Sardinia is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea, known for its stunning beaches, ancient history, and rich culture. I have visited Sardinia several times and I always enjoy exploring its diverse landscapes, tasting its delicious cuisine, and learning about its traditions. In this travel blog, I will share with you some of my favorite places and experiences in Sardinia, as well as some tips and advice on how to plan your trip.
Day 1: Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital and largest city of Sardinia, and a great place to start your journey. You can fly to Cagliari from many Italian and European cities, or take a ferry from mainland Italy or France. Cagliari has a charming old town, called Castello, where you can admire the medieval architecture, the impressive cathedral, and the panoramic views from the bastions. You can also visit the Roman amphitheater, the botanical garden, and the archaeological museum, where you can see some of the famous nuragic statues, the symbols of Sardinia’s ancient civilization.
For lunch, I recommend trying some of the local specialties, such as malloreddus (a type of pasta with tomato sauce and sausage), fregola (a couscous-like dish with seafood), and seadas (a sweet pastry filled with cheese and honey). You can find many restaurants and cafes in the Marina district, near the port, or in the Stampace district, where you can also enjoy some shopping and nightlife.
In the afternoon, you can take a bus or a taxi to Poetto, the main beach of Cagliari, where you can relax on the sand, swim in the clear water, or join the locals for a walk or a bike ride along the promenade. You can also visit the nearby Molentargius Natural Park, where you can see flamingos and other birds.
For dinner, you can head back to the city center and choose from a variety of options, from pizza to seafood to ethnic cuisine. You can also try some of the local wines, such as Cannonau (a red wine) or Vermentino (a white wine). If you are looking for some entertainment, you can check out the bars and clubs in the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, or catch a show at the opera house or the theater.
Day 2: Nora and Chia
On your second day, you can rent a car and drive to the south-west coast of Sardinia, where you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches and archaeological sites of the island. The first stop is Nora, an ancient Phoenician and Roman town, where you can see the ruins of temples, baths, mosaics, and a theater. You can also visit the nearby church of Sant’Efisio, where every year on May 1st, a colorful procession takes place to celebrate the patron saint of Sardinia.
After exploring Nora, you can continue to Chia, a popular seaside resort, where you can enjoy some of the best beaches of Sardinia, such as Su Giudeu, Cala Cipolla, and Tuerredda. These beaches have fine white sand, turquoise water, and lush vegetation, and are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, or surfing. You can also visit the Chia lagoon, where you can see flamingos and other birds, or hike to the Chia tower, where you can admire the panoramic view of the coast.
For lunch, you can stop at one of the many kiosks or restaurants along the road, where you can have a sandwich, a salad, or a pizza, or try some of the local dishes, such as burrida (a fish soup with vinegar and walnuts), or porceddu (a roasted suckling pig). You can also buy some fresh fruits and vegetables from the roadside stalls, or some cheese and bread from the local farms.
For dinner, you can either go back to Cagliari, or stay in Chia and enjoy the sunset and the nightlife. You can find many hotels, B&Bs, and campsites in Chia, as well as bars and clubs where you can listen to live music, dance, or have a drink.
Day 3: Barumini and Oristano
On your third day, you can drive to the center of Sardinia, where you can discover some of the most fascinating and mysterious aspects of the island’s history and culture. The first stop is Barumini, where you can visit the nuraghe of Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A nuraghe is a stone tower built by the nuragic people, who lived in Sardinia from the Bronze Age to the Roman conquest. Su Nuraxi is the largest and best-preserved nuraghe in Sardinia, and consists of a central tower surrounded by a complex of smaller towers, walls, and huts. You can take a guided tour of the site and learn about the nuragic civilization, their architecture, their religion, and their society.
After visiting Su Nuraxi, you can continue to Oristano, a charming town on the west coast of Sardinia, where you can see the elegant cathedral, the medieval tower of San Cristoforo, and the statue of Eleonora d’Arborea, a Sardinian heroine who fought against the Aragonese invaders in the 14th century. You can also visit the nearby Sinis peninsula, where you can see the ruins of Tharros, another ancient Phoenician and Roman town, and the beautiful beaches of San Giovanni, Is Arutas, and Mari Ermi, famous for their quartz sand.
For lunch, you can try some of the specialties of Oristano, such as bottarga (dried fish roe), spaghetti alla carlofortina (with tuna, tomatoes, and mint), and zuppa gallurese (a bread and cheese soup). You can also taste the Vernaccia, a fortified wine that is typical of the area.
For dinner, you can either stay in Oristano, where you can find many restaurants, pizzerias, and trattorias, or drive back to Cagliari, where you can spend the night.
Day 4: Villasimius and Costa Rei
On your fourth day, you can drive to the south-east coast of Sardinia, where you can enjoy some of the most stunning and pristine beaches of the island. The first stop is Villasimius, a lively seaside town, where you can visit the marine park, where you can see dolphins, turtles, and other marine life, or the archaeological museum, where you can see some of the artifacts found in the area, such as pottery, coins, and jewelry. You can also visit the nearby Capo Carbonara, where you can see the Spanish tower, the lighthouse, and the island of Cavoli, where you can snorkel or dive in the crystal-clear water.
After Villasimius, you can continue to Costa Rei, a long stretch of white sand and blue sea, where you can relax, swim, or play beach games. You can also visit the Scoglio di Peppino, a large rock that divides the beach in two, or the Sette Fratelli mountain range, where you can hike, bike, or horseback ride in the green forest.
For lunch, you can have a picnic on the beach, or stop at one of the many kiosks or restaurants along the coast, where you can have a fresh seafood salad, a grilled fish, or a fritto misto (a mix of fried seafood and vegetables). You can also try some of the local sweets, such as pardulas (a pastry filled with ricotta cheese and lemon zest), or gueffus (a ball of almond paste and honey).
For dinner, you can either go back to Cagliari, or stay in Villasimius or Costa Rei, where you can find many accommodation options, from hotels to apartments to campsites. You can also enjoy the nightlife, with bars, pubs, and discos where you can have fun until late.
Day 5: Nuoro and Orosei
On your fifth day, you can drive to the center-east of Sardinia, where you can explore some of the most authentic and traditional aspects of the island’s culture and nature. The first stop is Nuoro, the capital of the Barbagia region, where you can visit the museum of Sardinian life and traditions, where you can see costumes, masks, tools, and crafts from different villages and periods. You can also visit the museum of Grazia Deledda, a Nobel Prize-winning writer who was born and lived in Nuoro, and whose novels depict the life and customs of Sardinia. You can also see the cathedral, the Piazza Sebastiano Satta, and the statue of the Redentore, which overlooks the town and the valley.
After Nuoro, you can continue to Orosei, a picturesque town on the east coast of Sardinia, where you can see the old town, with its churches, palaces, and courtyards, and the marina, where you can take a boat tour of the Orosei Gulf, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas of Sardinia. You can see the caves of Bue Marino, where you can admire the stalactites, stalagmites, and the monk seal, or the beaches of Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Biriola, and Cala Goloritzè, where you can swim, sunbathe, or hike in the stunning scenery.
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