Sardinia delivers among the finest 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 sights, routes, and consists of native journey practices. Begin and finish factors could be both Olbia (north) or Cagliari (south), each with main airports and ferry connections.
In the event you’re already on the Italian mainland, an ideal possibility 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 manner, we may carry every part we would have liked, go to a few actually lovely locations alongside the best way, and luxuriate in a cool ferry crossing. Plus, we saved on airfares and automobile rental prices.
Learn as nicely our journey tip on Methods to Get to Sardinia.
Fast Overview: Route & Areas
| Days | Area/Space |
|---|---|
| 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 – Seashores & Glamour
Base: Olbia / Costa Smeralda
- Drive from Olbia to Porto Cervo and the famed Costa Smeralda.
- Discover Spiaggia del Principe, Capriccioli Seaside, and Liscia Ruja—all verified for turquoise, shallow waters and well-maintained services. You’ll go to among the most lovely seashores on the planet. The surroundings, the colour of the water and the rock formations are merely beautiful.
- Take the Palau ferry (autos allowed) to La Maddalena Archipelago Nationwide Park, famend for abandoned sandy coves and clear snorkeling. A number of 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 supply genuine meals and decrease costs.
The seashores everywhere in the island are beautiful. 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: Finest Seashores in Sardinia
Days 5–7: West Coast – Genuine 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.
- Comply with the scenic SP49 coastal highway to Bosa—a riverside village with pastel homes and the Malaspina Fort. 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 – Historical past & Capital Tradition
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 Seaside, 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).
- Tour: Day journeys to Villasimius and Costa Rei for unspoiled south-eastern seashores are simple by way of SS125 freeway.
Days 11–14: East Coast – Wild Landscapes & Journey
Base: Orosei, Cala Gonone, Baunei
- Drive up the SS125 (the “Orientale Sarda,” one in every 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. Journeys run day by day in summer time—affirm availability and climate earlier than reserving;
- A hike to Cala Goloritzé, a UNESCO-listed seaside solely accessible on foot, is extremely really useful (path well-signposted and maintained).
Highlights & Actions
- Finest 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 Fort (Bosa).
- Wildlife: Pink flamingos seen at Cagliari’s salt flats and Molentargius Park in spring and summer time.
- Consuming: Attempt 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 supply day by day journeys; advance reserving really useful for August.
Learn as nicely our journey recommendations on…
Important journey suggestions for Sardinian highway journeys
Sardinia is good for highway journey explorers, however a profitable journey requires up-to-date planning and native know-how. Listed here are a very powerful journey suggestions for anybody self-driving round Sardinia’s coast:
1. Automobile Rent & Reserving
- Advance reservation required: Particularly in July-August, e-book your automobile weeks forward for one of the best availability and costs.
- Rental places: Main airports at Olbia and Cagliari, plus Alghero and port cities.
- Driver necessities: Most rental businesses require a sound EU or worldwide driver’s license, and drivers to be at the least 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 an ideal journey and the youngsters beloved the ferry crossing.
2. Driving & Roads
- Street situations: Highways (SS and SP roads) and important coastal routes are nicely maintained and paved. Inland routes could be slim and winding—drive slowly and with warning.
- Velocity limits: 50km/h (cities), 90km/h (secondary roads), 110km/h (main roads), except in any other case posted. Many roads have velocity cameras (“autovelox”).
- Gas: Most gasoline stations settle for playing cards and are open day by day, although some shut for a protracted lunch (12:30–15:30) outdoors massive cities. Refill earlier than coming into distant coastal stretches.
3. Navigation & Indicators
- Navigation: GPS or Google Maps works nicely, however carry a paper map as cellular reception could also be weak within the mountains and distant coasts.
- Street indicators: Indicators are clear and usually in Italian, with some places listed in Sardinian dialect.
4. Parking & ZTL (Restricted Zones)
- Seaside/city parking: Many seashores and city facilities have paid parking zones. All the time test indicators for deadlines and cost strategies.
- ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato): Many elderly city areas (particularly Cagliari, Alghero, Bosa, Castelsardo) limit non-resident automobile entry throughout components of the day. Fines are computerized for violations. Fairly nasty, proper? So be careful and search for marked indicators.
5. Security & Safety
- Private security: Sardinia is very protected for self-driving vacationers. Violent crime is uncommon; commonplace precautions apply.
- Automobile security: Theft from autos can happen, notably at distant seashores. As common, by no means go away seen valuables in your automobile.
6. Ferries and Island Connections
- Automobile ferries: The one automobile ferry to La Maddalena leaves from Palau (runs year-round).
- Advance reserving is extremely really useful throughout summer time and weekends.
7. Necessities to Pack
- Solar safety: Sardinian solar is intense; pack sunscreen, hats, and sun shades.
- Money: Though playing cards are broadly accepted, many distant seaside parking tons or rural eating places settle for solely money.
- Water and snacks: Providers are sparse alongside some distant coastlines or mountain stretches.
8. Native Driving Tradition
- Locals could drive rapidly on winding roads; use pull-outs to let sooner automobiles cross.
- Roundabouts: All the time yield to site visitors already inside.
9. Emergency Info
- Emergency quantity: Dial 112 for police, hearth, or medical emergencies.
- Breakdown companies: Most rental businesses present a toll-free quantity for help. Just remember to have the contact particulars of your insurance coverage, for those who drive with your personal automobile.
10. Sustainability
- Respect seashores and nature reserves: Take all waste with you; by no means park on sand dunes.
- Assist native: Use native guides, eat regional delicacies, and store at markets for genuine experiences.
These journey suggestions for driving in Sardinia will assist guarantee each a clean journey and a accountable journey expertise.
Journey Dudes encourages accountable and sustainable exploration. Respect native tips, eliminate waste correctly, and assist genuine Sardinian companies all through your journey.
