

Excellent, thanks Vincent! One other question, do you think a small car (like a Fiat 500) is fine for this type of driving?

You’re welcome!

Yes, a small car will be fine. I rented a fiat panda for my road trip in Sardinia and had no problems.

Have a nice day,

Hi Vincent Your website is fabulous and Sardinia looks beautiful!!

I’m hoping you could give me your opinion as I’m not certain it is the right time for me to go there.

I’m a 19 year old travelling by myself this September, mostly in London for a short uni program and after that am really wanting to do a mostly relaxing beach holiday.

I am considering 5 days in Sardinia, 3 nights in La Maddalena and a night or 2 in Costa Smeralda. From reading your info and others it looks like you really need to have a car while in Sardinia.

I won’t be driving and I am on a budget. So just not sure whether to do a trip to Sardinia now or leave it for another time.

Would appreciate any thoughts or advice you may have. Thanks very much Janelle

Hello Janelle,

Thank you! Yes, Sardinia is really beautiful and has some superb beaches. Unfortunately, for me, you really need a car to visit it and get to the beaches. What’s more, this part of Sardinia (the whole Costa Smeralda) is reputed to be one of the most expensive on the island, so I think it would be complicated to find cheap accommodation in September. I think it would be better for you to go there next time when you can hire a car.

If you want to enjoy the sun and beaches without hiring a car, maybe Malta could be for you. It’s possible to find cheap hotels in the St Paul’s Bay / Mellieha area (North of the island) or on Gozo (the other island of Malta). You can eat there very cheaply. There are also youth hostels in the south of the island. The Mellieha area has some of the most beautiful beaches in Malta, and Gozo also has some great swimming spots. You can get around by bus or use VTC apps like Uber. In Malta and Gozo, it’s best to use Bolt (which isn’t very expensive either). If you’re interested, you can find all my articles here: Destination Malta .

Don’t hesitate if you have any questions!

Thank you so much for your response Vincent. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and for your honesty.

I have had a quick look at Malta but will check it out more and save Sardinia for another time.

Thanks again Janelle

We will be visiting Sardegna for the first time and currently live on mainland Italy. Do you know if it’s possible to use your own kayak at any of the beaches or cove areas? We can’t seem to find any regulations or information about kayaking besides rental locations. Thanks so much! And thank you for this article, we will be doing your 1 week in the north recommendation 😊

Thank you! I’m glad that my itinerary for a week in Sardinia is helping you organise your visits.

As for kayaking, I’m honestly not sure but I don’t see why you shouldn’t be allowed to use your kayak. I would advise you to contact one of the companies that organise kayak tours in Sardinia and ask them whether or not there are any special regulations. They should know.

Don’t hesitate to tell me the answer, it may be useful to other travellers.

Hello Vincent,

We are staying for 10 days in Sardinia flying into Cagliari and after 2 days we plan to drive straight up to Maddalena (is that too much?) Could you suggest which route is best to enjoy the views please and is there somewhere we could stop for a break about half way? We are planning 3or 4 days here and then driving south again spending the remainder of the holiday in Oristano before returning to Cagliari.

Hello Naomi,

To get from Cagliari to Palau (where the ferry leaves for the island of La Maddalena), you need to allow about 3 hours 45 minutes by car. It’s the quickest route, but it passes through the interior of Sardinia, so there’s not much to see.

You can also take the road along the entire east coast of Sardinia to enjoy the views. But the journey takes at least 5 hours by car.

