Ultimate Summer in Sardinia Travel Guide

2026 UPDATE: This is my 3rd spring/summer living in Sardinia with my now-husband who is from here and owns the winery I accidentally met him at (ready the bizarre story here: How I Got Engaged in Italy! ) And this year I’m starting to plan custom trips and offer general tours (unhosted), so please support our little business here by booking through me! Just send me an email: biz@mylifesamovie.com!

If you want to go to the best hidden gem in Italy, I would highly recommend doing a road trip this summer in Sardinia! Surprisingly not a ton of people from the U.S. have even heard of Sardinia, which, I guess is good for us seasoned travelers who like to avoid tourist crowds, but it’s definitely famous among Italians!

2026 Update: Sardinia has nearly tripled in US tourists since I wrote this post 3 years ago thanks to social media content creators (ahem like me), increased publicity, and now Delta’s direct flights here. The island is super adapted to US tourists yet, so this blog post is here to help navigate your trip and help you plan! Please use the links in this post when you book so I get a small commission — it costs you nothing but helps me a lot!

Three years ago now, I went to Sardinia (which is spelled “Sardegna” in Italian and pronounced “Sar-den-ya”) in the peak of summer, and didn’t find the crowds bad at all! Beaches had a lot of people but nothing unbearable, especially since I spent most of my time in that crystal clear blue water!

I didn’t plan much ahead of time, I just had a general idea to stay in Palau because of the name, and to go to the small islands near it. Then a travel planner from Sardinia actually reached out on IG and asked if I wanted to collaborate with her and experience the area where she has a BnB she rents. Turns out it’s in one of the top up and coming destinations of year!

It’s been 3 years since that collaboration and I am currently back in Sardinia living with my now-husband who I met during that trip! So I now have lots of insider tips for you!

Below is everything you need to know to plan your summer in Sardinia, or at least a week there anyway!

Before you get all this amazing free info, please consider using my affiliate links below to book your trip! It costs you nothing and I get a small referral which is what helps my blog running! Thank you!

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Where is Sardinia?

Sardinia is an island (love) that is just west of mainland Italy. This is why it has so many glorious beaches and small islands!

How to get to Sardinia?

You have a couple of options, usually I try all of them to see which is cheapest. I always use Skyscanner to get the cheapest flight as well, and I try it from my phone and my laptop to see if there’s a difference in price.

Also, there are two main airports you can aim for, Cagliari and Olbia. I usually choose whichever one is cheaper since we live in the middle of both of them, but choose the one closest to where you want to go. There is also Alghero airport!

Here’s how to find the cheapest flights to Sardinia:

• Option 1: Try searching flights directly to Sardinia. Depending where you want to go, or if you want to compare pricing, search Cagliari and then Olbia.
• Option 2: Fly into Rome and get a second connecting flight to Cagliari or Olbia.
• Option 3: If you happen to be in Sicily, there’s a fun little ferry through Grimaldi that takes you from Palermo to Cagliari. It also runs from Barcelona and Ibiza to the top part of the island!

NEW! Delta now offers direct flights to Olbia from New York City! They are pretty expensive, but if you have the moolah, go for it! Please use this link when booking your flights!

How to Get Around Sardinia

I would HIGHLY suggest renting a car in Sardinia if you want to see more than just the immediate area you’re flying into. There is NO ride shares, taxis are hard to come across/book, and the public transport is confusing.

Please use this link to search the best prices for car rentals in Sardinia! They should start around $40!

There is a train that goes from Cagliari to Olbia as well, and of course buses. But in my opinion renting a car is essential. Especially if you want to go to the many beaches!

If you need a taxi, ask your hotel, or I have the number for one in Tortoli area that you can whatsapp (in Italian) to reserve: +39 379 2936040

IMPORTANT NOTE: You need an International Driver’s Permit to drive in Italy! Easily get one online or in person at AAA for $20. I also recommend getting the damage insurance because they WILL find scratches!

Areas I’ve Been to and Loved:

I am obviously now biased since I ended up moving to the Baunei/Ogliastra area (for half the year each year anyway, I’m still traveling full time and planning on staying at my new home in Mexico). But I love a few of the other areas here as well!

So I’m going to start this post explaining the places I’ve been to from the top to bottom of the east coast, in case you’d like to plan a summer in Sardinia roadtrip!

Don’t forget! You can contact me to plan all of this for you, and make your trip a lot easier, and a lot more authentic!!

