THE 30 BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SARDINIA

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It is the second largest island in the Mediterranean (behind Sicily) and, although it is true that it has some of the prettiest beaches from Europe, there are much more to see and do in Sardinia! From its interesting cities to the archeological ruins, passing through typical tasty (and caloric) dishes and ending with spectacular sunsets that will be marked on your retinas. Oh, and let's not forget: your Ichnusa beer! Then we tell you the Top 30 things to see and do in Sardinia:

1. The most important city in northern Sardinia, and one of the best places to base is Alghero (Alghero). That name may be familiar to you from the institute's history classes, and it belonged to the Crown of Aragon for almost four centuries, in which its official language was Catalan. Even today it has its own dialect that was born from that time. Do not expect a big city, its beautiful historic center can be easily explored on foot (in fact it is our recommendation, if you drive around the center with the car you risk a fine). Do not forget to enter the Cathedral of Santa Maria, walk along Humberto Street, and enjoy its port at sunset.

2. About 50 km north of Alghero is Stintino, one of our favorite places in Sardinia (and many others!) and here is the La Pelosa Beach, where you will seem to be in the very Maldives. Seriously, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: crystal clear waters and fine white sand. The only bad thing is that in high season it is full of people, it is well worth getting up early (also to find parking, which by the way costs a lot: around € 2 per hour). If you are one of those who get bored to be hours and hours in the same place, you know that there is a very pretty cove near there: the Cala Lupo.

3. One of the best excursions to do from Alghero is that of the Grotto of Neptune, a sea cave of more than 1 km long, full of stalactites, stalagmites and strange figures in the rock. Eye: you have to go down about 650 steps, so if you are not physically fit… watch out! It can be reached by car or with a boat trip (if it is high season it is best to book it in advance).

4. Do not hesitate to rent a car in Sardinia, it is the best way to get around and fully enjoy the island. There's a lot panoramic roads which are a real past, but two of the most recommended are these:

The one that goes from Cagliari to Teulada, where cliffs, blue sea and mountains offer a unique show.
The one that goes from Alghero to Bosa, with landscapes that take away the hiccups.

5. Not only is the road beautiful, BosaIn addition, it is one of the most successful villages of Sardinia, thanks especially to its colorful houses and its location on a small hill. Once here you have to try the s'azzada, a dish that is prepared with fish (stripe), garlic and vinegar.

La Pelosa beach, in Stintino

6. Although if we talk about charming corners, we cannot forget about Castelsardo, a town of medieval origin that often appears in the listings of the most beautiful villages in Sardinia (and even in Italy). The best thing is its location: it is located on top of a rock, with great views of the sea. Visit its castle, the historic center, the Cathedral of San Antonio Abad and the Elephant Rock.

7. The archipelago of The Maddalena, at the north end of the island, it is formed by about 60 islands and is one of the most recommended places in Sardinia. We cross by ferry (by car) from Palau and once there we explore the area throughout the day. Here compare and hire the ferry. The truth is that the ideal is to have at least 2 days of time and sleep there. The best? Your beachy! If you only have one day, a good idea is to join this tour that takes you to know the main points of interest of La Maddalena (and surroundings).

8. One of the islands of the Maddalena archipelago is the Caprera Island, where you can visit the house-museum of Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the key figures in Italian history. To get to the island you have to cross a bridge (Ponte della Moneta) that joins it with La Maddalena.

9. And there is also the Budelli Island, where one of the most amazing beaches in Italy is located (or rather found): Rosa de Budelli Beach, with its peculiar pink sand that gave the remains of shells and coral. We say he was because apparently… he has little left: a few years ago, access to protect this natural phenomenon was forbidden, but it was too late since many tourists went and took the sand as a souvenir. Now you can only visit from a walkway or from the water.

