Sardinia Travel Guide

An island surrounded by Mediterranean Sea, where mountains, forests, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches follow one another, creating this beautiful Region with wide uninhabited areas. Mild during winter, hot and windy during summer, thanks to light breezes, Sardinia is the perfect place if you are looking for a relaxing holiday, but also if you want some adventure into the wild.

Here are our green travel guides and eco-friendly stays to discover this island:

Cagliari

Carbonia-Iglesias

Medio Campidano

Nuoro

Ogliastra

Olbia-Tempio

Oristano

Sassari

What to see in Sardinia

Sardinia is famous for its enchanted beaches, rocky cliffs above the sea, sandy coves and clear blue waters. You should not miss the beach called “La Rena Bianca”, near the city of S. Teresa di Gallura: it has rose sand. But also “Cala Luna” is a very well known place for its white sand and surrounded by rocks and by a deep blue sea. In the south part of the island, not far from the coast there are two rocky columns, emerging from the sea, the Carloforte Columns. Many are the caves dig by the sea and rivers that can be visited. An example is the “Grotta del Fico”, on the east side of the island.

For all who love wild places, the island offer many possibilities, with many itineraries that can be followed on foot or by bike, trough forests of Macchia Mediterranea, from the coast to the top of the mountains. 

In Sardinia there are also many National Parks. One of these is the Park of Asinara, in the area surrounding Porto Torres, in the North part of the island, where white donkeys live and there is a marine protected area. In the park many itineraries are organized, to discover its amazing landscapes. If you are lucky you will also admire flamingos walking in ponds trough out the island.

Sardinia is also rich of history. Well visible are traces of the ancient Nuraghi, a population that lived in the island starting from the II millennium a.C.. They built villages and towers made of stones, as well as tombs and holy wells that can be visited.

Discovering traditional food

The strong and authentic taste of local products, comes from pastoral, seafaring and farming tradition, common activities among people living in this island. Well known and appreciated are plates based on wild boar meat, but also different types of cheese, especially Pecorino Sardo and Romano. They are usually eaten together with a thin bread, called Carasau. Delicate and tasty biscuits are made with almonds. Saffron is also a typical product, used broadly in many different ways: for cakes but also in second courses. The area around San Gavino Monreale is one of the main places in Italy where Saffron is grown.

Where to sleep in Sardinia

In Sardinia you can also find ecofriendly accommodations. Here are some suggestions:

B&B il Giardino di Valentina, Escolca, in the heart of Sardinia. This is an old country house, rebuilt following the principles of bio architecture, surrounded by a large scented garden, among roses, jasmine and ancient olive trees. The place also offers typical and local products. This is the perfect place for a regenerating break in the nature!

Aquadulci Hotel, Chia, in the south part of the island, near the sea and the beautiful beach of Turredda. You can reach the hotel without the car and it offers local products. It is the perfect place for a thoughtless holiday!

Find out other ecofriendly hotels in Sardinia

Sardinia and its traditions

The local traditional handicraft has ancient origins, and was characterized by different cultures of population who lived in the island. You can thus admire handmade carpets and tapestries, jewelry, objects made with wood and wicker baskets. Object made with ceramics are also very common, thanks to the presence of many clay soils from which the raw material is extracted.

In the island there are also many festivals and traditions. Perhaps only few people know that Carnival is celebrated all over the island with parades, masked balls and floats that recall ancient traditions. Each city also has a typical mask. Furthermore, throughout the year to religious festivals are related rituals to celebrate the passing season.

And if you are looking for other suggestions for your trip to Sardinia you can read these articles: 

6 itineraries in wild Sardinia

Author: Anita Cason

Cover image: Cala Mariolu, Sardinia, ph. by Roberto Cossiu via Flickr