Water clear enough to be mistaken for the Caribbean in photographs, white sand, and an interior of stone shepherds' villages. Also expensive in the north and closed for half the year.
Sardinia is 270km long and the ends have little in common.
Olbia in the north-east serves the Costa Smeralda — turquoise coves, superyachts and the highest prices in Italy. Cagliari in the south serves Villasimius, Chia and Pula, which have equally good beaches at a fraction of the cost and a far more Sardinian feel. Alghero in the north-west is Catalan-influenced, walled and the best value of the three. Booking 'Sardinia' without deciding which end is how people end up in the wrong place and paying twice for the privilege.
Beaches, mostly. Plus an interior nobody visits.
Shallow white sand and water so clear the boats look suspended. Numbers are capped in summer and there's a booking fee — arrange it in advance.
Porto Cervo, Liscia Ruja and the coves around them. Extraordinary water and Italy's most expensive coastline.
Seven islands off the north-east, reached by ferry or boat trip. Budelli's pink beach is protected — you can look, not walk on it.
Bronze Age stone towers, seven thousand of them across the island. Su Nuraxi is UNESCO-listed and older than the Colosseum by 1,500 years.
A walled Catalan town in the north-west where they still speak a dialect of it. The best evening on the island.
Dunes, juniper and long empty sand. The same water as the Costa Smeralda at half the price.
North-east for glamour, south for value, north-west for character.
Porto Cervo and the northern coves. Superb water, superyachts, and Italy's steepest prices.
From Cagliari. Equally good sand, far lower prices, and a more Sardinian feel.
A walled Catalan town with beaches nearby. The best combination of value and interest.
Stone villages, nuraghi and mountains. Almost no visitors, and agriturismo stays.
June to September. Outside that much of the island shuts.
July and August are hot at 32°C and busy, particularly with Italians in August when prices peak sharply. June and September are ideal — warm sea, comfortable days and much better rates. May and October are pleasant for walking and the sea is cool, with many coastal businesses closed. Winter is very quiet indeed.
2h 45m to Olbia (OLB), Cagliari (CAG) or Alghero (AHO). Choose by which end you're staying.
20 minutes to an hour depending on the resort. Check yours — the island is long.
Euro. Cards widely accepted; beach kiosks and rural agriturismi prefer cash.
Effectively essential. Book early for July and August — it sells out and prices climb.
We'll pick the right end of the island and the right airport, and write the payment plan out in full.
South from Cagliari for the same water at far lower prices. Costa Smeralda if the budget allows and you want the glamour. Alghero for character.
The Costa Smeralda is. The south and the north-west are comparable to Sicily or Puglia.
Roughly late May to early October. Outside that many coastal hotels and restaurants close entirely.
Yes. Beaches are spread out, buses are limited, and the interior is inaccessible without one.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Apr, Oct · from £2,699pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
