Sardinia
Italy’s second-largest island — Costa Smeralda, nuraghi and Cala Goloritze
Overview
Things To Do
Deals
Travel Guide
Sardinia (Italian: Sardegna) is Italy's second-largest island after Sicily, sitting in the western Mediterranean 200km west of mainland Italy and 180km north of Tunisia. The island covers 24,000 km² with a permanent population of 1.6 million — a low population density that gives Sardinia 1,800km of largely undeveloped coastline. The island's identity is shaped by three pillars: prehistoric heritage (the 7,000 stone nuraghi tower-fortresses are unique to Sardinia, with the Barumini complex UNESCO-listed since 1997), luxury coastal tourism (the Costa Smeralda, developed by the Aga Khan from 1962, is Italy's leading luxury-beach enclave), and wild interior (the limestone Supramonte mountains, the Gennargentu National Park and the Selvaggio Blu hiking trail). UK travellers come for direct seasonal flights into Olbia (OLB), Cagliari (CAG) or Alghero (AHO), the Caribbean-quality water on the Costa Smeralda, the unique nuragic heritage and Italy's least crowded high-end beach scene.
✨ Why Visit Sardinia
- Caribbean-clear Mediterranean water — Sardinia's 1,800km coastline is consistently rated among Europe's clearest, with Cala Goloritzé voted Italy's most beautiful beach.
- The UNESCO Su Nuraxi di Barumini nuraghe — the best-preserved of Sardinia's 7,000 Bronze Age tower-fortresses, unique to the island.
- Costa Smeralda's luxury enclave — the 55km coast developed by Prince Karim Aga Khan in 1962 holds Italy's deepest concentration of five-star resort inventory.
- The Maddalena Archipelago National Park — 7 islands of granite-and-turquoise water in the Strait of Bonifacio.
- The Selvaggio Blu coastal hike — Italy's most challenging coastal walk, along the dramatic Gulf of Orosei limestone cliffs.
- Direct UK flights from over 12 airports — easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Ryanair and British Airways into Olbia (OLB), Cagliari (CAG) or Alghero (AHO), 2hr 30min from London.
🌴 What Makes Sardinia Special
Unlike Sicily — Italy's largest island — Sardinia is firmly upmarket and beach-focused, with the Costa Smeralda's celebrity-yacht culture pulling the price point upwards but the island's vast 1,800km coastline keeping the inventory genuinely varied. Unlike the Italian mainland coast, Sardinia delivers Caribbean-quality water — Cala Goloritzé and Cala Mariolu are routinely featured on global "world's best beaches" lists, and the granite-and-turquoise of the Maddalena Archipelago has no European equivalent. And unlike anywhere else in Europe, Sardinia pairs world-class beach holidays with genuine prehistoric heritage — the 7,000 nuraghi (stone tower-fortresses) found nowhere else on Earth, including the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi di Barumini. The combination of Costa Smeralda luxury, undeveloped southern beaches, nuragic archaeology and the wild Supramonte mountains makes Sardinia Italy's most rounded high-end Mediterranean island.
📍 Key Areas to Explore
- Costa Smeralda (north-east) — The 55km Aga Khan-developed luxury enclave with Porto Cervo, Spiaggia del Principe and Cala di Volpe.
- Olbia & Golfo Aranci (north-east) — The main international airport gateway, with the Romanesque Basilica San Simplicio and the year-round Olbia Airport.
- Maddalena Archipelago (north-east) — The 7-island national park reached by ferry from Palau in 20 minutes.
- Santa Teresa Gallura (northern tip) — The harbour town with ferries to Bonifacio (Corsica) in 50 minutes and the Capo Testa granite cliffs.
- Alghero (north-west) — A walled Catalan-Aragonese town with 16th-century coral fishing heritage and the Capo Caccia cliffs.
- Bosa (western coast) — A pastel-coloured medieval river town with the 12th-century Castello Malaspina above.
- Oristano & Sinis Peninsula (western) — The Roman Tharros archaeological site and the white quartz beaches of Mari Ermi.
- Cagliari (south) — The island's capital and second-largest airport, with the medieval Castello quarter and the Poetto beach.
- Costa del Sud & Chia (south-west) — The white-sand beaches of Tuerredda, Chia and Su Giudeu, with the 16th-century Spanish watchtowers.
- Gulf of Orosei (eastern coast) — The limestone-cliff coastline with Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu, Cala Sisine and the Selvaggio Blu hike.
A 24,000 km² island that pairs Caribbean-clear water with 7,000-year-old nuragic heritage, luxury Costa Smeralda enclaves and the wild Supramonte interior — broken down by category below.'
