Sardinia: our complete guide to the finest coast in the Mediterranean
We are writing this guide while on Sardinia ourselves, in Pittulongu just above Olbia. Turquoise water, granite rocks, fresh seafood and a coast that rivals the Caribbean. Direct with Transavia to Olbia in just over 2 hours, a week from €500 per person.
✈️ Plan your trip to Sardinia →How we booked this trip
This guide does not come from a brochure but from our own holiday. We are on Sardinia from 5 to 12 August, using the north-east coast as our base. Handy to know how to put a trip like this together:
- Stay: Pelican Beach Resort, Pittulongu An adults-only resort a few minutes' walk from Pittulongu beach, between Olbia and Golfo Aranci and a stone's throw from the Costa Smeralda.
- Flight: Transavia to Olbia A direct summer flight to Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB), the nearest airport, just 15 minutes' drive from the hotel.
- Package: booked through D-reizen Flight and hotel as a combined package, so everything was arranged in one go.
- Car: hired from Italy Car Rent On Sardinia you want to be mobile; with the rental car we drove to coves you simply cannot reach otherwise.
When is the best time to go?
May, June and September are the nicest months: 22 to 28 degrees, a sea that is already or still warm enough to swim in, and far fewer crowds than in high summer. July and August, when we are here, are stunning for the water and the atmosphere, but also the hottest and busiest, as this is when Italians themselves flock to the island. In that period, book your hotel and rental car well in advance. In spring and autumn Sardinia is ideal for hiking and culture, and even in winter it stays mild at around 14 degrees, although many beach clubs are then closed.
Sardinia's regions in brief
Sardinia is big, so it pays to focus on one or two regions per trip. These are the five areas you will come across:
- North-east: Costa Smeralda and Olbia Our region. The island's most famous coast, with Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo and dozens of turquoise bays. Chic but with plenty of free beaches too.
- North-west: Alghero and the Riviera del Corallo Catalan atmosphere, a beautiful walled old town and Neptune's Grotto. Ryanair flies here direct.
- East: Golfo di Orosei and Cala Gonone The most spectacular coastal scenery: white pebble coves beneath steep cliffs, reachable only by boat or on foot.
- South: Cagliari, Chia and Villasimius The capital with a city beach plus the long, shallow lagoon beaches of the south.
- Inland: the Barbagia Mountain villages, shepherds, nuraghe and the authentic Sardinia far from the coast.
Around Olbia and Pittulongu: our base
The north-east corner is the perfect base for a first visit to Sardinia. From Pittulongu you are quickly at the region's finest beaches:
- Spiaggia di Pittulongu Our home beach: clear shallow water, fine sand and a view of the island of Tavolara. Ideal at the end of the day.
- Spiaggia Sos Aranzos and Golfo Aranci A little further north, with sheer turquoise bays and snorkelling spots among the rocks.
- Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo, Cala Granu, Spiaggia del Principe) Half an hour's drive: the island's most famous bays, where the sea is an almost unreal blue.
- Island of Tavolara The giant rock off the coast, reachable by boat from Porto San Paolo for a day of swimming and walking.
Top things to do in Sardinia
- Beach-hopping along the Costa Smeralda Hire a car and drive from bay to bay; every bend reveals a new turquoise beach.
- A boat trip in the Golfo di Orosei From Cala Gonone to Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu, the finest pebble coves in Italy.
- The old town of Alghero Walk the sea walls, eat fresh seafood and admire the red coral jewellery.
- Nuraghe Su Nuraxi (Barumini) UNESCO World Heritage and the most impressive structure of the enigmatic nuraghe culture.
- Taste Vermentino and Cannonau The island's crisp whites and powerful reds, often straight from the vineyard.
Flights and transport from the Netherlands
Sardinia has three airports: Olbia (OLB) in the north-east, Alghero (AHO) in the north-west and Cagliari (CAG) in the south. We flew with Transavia direct to Olbia, in summer about three times a week from Eindhoven and daily from Amsterdam, with a flight time of around 2 hours 15. Ryanair flies cheaply to Alghero, KLM to Cagliari. Choose your airport based on the region you want to see: Olbia for the Costa Smeralda, Alghero for the north-west, Cagliari for the south. From Olbia airport you are in the centre or at the first beaches within ten minutes.
Hiring a car in Sardinia
A rental car is almost essential on Sardinia: public transport does connect the towns, but the finest coves lie at the end of country lanes with no bus. We hired our car from Italy Car Rent and drove the entire north-east coast with it in a week. When booking, watch the small print that often comes up on Sardinia: the fuel policy (pick up full, return full is best), the excess amounts and whether a second driver is included. Feel free to compare in advance so you know what a fair price is. Through car hire in Sardinia via DiscoverCars you can see the suppliers at Olbia airport side by side at a glance.
What does a trip to Sardinia cost?
Sardinia is not a rock-bottom destination, but outside July and August it is very reasonable. A return ticket with Transavia to Olbia starts around 90 to 150 euro in the shoulder season and rises in high summer. A mid-range hotel or apartment costs 80 to 150 euro per night, a rental car 35 to 70 euro per day in high season. Food is affordable: a plate of fresh pasta or culurgiones 10 to 14 euro, a glass of Vermentino around 4 euro, a cornetto with coffee 2.50 euro. For a week, budget from around 500 euro per person in low season up to 800 euro or more in August.
Day trips from Olbia
From the north-east coast you can easily make day trips across half the island:
- Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo (35 km, 40 min): Sardinia's chicest coast, with marinas, designer shops and bays like Spiaggia del Principe.
- La Maddalena archipelago (via Palau, 60 km, 1 hour): a group of uninhabited islands with Caribbean water, visited by ferry or boat tour.
- Cala Gonone and the Golfo di Orosei (95 km, 1 hour 30): the starting point for boat trips to Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu, the island's most spectacular coves.
- San Teodoro and La Cinta (30 km, 30 min): a mile-long white beach with a lagoon full of flamingos behind it.
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Frequently asked questions about Sardinia
When is the best time to visit Sardinia?
May, June and September: 22 to 28 degrees, a warm sea and far quieter than July and August. In high summer the beaches are at their most beautiful but also busiest and hottest.
How do you get to Sardinia from the Netherlands?
In summer Transavia flies direct to Olbia from Eindhoven (about 3 times a week) and Amsterdam, in around 2 hours 15. Ryanair flies to Alghero and KLM to Cagliari.
Do you need a rental car in Sardinia?
Strongly recommended. Public transport between the beaches and villages is limited, and a car gets you to the finest coves. Compare prices in advance and check the fuel and insurance terms.
What does a week in Sardinia cost?
Budget from around 500 to 800 euro per person for a week, including flight, accommodation and rental car. In July and August prices are considerably higher than in May, June or September.
Where is the best area to stay near Olbia?
Pittulongu, Golfo Aranci and Porto Rotondo are close to the airport and next to lovely beaches. We stayed at the Pelican Beach Resort in Pittulongu, a few minutes from the beach.
🗺️ Where do you want to stay in Sardinia?
Hotels, holiday homes and resorts around Olbia and the Costa Smeralda on the map. Click a pin for live prices and direct booking.
Interactive map from our partner Stay22. Loads only when you click. If you book via a partner we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.