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You are here: Home / Europe / Italy / The Perfect One Week Sardinia Itinerary And Travel Guide

The Perfect One Week Sardinia Itinerary And Travel Guide

May 12, 2022 by Lotte 12 Comments

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Sardinia is a beautiful Italian island in the Mediterranean sea. It’s a great holiday destination, with lovely beaches, interesting history, and of course delicious food (think pizza, pasta, gelato, and more).

Sardinia is a great place for a road trip, check out this detailed one week Sardinia itinerary below for inspiration!

One week Sardinia itinerary

Table of Contents show
1. One week Sardinia itinerary
2. A week in Sardinia: map
3. What is the best time of year to go to Sardinia
4. How to get around Sardinia
4.1. How much does it cost to rent a car on Sardinia?
5. Where to stay on Sardinia
6. Is Sardinia expensive to visit?
7. 1 week in Sardinia: 10 things to do
7.1. Explore Alghero
7.2. Take a swim at Spiaggia della Pelosa near Stintino
7.3. Hop on a boat trip around La Maddalena Archipelago
7.3.1. Booking a Maddalena boat tour
7.3.2. Parking at Palau (departure point of the boat tour)
7.4. Wander around Porto Cervo
7.5. Hike Tiscali Mountain
7.6. Visit the ancient Nuraghe Losa
7.7. Relax on Spiaggia di Is Arutas
7.8. Explore Oristano
7.9. Visit the ruins of Tharros
7.10. Stroll around beautiful Bosa
8. Budget accommodation on Sardinia
8.1. Accommodation in Alghero
8.2. Accommodation in Isola Rossa
8.3. Accommodation in Palau
8.4. Accommodation in Sos Alinos
8.5. Accommodation in Nuoro
8.6. Accommodation in Oristano
9. Sardinia road trip itinerary: in conclusion

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La Maddalena Archipelago

A week in Sardinia: map

You can find our one week in Sardinia itinerary on the map below, including the highlights and accommodations we stayed at.

Sardinia road trip map

Click here for the interactive map.

What is the best time of year to go to Sardinia

The best time to visit Sardinia is April – June, and September – October. During these months the temperatures are between 18°C and 26°C.

And while April is too cold to swim, the abundance of beautiful wildflowers more than makes up for it!

July and August are very hot and also the busiest months on the island, with high accommodation prices and crowded beaches.

September is when we visited Sardinia and we had beautiful weather and no rain. October usually sees a bit more rainy days, however, the beaches are (almost) empty and there are several festivals during this month.

How to get around Sardinia

Panorama of mountain road on Sardinia

Sardinia is a large island and public transport is very limited. That’s why we rented a car to explore the island.

This gave us the freedom to explore the island at our own pace and to visit the places we wanted to see.

We didn’t drive much more than 50 kilometers a day because the roads are not fast. Probably for the best because this gives you more time to admire the splendid views!

I especially loved the road from Bosa to Alghero, which offered stunning views of the Capo Caccia. Be sure to include this road in your Sardinia trip itinerary.

Coastal view Sardinia Italy

Let’s get one thing straight: traffic regulations don’t exist on Sardinia. Well, at least they seem to be more of a suggestion than actual rules.

The locals race over the winding roads, while we were keeping the recommended speed, meaning we created more than one traffic jam behind our Lancia Ypsilon.

How much does it cost to rent a car on Sardinia?

Renting a car on Sardinia is surprisingly affordable! We rented ours via Rentalcars and paid €215 for a week: €175 for the rental fee and €40 for insurance against damages. Plus, we spent €95 on fuel.

Get the best car rental deals on Rentalcars.com

Where to stay on Sardinia

We stayed at six different accommodations, you can find all of them in the table below. I booked all our accommodations online via Agoda and Booking before our trip.

Further down in the post you can read more about these accommodations.

LocationAccommodationRating (/10)PriceBook
AlgheroAlghero 4u Guesthouse7.5€60Click here
Isola RossaIsola Rossa Appartamenti7.8€60Click here
PalauCosta Serena Village7.9€140Click here
Sos Alinos Cala Liberotto Hotel Residence8.6€120Click here
NuoroTerry’s House8.6€65Click here
Oristano Sa Domu e Crakeras9.3€60Click here

Note: Prices for these Sardinia accommodation options depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Press ‘click here’ under book to see the latest prices on Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

Is Sardinia expensive to visit?

No, traveling Sardinia doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, my husband and I traveled Sardinia on a fairly low budget.

In total we spend €1000 for a week, which comes down to an average of €143 per day (for the two of us together). This includes all expenses (accommodation, transportation, food, and activities).

To give you an idea of the prices, an espresso generally costs around €1, a pizza is €5-8 and you can get a scoop of the most delicious gelato for only €2.