10. If you want to know the most fashionable and luxurious area of Sardinia, there is no doubt: you have to go to The Emerald Coast. It is there that many Italian (and international) celebrities spend their vacations, without the high prices of the area stinging them too much… And everything is hyper expensive! Luckily, you don't have to be a millionaire to have fun on the beautiful beaches in the area, which, as its name indicates, are of a beautiful emerald water. The prettiest is possibly the Playa del Grande Pevero. Do not miss a walk through Porto Cervo, the most important town on the Emerald Coast, full of luxury shops, top-notch restaurants and beach clubs like the Billionaire, by Flavio Briatore (admission is free and cocktails cost € 15).

Medieval town of Castelsardo

11. And we continue with the beaches (you can forget anything at home, except the swimsuit!), The Cala Goloritzé It is without doubt one of the best beaches in Sardinia. It is located in the area of Gulf of Orosei, an area where it is worth spending a couple of days of your trip to Sardinia, based on Cala Gonone. More beaches and coves to see near here are: Cala Mariolu and the Birìala Creek. If you want to dive, it's a good place (you can book here).

12. What do you think of the plan rent a rubber boat and get to the “Piscine di Venere"? It is a beach only accessible by sea, with waters so clear that the boats rather than float ... seem to be suspended in the air. If you don't dare, you can also join this 8-hour tour that includes the Venus Pools and other stops.

13. If you feel energized to make a trekking there is one that you will love: it is the trail that goes from Cala Fuili to Cala Luna. It has a distance of about 5 km and passes through spectacular cliffs, caves and Mediterranean forests, and halfway you can divert to visit the Grotta del Bue Marino (only open in summer).

If you decide to do the trekking it takes a lot of water, some food, put on a creampie and start early, because in summer the sun squeezes! Cala Luna is only accessible on foot through this path, or by boat, from Cala Gonone. A good idea is to make the round trip on foot and return in a boat (keep in mind that the boats only travel between the two coves in summer). There is a goat road that leads from the south, but we don't think it's a good idea to go there by car.

14. When the sun starts to go down in Italy the time has come fortake the appetizer! The most typical is to drink a aperol spritz, a cocktail with Aperol (an orange liqueur), sparkling water and white wine type cava. But if you're more than beer, try one Ichnusa, the most beloved Sardinian beer. And it really is very rich!

Curiosity: the Ichnusa brand label includes the sardinia flag, with "I 4 died”(The 4 Moors), whose meaning is still unclear. There are those who defend that the flag represents the battle of Alcoraz, between Christians and Muslims in Huesca, and that they won the first thanks, according to tradition, to a supernatural little help from San Jorge. Apparently, the saint appeared on the battlefield carrying a red cross on his chest, and managed to cut off the head of 4 Moorish princes.

15. If Alghero is the main city in the north of the island, in the south it is Cagliari, which is actually its capital and most populated city. With its extensive history and interesting present, it is a stop that is very worthwhile on your trip to Sardinia. Here there is much to do, such as climbing the castle of San Miguel, visiting the Roman amphitheater or the bastion of San Remy and enjoying your night.

Cala Goloritzé, in the Gulf of Orosei

16. Do you want to see flamingos? You can see them quite easily in the Molentargius Park, also known as the Salinas de Cagliari (they are south of the city). The best time to see them is at the beginning of June (although they are almost all year long).

17. Sardinia is dotted with the curious nuragas (nuraghe in Italian), some stone constructions that date back to the time between 1800 and 1100 BC, and were made by the Nuragic people, which apparently were the most advanced civilization of the Mediterranean in its time. Supposedly they served as defensive towers, although it is not very clear, they could be places of worship, residences, meeting rooms ... Their importance is such that they were declared World Heritage by UNESCO and is one of the symbols of Sardinia. The best places to see them are inPalmavera and in Barumini (Su Nuraxi), Besides of Tiscali Archaeological Area, an old nuragic village within a dolima. Although as we said before, they are practically all over the island (there are more than 8,000!).

