A sense of the island of Sardinia, Italy
Sardinia is one of the best, reasonably priced, destinations in Europe for water-sports enthusiasts. It is a wild island placed in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, offering so many beautiful places and activities that it often becomes bewildering to choose the best ones.
It is a very picturesque island of a thousand unique beaches. However, travelling to Sardinia is not only about the sea. Sardinia is sometimes rightly defined as a micro-continent, where seemingly endless mountain ranges coexist with green woods and forests, agricultural plains, rivers, lakes and largely uninhabited, pristine territories.
The best time to visit Sardinia is from the beginning of April to the end of May and from the beginning of September to the end of October, while it's still warm enough to swim in the sea and even better if you prefer to cycle short distances or want to enjoy some Sardinia hiking trails. Sardinia can be scorching hot and crowded in the high season of June to August.
Outside of famous Sardinia beach resorts, generally all younger Sardinians speak English.
Its a good time for you to learn and use some phrases in Italian. However, what Sardinians lack in spoken languages, they definitely make up for in physical communication and are amazingly successful in solving tourist's problems without speaking the English language.
Our general experience of the Sardinian people was that they are extremely friendly. They are non formal and particularly in the countryside, they are very warm and welcoming.
Our observations and tips from our trips to the island of Sardinia
Sardinia is easily accessible thanks to three airports (Olbia, Cagliari, Alghero) and three main ports (Olbia, Cagliari and Porto Torres). There are many daily ferries from mainland Italy, the shortest of which is around six hours duration.
Sardinian beaches are generally clean and well-maintained. One thing that makes them stand out from beaches elsewhere, is the high standard of their restaurants right on the beach.
We would encourage visitors to rent a car and don't worry - driving around Sardinia is easy. A car will let you explore Sardinia on your own terms, without being limited to only one area. Watch out for goats and sheep especially when driving your car. Never beep at goats. We did and they got mad and attacked our car bumper.
Sardinian towns and villages are charming, full of attractions and a real joy to visit.
Pack one light, rainproof jacket (especially when going up the Sardinian mountains as the weather can change very fast), comfortable shoes (flip flops, sandals and sneakers), light scarves and hats (for sun protection) and UV sunglasses. Opt for lighter and brighter clothing. Shorts are acceptable in most restaurants.
You can drink Sardinian water. Tap water is absolutely safe to drink, but you might prefer to buy bottled mineral water: frizzante (sparkling) or naturale (still).
Usually, there are no more mosquitoes in Sardinia than in other Mediterranean regions, so take your usual precautions.
In most Sardinian accommodation, it is preferred that you do not throw toilet paper into the toilet. You should use the bin supplied instead.
If you are the hill walking adventurer type then visit the Gola Su Gorropu with its high rock walls and chasms. It is the European/Italian equivalent of the grand canyon, but smaller. Sardinia is full of hiking trails (both for beginners and climbing enthusiasts) and scenic road biking routes go through Sardinia wild mountainous vistas.
Do not take shells or sand from the beaches, no matter how tempted you are. It is a serious offence.
Sardinia is literally dotted with NATO military bases established after World War II, these are all no go zones.
Alghero
Stroll the ramparts of the old town.
To the west of Alghero on Capo Caccia is Neptune's Grotto It's one of Italy's largest marine caves, formed a couple of million years ago. To get there, you can take a boat trip from the port of Alghero, or you can go by road. Take the footpath from the top down the Goat’s Staircase. with its 656 steps.
Drive to Stintino Beach, it is reckoned to be one of the best in Sardinia.
Take a tour of the area and Nuraghe and see the elusive Sardinian Griffon Vultures as well as the cork oaks, a Sardinian specialty not only for corking bottles.
This is great wine country, so take your pick of any of the wineries in the area.
Alghero had been ruled by the Catalan Crown of Aragon for a long time. To this day many inhabitants still speak this dialect, which is why the Catalan language has equal standing with spoken Italian here.
Barbagia
Visit the Mamoiada Mask Museum. Mamoiada is a small town in the Nuoro region of Sardinia tucked into the Barbagia mountains. Throughout the town of Mamoiada you’ll find mask stores selling handcrafted versions of the museum masks.
Cagliari
Visit the Cagliari San Benedetto Fish Market, a fish market like no other.
Basilica of San Saturnino, an ancient structure that was used for beheadings, besieged by the Catalans and bombed by the allies.
