Itineraries for Your Trip to Sardinia
3 Days in Sardinia for First Timers
Since becoming an Italian citizen in 2019, my favorite Italian tradition has been spending August by the Mediterranean Sea—and my favorite spot to do that is Sardinia. The island boasts Caribbean-esque beaches with white sand and bright blue water (you can even spot fish without a snorkel mask!), while its craggy interior is filled with tiny villages and Bronze Age-era Nuraghi ruins. It has to be seen to be believed.
Three days is just an assaggio—a taste—but it’s enough to get you started. Be warned, bus routes are limited so you’ll need a car to make the most of your trip.
Sardinia is known for its unforgiving summer sun, so be sure to pack a hat and sun protection.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a boat trip down the Gulf of Orosei, where the water is an unreal crystal-clear turquoise.
Spend the day exploring Olbia, or head down to San Teodoro, a lively town filled with walkable, boutique-lined streets and seafood restaurants. La Cinta, a white-sand strip of beach surrounded by marsh on one side and shallow, lapping sea on the other, should be your first port of call. Or take a short ferry ride from Porto San Paolo over to the tiny island of La Tavolara.
Alternatively, you can book a spot (you must reserve a parking spot in advance) at the Oasis of Bidderosa, a protected wildlife reserve filled with birdwatching and hiking trails, lakes and canyons, and a handful of pristine (and mercifully un-crowded) beaches.
On day two, head over to the western coast. Spend a few hours exploring the charming historic center of Alghero, stopping for lunch to enjoy the Catalan-influenced cuisine (lobster is the most famous dish here).
Then, either head through Sassari to Castelsardo, a stunning, medieval-era fortress town founded by the Genoese, or drive further up the rocky coast toward Neptune’s Grotto, a sea cave filled with otherworldly limestone formations shaped by dripping water. Alternatively, you could nab a boat tour of Asinara from Stintino or Porto Torres; the unusual island off Sardinia’s northern coast was once a penal colony, but is now known for its resident white albino donkeys.
You can’t leave the island without exploring its interior, which is where you’ll get a taste of traditional Sardinian culture. The picturesque village of Aggius is known for its unusual history as a hub for banditry against the island’s ruling powers—learn all about it at the Museo del Banditismo, then enjoy lunch at a local farm (call ahead to try Il Muto di Gallura).
Alternatively, head further south to Orgosolo, a village known for its political street murals. It’s a 15-minute drive from Mamoiada, famous for its centuries-old Carnival celebrations (a must-see if you come in February). Learn about the handmade masks and costumes used in festivals at the excellent Museo dell'Intreccio Mediterraneo.
