Sardinia Vacation Tips & Experiences

"Sardinia is the Caribbean of Europe. Look forward to turquoise waters, hidden coves, and plenty of opportunities if you don't just want to spend your Sardinia vacation at the beach." This is the consensus from friends who travel to Sardinia year after year. "Once you've been here, you'll always come back" - okay, classic repeat visitors.

You have two options to get to Sardinia: By plane or by car/motorhome and ferry. If you arrive by car, you save on the rental car. Traveling with a motorhome? There are great campsites available. In both cases, the ferry is ideal, so you won't need a rental car on location.

Ferry connections are available from Genoa and Livorno. Here at Directferries you can search and book your best connection directly.

The second option is to arrive in Sardinia by plane. Sardinia has three airports: Olbia and Alghero in the north and the airport in Cagliari in the south, the capital of Sardinia. I always look for the best flights on Kayak.

Having a rental car on the island is highly recommended so you can explore it. This way, you can reach the most beautiful beaches and places off the beaten path.

BOOK FLIGHTS ✈️ We always look for cheap flights at Kayak. Here you'll find my tips for booking cheap flights. Make sure you specify checked baggage, as basic flights only include carry-on luggage. This can initially distort the price and make it appear cheaper.

Whether by plane or car and ferry, Sardinia is quick and easily reachable. Direct flights from southern Germany take only two hours and are often available at a low cost.

Fortunately, building hotels over several stories is forbidden in Sardinia. Therefore, there are no concrete bunkers and few expensive hotels by the sea. The solution? A holiday home right by the sea, with or without a pool, but with breathtaking views and the beach often just a few meters away.

There are beautiful areas and accommodations around Alghero, Gallura, Costa Smeralda, and Olbia. The Sinis Peninsula also offers great beaches. However, we focus on the south of Sardinia. We're skipping a round trip.

I recommend booking a holiday home at Tisenti.com. Here, customer service is a priority. If the owner is on-site, he may even stop by personally to welcome you and share some insider tips.

Either a house directly on the beach in a beautiful bay, or in a bay with great views in Torre delle Stelle?

Sardinia's beaches resemble the Caribbean. Long sandy beaches meet hidden coves surrounded by rugged rocks. The water glimmers turquoise from afar. Underwater, you will enjoy visibility up to meters. I never would have believed that I only need to spend two hours on a plane to reach such beautiful places. It's no wonder that Sardinia's beaches are among the most beautiful in the world.

The coves in the north and east are frequently mentioned, but I've found my personal paradise in the southeast. The island is beautiful!

When you arrive at the Cagliari airport, the first highlight awaits you: The old coastal road to Villasimius.

The cliffs often drop steeply into the sea, revealing breathtaking views of dreamlike coves and beaches. Along the road, there are numerous bays where you should stop to enjoy the view.

I love Italian food. But Sardinian cuisine offers much more than pasta and pizza: wafer-thin crispy flatbread (Carta di musica - music sheet) or suckling pig (Porcheddu). Of course, directly from the farmer. Look for the Agriturismo signs.

Also very tasty is the fresh fish you can get directly from the fishing cooperative at the harbor (Ittiturismo). The table gets filled with all kinds of fish and shellfish caught that day. And that's a lot in Sardinia.

Another tradition is the bitter honey you can buy in the interior or at farmers' markets (Villasimius).

Cheese lovers cannot skip visiting the cheesemaking factory. Here you can buy 'Pecorino Sardo' - typical Sardinian sheep cheese - directly from production. You can choose your favorite among the different maturation stages and take it home to Germany.

And ice cream lovers are always satisfied in Italy. We stopped at ice cream shops every day. At temperatures above 32 degrees, this is an absolute must.

Whether you are an active traveler, a sunbather, seeking luxury vacation, or going on a family trip. Sardinia truly offers something for everyone. Camping enthusiasts chase their motorhomes along the narrow coastal roads to the next campsite. Road trip fans will also be satisfied, as the island is not too big but very diverse.

