The island of Sardinia It combines everything you could want from a vacation: beaches with white sand and a sea as clear as the sky, mountains, huge sea caves, ancient cities and a varied gastronomy. If you have not yet explored this corner of Italian paradise, now is the time to plan your perfect vacation. In this travel guide you will find transport options, accommodation, gastronomy, tourist attractions and the approximate budget for a stay in Sardinia.

content

Transport
What do you drive around Sardinia with?
Accommodation Sardinia
What to visit in Sardinia - Top Beaches
Other tourist attractions in Sardinia
- Neptune's Cave
- La Maddalena Archipelago National Park
Food
- Where do you eat in Sardinia?
Budget Sardinia

Transport

Cagliari Elmas Airport (located in the southern part of the island)

Train – The ticket costs 1.30 euros and you can buy it from the ticket machine at the airport and at the train station, directly from the Trenitalia or Oppo applications and from tobacconists. The train station is 300 m from the airport, and trains run from 5 am to 9 pm. There are trains every 20 minutes, and you will reach Cagliari Central Station in about 10 minutes.

Bus – The bus network is not very developed in the airport area, so we recommend that you take the bus only if you arrive after 9 p.m. Bus 160 leaves the airport around 11:30 p.m. and the tickets cost the same as the train: 1.30 euros and can be purchased from ticket machines.

Taxi – The taxi rank is located outside the arrivals terminal, and the cost to Cagliari city center starts from 15 euros.

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (located in the north-eastern area of the island)

Bus – Unlike Cagliari Elmas Airport, Oblia Airport has numerous buses that go to the city. Tickets cost 1 euro and can be purchased from the vending machines in the arrivals area of the airport. The trip to the city center takes 10 minutes and you have to take the ASPO 2 or 10 buses, the stops are approximately 50 m from the exit of the arrivals terminal. Buses run every 20 minutes between 6-11:40 p.m.

Taxi – Taxis are located outside the arrivals terminal, and the journey will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Prices start at 15 euros and increase at night.

Alghero Fertilia Airport (located in the north-western area of the island)

Bus - The ARST buses that operate from the airport to the city of Fertilia run hourly, and the station is approximately 150 m from the exit of the arrivals terminal. The trip will take around 20-30 minutes, and tickets (1 euro) can be purchased from the vending machines in the airport or station, tobacconists or online from the ARST company website (link at the end).

Taxi – Taxis can be found outside the arrivals terminal, and prices start from 25 euros and may increase depending on the number of passengers, luggage and time of day. The trip will take between 10-20 minutes and is a convenient option if you have a lot of luggage.

What do you drive around Sardinia with?

Depending on the locations in Sardinia you want to visit, the people you are traveling with and your flexibility, you can travel in Sardinia either by public transport or with a rented car. With a rented car you can easily travel anywhere on the island, you will not depend on the timetable of public transport, you will get where you want faster and you can carry any luggage you want with you. In addition, you can reach places where buses or trains cannot. Rental offers are available here, starting from 20 euros/day. I have also left you a link at the end to compare the prices of different car rental companies.

To travel by bus, you must know that there are 2 types of buses: urban and intercity. You can buy tickets (1.30 euros) from ticket machines, tobacconists, newsstands or from the driver where they are slightly more expensive. Tickets for intercity buses can reach 20-30 euros, depending on the location you want to reach. Remember that the ticket must always be validated on the bus (urban and intercity buses) or at the station (only on certain intercity buses).

Train journeys are less frequent than bus journeys, but it can be a more comfortable and less crowded option. You can find the schedule and buy tickets on the Omio or Trenitalia apps. But you can also buy tickets from ticket machines. Remember that if you purchase tickets physically, they must be validated before boarding the stations. Tickets start from 1 euro and can reach 20 euros, depending on the destination you choose.

Accommodation Sardinia

You can find affordable accommodation in Sardinia from 50 euros/night in all parts of the island. You can find both accommodations with a private beach or even resorts that exceed 300-400 euros/night.

In the Cagliari area, we recommend you B&B Blanco located just 50 m from the port of Cagliari. With classic and elegant rooms, private bathroom, air conditioning, balcony in some of the rooms and breakfast included, the accommodation is rated 8.8 on Booking. The prices per night start from 70 euros.

In the Alghero apartments and resorts are very popular, reaching even 3000/euro per night. We recommend you to stay in Perla Blue apartment rated 9.2 on Booking. The 40 square meter apartment includes a bedroom with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed, living room with another sofa bed, private bathroom with washing machine, kitchen, air conditioning and TV. Prices start from 75 euros/night.

Gemma di Gallura Charm B&B it is an accessible and clean accommodation from Olbia area. With double rooms with private bathroom, air conditioning, TV and Wifi, prices start from 95 euros/night. Breakfast is included in the price, and the accommodation has a rating of 9.5 on Booking. You also have access to the beautiful garden with terrace.