Palau (in Sardinia, not the country)

The first place in Sardinia I went to is called Palau, and I mostly went because of the name. Earlier that year I went to the country of Palau, so I thought it would be cool to go to another one in Italy! There’s a small town area in Palau with a couple of good restaurants (I liked Pasta e Vino), and even better was the one around the corner from it that faces the port, for their pistacchio pasta.

There’s also some really beautiful beaches in Palau! One is right next to the port, which has surprisingly clear waters considering all of the boats that are there. You can also walk further east (to the right if you’re looking at the water) and check out the dog beach! It’s less crowded of course, and there’s a cool forest there too.

I stayed at a big family hotel that I only really recommend because it’s pet-friendly, and because of the proximity to the beach and port. It’s called Club Esse, and again, mostly just convenient. The other thing I liked was they have a little restaurant and bar near the beach, but nothing super amazing.

From Palau you can find all of the boat tours for…….

La Maddalena Island

My initial main goal of going to Sardinia aside from beach hopping, was doing a boat tour around La Maddalena Island and the small uninhabited islands around it.

I would not recommend doing the cheap $50 boat trips because they pack like fifty people on those boats. Instead do a small group size sailboat tour. The one we found was $100 with only 10 people on it, and included lunch and unlimited drinks! They also offer snorkel gear!

The boat tour is absolutely stunning and spectacular! Just the bright blue clarity of water alone will take your breath away! Highly recommended!

Please consider using “reef safe sunscreen” if you go in the water in Sardinia, so that you don’t contribute to water contamination!

You can easily reserve tickets through sites like this one, especially if you don’t speak Italian, but remember not to pay more than $100 for the sailboat! If you can speak a little Italian, you can try calling the companies for a better rate.

Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda is probably the most famous/popular area of Sardinia. It’s where all of celebrities and super rich people go, where the big luxury hotels are, but also some affordable hotel options as well! This is also one of the party capitols of the island! With world famous beach clubs and night clubs!

Located just above Olbia, it also makes it an ideal location as it’s just an hour or so drive from the Olbia airport.

Here’s the best things to do in Costa Smeralda:

Beaches Around Costa Smeralda

• Spiaggia Capriccioli (east and nord): where everyone goes thanks to it’s shallow water and white sand.
• Spiaggia Capriccioli (sud): less crowded but small little nooks, get there early to claim a spot
• Spiaggia del Principe: one of the most famous, but hard to get to and requires a hike
• Cala Romantica: small rocky beach with pretty views
• Spiaggia Cala Battistoni : in Baja Sardinia near the hotel I stayed at, there’s some cute restaurants on the promenade near it as well.

Porto Cervo

This is the super super fancy area, probably the fanciest I’ve seen in all of the places I’ve been to in Italy besides Capri! You can see mega yachts here and all of the top designer brands, including runway brands.

As you can probably imagine, it’s expensive AF but we actually found decent pricing and DELICIOUS food at Elit Promenade Cafe! If you’d like to also take home a local delicacy, go downstairs to Maison de la Bottarga and get a jar or whole piece of bottarga (monkfish roe).

Beach Clubs and Night Clubs

Full honesty, I didn’t go to any of these, because I went to Costa Smeralda in shoulder season when they weren’t open yet. But I hear amazing things about them, and also expensive things about them..

The main two I’ve heard people talk about are Phi Beach and Ritual Club. Make reservations in advance via their Instagrams.

Where I Stayed in Costa Smeralda

Unfortunately for my friend who came thinking it was summer in Sardinia, and expecting to go to Phi Beach, we didn’t get to go. And she had booked us a hotel near it with the intention of being able to walk to and from the club, since taxis are rare and expensive.

Anyway, that’s why we stayed in Baja Sardinia at Club Hotel Baja Sardinia . It was really beautiful, and walking distance to a beach, and promenade with cute, delicious restaurants. I really loved Baia Blue’s pasta salmone! Yummm!

Olbia

Olbia is one of the main cities in Sardinia that you fly into, and is a gateway to several of the best areas. To the north you have Costa Smeralda, and to the south you have Baunei and Ogliastra.

This is where the new Delta direct flight from NYC will fly into!

The city of Olbia itself is pretty modern, but they do have an “old town” which is where you’d want to go if you’re visiting. It’s near the Olbia port, and it has one main strip with a few side streets.

Restaurants and bars on this street are really cute, but a bit pricey. I opted to just do aperitivos to get some snacks, and then one big meal. Try looking for “Menu di giorno” or “menu of the day” to get some specials!

The beaches in Olbia are far from the town, and if you’re going to go, I’d recommend just driving up to Costa Smeralda.