If you've had enough of the beach or the sun isn't shining, head to Sardinia's nature parks and hiking areas. Narrow serpentine roads lead up into the mountains. Few tourists embark on a hiking tour and enjoy the tranquility while breathing in the scent of pines, junipers, and thyme.

I was at Sette Fratelli (Seven Brothers) and explored the mountain on my own (okay, we didn't find the path). The reward was a view all the way to Cagliari.

At the Forest Office and Visitor Center 'Sette Fratelli', there is a large map marking the hiking trails and information for hikers. You should stop by if, like us, you only have a small car, as some trails are only accessible via unpaved roads.

Sardinia is considered a pricey travel destination because many longing for escape first think of the Costa Smeralda in the north. This is where high society resides. However, at many other (much prettier) places, you can experience an affordable, if not downright cheap vacation.

Before my trip to Sardinia, I heard from friends who spent a mid-four-digit amount on their annual vacation in Sardinia. Regularly - year after year.

However, that's not my goal, and I was sure before the trip that it could be done cheaper. I admit that this isn't always easy. If you follow my tips, you should also be able to have a fantastic vacation in Sardinia without breaking the bank.

In July and August, every beach is likely to be crowded and holiday homes expensive. Of course, it's peak travel season in Europe. Visit Sardinia in March, April, May, June, September, or October. Then there are no holidays, and you can find lonely coves everywhere and definitely get a table at a restaurant.

The beaches are empty and barely visited in May and June. Only on weekends do locals come from Cagliari towards Villasimius to relax on the beach. Still, there is always an empty cove to be found.

The good thing about Sardinia is that you can reach it relatively quickly and cheaply by car and ferry. Especially from southern Germany, this is a popular way to travel.

There are also flights - depending on the season and airline chaos - quite affordable ones. Sardinia itself has three airports: Olbia in the northeast, Cagliari in the south, and Alghero in the northwest. Olbia and Alghero are usually only serviced by budget airlines like Ryanair. My tip: Book a flight directly to Cagliari in the south. Direct flights from Germany, for example, are offered by Eurowings after the Air Berlin chaos.

I traveled with Eurowings from Stuttgart to Cagliari. I always check flight search engines for suitable flights and compare prices. This sometimes takes a while, but it's definitely worth it.

BOOK FLIGHTS ✈️ We always look for cheap flights at Kayak. Here you'll find my tips for booking cheap flights. Make sure you specify checked baggage because basic flights only include carry-on luggage. This can initially distort the price and make it appear cheaper.

Cagliari is located in the south of the island and is literally 'across from Africa'. Tunis (Tunisia) is closer than Rome or Naples. About one-third of Sardinia's residents live here. As the cultural center of the island, you should especially explore the Castello district with its narrow streets. The Via Roma by the harbor with many restaurants, trattorias, and cafes is also worth a visit. Occasionally, a luxury yacht or, as in our case, a sailboat docks at the harbor.

The capital is perfect for a day trip. Ideally, you spend your last evening here to unwind. Enjoy your last evening in a great restaurant in the old town with a view of Cagliari before returning to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland the next day. More tips for Cagliari will follow, as I was lucky enough to stroll through the city with a local.

Prices for B&B are very low and are located in the heart of the old town Castello (We stayed at Art Guest House for €68/night between the harbor and Castello).

If you're not traveling with your own car, here's my tip: Rent a car. Because without a car, you'll be quite stuck here. Public transport does exist, but rarely. Furthermore, you can reach lonely coves with the rental car, drive along the coastal roads, or set off on exploratory tours into the hinterland.

In July and August, you definitely need to book your rental car early. Spontaneously renting on-site won't give you much chance of getting a car. By the way, the smallest category is sufficient if you're traveling as a couple. Italy isn't truly Italy without a Fiat, right?

I always look for cheap rental cars at Sunny Cars, billiger-mietwagen, or CHECK24. Comparing the portals is worth it. I like Sunny Cars, as they often include the additional driver and many extras.

LOOKING FOR A RENTAL CAR?

