We regard it as a heaven in the heart of the Mediterranean. There are many Top things to do in Sardinia (Italy). To take in all it offers, more than a month would be required.
Furthermore, it is a perfect place to explore in almost any season. Visit in the summer, and you will find the most spectacular beaches ever. Visit in the spring, and it will be all about the hikes and the archaeological sites. Go during the fall and winter, and you will have many festivals to pick from and tasty traditional food to eat.
The main tourist lures are its sunny coasts, crystal clear waters, and white and sandy beaches. Still, there is an ongoing list of fantastic locations to explore. It’s about favored towns, cities, the most characteristic islands, and important historical and cultural sites.
The crystal clear sea, white sand beaches, and rocks framed by wild, fragrant Mediterranean scrub are some reasons to visit Sardinia, an island of a thousand contrasts that will lure you with its distinctive heritage and people’s natural hospitality.
In this article, we’ll write about suggestions on the Top Things To Do in Sardinia during your next holiday.
Cala Goloritze ©planetware.com
Top Things To Do In Sardinia
Go to the beaches
We said that Sardinia has so much more to offer than beautiful beaches. But why lie?
One of the top things to do in Sardinia is go to the beach. So, in the summertime, you can easily spend endless hours lying under the sun and swimming in the clear waters of the Mediterranean. You can check out our articles about Cala Marioulu, La Pelosa, Tuerredda Beach, or Cala Coticcio.
Bossa village © Sardegna Turismo
See its lovely cities and villages.
Sardinia is a large island. The biggest city is its capital, Cagliari, followed by Sassari, at the top north. Oristano and Nuoro are more petite but adorable. And Alghero is a real gem.
Cagliari is one of the most underrated cities in Italy, yet to be discovered. Despite that, it has a lot to offer to those who visit. It has many fantastic museums and art galleries, stunning archaeological sites, lovely squares, and magnificent churches. There are many gorgeous cafés and fabulous restaurants. So you can sit down and enjoy the Italian vibe the Sardinian way.
Furthermore, there are many beautiful, quaint villages there. So, it would be best if you explored them. And the good news is that you can do it in any season.
Among the best villages is Bosa, located on the west coast. Castelsardo, on the north of Sardinia, built around the 12th-century castle by the powerful Doria family, is another gem to be noticed. It is a maze of narrow alleys, and the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed.
Visiting Baunei will allow you to combine the very best of the island:
- A lovely village with stunning coastal views
- the best beaches in Sardinia nearby
- Access to the most unbelievable hiking trails on the island
A medieval village Posada, perched on a green limestone hill, is one of the most beautiful places on the eastern coast. Furthermore, it is all about its history, culture, landscapes, and views, to the point that it belongs to the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Maddalena archipelago ©Matteo GabrieliShutterstock
Sail around the island.
With such a stunning coastline, sailing is one of my favorite activities. It is the ultimate way to enjoy the fantastic sea of Sardinia. Many companies offer chartered sailboats to sail around the island.
Among the best places for sailing are the south coast with its small bays (Cala Regina, Mari Pintau, Torre delle Stelle, and Cala Pira), the North East coast, the Maddalena Archipelago, and the northwest coast around Asinara island.
Tavolara island ©visittavolara.com
Visit the nearby islands.
Exploring the smaller islands off the coast of Sardinia would be best.
On the northeast coast, the La Maddalena archipelago is one of the finest places in Sardinia, with many gorgeous beaches. Most enchanting is Caprera, where the house of Garibaldi, one of the most prominent figures in Italian history, is located.
You can reach Asinara island, located on the top northwest of Sardinia, by a short ferry ride from either Porto Torres or Stintino. The island is gorgeous! It used to be a leper colony before it became a prison colony. In 1997, the island became a national park.
Enjoy nature and wildlife.
Sardinia hardly comes to mind as a nature and wildlife destination. The island is exceptionally mountainous. The countryside is gorgeous. And on the beaches are also some of the highest dunes in Europe! Therefore, enjoying nature should be on your what-to-do-in-Sardinia list.
Note: Stealing sand and getting on the dunes are strictly prohibited.
Suppose you are not prone to discovering the inland. In that case, you can admire the pink flamingo’s nest in the lagoon around Cagliari and other parts of the island.
