Road trip itinerary in South Sardinia
Planning a holiday in Sardinia ? Here’s a one-week itinerary for a road trip in South Sardinia ! If you missed our article on the north of the island, it’s over here !
Travelling to Sardinia : practical information
✧ When to go to Sardinia ?
The best time to travel to Sardinia is in May/June or September/October. In July and August, the weather is also very good, but the island is very busy and prices are higher.
✧ Plane tickets to South Sardinia
As usual, we booked our plane tickets via Ulysse. We find that this is the comparator that finds the best prices and the ability to put flexible dates is very practical. You can take advantage of a €15 discount on your first flight booking by registering via our link ! The best way to visit southern Sardinia is to land at Cagliari airport, less than 2 hours from France. Plane tickets are generally very affordable – obviously more expensive in July/August.
✧ Accommodation in Sardinia
In order to visit the south of the island in the best conditions, I recommend that you stay in 2 different places during your stay.
For the south-western part, there are no large towns but the ideal is to sleep somewhere well located to radiate around. This accommodation is perfect and offers excellent value for money.
For the other part, the South East, I can only recommend the 5* Pullman Timi Ama. hotel. I was invited for 3 nights during Sea Week (27 September to 3 October 2021) to support Thalassa Sea & Spa’s operations with a beach clean-up action. Thalassa Sea & Spa aims to combat the plastic micro-particles that accumulate in our seas and oceans.
To be honest, I’ve rarely stayed in such a good hotel. Geographically speaking, its location is ideal. The rooms are spacious, the setting idyllic, the staff attentive and the food excellent and varied. What’s more, the hotel offers a wide range of activities and is very active in protecting the environment. To book, click here.
If it’s too expensive for your budget, I’d recommend this well-located, good-value hotel in Villasimius.
✧ Road trip in South Sardinia : how do you get around ?
To follow our itinerary, it was essential to hire a car. I went through the Sixt agency in Cagliari. It’s right opposite the airport and the customer service is excellent. I had a puncture two days before departure and they provided me with another car within 5 minutes. If you can afford it, I’d recommend hiring a convertible, the environment lends itself very well to it ☀️
✧ Budget for 1 week in South Sardinia.
- Plane tickets : €100 per person return.
- Car hire : €160 for an economy model
- Petrol costs : €100
- Hotels : €70 per night
- Food : €35 per person per day
Total : €1440 for two people, i.e. €720 per person.
*indicative budget according to our travel arrangements – rates October 2021
1 week itinerary : Road trip in South Sardinia
Day 1 : Visit to Cagliari
Cagliari, the island’s capital, has a rich heritage. If time permits and you’re not in too much of a hurry to get to the magnificent Sardinian beaches, you can plan to spend 1 or 2 days there.
Personally, I decided to spend 24 hours in the city at the start of my stay, and that was a good option. It saved me a day’s car hire, as the train journey from the airport takes just 5 minutes and costs just €1.30. What’s more, it’s very difficult to park in the city centre in summer, as parking spaces are reserved for residents.
What to do in Cagliari ?
The town of Cagliari is made up of 7 hills, so you might as well say that you’re going to work your thighs off.With little time to spare, I concentrated on the town’s historic centre. This district gives the impression that time stood still decades ago.
Let yourself be guided through the narrow streets of the famous Il Castello district. You’ll find plenty of views over the city, as well as buildings such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria.
You can also opt for a guided tour of the city, to discover every nook and cranny. See here.
If, like me, you love covered markets, head for one of Italy’s largest closed food markets : the San Benedetto market. It’s a great opportunity to discover some of Sardinia’s specialities.
Where to sleep in Cagliari ?
I stayed 2 nights in Cagliari (1 on arrival and 1 before departure). Here are the 2 very well located and good value hotels that I tried out:
- Residenza le Scalette, perfect location, from €70 per night with breakfast.
- Arcipelago 41, beautiful rooms, well located and close to the station with a deserved 9.8/10 rating out of 250 Booking reviews. Breakfast is also included.
Days 2 and 3 : South-West of the island
To visit the south-west of Sardinia, I recommend staying for at least 2 nights so that you can spend 2 or 3 days there and enjoy the beautiful beaches. The hotel La Perla del Sud is very central, with a perfect welcome and excellent value for money !
Spiaggia Su Giudeu
This large sandy beach is easily accessible. You’ll need to pay €5 for parking (yes, car parks in Sardinia often have to be paid for). You’ll arrive at a Beach Club (€27 a day for 2 deckchairs and a parasol), but the best thing is to get as far away as possible to have fewer people around you!
Cala Cipolla
Just a few metres from Su Giudeu, this small cove has a lot of charm. If you want to combine this beach with its better-known neighbour, I recommend parking in this car park.
Parking : €5, located between the 2 beaches
Beach of Tuerredda
Tuerredda beach owes its name to the island just opposite. The setting is magnificent ! I can see why it’s often mentioned in the top 10 most beautiful beaches in Sardinia. Please note that this beach is limited to 1,100 people. So if you’re travelling to Sardinia at the height of the summer season, plan to arrive before 11am. Parking costs €9.
