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Italy · Sardinia

Sardinia travel guide

Turquoise water and some of Europe's best beaches

Cala Goloritzé. Photo: Yesuitus2001, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

2h 15mflight from London
OLBnearest main airport
26° in Julwarmest month
8° in Jancoolest month

Sardinia is a big, wild island with some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. The Costa Smeralda in the north-east is famous for its glamour, but the whole coastline has beautiful beaches.

Inland, it's rugged and rural, with mysterious Bronze Age towers called nuraghi. It's best explored by car, staying in a couple of bases.

Good forBeachesBoatingNatureFood

What Sardinia is known for

  • Beaches

    White sand and turquoise water, often compared to the Caribbean.

  • Costa Smeralda

    Yachts, luxury resorts and celebrity summers.

  • Nuraghi

    Mysterious Bronze Age stone towers across the island.

  • Long lives

    One of the world's Blue Zones, where many people live past 100.

Top things to do in Sardinia

  1. 1

    The Gulf of Orosei

    Boat trips to Cala Goloritzé and Cala Luna, set below sheer cliffs.

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  2. 2

    La Maddalena Archipelago

    Islands with pink sand and clear water, reached by boat from Palau.

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  3. 3

    Su Nuraxi di Barumini

    The best-preserved nuraghe village, a UNESCO site.

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  4. 4

    Cagliari

    The capital, with a hilltop old town and beaches.

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  5. 5

    Alghero

    A walled Catalan-flavoured town on the west coast.

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Where to stay in Sardinia

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Best time to visit Sardinia

Best value: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. June and September: hot and sunny with warm sea, but calmer than July and August.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
8.2 C8°J8.2 C8°F10.7 C11°M14 C14°A17.8 C18°M22.8 C23°J25.6 C26°J25.6 C26°A21.5 C22°S17.9 C18°O13 C13°N9.4 C9°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Sardinia, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 2h 15m from London to OLB, and flights from most UK airports.

Hire a car: public transport is limited. Ferries run to Corsica and the mainland.

Find flights to Sardinia (OLB)

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Good to know

  • Book cars and ferries early for July and August.
  • Some beaches have daily visitor limits and booking in summer.
  • Taking sand or shells off the beaches is illegal, with big fines.
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Sardinia FAQ

North or south Sardinia?

The north for glamour and islands, the south for long beaches and Cagliari.

Is Sardinia expensive?

The Costa Smeralda is. Elsewhere prices are fair, especially in June and September.

More places in Italy

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