Vincent I don’t know you-but you place wonderful itineraries for free here, so we know you know your stuff! When folks ask you such detailed questions that would take your time to answer, consider setting up a link where they can hire you for a consult to help create a personalized itinerary! Why not? Regards, Viv

Thanks a lot of your kind comment and suggestion! To be honest, I am really happy to help people plan their trip for free by answering their questions in the comments section. I try to write as detailed articles as possible, sometimes suggesting variations or several options of visits when it’s possible and worth it. Most people are thus asking me for relatively small changes to the itinerary, so it’s not too complicated to answer, and I wouldn’t see myself charging a fee for this. However, creating tailor made itineraries for clients would be much more work, and I believe that would easily turn into a full time job if I start offering this service! That would mean I won’t have time anymore to write guides, translate them, travel, take care of the photos etc.. and that would be a bit sad, as it’s what I enjoy doing and what helps most people to plan their trip! Of course I could always subcontract the work to someone else, but I believe this is not really fair, as they wouldn’t really have visited the places I talk about.

I actually have another blog about Mauritius with one of my friends who lives there, and she is offering this type of service. As it’s a small blog about 1 destination, it’s not a problem, as she has a few enquiries per month and can manage it along with the blog writing!

Thanks again Viv, and if you have any question to plan your trip to Sardinia or anywhere else, don’t hesitate.

Have a wonderful day!

Hi ! I love your iterinary wondering if you could help me? First time visit (anniversary trip) total of 7 nights in July . Wanted to know how I can squeeze in algehero , Porto cervo maddalena? Is this possible? We are mostly interested in beach, charters and relaxing.

Hello Mari,

Thanks a lot!

For your trip, you can follow my itinerary for a week in Northern Sardinia, as it already includes Porto Cervo and La Maddalena.

As for Alghero, if you’re only staying for 7 nights, I think it’s too short to include it, as it’s about 2h30 by car from Palau. Plus, as you say you’re mainly interested in the beaches, it’s not worth going to Alghero for that.

There are many more beautiful coves around the Costa Smeralda or towards Capo Testa, which I mention in this itinerary, or a little further towards Costa Paradiso. For a week, it’s best to concentrate on this area.

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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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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 July 2019 and updated March 2024

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Food allergies and dietary needs in Sardinia - Sardinia Forum

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Food allergies and dietary needs in Sardinia

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- Is pasta in Sardinia generally made with our without egg/dairy?

- What about bread?

I will prepare most of his food myself but would like to eat out a few times. Apart from his allergies, he is a really picky eater and likes quite plain food. Maybe a good idea at a trattoria/restaurant is to order him some antipasti (meat only), maybe some porceddu/ham/salami? He also likes some seafood which might be available in the part of our trip near Costa del Sud (the other part near Nuoro)?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Traditional pasta and bread are very simple, usually made with only flour and water (no egg nor dairy).

some articles in English here

https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/filindeu-and-carasau-breads-simple-eternal-flavours

https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/flavours-bread

https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/activities/eat-well

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7 of the best places to cruise in Italy

F ew countries can compete with Italy’s tourist appeal . Anyone who visits can enjoy fantastic cities, quaint villages, a string of picture-perfect coastlines, amazing cuisine and a fascinating history.

Alhough skiing , city breaks or a trip to one of the Italian lakes all have their own merits, there is a way to get a taste of several different parts of the country in one whirlwind trip.

Cruises around the Bel Paese give passengers the opportunity to see Italy ’s full range of sights. You can start with the romance of Venice and wind around to the rugged island beauty of Sicily and Sardinia, or begin surrounded by the stark coastal beauty of the Cinque Terre and end in hectic, characterful Naples , via the enchanting capital of Rome .

Whether you just want to see one destination or a handful, there’s likely a cruise to suit you; we’ve rounded up some of the best below.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast contains a little bit of everything that has made Italy so famous: beautiful coastlines, golden sands, picturesque towns, ancient historic sites and a hearty slice of la dolce vita .

The main towns along this coast include Amalfi, Sorrento and Positano , each renowned for offering a taste of the highlife in often luxurious surroundings, whether that be laid-back beaches or grandiose hotels. Pompeii lies close to these towns, offering an incredible insight into a famous bit of world history, while driving part of the Amalfi Coast’s winding roads is the best way to get amazing views while taking in some delightful towns.