There is also a boat tour I’ve heard great things about, that goes to Tavolara island!

APERITIVO SPOTS IN OLBIA

If you stroll down “Corso Umberto I” in the city center of Olbia, you will find tons of cute restaurants with outdoor seating that all have aperitivo! Some cute ones were:

• Glamour Cafe
• Ristorante Il Vecchio Porto (also had a good “Menu of the Day”)
• Mengo’s
• Osteria del Corso

Baunei Coast

Names of places are going to start getting confusing now. Because I mention “Baunei Coast” since it is most recognizable, however it is also right next to the rest of the places below, and you can get to it via those places.

Anyway, I had my eye on Baunei Coast after seeing it start to get highlighted on social media, and now I know there are several ways to see it! This is also the region where we live!

Seeing the Baunei Coast by Boat

This is probably the top thing I’d recommend doing in this area. It’s a must, and the easiest way to see many of the “best beaches in the World“!

I have separate posts specifically about how to get to those famouse beaches:

• How to Get to Cala Goloritze – 2025’s #1 Best Beach in the World
• How to Get to Cala Mariolu – One of The Best Sardinia Beaches

You can take a sailboat, however most don’t let you swim to the popular beaches, or a “gammone” which is like a giant rubber boat, that will easily take you to them. You’ll have the option to leave from Santa Maria, or Arbatax, or up farther north from Cala Ganone.

Click here for a few of the typical boat tours for the Baunei Coast!

Hiking the Baunei Coast

If you like hiking, great news! You can also hike to the famous beaches and coves, as well as do the famous “Selvaggio Blu” (“wild blue”) hike. But just a heads up; you might need a guide for that one!

Regardless, it is important to note that you cannot just drive up to the beaches on the Baunei Coast. They are all at the base of sheer cliffs. You either need a boat, or a long hike!

Also, most of the famous beaches that are accessible by boat tours, are also accessible by their own trail hikes, none of which are easy! Be sure to read my blogs for them linked below!

The famous beaches to see on the Baunei Coast are:

• Cala Goloritze: named #1 beach in the world, here’s how to get to it by hiking or boat
• Cala Luna: this and the next two are only accessible by boat tours
• Cala Gabbiano
• Cala Longa
• Cala Mariolu, which was named #2 of 50 best beaches in the world in 2024, here’s how to get there

OH!!! And there’s of course the actual town of Baunei! It has no view of the coast at all, but it’s a really cute old town, with delicious, famous goats’ milk gelato. One of the many things people attribute to the long lives of people there.

Tortoli / Arbatax / Bari Sardo / Ogliastra

This is where it gets confusing so let me try to explain: Ogliastra is like the region, and then there are smaller towns like Tortoli, Arbatax, Bari Sardo, Santa Maria, and Girasole. There’s a lot more, but those are the ones I frequent these days.

Tortoli is the town where I had a last minute collaboration offer with a local tour company, and they had so many great things to say about it this area that I just couldn’t resist!

They offered me a cute BnB in the center of Tortoli, which is a little town filled with restaurants and shops! On Thursdays they shut the street down to cars and all of the restaurants have outdoor seating on the road. There’s also several DJs playing music, so plan to stay out late unless you want to just lay in bed unable to sleep!

Just a short drive towards the coast and you’ll find several beautiful beaches, and even a couple of “beach clubs”.

Some of my favorite beaches and “beach bar/restaurants” in Tortoli are:

• Porto Frailis: La Bitta, Aquachiara, Sunset
• Lido Orri: Su Stanca
• Maty Beach: Locanda Beach, Hakuna Matata
• Spiaggia il Golfetto: Beach Bar Golfetto
• Spiaggia Cea: Al Mari, Ivy Beach

Favorite Spots for Aperitivo:

Aperitivo hours are usually around 6pm to 9pm! If you order a drink, you should get food, but some servers assume you don’t know about it, so if they don’t bring food, as for the aperitivo!

• La Bitta
• Aquachiara
• Bougainvillea Cafe
• Sunset
• Mood Cafe
• Carpe Diem
• Ivy Beach
• Al Mari

Wineries in Ogliastra

Again, I am very biased here because we own a winery in this area, but even the guests who visit say that it’s one of the best ones! We’re just ten minutes from the beach, and we have some really good wine!

The typical wines of Sardinia are Cannonau (the kind that allegedly “makes you live to 100”) and a white called Vermentino. I also co-invested in a sparkling rose label called “Alyssa” (his idea, not mine).