🏞️ Nature & Outdoor Activities
- Hike the 40km Selvaggio Blu coastal trail (Gulf of Orosei)
- Day boat trip from Palau to the Maddalena Archipelago National Park
- Drive the SS125 Sa Pedra Longa coastal road
- Climb the 7,000-year-old UNESCO Su Nuraxi nuraghe at Barumini
- Scuba dive at Capo Caccia (Alghero) with Capo Caccia Diving Centre
🏖️ Beaches
- Cala Goloritzé — 100m white-pebble cove voted Italy's most beautiful beach
- Spiaggia del Principe (Costa Smeralda) — Aga Khan's favourite, free public sand below the cliffs
- Cala Mariolu — pebble cove on the Gulf of Orosei, accessible by boat
- La Pelosa (Stintino, north-west) — 600m Caribbean-clear sand bay
- Tuerredda (south-west) — white-sand cove with shallow turquoise water
🍽️ Food & Drink
- Order culurgiones (Sardinian potato-and-mint stuffed pasta) at Su Gologone in Oliena
- Try porceddu (Sardinian whole-roast suckling pig) at Agriturismo Nieddera in central Sardinia
- Sample fregola con arselle (Sardinian semolina pasta with clams) at Sa Domu Sarda in Cagliari
- Eat bottarga (cured grey-mullet roe) at Da Nicolò in Carloforte (San Pietro island)
- Wine flight at Cantina Argiolas (Serdiana) with Cannonau and Vermentino DOCG bottles
🎉 Nightlife & Entertainment
- Sundowners at Phi Beach (Forte Cappellini, Costa Smeralda) — open-air DJ sets to 4am
- Live opera at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (year-round programme)
- Late drinks at Ritual Club Baia Sardinia (open-air club, summer)
- Jazz festivals at Berchidda (Time in Jazz, August)
- Quiet evening aperitivo in Alghero's medieval old town
📸 Instagram-Worthy Spots
- The 148m Aguglia limestone needle behind Cala Goloritzé
- The pink granite cliffs of Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli island (Maddalena)
- The 7,000-year-old central tower of Su Nuraxi di Barumini
- The pastel-coloured riverfront houses of Bosa
- The Sa Pedra Longa 128m sea-stack on the SS125 coastal road
Best Value Deals
🏨 All-Inclusive Holidays
Sardinia's AI market is small and luxury-tilted — the island leans toward four-and-five-star half-board resorts rather than mass-market AI. Forte Village Resort (Santa Margherita di Pula, the headline luxury complex with seven hotels), Chia Laguna Resort and Hotel Le Dune (Costa Rei) lead the upper-tier rankings. Hotel Setar (Cagliari) and Geovillage Sport & Convention Resort (Olbia) add the mid-market polished options. Shoulder-season weeks with UK flights typically open from £459pp in May or October, climbing to £1,199pp at August half-term — comfortably above mainland Italian beach destinations.
👨👩👧👦 Family Holidays
The southern Costa del Sud (Chia, Pula) and the eastern Costa Rei deliver the strongest family-resort scene. Forte Village Resort is Italy's premier family-luxury complex, with seven hotels, multiple kids' clubs, a sea-life sanctuary and Pirelli World Football Academy clinics. Chia Laguna Resort runs polished family villas behind Su Giudeu beach. Hotel Le Dune in Costa Rei holds Italy's largest hotel beach (5km of private sand). Pair with the Cala Goloritzé day trip, the Maddalena boat trip and the Su Nuraxi nuraghe for variety.
💎 Luxury Holidays
The Costa Smeralda holds Italy's deepest five-star coastal inventory. Hotel Cala di Volpe (a Marriott Luxury Collection property, opened 1963 by the Aga Khan, regularly featured in James Bond films), Hotel Romazzino and Hotel Pitrizza (all Aga Khan original five-stars) anchor the heritage luxury scene. Hotel Cervo (Porto Cervo Marina, Marriott Luxury Collection) and 7Pines Resort Sardinia add the contemporary alternatives. Outside the Costa Smeralda, Forte Village Resort (south coast Forbes 5-Star), Su Gologone Experience (Oliena, boutique-rural) and Capo Boi Resort & Spa (Villasimius) round out the upper-tier inventory.
⏰ Last-Minute Deals
Sardinia's high-end positioning means late discounts are uncommon during the May-to-October peak. The strongest savings appear in mid-May to early June and from late September into early October — discounts of 15–20% inside three weeks of departure are realistic on Hotel Setar, Geovillage Sport and the secondary Costa Rei properties. Almost every Sardinian beach hotel closes from late October to late April; only Cagliari and Alghero stay open year-round.
