We spent the summer in Italy’s other island destination, Sardegna (Sardinia) - and it was better than we could have ever imagined. The beaches are some of the best in the world, the people are as warm as the weather, and each part of the island provides its own unique experience. We stayed in Cagliari, the capital and largest city in Sardegna, a city of around 500,000 people, but did our best to see as much of the island as we could. We hope you find our tips helpful!
Word of warning: summer is HOT. We’re talking 38 degrees Celsius with 70% humidity most days. We highly recommend booking accommodation with aircon and staying inside for the hottest parts of the day. Also, your best bet is hiring a car to see any parts of the island that aren’t Cagliari / Olbia (and cars have aircon...)
Cagliari
Eat 🍝
Bistrot 100 - incredible tuna tartare, a bit expensive (€18) but so worth it.
Tacca - decent price, we got the board with cheese and cured meats, great Campari spritz (which you can also supersize).
Antica Cagliari - pretty good for seafood but we’ve had better; their tuna tartare + mango combination was great.
Man.gia. - incredible pizzas, you wouldn’t know they are all GF.
Kyu Sushi Boutique - Kyu style maguro (fresh tuna sushi) was 10/10, the best sushi of my life, I had it every week.
La Palmette - delicious tuna tartare and beautiful spot on Poetto beach.
Feel - great staff, negroni, and nibbles.
Koko House - tuna tartare with truffle was 10/10.
La Padaria - a café and bakery, home to a delicious Portuguese tart.
Cafe Pasticceria D’Elite - yum fruit tarts.
Gli Stefini Gelato (4/5) - good spot.
Intenso Gelato (5/5) - so bloody good.
I Fenu Gelato (4.5/5) - really different flavours.
Gelateria Chiccheria (4/5) - decent.
La Bottega del Panino - €5 panino and HUGE.
Drink 🍷
Cielo Rooftop - awesome view and chill vibe, VERY expensive but excellent service and free nibbles.
Libarium - 3.6/5 negroni, lovely view.
Spirits Boutique - expensive but good cocktails.
Bar Florio - our local, open during siesta, great drinks, great prices, and lovely courtyard.
Ninno’s - next door to Bar Florio, also good drinks and prices.
Eva Coffee and Wine - €5 takeaway spritz! Also does western style coffees.
BAR Ricicla, Riduci, Riusa - seemingly a window bar from the main street but press the call button on the side street for a hidden entry to a speakeasy with experimental gin cocktails.
Do 💃
Visit the Bastione and Palazzo district for panoramic views of the city.
Go to Poetto beach - 45 min walk or 10 min bus from town, heaps of places to eat and drink, really beautiful beach and lovely vibe.
Find a free walking tour.
Hike Devil’s Saddle - take the bus to Hotel Calamosca and the trail starts just behind the hotel; short and sweet, only takes a few hours.
There are so many music and arts events during summer all over Cagliari and surrounding towns.
Visit the Radio X courtyard in town or the beach clubs on weeknights for free music and jam sessions.
Olbia
Eat 🍝
Pizzeria Dadino - ideally make a booking as there is a queue for walk-ins, but the pizza, cocktails and tiramisu in alfresco dining are worth it.
Drink 🍷
Mint Julep - one of the most unique cocktail bars I have been to, I had a smoked negroni served in a Babushka doll!
Spirits Boutique - another cocktail bar, and while not as experimental with the drinks, the seating in the square provides a front row to street performers and people watching.
Do 💃
Anywhere on Corso Umberto I during the evening can toss up a surprise. We stumbled across many lively bars and restaurants, as well as spontaneous dances spilling across the street.
Rest of Sardinia
Southern Sardinia
Villisiumius - nice town to stop for lunch, but full of tourists.
Mari Pintau (Quartu) - beautiful beach to climb down to (if you can find a park on the side of the road).
Northern Sardinia
Agriturismo Pedru Caddu - you must stay here and have the dinner; it is incredible.
Cala Mariolu (2nd best beach in the world) - incredible, only accessible by boat and capped at a daily limit of visitors.
Cala Luna - lovely caves, only accessible by boat.
Maddalena Archipelago (20 min ferry from Olbia) - Budelli (Spiaggia Rosa and Cavaliere beach), Santa Maria, absolutely BEAUTIFUL, need to book a boat tour from Palau at least two weeks in advance during summer; ours cost €65 for the whole day (Elena).
San Teodoro and Spiaggia la Cinta - really pretty, good vibe, easy parking, free.
Spiaggia Marina de Orosei - not busy, easy parking, crystal clear water, beautiful temperature, and free.
Bosa - super cute colourful town!
Alghero - nice little town, famous for lobster.
Nuoro (Blue Zone) - we didn’t see much of the town, but the parade of transitional costumes in August was amazing (Festa del Redentore).
Spiaggia di Is Arutas - was okay, not as nice as other beaches.
S’Archittu - little beach town was nice to stop in but not worth spending lots of time there. Surfers use this as a base when the tide is right.
Cala Goloritzé - we visited by boat; tiny beach, Mariolu was nicer.
Cala Gonone - more of a port; shells not sand, free.