We offer wine tastings, traditional dinners, and special events (birthdays, retreats, anniversaries, and soon weddings!), please email me to make a reservation for now, a booking link is coming soon! biz@mylifesamovie.com

Also please follow our joint-account with what life is like as a mixed-nationality couple, and even more of my Sardinia tips and content on @MyLifesInSardinia!

There are a couple of other wineries in the area, but I honestly haven’t been to them yet (maybe I am winery-ed out), but I plan to investigate some this weekend as part of my new partnership with a Wine website! Stay tuned!

Cagliari

First let me help you pronounce this name, phonetically, it’s “Cah-yah-ree), because in Italian, “gli” is pronounced “yee” or “yah”. Good luck with that!

Anyway, Cagliari is the main city of Sardinia and it’s located at the south end of the island. There aren’t really nice beaches there compared to up north, but there is a bigger city than the rest of the areas I went to, and it was really vibrant and poppin’. Also, very touristy.

\If you happen to stay in Cagliari, I’d recommend Cagliari Suites. It was a very affordable price and a great location.

Stintino (La Pelosa Beach Area)

Another one of the “best beaches in the World” that’s in Sardinia, is La Pelosa beach, located in the town of Stintino! Since La Pelosa beach is very easy to access by car, it’s also one of the most crowded beaches on the island.

That being said, here’s some token tips for having an enjoyable, stress free visit to La Pelosa:

1. Entry Fee and Restrictions: During peak season, there’s an entry fee to access the beach, and visitor numbers are limited to preserve its natural beauty, so you MUST have a reservation. Be sure to book it online far in advance here!
2. Parking is Limited: Parking can be a bit tricky, especially in summer. Arrive early to secure a spot or consider using public transportation or a shuttle service. I was up at 7:30am and there was plenty of parking, but by 8:30am it was packed. Also don’t forget to pay the meter, or you WILL get a ticket
3. Beach Etiquette: To protect the delicate ecosystem, using a beach mat is mandatory instead of a towel, and smoking is prohibited. You can buy a beach mat from the Senegalese guys on the sidewalk, or any of the shops in town.
4. Weather Conditions: The beach can get quite windy sometimes, and in the summer it’s definitely HOT! Most people bring umbrellas or rent one. The water is also typically chilly, but it feels good when it’s hot!

Secret Pro Trip Planning Tips

1. Stay at La Peloseta Hotel: For the perfect base, consider staying at La Peloseta Hotel, just a short walk from the beach. The hotel offers cozy accommodations with stunning sea views, ensuring a relaxing retreat after a day of exploration. It also includes free parking, and access to a private beach chair lawn on La Peloseta beach, which is just a short swim away from La Pelosa. AKA, if you didn’t get a reservation, this is a sneaky great way to still go see La Pelosa.
2. Exploring Stintino: Spend some time discovering the charming town of Stintino. Visit the local seafood restaurants to indulge in Sardinian cuisine, and explore the quaint shops for unique souvenirs.
3. Day Trips: From Stintino, you can take a boat trip to Asinara National Park, a former prison island now home to wildlife and hiking trails.
4. Transportation Tips: Renting a car is recommended for flexibility, but be prepared for narrow roads. Alternatively, local buses connect major towns and tourist spots but are tricky to figure out and not the most convenient.

Alghero

Alghero is one of the three main airport towns, and actually very cute, with nice beaches, a lovely Old Town, and overall good vibes!

For convenience and comfort, I’d recommend splurging and staying at Hotel Catalunya! It’s walking distance to Old Town and the beaches, plus it has an incredible rooftop bar and restaurant that’s perfect for your included breakfast, or aperitivos!

During the day, the main attraction in Alghero is Neptune’s Grotto, which can be seen by boat (tours linked below) or by driving to the top of it and climbing 600 steps down and up! Either way, you have to book a ticket and have a guide.

If the weather isn’t great for the boats, you can enjoy the beach or one of the many beach clubs! If you have a car, drive a little further and go to the cleaner, “Spiagga di Maria Pia”.

Definitely stroll the Old Town in the evening for Aperitivo and then dinner!

This summer I’m heading to more areas and will update this post as I go! Please tag me on social media if you go here and found my post useful!! All platforms – @mylifesatravelmovie

Please don’t forget! I work extremely hard to produce these free travel guides and posts! If it helped you, or you enjoyed it, PLEASE give it a share on social media, and follow me to keep up with more posts! You’re two minutes of effort truly helps keep my business running! Thank ya!

xx, Alyssa