Sardinia

Is 7 days enough for Sardinia?

Honestly, yes for a first visit. But you will not see everything. Sardinia is big and winding. This itinerary focuses on the south, northeast, and northwest coasts, plus a day inland. You need a car. Public transport eats too much time.

Day 1: Arrive in Cagliari, Explore the Old Town

Land at Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG). Pick up your rental car from the airport desks. Drive 15 minutes to your hotel. Drop bags. Walk to the Marina district for lunch.

Morning: Visit the Castello quarter. Climb to the Bastione di Saint Remy (free, 15 minutes). Great views of the Gulf. Then walk 10 minutes to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria (free entry, 20 minutes). Skip the crypt if you are short on time.

Afternoon: Lunch at a trattoria near Piazza Yenne. Expect around EUR 15 for a pasta dish and water. After lunch, walk to the Poetto beach (bus 9 from Piazza Repubblica, EUR 1.30 single ticket). The beach is 8 km long. Swim for an hour or two.

Evening: Dinner in the Stampace district. Try culurgiones (stuffed pasta) with tomato sauce. Budget EUR 25-30 per person for a full meal. Walk back through the alleys. Gelato: look for a shop with minimal branding, not a chain. Pay EUR 2.50 for two scoops.

Distance: About 6 km total walking. Easy.

Book ahead: Hotel in Cagliari center, near Piazza Yenne or via Roma. Around EUR 120-180 per night in July.

Day 2: Cagliari to the Costa Smeralda (Drive 3 hours)

Check out by 9am. Drive east to Villasimius (45 minutes) for a morning beach stop. Skip the main tourist strip. Go to Spiaggia di Porto Giunco. Parking costs EUR 5. Entry free. No umbrellas, bring your own towel. Stay 1.5 hours.

Drive north on SS125. After 2.5 hours, you reach the Costa Smeralda area. Stop for lunch in Orosei (around 1pm). A panino and drink costs EUR 8. Do not eat at a restaurant with a menu in five languages. That is a tourist trap.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel near Olbia or Porto Cervo. Skip the actual town of Porto Cervo. It is a luxury shopping mall. Instead, drive 15 minutes to Spiaggia del Principe (free entry, parking EUR 4 for 2 hours). Perfect light golden sand. Swim until 5pm.

Evening: Dinner in Porto Rotondo. Quieter than Porto Cervo. A seafood platter for two costs around EUR 45. Walk the small port. Return to your hotel by 10pm.

Distance: Driving 220 km total. Walking around 3-4 km.

Book ahead: Hotel in Golfo di Marinella or Porto Rotondo. Expect EUR 150-200 per night.

Day 3: La Maddalena Archipelago by Boat

Book a day boat trip from Palau (10 km north of Olbia) in advance for July. Prices around EUR 60-80 per person including lunch. Depart at 9am. Return at 5pm. Reserve online 2 weeks before.

Morning: Boat stops at Spargi and Budelli beaches. Entry to the national park is included. Swim in the most transparent water you have ever seen. The sand on Budelli is pink (protected, do not take any).

Lunch: Included on the boat. Usually pasta with seafood, salad, and water. Bring extra water and sunscreen. The sun is brutal.

Afternoon: Last stop at the island of Santa Maria for a quick swim. Back to Palau at 5pm. Drive 10 minutes to your hotel. Rest.

Evening: Pizza in Palau town. A margherita costs EUR 8. A beer EUR 4. Walk the lungomare (seaside promenade). Go to bed early.

Distance: Minimal driving. Boat covers 40 km. Walking under 2 km.

Warning: Boat trips sell out in July. If none are available, rent a small motorboat (with license) from Palau. Costs around EUR 120 for a half day.

Day 4: Drive to Alghero via the Interior (3.5 hours)

Check out at 8am. Drive west on SS597. Stop at the town of Bosa at 10:30am. Park near the bridge. Walk up to the Castello Malaspina (EUR 3 entry, 30 minutes). The view of the Temo river and colorful houses is excellent.

Lunch: In Bosa at a family-run trattoria. Pane frattau (a bread, egg, and cheese dish) for EUR 10. Drink a local wine, Vernaccia di Oristano. Continuing driving, one hour to Alghero.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel by 2pm. Walk the old town of Alghero (Catalan walls). Go to the Bastioni Magellano for sunset. Entry free. Gelato break at 4pm (EUR 2.50).

Evening: Dinner in the old town. Try spaghetti with bottarga (dried fish roe). Costs around EUR 18. A glass of cannonau wine EUR 5. Stroll along the sea wall after dinner. No need to book a restaurant unless you want a sea view table.

Distance: Driving 200 km. Walking 4 km around Alghero.

Book ahead: Hotel in the historic center of Alghero. EUR 130-170 per night.