18. But they are not the only archaeological sites on the island… the known ones “tombs of the giants”Are another example of architecture of the nuragic era. These are large funeral megaliths (that's why they were believed to be tombs for giants). One of the best known is found in Coddu Vecchiu, others are the Li Muri Necropolis wave tomb of Li loghi.

19. Nor can you miss a visit to archaeological site of Tharros, an ancient Phoenician city that was once a key port to dominate trade in the Western Mediterranean. In addition, the surroundings are very beautiful, so it can be a perfect day trip. Prices: visit to the Museum, archaeological site and tower, € 9.

20. If you have behaved well and you have a budget to live an unforgettable experience (beware, from € 400!) You are in luck: you can rent a room at the 5 star Hotel inside a lighthouse itself. And it's not just anybody, it's about Capo Spartivento Lighthouse, which since 1856 illuminates the nights of the south coast of Sardinia. Make your reservation here.

Remains of the nuragic civilization, in Barumini

21. Few know that in Sardinia there are a few hot springs, where to pamper that mountain body you have! Some places to take a warm and relaxing dip are Benetutti, Casteldoriaor Fordongianus, where there is also a site of Roman baths of the I-III centuries, or.

22. The Sardinian cuisine We found it very interesting. One of the dishes that we liked the most were the culurgiones, a kind of stuffed pasta that tastes like glory. The first time I tried them (handmade by a Sardinian friend), it was love at first bite ... I'm sure they will freak you out too. More typical Sardinian dishes are the malloreddus, the pane caraau (that gets wet with water), spaghetti with sea urchins, motley and the marzu cheese (which has worms! I couldn't prove it XD). And finally, drink a shot of myrtle, a liquor of berries and myrtle leaves, which is only found here.

23. Does urban art freak you out? The day is not to launch rockets? Are you looking for alternative plans to the beach? Go to Tinnura, a small town in the province of Oristano, full of murals and urban art. Come on ... an entire open-air museum, one of the most original things to see and do in Sardinia. Another place to enjoy urban art is Orgosolo, in the province of Nuoro. Curiosity: For a long time, Orgosolo was considered one of the most conflictive places on the planet. The reason? There were about 500 deaths due to revenge between bandits (the total population was less than 5,000 inhabitants!). Today it is completely safe, do not worry.

24. Another trekking very, but very handsome, is the one that crosses the Gorropu Gorge, a canyon about 12 km long, which formed due to erosion of water and wind. You can travel it whole or focus on a small section, for free or on a tour like this. Eye: the entrance is paid (€ 6 parking and € 5 per person).

25. A visit that both adults and children will like is the Park of the Giara, where wild endemic horses of Sardinia run wildly. There are approximately 600 in the park, and to enjoy 100% of the experience, it is best to hire a guide in the nearby town of Tuili.

Trekking through the Gorropu Gorge

26. If you enjoy roadtrips, drive along the road along the Cape Carbonara, an area that, with the city of Villasiumius, is a holiday center in the south of the island. The difficult thing here will be to choose the beach where to put the towel, because they are all incredible. It is also an excellent area for diving, there are remains of sunken ships, beautiful seabeds, goldfish and the statue of the Virgin the Sea sunk on the island of Cavoli.

27. Overcome your fears and jump into the water from the incredible natural arch of S'Archittu. Another plan is to relax while you see how those who jump are others 😉

28. The Tavolara Island It is an impressive limestone rock that rises off the northeast coast of Sardinia. Curiously it was an independent territory under the reign of the Bertoleoni family, and later became a republic. Today you can visit by boat from the port of Porto San Paolo and that leaves you on its main beach, or on a tour that turns you around the island, with stops for snorkeling.

29. In Sardinia there are plans for all types of travelers, and if you are one of those who love adventure, here are two options:

Rent a kayak and paddle on any of the beaches and coves, or better yet, descending the Tirso River.
Put on your cat feet and scale impressive cliff pathways that fall directly into the sea, or practice abseiling in the Fuili canyon. More information.

30. And if you have time left, why not a day visit to Corsica? This tour seems interesting.