To properly see Sardegna, you would need at least a week, preferably two. We had three days! We rented a car and drove the wheels off it!
- It is really exciting to see the wildlife of Sardegna just wandering the countryside. We saw wild pigs (boars), flamingos, and a whole raft of more common animals such as cows, sheep and horses.
- Be sure to visit a nuraghe! These prehistoric fortified dwellings form a distinct part of the island’s history. And don’t forget a flashlight if you want to explore, since they can be dark and scary inside!
- There are plenty of opportunities for water sports such as boating, kayaking, parasailing, diving and so on. There are plenty of things for the water-shy to do, too. The mountains offer remote areas for walking, hiking, or just losing yourself in the beauty of it all.
- We visited in February, the rainiest month of the year with an average of 4 inches of rainfall. We didn’t have any rain during our three and a half days of exploring. The cloudy skies in the morning burned off in the afternoon and gave way to beautiful sunsets.
Quick Tips:
- See my Entry for Motoring in Sardegna for information on driving on the island.
- Bring along a good guidebook.
- If you are out in the country, lunch may be hard to find. Make sure you have some snacks to munch on in case you find yourself far from civilization.
- Try to find a restaurant away from tourists where you can be with the locals.
- The dialect is different than in other parts of Italy. There was a strong Spanish influence, and you may have a hard time communicating if you only know basic Italian.
- Many beaches allow nude sunbathing, so don’t be shocked when you see this.
- Be prepared to use the wilderness as a toilet (gasp!). We didn’t see any public facilities unless you could find a restaurant or bar. Gas stations are usually just that–not superstores with snacks, toilets, etc.
- Stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, since breakfast restaurants are hard to come by.
- The entire island shuts down every day between 12:30 and 3:30pm. Don’t plan on doing anything involving shops, stores, museums, petrol, etc., during these hours! You can find bars and restaurants open during these hours.
Best Way To Get Around:
The best way to get around is by renting a car. Sardegna has a few “larger” cities, but overall, it is small mountain and coastal villages and resorts.
Of course, many of the “off-the-beaten-path” activities will have to be done on foot since there is no other way to get to them.
Some people do come to Sardinia to just lie on the beach or visit Cagliari or Alghero. In that case, I would recommend a taxi to get you from the airport to your hotel and then foot it or take taxis the rest of the way.
