Sardinia delivers top-of-the-line Mediterranean highway journeys in Europe. This two-week itinerary covers every coast of the island, hitting celebrated seashores, historic cities, and genuine inland gems.
The information follows points of interest, routes, and consists of native journey practices. Start and finish factors might be both Olbia (north) or Cagliari (south), each with main airports and ferry connections.
If you’re already on the Italian mainland, a fantastic choice is to take the ferry to the island. This usually makes extra sense than flying, as you’ll be able to carry your automobile too, which is what we did. That approach, we may carry all the pieces we wanted, go to a few actually stunning locations alongside the best way, and luxuriate in a cool ferry crossing. Plus, we saved on airfares and automobile rental prices.
Read as properly our journey tip on How to Get to Sardinia.
Quick Overview: Route & Regions
| Days | Region/Area |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | North Coast (Olbia, Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena) |
| 5–7 | West Coast (Alghero, Bosa, Costa Verde) |
| 8–10 | South Coast (Cagliari, Villasimius) |
| 11–14 | East Coast (Orosei, Cala Gonone, Baunei, Olbia) |
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Days 1–4: North Coast – Beaches & Glamour
Base: Olbia / Costa Smeralda
- Drive from Olbia to Porto Cervo and the famed Costa Smeralda.
- Explore Spiaggia del Principe, Capriccioli Beach, and Liscia Ruja—all verified for turquoise, shallow waters and well-maintained amenities. You will go to a few of the most stunning seashores on the planet. The surroundings, the colour of the water and the rock formations are merely gorgeous.
- Take the Palau ferry (automobiles allowed) to La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, famend for abandoned sandy coves and clear snorkeling. Several licensed boat excursions function day by day.
- Tip: Porto Cervo is famous for upscale nightlife, however northern Sardinia’s villages like San Pantaleo and Cannigione provide genuine meals and decrease costs.
The seashores all around the island are gorgeous. The north-eastern ones are probably the most well-known, however we’ve seen many others that had been equally inviting and delightful.
That’s why we’ve included a couple of of them on this article: Best Beaches in Sardinia
Days 5–7: West Coast – Authentic Sardinia
Base: Alghero, Bosa
- Drive to Alghero, a city with Catalan roots, medieval partitions, and bustling seafood markets. Its previous city and Neptune’s Grotto cave (guided excursions year-round, climate allowing) are customer highlights.
- Follow the scenic SP49 coastal highway to Bosa—a riverside village with pastel homes and the Malaspina Castle. Bosa is confirmed for its picturesque middle and river views.
- South of Bosa, uncover the quartz-sand seaside at Is Arutas and wild waves of the Costa Verde.
Days 8–10: South Coast – History & Capital Culture
Base: Cagliari / Villasimius
- Head south by way of Oristano in direction of Cagliari, the historic Sardinian capital.
- Cagliari’s prime websites: the Bastion of Saint Remy, Poetto Beach, the traditional Roman amphitheater, and the previous districts of Castello and Marina.
- Eat: Cagliari’s eating places serve signature dishes like culurgiones (Sardinian ravioli) and bottarga (cured mullet roe).
- Excursion: Day journeys to Villasimius and Costa Rei for unspoiled south-eastern seashores are easy by way of SS125 freeway.
Days 11–14: East Coast – Wild Landscapes & Adventure
Base: Orosei, Cala Gonone, Baunei
- Drive up the SS125 (the “Orientale Sarda,” certainly one of Italy’s prime scenic roads) to Orosei. The Gulf of Orosei is known for limestone cliffs, sea caves, and pristine coves.
- Cala Gonone: Gateway for boat excursions to Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu, and the ocean cave Grotta del Bue Marino. Trips run day by day in summer season—affirm availability and climate earlier than reserving;
- A hike to Cala Goloritzé, a UNESCO-listed seaside solely accessible on foot, is very really helpful (path well-signposted and maintained).
Highlights & Activities
- Best seashores: Spiaggia del Principe, La Pelosa (Stintino), Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu, Poetto, and Is Arutas.