For finding a rental car, we recommend the platform check24 or Billiger Mietwagen. I also compare prices with Sunny Cars.
-> Tips for booking a rental car can be found here. -> Do you not have a credit card? Then read here how you can get a rental car without a credit card.

Without a car, you can't reach beautiful coves like this one - Capo Ferrato:

Sardinia is a paradise for lovers of holiday homes. Especially in the south, there are more holiday homes than hotels. A small house with a sea view or maybe a villa with a pool? I found a great option with the specialist for holiday homes in southeastern Sardinia.

For families with children, I recommend a house on the kilometer-long sandy beach of Costa Rei. For all other travelers, I recommend a house in Villasimius, Geremeas, or Torre delle Stelle.

A day trip by motorboat is definitely worth it. If you don't have a boat license, you can rent a small engine boat and explore the coves.

In the southeast, around Villasimius and Costa Rei, it is also much cheaper (about €70 for half a day plus fuel) than in the north (double the price).

Sardinia offers many hiking trails. If you have time, you should definitely go for a hike. We spent a day in the mountains near Sette Fratelli (Seven Brothers) and hiked without a guide.

Caution: Be sure to bring plenty of water!

Ittiturismo is for seafood lovers, Agriturismo for lovers of meat and farm-fresh meals directly from the farmer. The former is an experience right at the local fishing cooperative. Whatever was caught that day gets served on the table. That's often quite a lot. Fresh, authentic, and inexpensive (considering what you get) is hard to find in Sardinia.

The counterpart at the farm consists of roasted suckling pig. But before that, there are at least 3-4 courses of Sardinian antipasti, Fregola, lasagna, and fish. Often for dessert, you'll get fruit. It's truly incredible how much Italians can eat. The only downside is that everything tastes so incredibly good that you hardly want to skip a course.

You can save money by shopping at local markets. The markets are small but offer affordable fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread, honey (specialty Miele di Corbezzolo), and fresh fish for sale. Find out on which days the markets take place.

I visited the market in Villasimius on a Saturday. The prices amazed me; the fruits, vegetables, and fresh fish were so inexpensive!

Even though I'm only covering the south, the north of Sardinia is also not to be missed. Especially for surfers, the coastline between Palau and Capo Testa is ideal. The hotspot is Porto Puddu (near Palau).

The most exclusive part of Sardinia is the Costa Smeralda. Olbia is the fourth largest city in Sardinia and is primarily known to tourists because of its airport.

From here, a road trip over Porto Cervo - Palau - La Maddalena - Porto Pollo - Castelsardo - Stintino to Alghero is perfect. You can fly back from here (budget airlines serve Alghero), or continue to Cagliari or Olbia. My brother did this trip and raved about it to me. It's on my 'to-do' list.

After the Michael Müller travel guide was often recommended, I bought it as an e-book. To be honest? Villasimius is almost forgotten, and Costa Rei doesn't get a good review either. I wonder what might be behind that? It's rumored that local landlords didn't want to pay for advertising in the travel guide. So here are my tips for great guides that also include nice stories and background knowledge:

The travel magazine Sardinia was quite new on the market when I bought it. Therefore, the tips and addresses are very up to date. You can find great overview maps, tips for beautiful coves, and also places that aren't mentioned in every other travel guide. It also features charming, engaging chapters on the history of the locals and Sardinia itself. A must-buy!

Check it out on Amazon now

I really love this series wholeheartedly. Here, I found not only great tips for the south but also for Cagliari and the rest of the island. I now know the places I must see on my next visit! An absolute must-buy!

Check it out on Amazon now

The main travel season for Sardinia is especially July and August. The beaches are packed, rental cars and holiday homes expensive. My tip: travel to Sardinia in March, April, May, June, September, or October. The weather is still great, and flights are much cheaper. I was in Sardinia in June, and it was hot with temperatures always above 28 degrees.

What was your highlight? If you have more tips, I would love to read your comments at the end of this article. If you are planning your trip and have questions, feel free to leave a comment here!

Which island can you recommend?

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