Neptun’s caves ©blualghero-sardinia.com
Discover the caves
Numerous caves are scattered around the island, all different from the others. The most famous are the Grotte (caves) di Nettuno, outside Alghero. Furthermore, Grotte Is Zuddas, in Santadi (almost 40 minutes drive from Cagliari), is another stunning cave to explore.
Other caves are the Grotte del Bue Marino, in the area of Golfo di Orosei, which you can visit on a boat trip.
©tritt-sardinia.com
Attend Sardinia’s festival.
Sardinia is a land of festivals. There is something for anybody, from traditional religious festivals to music, wine, and food festivals.
The most famous local festival is Sant’Efisio, which has been taking place for over 400 years on the 1st of May. The parade hosts representatives from different villages of Sardinia, who walk 50 km from Cagliari to Pula in folklore dresses to celebrate Sant’Efisio, the saint patron of the island. Attending is a must to see the attractive traditional outfits and listen to folklore music.
Another one is Autunno in Barbagia, a series of village festivals, starting in September until mid-December; the villages of the Barbagia region honor their traditions, culture, and food. Autunno in Barbagia is a favorite for Sardinians, and attending is one of the Top Things To Do In Sardinia in the fall.
Sardinia also has something for wine lovers. There are many wine festivals there. One of them is Calici Sotto Le Stelle, happening each year in August in the lovely setting of Jerzu.
As you can see, the list of festivals is endless, and we haven’t still need to start. However, we will cover it in a separate article.
©long-travel.co.u
Try all the local cuisine and drink the local wine.
Food in Sardinia is simply delicious, and eating is one of the ultimate things to do. Sardinians prepare the dishes using strictly fresh and local ingredients. Among the must-tries is fregola con le arselle, bottarga (fish roe), and a local version of ravioli (each village on the island has its recipe for them). Another must-try is malloreddus – a small gnocchi pasta traditionally cooked with (Sardinian) sausage and tomato sauce, and pecorino cheese.
Wine tasting is one of the things to do in Sardinia. There are many vineyards around the island, making some excellent wines. Some of the best ones are in Serdiana, 20 km from Cagliari. To accompany all the fantastic food, drinking the local wine and beer is what to do in Sardinia.
Last, a local must is Mirto – a thick liquor made with myrtle berries that you typically consume after meals.
Do water and adventure sports.
One of the top things to do in Sardinia is surfing. Sardinia is a paradise for windsurfing and kite surfing, so it regularly hosts competitions.
In addition, SUP is quickly becoming a favorite of the locals so you can enjoy it throughout the year.
Finally, among the things to do in Sardinia is diving. Several locations are perfect for that. One is the area around Capo Carbonara (the coast of Villasimius). In this protected marine park, marine life is blossoming. You can also try it in Carloforte, which has some excellent diving locations.
Sardinia is a paradise for hiking. There are many trails around the island. For instance, coastal paths to some of the most excellent beaches, mountain trails that take to captivating waterfalls and springs, and trails that go to deep gorges. Among the best hikes are the various trails that go to the Gorropu Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe.
Note: You can enjoy hiking can during the low season, though we do not recommend hiking in the summer.
In addition, there are many places in Sardinia to go climbing in Sardinia. Cala Fuili and Cala Goloritzé have great climbing walls.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to discover Sardinia is on a bike. Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular, and there are several trails. Hop on a bike and explore the glorious Asinara island.
Cagliari ©Getty Images (via The Independent.co.uk)
Some FAQs about Sardinia
When To Visit
Any season is good for visiting Sardinia. Winter is generally mild on the coast, but snows in the mountains. The highest rain chances are in late winter and November, though it may also rain in April and May. Spring and fall are the best seasons to enjoy the island if you don’t want to go to the beach. The temperatures rise significantly in the summer, making it perfect for enjoying the fabulous beaches.
How To Get To Sardinia
There are three International airports: Cagliari, Alghero, and Olbia. Direct flights are also available from different European cities.
Since one of the best things to do in Sardinia is drive around, catching the ferry from mainland Italy is a pleasant option. There are frequent ferries from Livorno, Genoa, Civitavecchia, and Naples. In addition, there are a few ferries from Barcelona.
Note: If you want more tips on planning your trip to Italy, please read our article.
Moving Around Sardinia
Public transportation is well organized and connects the main cities, villages, and some major tourist attractions. However, it can be bitterly slow. So, we recommend renting a car to reach all the most exciting places.
That was all for now. But if you have additional suggestions, please write them down in the comments below.
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Feature Photo: audleytravel.com