ABOUT SARDINIA
The enchanting island of Sardinia, a captivating gem nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. With its pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine, Sardinia offers an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking Italian’s dolce vita at its finest.
WHAT TO DO IN SARDINIA
We’ve been here for almost two weeks, driving around with a camper. We started in Olbia, and drove all the way down to Cagliari, to go up again, back to Olbia. We recommend going clockwise for the best experience when visiting Sardinia. We will take you along on our roadtrip with the best places to stop, which include food stops, beach stops and other things to do.
The next day we drove up to Spiaggia (beach) di Berchida. This is a big wide beach where you have to pay entrance for but where you can park the car pretty close to the beach, which is nice since you don’t have to walk too far. The beach has blue water for a beach (not as crystal clear as the upcoming bays we’re about to reveal), so if you’re more of a beach person this might be the ideal spot for you.
First stop(s)
Driving down from Olbia you’ll stumble upon Porto Taverna after a few hours. Porto Taverna has a nice beach where you can chill and enjoy the Mediterranean sun. Choose a camping close to the beach so you don’t have to walk too far. For food, we highly recommend Marco’s grill & bar. They will serve you the best (local) sea food with a smile and a chat. This was a great welcome to the island for us.
Little sister of Bren in the waters of Spiaggia di Berchida
Favorite stop incoming!
The following days, we went to explore bays of Baunei (sounds so cool!). There are two ways to explore the 5 cala’s (bays). You can either access the bays from the land, which includes a pretty intense hike, or you can go by boat. We chose the latter, instead of going on a touristy boat we chose to rent our own. Ask for Flavio at the boat rental and he’ll provide you with the best price for your own boat.
We sailed all the way to the furthest beach, Cala Goloritzé. This was instantly our favorite bay. Cala Goloritzé enchants with its towering limestone cliffs, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a stunning rock arch that frames the beach. Don’t go to the main beach here, but instead choose a small spot with sand in between the rocks for your own little private beach.
The other contender for favorite stop is Cala Luna. It awaits in awe with its majestic limestone caves, powdery white sands, and emerald-green waters.
Both Cala Goloritzé and Cala Luna showcase the awe-inspiring beauty of Sardinia's coastline, making them must-visit destinations for bay hoppers like we are.
Cala Goloritzé
Down South
Driving further we encountered a steep mountain pass with some curvy roads, which can be quite challenging with a big camper. However the view is more than amazing and totally worth it. Once you get out of the mountains, you’re probably quite hungry. Sardigna street food offers the solution to your hungry belly. Not your typical Italian food but oh so good, even the locals say.
Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia. We experienced it as quite hectic, since they were promoted to the Serie A (highest league of football) at the same time we were there. Cagliari is a great stop for a drink or food here or there, with some of the best lined up down here:
Bistrot 100 - best for locals
Cielo at Palazzo Tirso - best view
La Paillote - best food
Spirits Boutique Cagliari - best drinks
If you don’t want to visit Cagliari, you can head inland earlier instead of driving along the coast all the way down to Cagliari. You can spent the night at one of the agriturismo’s, which are basically just farms where you can dine and sleep. In Sardinian tradition they will serve you a roasted piglet, so if you’re vegetarian make sure to let them know beforehand.
‘‘Dubitante’’ He said after showing him the picture
Cute villages and more
Our next stop, heading up again, was Oristano (quite the drive from Cagliari) with Bosa being our favorite part. Bosa is a cute little village with nice local food and a laid back vibe. It’s situated close to the sea so you can take a dip if you want to as well.
Alghero is another option. It basically has the same characteristics as Bosa, but it has one advantage. It is very close to Neptune’s caves. This breathtaking grotto, accessible by boat or a memorable sea-to-land trek, leaves you amazed with its otherworldly beauty. It is touristy, but if you take the first shift (you have to trek) you will skip most of the tourists.
Bren’s little brother, can you see the similarities?
How about dad?
Another stop you definitely don’t want to miss is Spiagga La Pelosa. This beach is a protected one, which means you have to pay for entrance and you also have to buy a special mat which (according to them) ‘protects’ the sand. These mats are very cheap and can be bought from vendors all over the place, so don’t fall for tourist traps.
If you move on to Olbia and start to get hungry, stop over in Castelsardo and enjoy Italian cuisine at its best at Café de Paris. Even though their name is French, their food is Italian ;)
Spiaggia La Pelosa
Last but not least (on the contrary!)
Our last stop was La Maddalena. The same concept as the bays of Baunei, a place where you can rent a boat and explore. This time however, it were not beaches that we went to explore, but more small islands with the bluest water you will come across. A famous stop here is Spiaggia Rosa (the pink beach). Sadly, this beach is not pink anymore and therefore closed to the public. But this shouldn’t be a problem since there are lots of amazing spots where you can enjoy the crystal clear waters. Just drop the anchor and live la dolce vita!
Hi, we are Bren and Tess! We travel to the most beautiful places in the world, and with our video's, we hope you feel inspired to do the same.
La Maddalena