Take in the Sant’Efisio Festival. Sardinia’s most important festival, has been held in Cagliari for over 300 years. It takes place on May 1st each year. People from all over the island dress up with their finest traditional costumes, knights riding horses, and huge decorated floats driven by gigantic oxen, all gathering in Cagliari to express their devotion and faith to Sant’ Efisio, a legendary Christian Martyr.
Costa Smeralda
It is the Sardinian coast at its most idilic, with its millionaire yachts all on display, in the north east of the island. It is the Sardinian equivalent to the southern Spanish town of Puerto Banus.
Oristano
Take in the Sartiglia festival of masks is held each year in late February.
Visit the Roman site of Tharros. A spectacularly situated archaeological site on the thin stiletto blade that separates the Mediterranean sea and the Gulf of Oristano.
Tour the Sinis Peninsula & Cabras in western Sardinia.
Our Irish experience of a holiday visiting the tourist attractions Sardinia, an Italian Island paradise in the central Mediterranean.
Link to still image montage of Sardinia visit:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/4qa0CKw8Ydc
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Laid-Back Sardinia 2022 Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/-j5K__f6LJs
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Laid-Back Sardinia 2023 Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/JGlTzZGqE_4
The island of Sardinia
We have visited Sardinia many times over the last 10 year period. Sardinia is a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has nearly 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and a mountainous interior crossed with great hiking trails. The climate is temperate Mediterranean and ideal for open air trips and excursions as it is surrounded by sea with a dark blue to turquoise palette of colours. With its tropical sea and transparent water it is both a perfect sailing and diving location. It has up to 30 very different dive locations made up of : 11 sites on the East coast, from Capo Figari to the Gulf of Orosei ; 12 sites on the south coast, from Arbatax to Bosa ; and 7 site on the Northern coast from Alghero to Mortorio. The dives vary from wreck to cave dives, all within relatively shallow nearshore waters. All dive sites fall within 20m - 40m deep and with excellent visibility in the water. It is hard to beat as a dive holiday location.
Sardinia is bounded to the West by the Alboran Sea which has the greatest effect from the Atlantic Ocean current water exchange. To the East its seas are influenced by the waters from the Balearic Islands to Sicily. The Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean are the two other areas of influence on Sardinia’s North and South coasts. Sardinia is right in the middle of the central Mediterranean, in a position that is widely considered conducive to creating a synthesis of the marine biological characteristics of all these surrounding sea areas. Compared with other Mediterranean locations, the sea that surrounds Sardinia is relatively stable. Surface water temperatures fluctuate consistently from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius in February and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius in August.
Sense of Sardinia
The official currency of Sardinia is the Euro. During our various trips we have driven all around the island. If you get any opportunities during your travels in Sardinia to visit the old walled town of Alghero, then do so, it is a very worthwhile experience. Head north-west from the center of Alghero for just a few kilometres, and you'll discover Maria Pia beach (Spiaggia di Maria Pia).
Our general experience of the Sardinian people was that they are extremely friendly. They are non formal and particularly in the countryside, they are very warm and welcoming.
Recommendations for Sardinia
There is no language barrier, if you speak only English. All the younger generation and the majority of older people can converse quite happily in English. So it lends itself to undertaking a trips that can be self guided tours.
In each of the locations around Sardinia we visited the local tourist trails and highlights on offer. We also visited some of the local communities market events and these left us with a genuine sense of Sardinian life. In Sardinia, the tourist season extends from April to November. The months of June and July are very busy tourist months and high temperatures. August is both hot and extremely busy with tourists from the Italian mainland making up the bulk of the tourists.
There are a lot of things to do in Sardinia depending on your preference:-
1 City visits to Cagliari, Olbia, Arzachena or Alghero;
2 Choose from any of the offshore boats tours on offer;
3 Cycling is a very popular method of touring various attractions;
4 Italians love their food, so visit the local food market to soak up the atmosphere;
5 Visit any of the very well preserved archaeological sites on offer;
6 Join in any of the many hill walks on offer;
7 Do a winery and wine tasting tour;
8 Visit any of the museums and nature parks;
9 There are a variety of sandy and rocky beach types to choose from.
All of the visits, tours, cruises and trips are available as both half day and full day experiences.
There is a wide variety of hotel accommodation available to suit all holiday budgets. If you like excellent Italian food and hospitality, then look no further, Sardinia has it all.
Our must see recommendation for a trip to Sardinia:-
Our visit to Alghero was the highlight of our entire Sardinian trip.
Our second choice would be a visit to any of the 30 great diving site experiences.
Our third choice would be the boat trip experience offshore along the coastline of Sardinia.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at your home, on your return.”
“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination.”
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