Why book with us:
💰 Low deposits from £49pp
📅 Flexible payment plans with balance due 6 weeks before travel
🛡️ ATOL Protected — your money and flights are fully safeguarded
✏️ Free amendment window on selected packages
📞 UK-based customer support, 8am–11pm every day
📅 Best Time to Visit Sardinia
Sardinia runs as a long-summer-season island, with most resort hotels open from late April to early November. Peak season is mid-July to mid-September, with daytime highs of 30–34°C, sea temperatures of 24–27°C, and the Costa Smeralda, Cala Goloritzé and Maddalena Archipelago at full capacity. May, June and September are the value-strong shoulder months at 23–28°C with cheaper hotel rates and the beaches and Selvaggio Blu hike at their best for walking. April and October still deliver 20–24°C with the sea around 18–20°C — pleasant for the cultural day-trips but cool for swimming. Winter (November to March) holds Cagliari and Alghero open at 15–17°C; most coastal resorts close.
🏨 Where to Stay
- Families: Forte Village Resort (Santa Margherita di Pula), Hotel Le Dune (Costa Rei), Chia Laguna Resort (Chia)
- Couples: Hotel Cala di Volpe (Costa Smeralda, Marriott Luxury Collection), Su Gologone Experience (Oliena, boutique-rural)
- Luxury travellers: Forte Village Resort (Forbes 5-Star), Hotel Cala di Volpe, Hotel Romazzino, Hotel Pitrizza
- Budget travellers: Hotel Setar (Cagliari), Hotel Calabona (Alghero), self-catering villas across Costa Rei
- Walkers, cyclists & culture lovers: Su Gologone Experience (Oliena, gateway to Selvaggio Blu and Supramonte hiking), Hotel Calabona (Alghero, near Capo Caccia)
🚗 Getting Around
A hire car is essential for exploring Sardinia properly — the island is too big and the rural villages too spread out for buses. Hertz, Sixt and Locauto rent cars from around €40 a day at Olbia Airport (OLB) or Cagliari Airport (CAG), rising to €120+ in peak August. The 30km transfer from OLB to Costa Smeralda takes 30 minutes by taxi (€60); from CAG to Chia it's 50 minutes (€80); from AHO to Alghero centre 15 minutes (€25). Public buses (ARST network) cover main resort-airport routes for €4–8 single. Tirrenia and Moby Lines ferries connect Olbia and Cagliari to mainland Italy (Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno) in 6–12 hours. Bluferries runs the Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio (Corsica) crossing in 50 minutes, useful for a Corsica day trip.
💡 Travel Tips
- Italy runs Central European Time — one hour ahead of the UK year-round.
- The currency is the Euro (€).
- Italy's standard VAT (IVA) is 22%, included in displayed prices; reduced 10% on hotel accommodation.
- Plug type is the European Type L three-pin Italian plug (or universal Type C/F at 230V) — bring an Italian or universal European adapter.
- Tap water is safe and tastes good across Sardinia — no need to buy bottled.
- A coperto (cover charge) of €1.50–4 per person applies in most Italian restaurants — check the menu before ordering.
- Cala Goloritzé has a daily visitor cap of 250 people from May to October — book through the Heart of Sardinia website 2–3 weeks ahead.
- The SS125 Sa Pedra Longa coastal road closes November to April due to landslide risk.
- The Costa Smeralda peak season (July to August) sees beach-club bali bed prices reach €250–500 a pair per day at Phi Beach and Cala di Volpe.
- The Maddalena Archipelago boat trips book out 48 hours ahead in summer — reserve through the Palau ferry kiosks.
- Many Sardinian restaurants close on Sundays in winter — plan accordingly.
- The annual Ferragosto (15 August) Italian holiday closes much of Sardinia for a week — book hotels and restaurants 6 months ahead.
- Tipping is not expected in Italy — round up the bill or add 5–10% only if the service was exceptional.
- The Sardinian Cannonau red wine is genetically the same as Spanish Garnacha — tastings at Cantina Argiolas pair it with local pecorino sheep cheese.
Map Of Sardinia
Top Experiences
Visit Cala Goloritzé
Stunning white-pebble beach with clear waters, dramatic limestone cliffs, and limited daily access.
Explore Costa Smeralda
Luxury coastline with turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and upscale beach clubs.
Discover Su Nuraxi di Barumini
UNESCO Bronze Age stone complex unique to Sardinia’s ancient history.
Hike Selvaggio Blu
Challenging coastal trail with cliffs, sea views, and adventurous trekking routes.
Boat around La Maddalena Archipelago
Island-hopping trip with crystal-clear waters and protected beaches.
Drive Sa Pedra Longa
Scenic coastal route through mountains, cliffs, and panoramic viewpoints.
Travel Information
Everything You Need To Know Before You Jet Off To Sardinia.