Day 5: Alghero and Neptune's Grotto

Morning: Walk 10 minutes to the marina. Take the bus (line 4, EUR 1.30) or drive 15 minutes to the Capo Caccia cliffs. To enter the Grotte di Nettuno (Neptune's Grotto), you can either walk down 654 steps (free if you walk, but bring water and it takes 30 minutes down) or take the boat from Alghero port (EUR 15 round trip, 1 hour boat ride plus grotto entry EUR 14). I prefer the boat because the stairs are hard in July heat. Book the boat at the port the day before.

Lunch: At a kiosk near the grotto entrance. Panino and drink EUR 10. Bring your own snacks.

Afternoon: Drive 20 minutes to Spiaggia delle Bombarde. Small cove with fine sand. Parking EUR 3 per hour. Stay until 5pm. Clear water ideal for snorkeling.

Evening: Dinner in the Lido area of Alghero. A simple grilled fish with vegetables costs EUR 20. After dinner, get a crema catalana (local version of creme brulee) for EUR 4.

Distance: Minimal driving. Walking 3 km.

Warning: Neptune's Grotto closes at 6pm. Last boat departs at 4:30pm. Check in summer 2026 for any strike days.

Day 6: Mountain Day: Gola Su Gorropu and Orgosolo

Check out of Alghero at 7:30am. Drive 2 hours east to the Supramonte mountains. Destination: Gola Su Gorropu (Europe's deepest canyon). Park at the Genna Silana parking (EUR 5). Hike down into the canyon. The path is 3 km one way, takes about 1 hour down. It is a rocky path. Wear sturdy shoes. Do not wear flip flops. Entry fee is EUR 5. Bring 2 liters of water per person.

Lunch: Pack a sandwich. No restaurant at the canyon bottom. Eat by the stream. Hike back up (45 minutes, uphill). Drive 30 minutes to the town of Orgosolo.

Afternoon: Orgosolo is famous for its mural paintings on buildings. Park in the central piazza. Walk the streets for 1 hour. Free. Each mural tells a story of Sardinian resistance. Grab a coffee (EUR 1.20) at a bar on the square.

Evening: Drive 1.5 hours south to the area of Barumini. Check into a rural agriturismo. Dinner here: a fixed menu with local cheese, roasted meat, and myrtle liqueur. Cost around EUR 30 per person. Book the agriturismo for dinner when you book the room.

Distance: Driving 180 km total. Hiking 6 km round trip.

Book ahead: Agriturismo near Barumini. Around EUR 100-140 per night, including dinner.

Day 7: Su Nuraxi, then drive to Cagliari airport

Morning: Visit Su Nuraxi (UNESCO site in Barumini) at 9am. The ticket costs EUR 13. A guided tour (included) takes 50 minutes. You walk inside a 3000-year-old Bronze Age fortress. Very interesting. Book the ticket online the night before to avoid the 10am tour queue.

Lunch: At a farm nearby. Try pane carasau (thin crispy bread) with pecorino cheese and honey. Costs EUR 12.

Afternoon: Drive 1 hour back to Cagliari airport. Drop the rental car. Check in for your flight. If you have more time, stop at the beach of Su Giudeu on the way (30 minutes extra). It is shallow and warm. Good for a last swim.

Distance: Driving 70 km to airport.

Evening: Depart from Cagliari.

Book ahead: Su Nuraxi tickets online. Also confirm your flight's departure time the day before.

Where to stay for this itinerary

• Cagliari (2 nights): Area near Piazza Yenne or along via Roma. Walking distance to old town and port. EUR 120-180 per night.
• Costa Smeralda area (2 nights): Golfo di Marinella, Porto Rotondo, or Palau. Quieter than Porto Cervo center. EUR 150-200 per night.
• Alghero (2 nights): Within the historic walls. Walk to everything. EUR 130-170 per night.
• Barumini area (1 night): An agriturismo in the countryside. Includes dinner. EUR 100-140 per night.

Practical tips

Car rental: Rent from Cagliari airport. Return to Cagliari airport. Do not rent from a beach town office, they close at 1pm. A manual car for 7 days in July costs around EUR 350. Add full insurance for EUR 80. Fuel costs EUR 1.70 per liter. Total fuel for the loop: around EUR 80.

Beaches: Arrive by 9:30am to get a parking spot at popular beaches like La Pelosa (Stintino). That beach is not in this itinerary, but the advice holds. Bring water shoes for rocky coves.

Reservations: Book hotels by February for July 2026. Boat trips by mid-June. Su Nuraxi tickets online one day before.

Tickets for passes: No need for any city card. Single tickets for local buses cost EUR 1.30. Buy at tobacco shops. No app needed.

Scams to spot: At restaurants, if the menu has no prices or only photos, walk away. If a tout on the street tries to pull you into a restaurant with a free limoncello, say no. Order at the counter for cheap meals.

Mistakes to avoid: Do not plan to swim at every beach you see on Instagram. Many are overcrowded. Stick to the spots I listed. Do not drive on unpaved roads without a proper SUV. Normal cars can handle the paved mountain roads fine.