Also, to cut the costs, we bought breakfast and lunch in a supermarket (bread, tomato, cheese, pepper, and salt, delicious!) or at little bakeries.

For dinner, we mixed up eating out and cooking ourselves. To celebrate our anniversary, we ‘splurged’ (restaurants on Sardinia are still cheap compared to the Netherlands) on an excellent dinner at this restaurant, which was totally worth it.

1 week in Sardinia: 10 things to do

Planning a trip to Sardinia? This one week Sardinia itinerary will help you discover the best things to do on Sardinia (including travel budget information, where to stay and how to get around Sardinia). #Sardinia #Europe #roadtrip

Sardinia should be on any Italy bucket list or Italy itinerary, it’s a beautiful island with a lot of history and beautiful villages. There are so many things to do in Sardinia, a week won’t be enough to explore it all.

The Sardinia attractions in this post are located in the upper half of Sardinia if you also want to explore the south add at least a week to your Sardinia trip.

Explore Alghero

Alghero historic center cobblestone street

Alghero is one of the many beautiful towns on the island and a great place to start your 7 days in Sardinia.

With its charming historic city center, narrow cobblestoned streets, boutique stores, and excellent restaurants and bars it’s easy to spend a day in Alghero.

Alghero highlights, besides strolling around the centro storico, are the impressive Sea Walls built in the 16th century, La Piazza Civica, and of course the Cattedrale di Santa Maria, one of Alghero landmarks.

A trip to the nearby Grotta di Nettuno, located in Capo Caccia, is one of the best things to do in Alghero, though I don’t particularly recommend this tour during summer as it gets very busy.

Outside of peak season, this impressive cave with spectacular stalactites and stalactites and other rock formations is definitely worth a visit!

An excellent evening activity in Alghero is taking a cooking class. A local host will teach you how to prepare a four-course meal with typical Sardinian dishes using local produce.

After your hard work, you get to enjoy these dishes accompanied by a glass of local wine, a perfect way to end your Alghero itinerary.

Click here to book your Sardinia home cooking class!

Take a swim at Spiaggia della Pelosa near Stintino

Spiaggia della Pelosa Stintino

La Pelosa is a beautiful beach or Spiaggia as they say in Italian, found in the Northwest of Sardinia.

The water has an absolutely stunning blue color and is so clear I didn’t even need a snorkel to see the fish dart around in the water!

We crossed the water to a tiny island about 10 meters from the coast, which had a little beach and just a few people on it.

To get to this beach, we picked our way over the slippery rocks with a bag full of valuables, probably not the smartest thing to do without a dry bag.

Luckily we got across without falling into the water and drowning all our electronics. In any case, La Pelosa is a lovely place to spend the afternoon.

Hop on a boat trip around La Maddalena Archipelago

La Maddalena Archipelago Sardinia

Another of the most popular Sardinia tourist attractions is a boat trip around the Maddalena Islands.

This archipelago consists of seven larger islands and many small uninhabited ones. The water is unbelievably clear and the beaches are fantastic.

Booking a Maddalena boat tour

You can book a boat tour online, which I strongly recommend when traveling in the high season (July and August).

If you are traveling outside peak season there is availability on most days. There are several tour operators in the harbor, so it’s usually not a problem to book on the day itself.

Most tours start around 10 am and finish around 6 pm. There are several itineraries but most tours have 3 or 4 stops on the different islands of La Maddalena.

We paid €30 each for the tour (mind you, that was in 2014), so €60 in total.

Click here to book a Maddalena Archipelago boat tour online

Parking at Palau (departure point of the boat tour)

A little word of advice, reserve enough time to park your car! There is a real problem shortage of parking space and it can be quite expensive the closer you get to the harbor.

We parked a little outside the city center, which was free and just a short walk to the harbor.

Wander around Porto Cervo

Porto Cervo is located on the northeast of Sardinia in the area that’s called the Costa Smeralda. This town is one of the most expensive resorts in the world.

We felt a bit out of place amidst the billionaires relaxing on their luxury yachts in their expensive clothing. Still, it’s a nice place for a morning stroll and an (expensive) cup of coffee or gelato.

Hike Tiscali Mountain

Valle di Lanaittu on Sardinia

One of the most unique places to visit on Sardinia is the Nuragic village of Tiscali, an archaeological site hidden in the mountains. It’s estimated that the ruins here date back to the first millennium BC.

You can either visit Tiscali village independently or join a tour (includes transport, lunch, and a knowledgeable guide).

Getting to the village requires a two-hour hike in the beautiful Valle di Lanaittu, be sure to carry plenty of water as you’ll be climbing a lot and a large part of the track is exposed.

Click here to book a hiking tour to Tiscali mountain and village.

