Destination Guide

North East Sardinia

In & Around The Costa Smeralda

This 55km stretch of coastline runs from north of Porto Cervo, round the headlands to near Portisco and since the invasion of the rich and famous here in the 1960s it still retains its exclusive reputation today. Amongst the pristine beaches and crystal waters, Port Cervo lies at the heart of this opulent coastline, where yachts line the marina and restaurants, bars and boutiques offer an abundance of entertainment in this fashionable yet charming village set against the back drop of the wild macchia.

Head out into the countryside and you will discover a contrast of raw granite mountains and wind-sculpted rocks. Way off the tourist track you will find various prehistoric sites around Arzachena where you can explore two of Sardinia's 'giants' tombs', the biggest and best preserved of this type of monument on the island.

Palau

Further up the coast, a few kilometres from the town of Palau, Porto Pollo has a magnificent beach that encompasses one of the island's best windsurfing and kite surfing locations. A twenty minute ferry crossing from Palau will also take you to the Maddelena islands, an archipelago that is a favourite sailing area for yachters. One of the main islands, Caprera, is where the Italian hero Garibaldi spent the last third of his life.

North West Sardinia

The rugged north west coast offers some truly spectacular coastline featuring rugged cliffs and hillsides interspersed with seaside resorts and historic towns with a distinctly Catalan flavour as a result of intensive Spanish colonisation in the fourteenth century.

Alghero

Alghero is nestled into the northwest coastline, with wonderful views over the bay to the dramatic cliffs at Capo Caccia. A traditional tourist town but also a flourishing fishing port, the atmospheric old walled town has a good selection of shops, café bars and restaurants. It has an interesting history to discover manifested in its well-preserved architecture and the seven towers housed within the walls dominate the centre. The harbour front offers a good spot for lunch and the beach just north of the town is long and wide and with a great choice of watersports on offer.

Isola Rossa

Isola Rossa is a picturesque old fishing village with a few restaurants, shops and a marina set on a rocky promontory surrounded by sea. It has two white sandy beaches and due to its position benefits from stunning sunsets which, as the name suggests, lights up the landscape turning the coastline different shades of red.

Southern Sardinia

Rugged mountains plunge down to meet the electric blue sea on the south of the island, where some of the most beautiful beaches are to be found. A wild and unspoilt area, this is the destination for pure relaxation, where the waters are almost tropical in their brilliance and the numerous unspoilt towns take you back to a bygone era.

Caligari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia, and has been since Roman times. A busy industrial port, it sits between the sea and the mountains in quite a unique setting with calm lagoons, home to cranes, flamingos and cormorants, just to the west of the city. The city itself consists of four quarters, compact enough to explore on foot and offering 2000 years of history to explore with its cathedral, museums, art galleries and flamboyant medieval architecture.

Villasimius

The south eastern tip of Sardinia reveals stunning white sandy beaches and this old fishing village situated a couple of kilometres inland comes alive in summer with a buzzing array of restaurants, bars and boutiques. East of the town a wonderful scenic coastal drive takes you to the Costa Rei, a ribbon of dazzling beaches extending up the east coast.

Pula

A charming town with plenty of restaurants and café bars, and an essential stop when visiting the ancient archaeological ruins on the coast nearby at Nora. These ruins are considered one of the best examples in Sardinia of an ancient Roman provincial city, with temples, baths and well-preserved black, white and ochre mosaic floors, which still evoke their former glory in their stunning seaside setting.

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