- Historic websites: Su Nuraxi nuraghe (Barumini, UNESCO-verified), Castello di Cagliari, Malaspina Castle (Bosa).
- Wildlife: Pink flamingos seen at Cagliari’s salt flats and Molentargius Park in spring and summer season.
- Eating: Try native specialties—porceddu (roast suckling pig), seadas (cheese pastry with honey), and Cannonau wine.
- Boat excursions: Licensed operators on La Maddalena and the Gulf of Orosei provide day by day journeys; advance reserving really helpful for August.
Read as properly our journey tips on…
Essential journey ideas for Sardinian highway journeys
Sardinia is good for highway journey explorers, however a profitable journey requires up-to-date planning and native know-how. Here are crucial journey ideas for anybody self-driving round Sardinia’s coast:
1. Car Hire & Booking
- Advance reservation required: Especially in July-August, guide your automobile weeks forward for the very best availability and costs.
- Rental places: Major airports at Olbia and Cagliari, plus Alghero and port cities.
- Driver necessities: Most rental companies require a sound EU or worldwide driver’s license, and drivers to be not less than 21 (generally 25) years previous.
We headed to Sardinia with our personal automobile and took the in a single day ferry. That saved us the rental automobile prices, flights and we had a fantastic journey and the youngsters cherished the ferry crossing.
2. Driving & Roads
- Road situations: Highways (SS and SP roads) and principal coastal routes are properly maintained and paved. Inland routes might be slender and winding—drive slowly and with warning.
- Speed limits: 50km/h (cities), 90km/h (secondary roads), 110km/h (main roads), except in any other case posted. Many roads have velocity cameras (“autovelox”).
- Fuel: Most fuel stations settle for playing cards and are open day by day, although some shut for a protracted lunch (12:30–15:30) outdoors huge cities. Fill up earlier than coming into distant coastal stretches.
3. Navigation & Signs
- Navigation: GPS or Google Maps works properly, however carry a paper map as cellular reception could also be weak within the mountains and distant coasts.
- Road indicators: Signs are clear and sometimes in Italian, with some places listed in Sardinian dialect.
4. Parking & ZTL (Restricted Zones)
- Beach/city parking: Many seashores and city facilities have paid parking zones. Always examine indicators for deadlines and fee strategies.
- ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato): Many previous city areas (particularly Cagliari, Alghero, Bosa, Castelsardo) prohibit non-resident automobile entry throughout components of the day. Fines are automated for violations. Pretty nasty, proper? So be careful and search for marked indicators.
5. Safety & Security
- Personal security: Sardinia is very protected for self-driving vacationers. Violent crime is uncommon; customary precautions apply.
- Vehicle security: Theft from automobiles can happen, significantly at distant seashores. As regular, by no means depart seen valuables in your automobile.
6. Ferries and Island Connections
- Car ferries: The solely automobile ferry to La Maddalena leaves from Palau (runs year-round).
- Advance reserving is very really helpful throughout summer season and weekends.
7. Essentials to Pack
- Sun safety: Sardinian solar is intense; pack sunscreen, hats, and sun shades.
- Cash: Although playing cards are broadly accepted, many distant seaside parking tons or rural eating places settle for solely money.
- Water and snacks: Services are sparse alongside some distant coastlines or mountain stretches.
8. Local Driving Culture
- Locals might drive rapidly on winding roads; use pull-outs to let sooner automobiles go.
- Roundabouts: Always yield to site visitors already inside.
9. Emergency Information
- Emergency quantity: Dial 112 for police, fireplace, or medical emergencies.
- Breakdown providers: Most rental companies present a toll-free quantity for help. Make certain that you’ve the contact particulars of your insurance coverage, for those who drive with your individual automobile.
10. Sustainability
- Respect seashores and nature reserves: Take all waste with you; by no means park on sand dunes.
- Support native: Use native guides, eat regional delicacies, and store at markets for genuine experiences.
These journey ideas for driving in Sardinia will assist guarantee each a clean journey and a accountable journey expertise.
Travel Dudes encourages accountable and sustainable exploration. Respect native pointers, get rid of waste correctly, and assist genuine Sardinian companies all through your journey.