What to visit in Sardinia - Top Beaches

La Pelosa Beach

La Pelosa Beach it is among the most beautiful beaches on the whole island. Here you will find white sand and light turquoise water, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It is located approximately 60 km from the city of Alghero, and if you choose to come by bus, you will pay approximately 4-5 euros/person and you will arrive in approximately 2 hours. You can take bus 714 from Alghero to Porto Torres Porto Civico, and from there take bus 727 to Spiaggia La Pelosa station. In this case, the rented car is definitely a faster option because you will arrive in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

From July to the end of September, you must have a reservation to get to this beach. I have left you a link at the end to the official website where you can make the reservation which costs 3.5 euros/adult, while children up to 12 years old have free access. It is paid exclusively online and both mobile and printed tickets are accepted.

Porto Giunco beach

Porto Giunco beach it is located approximately 45 km from the city of Cagliari. This is by far the most beautiful beach in the southern area, and besides the azure waters, here you can admire flamingo birds. It is a beach with a tropical appearance that is worth visiting.

You can take bus 101 (approx. 4 euros) to Villasimius from where you can take the bus directly to the beach. The prices for umbrellas and sunbeds are a little higher than in other areas of the island and even reach 15-25 euros.

Brandinchi beach

Brandinchi beach it is perfect for a holiday in Sardinia with the family! With clean, white sand, clear and shallow water on a large surface, it is located approximately 25 km from the city of Olbia. Next to the sandy beach stretches a pine forest, so you will feel like you are on an exotic vacation like in Bali or Thailand!

You can get here by bus 514 for about 2 euros, and the journey will take around 25 minutes. Prices for umbrellas vary between 1.5-3 euros/hour and you have free access to the showers. If you are in the Olbia area, you will surely be taken aback by this gorgeous beach!

Tuerredda beach

Tuerredda beach it is located in the southern part of the island and is similar to the beaches of the Caribbean islands, being a wonderful place to visit with the family. Boats for rides and hydro-bikes are available. Here a sunbed can even reach 25 euros/day. Snorkeling activities are also available and you will find numerous cafes and restaurants. If you don't rent a car, you can get there by bus 129 from Cagliari.

Capriccioli Beach

Capriccioli Beach it is located in the eastern part of the island, approximately 25 km from the city of Olbia. Perfect for the fun of the little ones, but also for snorkeling thanks to the extremely clear water, you can get here by bus. Unfortunately, it rarely circulates, so the best option is to rent a car. The price of umbrellas varies between 10-20 euros per day.

Mugoni Beach

Mugoni Beach it is only 15 km from the city of Alghero and, like the other beaches in this area, it has fine sand and calm waters. It can be reached by bus 9321 from Alghero in about 30 minutes. It is less crowded and you can rent deckchairs and umbrellas at low to medium prices.

Other tourist attractions in Sardinia

Neptune's Cave

Depending on the destinations you arrive at, we recommend you visit at least one seaside cave in Sardinia. In the Alghero area there is the most popular such grotto - Neptune's Cave. It is accessible only when the sea is calm and inside is the superb Lamarmora lake surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. You can find numerous boat tours to get here at prices starting from 12 euros/person. Access to the cave is 14 euros/adult, 10 euros/person between 7-14 years old or over 65 years old and free for those under 7 years old. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance.

La Maddalena Archipelago National Park

La Maddalena Archipelago it is located approximately 50 km north of Olbia, and the easiest way to get there is by boat (from 30 euros on TripAdvisor) or by ferry from Palau. The ferry ride takes 15 minutes and costs approximately 3-4 euros. It is a beautiful place with marine life, small beaches and magnificent fauna.

Food

Being an island, in Sardinia you will find numerous seafood and fish dishes. However, it also has Catalan influences, so you can also taste paella here. Some of the most popular dishes specific to the area are su porcheddu (suckling pig), Fregoli (a kind of semolina pasta) and the sheep in the hood (a kind of mutton stew). As a dessert, definitely enjoy arranged - a combination between candied orange slices and almonds.

Where do you eat in Sardinia?

Depending on the cities you arrive at, you can find both traditional and international restaurants if you fancy a specialty from other countries. In Cagliari visit the Cavo Bistrot restaurant for Italian cuisine with prices between 4-40 euros per dish or the Sabores Bottega E Cucina restaurant for southern Italian and Sardinian delicacies at prices between 5-35 euros.

If you are in Olbia, you can dine at Turismo Rurale in Rocca with Italian and Sardinian food where the prices vary between 7-40 euros. Or you can try By Night Restaurant From 1985 with Mediterranean, European and Sardinian dishes between 5-25 euros.

Have you arrived in Alghero? You must definitely try the paella with seafood from Alamo Ristorante with prices that vary between 4-40 euros. And if you want to discover the Sardinian culture, we recommend Azienda Agrituristica Sa Mandra where, in addition to dishes (2-40 euros), you also have a small museum.

Budget Sardinia

For a 5-day stay in Sardinia with 2 adults, we recommend a budget of at least 700-800 euros. Sardinia is often called the tropical treasure of the Mediterranean, being a place you must visit at least once in your life! Below you will find some links that can help you plan your vacation in Sardinia.

Transport

Accommodation

Attractions

Sardinia holiday: What to visit in Sardinia! Everything you need to know