4–5 days
North coast
- 1.Olbia or Porto Cervo as a base.
- 2.The La Maddalena archipelago by boat.
- 3.The beaches of the Costa Smeralda.
- 4.Tempio Pausania for the Gallura hinterland.
Sardinia
Sardinia
Turquoise water, pink granite, a stubborn and beautiful interior.
Overview
Costa Smeralda
Sardinia is an island with two souls. The one everyone has seen in photos: the Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, the white-sand coves. And the inland one, of nuraghi, shepherds and silence.
The truth is that both are worth it: the sea really is like that, but the true heart of the island lies a little further on.
Character of the place
What to expect
Landscape
Granite and limestone coasts, dunes, cork oak forests, mountains (Gennargentu).
Sea and coast
Among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean: La Maddalena, Costa Smeralda, Cala Goloritzé, Chia.
Towns and villages
Cagliari, Alghero, Bosa, Castelsardo, Orgosolo.
Where it is
Location & getting there
Where
Tyrrhenian Sea, west of the Italian peninsula.
Area
Autonomous region with special statute.
Getting there
Flights to Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero. Ferries from Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno and Naples.
Alghero: Catalan on the street signs, 16th-century walls on the sea.
Curiosities
Did you know…
- 01
There are more than 7,000 nuraghi, and no other civilisation in the world built anything like them.
- 02
Sardinian is a language in its own right, not a dialect: of all the Romance languages, it has stayed closest to Latin.
- 03
Cala Luna and Cala Goloritzé can only be reached on foot or by boat.
- 04
Barbagia has one of the highest rates of centenarians in the world.
Itineraries
How to experience it
5 days
East coast
- 1.Cala Gonone as a base.
- 2.Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu by dinghy.
- 3.Cala Goloritzé on foot.
- 4.Supramonte and Tiscali.
4–5 days
South
- 1.Cagliari (2 nights).
- 2.Chia, Tuerredda, Cala Cipolla.
- 3.Sant’Antioco and San Pietro.
Not to be missed
Places and experiences
- 01
La Maddalena Archipelago
Caprera, Budelli (the Pink Beach).
- 02
Cala Goloritzé
Small, perfect, reachable on foot.
- 03
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
The most important nuraghe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 04
Alghero
Catalan on the street signs, sea walls at sunset.
- 05
Bosa
Colourful houses along the Temo river, one of the most photogenic towns.
A feast for the eyes
Sardinia in pictures
Photo: Pexels. Domenico Adornato · Jakub Krystkiewicz · Efrem Efre · Hub Jacqu · Pexels
Highlights
Icons of Sardinia
- Costa Smeralda
- La Maddalena
- Su Nuraxi nuraghe
- Alghero
Practical tips
Before you go
Best time to go
June and September for the sea without the crowds.
Ideal length of stay
7 nights for one area, 10–14 for the north and east.
Good to know
A car is essential. The best beaches require a walk or a dinghy.
Keep exploring
Other destinations
Ischia
Thermal springs steaming on the beach, lush gardens, the Aragonese Castle rising from the water.
Discover
