Sardinia holidays

Sardinia holidays

Deals from £182 per person

Halfway between Africa and Europe, Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and fiercely proud of its unique identity. If you’re looking for a break with plenty of peace and tranquillity, holidays to Sardinia could be just what the doctor ordered! While the mainland is buzzing 24 hours a day, the laid-back attitude is perfect for those holidaying with children or couples sneaking a romantic escape.

Blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, there are plenty of places where you can top up your tan, from quiet, secluded coves with silvery sands, to spacious beaches with water sports on tap. Inland, you can unleash your inner adventurer and take treks on horseback, climb unusual rock formations, and go spotting rare species at La Maddalena Islands Archipelago National Park, or for something a little more laid-back there are a variety of wine tasting tours throughout the area. With so much to see and do, you can make your Sardinia holidays just what you want them to be.

Excellent beaches

Sardinia has some of the best beaches in the whole of the Mediterranean. The north coast of the island is decorated with nearly 80 coves carved into the rocky shoreline. Lovely, long stretches of sand shelve gently into crystal clear waters giving plenty of opportunities for water sports, like boating and snorkelling. Most of the beaches are within a short distance from superb restaurants, cafes and bars. Enjoy the spectacular views of the shimmering coast and unwind, basking in the wonderfully warm weather.

History and culture

Sardinia is a large picturesque island found just off the coast of Italy in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It has an impeccable 2,000km of coastline made up of beautiful sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. The island is drenched in history and tradition, with its historic buildings, bizarre Nuraghi towers and wine vineyards.

The resort hosts a variety of religious and cultural festivals throughout the year with parades, firework displays and huge parties. Italian culture runs through the cobbled streets, join in with the age old tradition of the Passeggiata; a gentle evening stroll where the locals like to socialise after a hearty meal.

Nightlife

Expect a classy affair when it comes to Sardina’s nightlife, with nightly activities traditionally taking place on a terrace of a café or in restaurants. Enjoy a glass of wine or two and enjoy an evening of socialising in the laid back atmosphere by the beachside. If you’re looking for something a little bit more upbeat, you’ll find that areas like Olbia and Alghero have a livelier nightlife. Move from bar to bar enjoying the music and fruity cocktails as you go.

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Map of Sardinia

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10-28 ℃

With mild winters and scorching summers, there’s no such thing as a bad time of year to book your Sardinia holidays! If you want to make the most of the sunshine, July and August tend to be the warmest months with clear blue skies and wall-to-wall sun.

 

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2 hours 45 minutes

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) is 86km from Orosei, 20km from Golfo Aranci and 50km from San Teodoro 

Sardinia is best for...

Beach lovers: With more than 1,000km of coastline, there are hundreds of beaches to explore, along with secluded coves, beautiful bays, and secluded beaches with powder-soft, silver sand.

Scenery lovers: Holidays to Sardinia will introduce you to an island where the scenery can change from lush forests and golden bays to wind-blasted plains peppered with alien-looking rocks and cliffs. Perfect camera country, so pack some spare batteries, a memory card, and get snapping!

Adventurers: Enjoy horseback riding through the rolling countryside, challenge yourself to some serious rock-climbing or get wet with some white-knuckle water sports.

Fast facts for Sardinia

Language: The language spoken here is Italian, but you’ll find that most of the locals and hotel staff have a good grip of English. Download a language app or pack a phrasebook and try out a few phrases!

Currency: You’ll need to exchange your Sterling for Euros (€) before jetting off on your holidays to Sardinia.

Local time: Sardinia is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time.

Fly to: Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. Transfers to Golfo Aranci take 30 minutes, San Teodoro and Porto Cervo take 40 minutes, Palau takes 1 hour, Santa Teresa Gallura takes 1.5 hours, Orosei takes 1 hour and 40 minutes, and to Badesi Mare it's 1 hour and 50 minutes. 

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Sardinia is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Tourist Information: Further tourist information can be found at https://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/sardinia.html.

 

Getting around Sardinia

By bus: There’s an extensive public transport system, with most of the towns and villages offering a regular bus services, both locally and across the island. Purchase your ticket beforehand at a local newsstand or tobacconist. Timetables are sometimes posted next to the bus-stops, but this isn’t always guaranteed!

By The Little Green Train: Operating only during the summer months, this old-fashioned steam train covers 100 miles along the east coast, offering a scenic way to discover the island that the kids will love.  

By car: Whether you’re hiring a car or bringing our own, driving it’s fairly laid-back and gives you the opportunity to explore at your own pace. Make sure to drive on the right-hand side of the road; the only traffic jams tend to be caused by wandering flocks of sheep!

Events in Sardinia

 Lots of festivals take place in Orosei, such as the Festival of the Madonna Del Rimedio – this can sometimes last up to 18 days! This takes place on the first Friday of September.

New Year’s Eve:  With live music performances in most of the piazzas and a spectacular firework display over the harbour, Alghero is the place to be at the start of the year. Expect lots of merrymaking until the early hours.

Carnival: Shrove Tuesday marks the start of the grand carnival. Join locals and other holidaymakers on the streets as they celebrate the event with live music, street food and parades.

Holy Week celebrations: Dating back hundreds of years, the Easter celebrations are not to be missed if you want to experience a real tradition. Held for one week in March or April, this important time is marked with a week of processions and festivities followed by a grand fireworks display.

Sardinia weather

Temperature: Average highs of 28 (°C) in summer and 10 (°C) in winter.

Best time to visit: if you’re looking to enjoy sun, sand and sea on your Sardinia holidays, the best months to go are between May and October, when the mercury hits the high twenties. July and August are usually the hottest months and, as a result, are usually the busiest. To avoid the crowds or if you prefer things a little cooler, consider booking your holidays to Sardinia for late spring or early autumn.

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