Sardinia is a beautiful island located in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy. It is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean and boasts a rich history, beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, and unique cultural traditions.
The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has been influenced by various civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines.
Today, Sardinia is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. Its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rugged interior make it an ideal destination for those seeking a mix of relaxation, adventure, and culture.
Whether you want to explore ancient ruins (Nuraghe), hike in the mountains, or lounge on a beautiful beach, Sardinia has something to offer for everyone.
My name is Francesco, and I’m a Sardinia enthusiast. Actually, I live in Milan, Italy, but my heart is always in that beautiful island, which is Sardinia. I have been visiting Sardinia every year since 2011, and now I can say that it’s my second home. In fact, in 2023, I decided to buy a house there and share it with everyone. I created this website to share my passion for Sardinia, give you information like a local, and explain how to live La Dolce Vita. Don’t hesitate to write to me to ask for information about Sardinia or Italy in general. For example, can you drink cappuccino with pizza? Oh, God! No! You don’t do that!
On the website, you will also find a section dedicated to my rental house. It’s a lovely villa not far from the sea, take a look because you may want to rent it when I’m not there!
How to move around
There are several ways to travel around it. Here are some options:
Rent a car: Renting a car is a popular way to explore Sardinia as it gives you the freedom to go wherever you want. There are several car rental companies available at the airports and major cities of the island.
Take a bus: There is a public bus system in Sardinia that connects most of the towns and cities on the island. The buses are comfortable and affordable, and the schedules are generally reliable. The big problem is that there are few buses, and it’s not a form of tourism that I would recommend. You risk waiting for hours for a bus that passes only once or twice a day. Furthermore, it’s better to explore Sardinia by car, so you have the freedom of movement between the beaches (where the bus doesn’t stop).
Hire a private driver: If you want a more personalized experience, you can hire a private driver who can take you to the places you want to visit. This option is more expensive than renting a car or taking a bus, but it can be worth it for the convenience and flexibility it provides. In this case, I’m not a big fan of drivers either. I have traveled all over the world, and if I can give you a piece of my experience, it’s this: when you plan a trip from another country, everything seems far away and blurry. I assure you that when you arrive here, you will discover a place not too different from your home. The best thing is to rent a car and read this website. Get informed and then leave. Once you arrive at your destination, I’m sure you will meet a lot of people ready to help you and give you advice.
Cycle: Sardinia is a great place to explore on a bike. You can rent a bike from several rental shops across the island and explore the scenic routes and countryside.
There are a lot of cyclists in the area where I have my rental house. It’s a wonderful stretch of coastline, with breathtaking views. Cycling is an excellent option, even though it’s not for me. You can experience Sardinia by moving from one beach to another by pedaling!Take a boat: If you want to explore the coast of Sardinia, you can take a boat tour or rent a boat to explore the beautiful beaches and islands. You’re right, that’s not exactly an option. You can take a ferry to get to Sardinia and then take boats to visit beaches and coves, but there are no maritime transports that allow you to move between cities as if it were a bus. However, taking a boat is still an experience worth trying to visit protected marine areas and coves that are difficult to reach.
Do I have to plan and book in advance?
Some things are better, even necessary, to book in advance. For example, where to sleep. Unlike other areas in Italy, where it’s easy to find a place to sleep even at the last minute, it’s not the same for Sardinia. Or rather, you will surely find a place to sleep, but the risk is to pay a lot of money for it. Another thing you need to book in advance is the rental car (in case you don’t use your own). For everything else, there is no need, you can do everything on the spot.
One very last thing: if you decide to have dinner in a very popular or famous restaurant and you travel during periods of high influx, I would also book that in advance. At least one or two weeks before (sometimes even a month. I’m not kidding).
Is it better to stay in a hotel, B&B, resort, or rental house?
The choice between a hotel, B&B, vacation village, resort, or rental house depends on your needs and personal preferences.
Quick read:
If you’re looking for a more intimate and personalized experience, a B&B or rental house might be the right choice. You’ll have more freedom and privacy, be able to cook your own meals, and feel at home.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive experience, a resort or vacation village might be the best option. They generally offer activities, entertainment, dining services, and other amenities all in one place.
