Places to see and unforgettable holiday experiences on the much-hyped Italian island.
Fantastic beaches, crystal clear water, secluded bays and delightful cuisine makes Sardinia the hot spot for billionaires. World-famous Costa Smeralda is a real magnet for the rich and famous, with the luxury yachts of Hollywood stars, sheikhs and sport icons lining up each summer.
But that is a pretty superficial impression one might get of the second largest island in the Mediterranean. Along the 2000km-long coastline, visitors can expect a vast variety of captivating images: staggering limestone peaks, sleepy, quaint villages, picture-perfect beaches and stunning wildlife. The island is both substantial and hilly, making travel a bit demanding, so make sure to plan full days for excursions to the northern or southern extremes, and the coasts.
Here are our favourite places to visit on Sardinia:
Eastern Sardinia offers the most authentic feel of the island, with wild landscapes and imperious limestone mountains that reveal the overwhelming power of nature. Winding country roads take you to lonesome mountain villages, or down to the coastal sandy beaches with stunning aquamarine waters.
Without a doubt one of the must-see places of Sardinia is the Golgo Plateau and Baunei mountain village, but be aware that driving in this area is quite a challenge, with steep and narrow roads cut into the mountainside.
The Golgo is a wide plateau that is covered with dark basalt lava and dense forests, where wild pigs snuffle amid centuries-old holm oaks, with cattle and donkeys roaming free and often stopping visitors on the sandy roads. Visit the small Sanctuary of San Pietro di Golgo and the karst hole ‘Su Sterru’, one of the deepest in Europe. And don’t miss Le Piscine di Golgo, natural water pools amidst olive trees that are hundreds of years old; a mystical place that feels out of this world: untouched and raw.
The coastal area of eastern Sardinia fascinates visitors with small, authentic villages, such as Lotzorai and Santa Maria Navarrese, the latter also being the best starting point for excursions by boat along the coastline. Private skippers take visitors to the beautiful, hidden coves nearby with crystal clear, light blue water, and stunning beaches such as Portu Pedrosu, Cala Goloritze, Cala Biriola and many more.
Our favourite beach, not as overrun even in summer and almost empty off-season (if readers can keep the secret), is Lido di Ori, 4 km from Tortoli. A sandy beach of 9km that seems endless, along the water, shimmering in colours of emerald green and turquoise. The shallow shore is perfect for visitors travelling with kids or dogs – welcome to paradise!
The southern and western regions of Sardinia are not as overcrowded during holiday seasons, and the quiet costal area of Costa Verde impresses with its wild beauty, a real contrast to the north. Here, one can find rather unspoilt beaches and fully embrace the relaxed Mediterranean mentality.
A trip to Cagliari, the capital of the Island, should absolutely be part of the travel plan. The city was built on seven limestone hills and will surely fascinate culture-lovers, especially the historic district: the Castello and the awe-inspiring cultural and architectural heritage of the town (churches, cathedrals, palaces and archaeological sites, dating back to Roman times).