Visit the ancient Nuraghe Losa

Nuraghe Losa Sardinia

Nuraghi are a strange phenomenon and only found on Sardinia. Basically, they are ancient fortified towers built from large rocks.

There are around 1100 spread around Sardinia in various conditions; some are in very good condition while others are almost completely destroyed.

We visited Losa (admission €5 per person), one of the largest and the most complete nuraghe in Sardinia, complete with watchtowers and a spiral staircase inside the main building.

Losa is an impressive structure and I personally find it incredible these massive constructions were built so many years ago without any modern equipment.

Relax on Spiaggia di Is Arutas

Quartz sand on Spiaggia di Is Arutas Sardinia

Spiaggia di Is Arutas is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia. The beach is made up of tiny quartz fragments, similar to grains of rice, in colors ranging from green to white and delicate pink. 

This makes Spiaggia di Is Arutas a unique beach to visit and definitely one I recommend putting on your itinerary for Sardinia.

Note that during the summer months the beach can be packed so it’s best to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Bring a snorkeling mask and explore the underwater world, or go for a swim in the crystal clear blue waters.

Explore Oristano

While you’ll be spending most time exploring the sights around Oristano, the village itself is also worth a visit.

Wander around the Centro Storico, grab a cup of espresso at one of the cafes, visit the beautiful Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and snap a picture of the Statua di Eleonora D’Arborea.

When visiting during lunchtime or in the evening, there are plenty of good restaurants in Oristano. Trattoria Portixedda and Blao Ristorante are recommended places to eat.

Ristorante Fronte Mari Sardinia

Visit the ruins of Tharros

Tharros is a historic site where you can explore the ruins of a former Roman town founded in the eighth century BC.

The signage around the site is pretty good and you can read about the history of this former capital of the Judicate of Arborea.

At the site, you will find the remains of several temples, Roman baths, an amphitheater, and some other constructions.

Allow yourself an hour or two to wander the ruins of Tharros and imagine what life must have been like millennia ago…

Stroll around beautiful Bosa

Colorful Nostra Signora di Regnos festival in Bosa, Sardinia.

I loved Bosa, a beautiful village situated on the west coast of Sardinia by the Temo River (the only river on Sardinia).

The houses are painted in various bright colors and the narrow streets feel almost like a labyrinth. There are little coffee and gelato bars everywhere and the overall atmosphere is really friendly.

The castle up on the hill is worth a visit, mainly for the spectacular views over the town and the sea. We were lucky to visit on the last day of the Nostra Signora di Regnos festival.

During the festival the village looks even prettier because of all the colorful flags, palm tree leaves and little altars build for the Virgin Mary.

Budget accommodation on Sardinia

Accommodation in Alghero

We stayed at Alghero 4u Guesthouse. Max, the host, was very friendly and showed us around the apartment.

He also gave us a map of the city and recommended a pizzeria which turned out to be excellent! Budget accommodation with everything you need and in a good location, 10 min walk to the center of Alghero.

It’s a bit noisy, we didn’t mind, but if you are looking for a quiet stay this isn’t for you (you share the kitchen and bathroom with other guests).

Price indication: €60

Click here to book Alghero 4U Guesthouse

Accommodation in Isola Rossa

A beautiful sunset on Sardinia

We spent one night in Isola Rossa Appartamenti. The view from the veranda was beautiful, looking out over the sea and a beautiful sunset. The apartment was quite big, very clean and the bed was comfortable.

Please mind that you have to bring your own bed linen and towels or pay an additional fee for a linen pack. Also, there was a kitchen but no soap or sponge to wash the dirty dishes.

Price indication: €60

Click here to book Isola Rossa Appartamenti

Accommodation in Palau

Costa Serena Sardinia

The location of Costa Serena Village is absolutely stunning, with a beautiful view of the bay. The apartment itself is basic but clean and has good cooking facilities.

Please note that the swimming pool and shop are closed during the low season.

Price indication: €140

Click here to book Costa Serena Village

Accommodation in Sos Alinos

Cala Liberotto Hotel Residence

The absolute best thing about Cala Liberotto Residence is the outside kitchen, how cool is that! The rest of the apartment is nice as well, a comfortable bed and a big clean bathroom.

Price indication: €120 per night

Click here to book Cala Liberotto Hotel Residence

Accommodation in Nuoro

In Nuoro we stayed at Terry’s House. Very friendly staff who gave us excellent advice about Mastro Pizza (nomnom). The room has a very comfy bed, a modern and clean bathroom, and excellent Wi-Fi and.

Please note that there is no private parking available (but lots of public parking).

Price indication: €65 per night

Click here to book Terry’s House

Accommodation in Oristano

Everything about Sa Domu e Crakeras was fantastic, from the warm welcome with local wine and homemade cookies to the location (in the city center of Oristano) to the room itself, excellent!

