Sardinia is the kind of dream almost everyone carries around in their head – turquoise coves straight off a Caribbean postcard, fragrant maquis and laid-back towns by the sea. But then comes the practical bit: how much is all this going to cost, when is it actually worth going, and above all – do you book a package or risk doing it on your own with a car? That’s exactly what we want to help you with.
You’ll find three things here: up-to-date package and flight prices that we refresh every morning, our specific tips from our own travels and articles, and a plan for when and what to book so you don’t end up overpaying.
What to see and do in Sardinia
Sardinia isn’t just one destination – it’s a whole world of coves, mountains and stone towns that changes every few dozen kilometres. Here are the places that make it worth coming:
- Sardinia’s most beautiful beaches – from the famous La Pelosa to hidden coves in the south, where the water shifts from turquoise to deep blue.
- Cagliari – the capital with its historic Castello quarter, a lively market and beaches right around the corner.
- Costa Smeralda and the north – a luxe coastline with the Emerald Coast, but also wild coves around Palau and the La Maddalena archipelago.
- The Barbagia interior – stone villages, long-lived centenarian elders and authentic cooking far from the beaches.
- Another 25 things to see and do – our big pick across the whole island for when you want to see as much as possible.
When to visit Sardinia
The best balance of weather and peace and quiet comes in May, June and September. In September the sea is pleasantly warm after summer, the crowds have headed home and prices drop. You’ll find a detailed temperature breakdown in our article on the weather in Sardinia month by month.
Peak season in July and August means the warmest sea and everything fully open, but also the highest prices, packed beaches and serious heat. The Italian holidays around 15 August (Ferragosto) are the climax – that’s when the island is at its priciest and busiest.
Out of season (November–March) Sardinia is quiet and cheap, but a lot of seaside businesses close. It’s too early for swimming, but exploring the towns and hiking are perfectly doable – the weather tends to be mild.
How to get to Sardinia
The fastest way to reach Sardinia is by air. The main gateway is Cagliari (CAG) in the south, the north is served by Olbia (OLB) near the Costa Smeralda, and in the west there’s the smaller Alghero airport (AHO). From the Czech Republic you’ll usually fly with one stop (for example via mainland Italy), and in the summer season seasonal direct flights pop up too. The journey, including the layover, takes about half a day.
The other option is to drive to mainland Italy and then take a ferry from ports like Livorno, Civitavecchia or Genoa to Olbia or Cagliari. That makes sense if you want your own car and don’t mind a longer trip – plan for an overnight on the ferry too. For a regular week-long holiday it’s usually more sensible to fly and rent a car once you’re there.
Renting a car
On Sardinia we warmly recommend a car – public transport between beaches and villages is weak, and you simply can’t reach the prettiest coves without one. You can manage without a car only if you’re staying in a single resort or right in Cagliari and are happy with the city and the surrounding beaches.
- Book ahead through rental comparison sites – in season cars run out and on-the-spot prices tend to be much higher.
- Watch the insurance and deposit – the base price usually comes without full cover; pay a bit extra for sensible insurance so they don’t block a hefty deposit on your card.
- Pick-up is best arranged right at the airport (Cagliari, Olbia) to save on transfers.
- Taking the ferry with your own car from the mainland only makes sense for longer stays – otherwise it works out cheaper to fly and rent a small car on the spot.
Where to stay in Sardinia
Where to stay depends a lot on what you want to see. Sardinia is big, so it pays to pick a region and not move around too much:
- The south (Cagliari and around) – ideal for combining city, culture and the beautiful beaches of Villasimius and Chia.
- The northeast (Costa Smeralda, Olbia, Palau) – the prettiest coves and trips out to La Maddalena, but also the highest prices.
- The west (Alghero, Bosa) – Catalan charm, a calmer vibe and good value for money.
- The interior – agriturismo and stone villages for those who want authentic Sardinia without the crowds.
When it comes to types of accommodation, apartments and B&Bs work best – they give you freedom and in season they come out cheaper than hotels. If you’re travelling by car, look for places a short way from the beaches rather than right on them – you can easily save a third of the price.
Package tour or independent travel?
Sardinia works brilliantly either way – it depends on what you want from your holiday. Here’s our honest comparison:
- A package is worth it when… you want a carefree beach with all-inclusive or half board, you don’t have time to plan, you’re flying abroad on your own for the first time, or you’re travelling with small kids and want the certainty of a transfer and hotel all in one place.
- Go it alone when… you want to tour as many coves and villages as possible, you enjoy your own pace and cooking in an apartment, you’re flexible on dates for the sake of price, and you don’t mind sorting the car, accommodation and activities yourself.
The two of us travel Sardinia on our own with a car – for the freedom and for touring the coves. But if you mainly want to switch off at one beach and not think about anything, by all means go for a package; the final price tends to be similar and there’s less hassle.
Budget: daily costs in Sardinia
| Level | Accommodation | Food | Transport & activities | Total/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 30 €–45 € | 16 €–25 € | 16 €–25 € | approx. 60 €–90 € |
| Standard | 55 €–85 € | 30 €–40 € | 30 €–40 € | approx. 110 €–165 € |
| Comfort | 120 €+ | 45 €+ | 45 €+ | approx. 210 €+ |
These prices are a rough guide per person per day and assume you’re here outside the absolute peak of the season. In August and on the Costa Smeralda easily count on a third more, especially for accommodation and seaside dinners.
How to save when planning
- Flights are best bought 2–4 months ahead, and earlier still for summer dates – seasonal connections get pricey fast. Search for flights in our flight finder.
- Accommodation in the most attractive coves goes first – for July and August book in spring, while out of season you can happily leave it to the last minute. Our accommodation tips.
- Packages are worth hunting for in two windows: early bird in autumn and winter for the best choice, or last minute a few weeks before departure if you’re flexible. Check out the current packages.
- Activities like boat trips to La Maddalena fill up in season – book popular dates early so you don’t pay more on the spot.
- Where people overpay – restaurants right on the promenade and parking at the top beaches. Eat a street back and park a short walk away, and you’ll save a few hundred a day.
Practical information
- Language and currency – the languages are Italian (and Sardinian), and you pay in euros. In tourist spots you’ll get by in English.
- Payments – cards work fine in towns and larger establishments, but keep cash for small bars, markets and parking machines.
- Connectivity – coverage is good; an eSIM is handy for the trip so you don’t have to worry about roaming or hunting for wi-fi; you can set it up in a few minutes before you even leave home.
- Safety – Sardinia is one of the calmer destinations; the main risk is petty theft on beaches, so don’t leave valuables unattended.
- Water and heat – midday in summer is brutal, so plan the beach for the morning and early evening and drink plenty.