Hotels are a good option for those seeking a mix of comfort and convenience. They usually offer dining services and room cleaning, but are more impersonal compared to B&Bs or rental houses.
Here’s what I think is best for my experience:
For me, the top choice is to rent a house with a garden, barbecue, and in a quiet area. Coming home after a day at the beach, taking an outdoor shower in the garden, having an aperitif at sunset with a spritz or a cold beer, and then grilling some meat or fish while drinking good Italian red wine.
Maybe it’s not the perfect solution for everyone, but it’s definitely the perfect solution for me. However, let me explain the pros and cons of each option.
Rent a house
Renting a house has its pros and cons. The main advantage is the independence and the possibility of having lunch and dinner at home in complete tranquility, doing grocery shopping at the supermarket (and therefore reducing costs), and being independent in terms of schedules. The disadvantage is that you have to clean it… but nothing too transcendental.
What I recommend for a top-notch experience in Sardinia is to rent a house with a garden or a large balcony. You’ll find that you’ll spend more time outside than inside. You’ll hardly ever go inside the house. For example, my family does almost everything outside, eating lunch and dinner, taking showers, cooking, and relaxing. The temperature is warm and pleasant, it’s not humid, and the sky is full of stars. It’s a spectacle.
Houses are usually rented for a minimum period and have a cost that can vary widely depending on the area of Sardinia. The average price of a house is around 1200€ per week during high season. This price also includes expenses for electricity, water, cleaning, and taxes. This is an average price, of course. There are houses that cost less and houses that cost considerably more. All things considered, if you then go grocery shopping at the supermarket or local fruit and vegetable shops, it’s sustainable.
B&B
The advantage of a B&B is the cleanliness and the fact that it’s usually a family-run structure, very intimate. However, you won’t have much space and you won’t have a kitchen. So you’ll be forced to eat at the restaurant, which will weigh heavily on your finances and give you less freedom. The price of a B&B is on average 130-160€ per night, and this price includes taxes and utilities.
Hotel
The same applies to hotels. The only difference is that being a business-oriented structure, it’s certainly more detached and less familiar than a B&B. Again, you won’t have a kitchen, so you’ll have less freedom compared to a rental house. The great advantage is the daily cleaning of the room.
The prices are more or less the same as B&Bs, perhaps a few euros higher. The average price is probably around 180-200 € per night. I’m talking about high season periods, as prices can vary significantly during low season periods.
Vacation Villages and Resorts
Definitely the most expensive option of all. In this case, the prices will skyrocket and can easily reach 1000€ per night (probably more). Advantages? You’ll always have someone who cleans your room, someone who prepares dinner for you, and if you have children, a mini club with activities for them. Is it worth it? Would I do it? No, to be honest, it’s not worth it for me. I go to Sardinia for the sea, not to have someone cook for me, in fact, this would drive me crazy since I love to cook. With what you spend in 1 week in a resort, you can spend 2 weeks (sometimes even 3) in a house.
I’m not saying that going to a resort isn’t good, I’m just presenting the pros and cons of these solutions. The resort is also a bit of a detached, “protected” world that makes you lose all that real life experience. Going to the farmer to buy tomatoes and salad, making friends with people who don’t speak your language, getting lost, and many other experiences.
The resort (also true for the hotel) is definitely a zero-stress experience that has the disadvantage of making the vacation less spontaneous.
And if I have kids?
So in this case, in my opinion, there are only two options: renting a house or going to a holiday village/resort. I would exclude hotels and B&Bs.
Renting a house offers more flexibility with children’s lunch, they could play quietly in the garden or go out for an ice cream and meet other children who live in Sardinia. Don’t underestimate the ability of children to make friends, even if they don’t speak the same language. We should all learn from them.
The resort and holiday village, on the other hand, offer the possibility of having a mini club and a protected environment. There’s almost always an indoor playground and many activities. Even in this case, the risk is that children may be a bit insulated and out of touch with real life.
Conclusions
Choose the option that best meets your needs and personal preferences based on your budget and the type of experience you’re looking for. I hope this article has cleared your ideas at least a bit!
As far as I’m concerned, if the vacation is only one week, I would choose to take a plane, rent a car, and rent a house. For two weeks or more, I would choose to take a ferry, bring my own car, and rent a house.