The room is very clean, the bed really comfy, the bathroom is new with a large shower and the air conditioning is a nice extra.

The ‘courtyard’ looks really cute but is also convenient for parking the car. Highly recommended!

Price indication: €60 per night

Click here to book Sa Domu e Crakeras

Sardinia road trip itinerary: in conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this Sardinia travel guide and it has inspired you to road trip Sardinia. If you have any questions, leave a comment below!

Planning a trip to Sardinia? This one week Sardinia itinerary will help you discover the best things to do on Sardinia (including travel budget information, where to stay and how to get around Sardinia). #Sardinia #Europe #roadtrip
Planning a trip to Sardinia? This one week Sardinia itinerary will help you discover the best things to do on Sardinia (including travel budget information, where to stay and how to get around Sardinia). #Sardinia #Europe #roadtrip

This post was updated in May 2022.

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Filed Under: Italy

About the author

Lotte is an avid traveler and founder of Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog where she shares her travel experiences and travel tips. Lotte has made it her mission to inspire you to travel (more) and help you plan your trips. Read More…

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Comments

  1. Denise - Follow my footprints

    January 5, 2016 at 10:59 am

    Ja, Sardinië is schitterend! Ik ben er 2 x geweest en heb 2 x heel veel gezien. En dat water bij Stintino, dat is zoooo helder. Ik vond het ook supermooi. Daarvan staat een foto op m’n blog, verder wil ik er ook nog steeds vel meer over posten, zoals over zoveel bestemmingen…

    Reply
    • Lotte

      January 5, 2016 at 11:01 am

      Haha, always enough to write about;-) And so many pictures waiting to be published…

      Reply
  2. Aniek

    January 6, 2016 at 12:28 pm

    Fijn, zo’n helder overzicht! Het is toch altijd lastig inschatten hoeveel een reis gaat kosten.

    Reply
    • Lotte

      January 6, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Thanks Aniek:-) Ik vind het ook altijd prettig om te weten wat de gemiddelde dagelijkse kosten ongeveer zijn. Alhoewel je het natuurlijk zo duur kan maken als je zelf wilt;-)

      Reply
  3. Katie McCraith

    April 13, 2017 at 10:18 pm

    Hi,

    Your trip sounds fantastic :)! Where did you hire your car from?

    Thanks x

    Reply
    • Lotte

      April 14, 2017 at 7:58 am

      Hi Katie, it was a really nice road trip! I rented a car via Rentalcars.com. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions and enjoy your trip:-).

      Reply
  4. Sarah

    October 15, 2017 at 12:49 am

    Hi brilliant story of your trip and helpful
    I wondered what time of year did you go and also is it quite cheap to eat in restaurants ? Thanks Sarah

    Reply
    • Lotte

      October 15, 2017 at 1:23 am

      Hi Sarah,

      Thank you, happy to hear that:-). I was on Sardinia at the start of September (2014), just after peak season. I was surprised how affordable eating out is. Obviously it depends where you go but a pizza is about 10 euro and we paid around 50 euro (including wine) for our fancy dinner at Ristorante Fronte Mari. Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip,

      Lotte

      Reply
  5. Rita

    December 15, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Thank you for your willingness to share. We intend to be in Sardinia in April. We’ll stay in Olbia for seven days. Do you have any suggestions for this kind of trip?
    Thanks again,
    Rita.

    Reply
    • Lotte

      December 18, 2017 at 6:06 am

      Hi Rita,

      You are most welcome, I love writing about my travels:-). About your question, if you have a rental car you could easily visit Porto Cervo. You could also make a cruise around the Maddalena Islands. Depending on how far you want to drive you could also visit Nuoro (should be around 1,5 hour from you). And of course there are lots of small beaches around the East Coast which are yours to discover;-). Enjoy your trip!

      Lotte

      Reply
  6. Mila

    May 26, 2021 at 9:01 pm

    How would you advise splitting the days between different areas of the island? Did you move to a new accomodation every day? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lotte

      May 31, 2021 at 9:24 pm

      Hi Mila,

      We moved to a different accommodation pretty much every day (we only stayed in Oristano for 2 nights). Driving was quite slow as many roads had so many twists and turns so I was happy not to cover too large of a distance each day. That being said, if you prefer driving a bit further during some days in exchange for not having to pack up your stuff every day, that is definitely possible as well.

      For example, you could easily visit Bosa from Alghero. You could even base yourself in Alghero for a couple of days and explore Oristano, Spiaggia di Is Arutas, Tharros and Spiaggia della Pelosa as day trips. Hope this helps!

      Enjoy your trip:-)
      Lotte

      Reply

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