How to do it

See both Sicily and the Amalfi Coast with the ‘ Amalfi & Sicily ’ seven-night package offered by Star Clippers. It starts in Civitavecchia, taking you to Amalfi and Sorrento before moving on to Messina and circling back to Rome.

Prices from £3,629pp including seven nights’ accommodation, all meals and drinks and select entertainment. Departing 6 July 2024.

Read more on the best hotels on the Amalfi coast

The capital is a beautiful fusion of historic and contemporary Italian life, from the modern cuisine and nightlife of Monti to the old houses and trattorias of Trastevere or Parione.

The Eternal City is also Europe’s most landmark-filled destination , with everything from Roman ruins to 18th-century fountains. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon are the undoubtably highlights, as are the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. The Vatican City is also contained within Rome, and you don’t want to miss the Sistine Chapel or St Peter’s Basilica.

Most cruises to this part of the country actually dock at nearby Civitavecchia, which is roughly one hour from the capital. Rome is often a starting point for cruises too, as passengers can head north to the Cinque Terre, east to Sardinia and south to Naples and Sicily.

The  Italian Treasures  cruise offered by Atlas Ocean Voyages begins in Valletta , the historic Maltese capital, but after departing very much focuses on the eastern Italian coast. It stops for a night in both Syracuse and Giardini Naxos (on Sicily), before departing to the Amalfi Coast and Capri and then finishing in the capital, where you can explore at your leisure before flying home.

Prices from £2,946pp including eight nights’ accommodation, all meals and drinks and onshore excursions. The company is currently running a promotion where the ‘second guest sails free’, so it is possible to get the entire package for just £2,946. Departing 1 September 2024.

Read more on the best hotels in Rome

Venice is perhaps the most beautiful of all Italian cities, situated on a vast lagoon and criss-crossed by dozens of bridges that hang over its canals. Its waterways are lined with the colourful facades of centuries-old buildings, many of which carry a Venetian style that is unique to the city, making for an eclectic cityscape.

A gondola trip, a stroll around St Mark’s Square, a walk over the Ponte Rialto and a visit to the Doge’s Palace are customary for those seeing the city for the first time, though for many the real attraction is getting lost in the sea of mazy alleys and historic bridges .

Many cruises start and end in Venice too, though due to its location at the top of the Adriatic, it can take a while to cruise down to other popular destinations like Bari, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. If you’re visiting on a cruise, chances are it’ll be a longer one, or that it’ll stop in destinations in northern Croatia , Dubrovnik or northern Greece .

Azmara Cruises’ ‘ Italy Intensive Voyage ’ takes passengers all the way from Rome to Venice. It begins by going north to Florence , then turning back on itself and going south to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. After a brief stop in Kotor, Montenegro , you’ll finish in Venice, with the opportunity to explore at your leisure before flying home.

Prices from £2,060pp including 10 nights’ accommodation, all meals and drinks, evening entertainment and select onshore excursions. Departing 10 April 2024.

Read more on the best hotels in Venice

Sicily is another of Italy’s famous islands, sharing a part of the Mediterranean with neighbouring Sardinia. It is equally as charming as Sardinia, and filled with similarly beguiling towns, a variety of natural landscapes and some of the finest culture and history that the country has to offer.

Tradition is paramount here, something that is reflected in a proud local populace. It is also visible in towns and cities like Palermo, and the timeless beauty of Syracuse, as well as on the olive groves and vineyards that dot the slopes of Mount Etna. It makes Sicily a great place to come if you want to see modern-day Italian living with a dose of outdoor adventure, in places like the Parco dell’Etna, along with historic charm (such as that at Syracuse).

Windstar Cruises’ ‘ Sicilian Spendours ’ cruise begins and ends in the Italian capital, but as the name suggests, this trip very much focuses on the largest island in the Mediterranean. It begins by heading to the Amalfi Coast, but then moves on to three Sicilian towns – Trapani, Porto Empedocle and Catania, via Gozo and Malta .