Dunes is Arenas Biancas
Southern Sardinia is full of unexpected surprises ! Just look at this huge beach and its desert-like dunes of ultra-fine sand. Parking for the Arenas Biancas dunes costs €7 a day and is at the end of a 6km dirt track. Despite this, it’s definitely worth it to discover this magnificent place. The water is beautiful and clear. You’ll be on foot for dozens of metres.
Visit to the town of Oristano
A large town in the west of the island, Oristano can be a good option for cutting the road as you head up towards the north-east of Sardinia. The town centre is a pleasant place to stroll around in the evening. You’ll find plenty of inexpensive restaurants here, as Oristano is less touristy. I can recommend Su Talleri Ristobottega, with its hearty dishes, half-litre of wine for €3 and Spritz for €4.5.
Day 4 : Orosei Golf National Park, a must on any road trip in South Sardinia
Without doubt one of the most beautiful places I’ve had the chance to discover in Europe. The coastline is incredibly beautiful, with towering cliffs, caves and beaches.
The best thing to do is hire a boat from Cala Gonone to enjoy all the beaches this national park has to offer. Don’t have a driving licence ? Don’t worry ! I don’t either and I managed to find a boat without a licence for €150 a day (for up to 4 people). The advantage is that you can take full advantage of the beaches without the crowds by leaving as early as 9am, admire the cliffs from the sea and take a leisurely swim wherever you like.
Discover the island’s most beautiful beaches on a cruise along the Gulf of Orosei.
- If you’d like to discover the waters of the Gulf of Orosei by snorkelling, it’s possible.
The caves of Cala Luna
This place is truly sublime ! You can get there on foot from Cala Gonone in around a two and a half hour round trip. Alternatively, it can be reached in just 20 minutes by boat. Please note that if you come by boat, you’ll need to leave your belongings and passenger(s) at anchor 100 metres from the beach before swimming back.
Cala Goloritzé
This is the furthest beach from Cala Gonone. I recommend going there just after Cala Luna if you’re on a boat, as it quickly becomes shaded in the early afternoon due to the cliffs. It will take you 1 hour to get there.
If you’re brave enough to get there on foot, you’ll need to park in the Su Porteddu car park and allow a good hour for the descent (7km round trip). It’s almost 500 metres uphill, so allow 1 hour 30 minutes to get back up !
Personally, I chose to have my lunch here because I find the view of the rock breathtaking.
Cala Mariolu
Like Cala Goloritzé, this beach is best reached at the beginning or middle of the day, as the cliffs quickly give way to shade. You can hike from here on foot, but it’s quite difficult and long. So I’d also recommend getting there by boat.
Days 5 to 7 of the South Sardinia road trip : Farniente and magnificent beaches in the south-east
I planned to spend 3 nights in the south-west as there are so many beaches to discover! As mentioned above, I was lucky enough to stay at the Pullman Timi Ama.
Cala Porto Giunco
This magnificent cove is just a 5-minute walk from the beach of the Pullman Timi Ama hotel. I love its wild feel at the foot of the tower of the same name. You can hire a paddle to get there, which is a great way to get some exercise while enjoying the scenery.
Beach of Portu in S’Ilixi
A beautiful beach with free parking, which is rare enough to be worth mentioning. It’s a 500-metre walk to the beach, which takes 6/7 minutes. The shades of blue are incredible. On the left-hand side, when you are facing the sea, there is a larger beach that is easy to access.
Costa Rei
The town of Costa Rei has a beach almost 10km long. It’s the ideal beach to make sure you don’t get stepped on when choosing your location. There are several free car parks nearby. With the mountains in the background, I find the setting magnificent.
Scoglio di Peppino
From the car park, it’s a 5-minute walk to the Spiaggia di Santa Giusta. I think the scenery on this beach is incredible ! The best time to go is when there aren’t too many waves, so you can climb up onto the rocks in the open sea. I don’t think this beach is too busy, because at 9.30am (at the end of September) I was alone.
Beach of Punta Molentis
Brace yourself : parking costs €12 for the day ! And don’t try to park further away and walk there, as there’s only one way and you’ll be charged €3 per person. Once you’ve parked your car, head towards the sea along the left-hand side of the road to find Molentis beach. The beach is divided into 2 sections : a free section and a beach club section. Don’t hesitate to go to the end of the beach to climb up and get a nice view of the rock (photo below). On the right-hand side from the car park, you’ll find a quieter, wilder beach.
Sunset
I wasn’t lucky enough to get many sunsets during my stay as when I was on the west side of the island, the weather wasn’t in my favour. In the far south-east you can watch a pretty sunset on a rock that I found 3 minutes’ walk from this car park as you head north. Don’t forget to bring an aperitif and leave with your rubbish.
I hope I’ve inspired you to visit Sardinia soon. If you’re looking for more inspiration for your holidays, check out our articles on Corsica and Ibiza, which are more or less in the same vein. I look forward to your questions and comments in the comments section. All the best.
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