Prices from £3,105pp including 10 nights’ accommodation, meals and onboard entertainment. Departing 28 May 2024.

Read more on the best hotels in Sicily

Sardinia, which sits off the eastern coast around six hours from Civitavecchia by ferry, is one of Italy’s most popular summer destinations. A favourite among both tourists and Italians, it is home to a slew of great beaches – including Cala Goloritzé and the Costa Smerelda – and so is a good choice for days spent flitting between water sports and lying in the sun.

Though it’s understandable if you want to spend most of your time here on the sands, it would be remiss not to visit some of the pastel-hued towns and verdant national parks that lie inland and on the coast. Places like Alghero, Bosa and San Teodoro contain plenty of history throughout their cobbled streets, while Asinara and Gennargentu are two of the most picturesque natural areas.

Sardinia’s southerly location means that cruises that stop here often carry on to Sicily and Malta, and may go further on to the Balearics, Greek islands or even Tunisia .

The ‘ Enchanting Italian Coastlines ’ tour from Emerald Cruises covers both Sardinia and the eastern coast over a period of seven nights. It begins in the capital, moving first to Sorrento and Amalfi and then crossing the Mediterranean to Sardinia and Corsica before looping back.

Prices from £3,379pp including seven nights’ accommodation, all meals and drinks and airport transfers. Departing 27 April 2024.

Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre competes with the Amalfi Coast for the title of Italy’s most famous coastal area, but the Italian Riviera offers a different kind of beauty in its emerald waters and pastel-coloured towns. The region is part of Liguria, and consists of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. 

Each one has an abundance of old Italian charm, from the faded colours that come alive at sunset to the mazes of alleys leading up from tiny harbours. Only Monterosso has a proper beach, but this village quintet isn’t the place for solely a beach holiday, despite the coastlines. Instead, wander aimlessly through the villages, enjoy a laid-back meal or take to any of the surrounding hiking paths.

These once isolated villages are now tourist hotspots in their own right, with the Cinque Terre Express one of the best ways to get between them. Most cruises dock at La Spezia, the province’s main city, which lies just 20 minutes from the nearest Cinque Terre village, Riomaggiore.

The Cinque Terre is a less frequented destination on longer cruises, so the best bet is to visit as part of a multi-country cruise. Celebrity Cruises offers one such option with their ‘ Italian Riviera & France ’ package, which departs from Rome and initially heads south to Naples before circling around to La Spezia and Santa Margherita. After some time spent enjoying the Italian Riviera, you move on to the French one, seeing Cannes and Marseille before finishing in Barcelona.

Prices from £1,209pp including nine nights’ accommodation, return flights, all meals, daily activities and entertainment. Departing 4 June 2024.

Naples is a fascinating city, buoyed by a vibrant and chaotic energy and blessed with beautiful surroundings – including Mount Vesuvius and an azure bay – and an eclectic blend of architecture.

The city itself has a wealth of culture and history, from the recent and immaterial – such as its devotion to pizza or its football club – to the ancient and pertinent, including the Duomo cathedral and a large collection of Greco-Roman artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum. Be sure to talk a walk around the Spanish Quarter, Centro Storico and Spaccanapoli (the city’s main thoroughfare) to get a real sense of how life is lived in this hectic city.

Naples is the closest major city to the Amalfi Coast, and as such many trips here are combined with a visit to towns like Sorrento or Positano.

You’re spoilt for choice when including Naples in a cruise itinerary, and many cruises that stop here also include visits to parts of Greece and Croatia. A seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Norwegian Cruise Line takes advantage of these stops, taking guests from Rome to Venice via Valletta, Split and Corfu. Nevertheless, the focus is still on Italy, taking in the historic capital, the romantic canals of Venice and all of Naples’ characterful chaos (with an added stop in Messina, Sicily).

Prices from £1,573pp including seven nights’ accommodation, all meals and drinks and onboard entertainment. Departing 14 August 2024.

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Home › Blog › My Fourth Sailing Trip in the Med

My Fourth Sailing Trip in the Med

If you read this blog regularly, you know I spend two six-week sabbaticals a year sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. This week, I begin my fourth such trip. Let’s dig in.

Our Journey Thus far

As you can see from the map above, we started back in September of 2022 in Gibraltar. That trip was literally drinking from a big firehose. Meaning that while my wife and I had been training for more than a year, we didn’t know practical things like where or how you entered a Sapnish marina, how you set up reservations, or much else. By the end of the first trip, we had made it to Valencia, Spain, and left the boat for the winter. Upon returning in the spring of 2023, we sailed about 100 nautical miles over to Ibiza and did the Baeleric Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, and Formentera) with the kids. After all that, the boat was left in Valencia for the summer, and we headed back for trip 3 in the fall of last year. On that trip, we picked our way along the rest of southern Spain to Barcelona and then through the south of France with my brother and his wife. We finally ended up just shy of Genoa in Varazze, where we again left the boat for the winter. Our course thus far is above in yellow.

Pictures from our last trip from Valencia, Spain, to Varazze, Italy, are above.

Our Fourth Journey

We’re no longer drinking from a firehose and are comfortable managing the boat, sailing, docking, and everything else. The green dotted line above is what we have in store for this trip: the coast of northern Italy, Elba, Corsica, and Sardinia. We will finally leave the boat on the island of Elba, where Napoleon was placed for the first time before escaping back to Europe. In the fall, we’ll pick our way back down the coast of central and southern Italy and leave the boat for the winter in Sicily. Next year, we’ll finish the eastern coast of Italy, Venice, and then Croatia before heading to the Greek islands, likely in 2026.

Of note, while we have been in the Mediterranean Sea, we will be in both the Mediterranean and the Tyrrhenian Seas this trip. I guess we were also in the Baeleric Sea at some point last year!

Am I Still Working on the Boat?

Yep, I see telemedicine patients once a week, respond to emails every day, and take a few meetings here and there. I also try to shift into a lower gear.

What’s Our Routine?

We usually sail for 3-5 hours (or motor if the winds aren’t right) along the coast and then head into the next town’s marina. Sometimes, we’ll anchor for the night if the conditions are nice, and sometimes, we’ll also do 6-10 hour passages to cross the bigger distances between the coast and islands. We usually stay in a coastal town for 1-3 days, depending on whether we like it, and eat out every night. That experience varies widely, from your average small-town restaurants to some really special ones here and there. We also have foldable bikes, so we usually ride every day into town, walk quite a bit, or take a hike. From a caloric output standpoint, it’s fantastic because you have to expend calories to do anything. For example, getting food requires a big backpack and my bike, and I usually haul 30-40 pounds of groceries back to the boat. While we could rent cars or get electric scooters or bikes, at our age, it’s “use it or lose it”. We relish the challenge of being physical while living off the grid a bit.

Why Do This Now?

I turned 60 last year, so it’s time to begin to spend some more time away from the office. As I’ve written before, my Mom and Dad had big plans for everything they wanted to do once the kids were in college, but my dad got sick, and not much of that ever happened. In addition, if you have been reading this blog and following all of the physicians and luminaries we’ve lost this past year to illness, if that didn’t motivate me to spend some more time off, not sure what would.

Do You Have a Crew?

Nope, for the most part, it’s the crew of two (my wife and I). I did train my youngest son, who had an interest, and now he’s official having done his own formal ASA training, so when he’s on board, I get a break from being captain for a while. My brother also went to the Naval Academy and has a boat, so he was a big help. But outside of that, there is no “Below Decks” YouTube channel about the antics of our crew, because there ain’t no crew!

Can We See What You’re Up to?

I have an Instagram channel that I only use when I’m on the boat, which is @chriscenteno541.

The upshot? I likely won’t be blogging for the next six weeks while on my sabbatical, but rest assured, I’ll be taking lots of pics. See you all after I have had my fill of sailing!

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