Your Practical Guide to Getting Around Sardinia
Sardinia is often described as Italy’s island paradise, but what surprises many travellers is just how much there is to discover beyond its famous beaches.
One day you can be wandering through ancient Roman ruins and colourful harbour towns. The next, you are high in the mountains visiting villages where traditions have been passed down for generations. Then you find yourself sailing through the turquoise waters of the Maddalena Archipelago or exploring the glamorous coastline of the Costa Smeralda.
The challenge isn’t deciding whether Sardinia is worth visiting. It’s understanding how to experience an island that is much larger and more diverse than many travellers expect.
Sardinia is not one destination
Unlike many parts of Italy, Sardinia does not revolve around one main city. Each region has its own character, history and landscape.
In the south, Cagliari offers a lively introduction to Sardinia with Roman ruins, historic neighbourhoods and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. Inland, the mountains of Barbagia reveal a more traditional side of the island, where ancient villages and local customs remain part of everyday life.
On the west coast, Alghero’s Catalan heritage can still be seen in its architecture and language, while the northeast offers the dramatic coastline and crystal-clear waters of the Costa Smeralda.
Read why you should add Sardinia to your itinerary here.
They’re all worth seeing, but they are further apart than many travellers expect.
A common mistake is trying to see the island from one base or squeezing too many long drives into too few days. What looks like a short distance on the map can easily become several hours on unfamiliar roads.
Should you hire a car in Sardinia?
For independent travellers, a hire car is often the best way to explore Sardinia.
There is no rail network connecting Sardinia’s regions, and public transport becomes limited once you leave the larger towns. Many of the island’s highlights, from secluded beaches and family-run agriturismi to mountain villages like Orgosolo, simply aren’t accessible by bus or train.
Driving also tends to be easier than visitors expect. Roads are generally well maintained, traffic is light outside the main towns, and a compact car is ideal for Sardinia’s winding coastal roads and village streets.
The real challenge isn’t the driving itself. It’s planning a route that gives you enough time to enjoy each region rather than constantly moving on to the next.
If you’re travelling during July or August, it’s also worth booking your hire car as early as your flights, as vehicles at Olbia and Cagliari airports often sell out well before peak season.
Prefer to enjoy the journey instead?
Many travellers tell us they want to experience Sardinia’s history, beaches and villages, but don’t want to spend their holiday navigating unfamiliar roads, organising transfers or wondering whether they’ve missed somewhere special.
That’s where travelling with Ormina feels different.
Our Sardinia Treasures Small Group Journey has already done the planning for you. The route has been designed to flow naturally across the island, taking in Cagliari, Nora, the UNESCO-listed Nuragic settlement of Barumini, the Blue Zone villages of Barbagia, colourful Bosa, historic Alghero, Castelsardo and the Costa Smeralda.
Read our 5 best ancient sites to visit in Sardinia here.
Instead of watching road signs or checking maps, you can spend the journey looking out the window, listening to local stories and enjoying the changing landscapes between each destination.
Go beyond the postcard
Some of Sardinia’s most memorable experiences are the ones many visitors never discover.
Travel into the Blue Zone villages, where generations of locals have lived remarkably long lives connected to their land and traditions. Explore Neptune’s Grotto beneath towering limestone cliffs, then cruise through the crystal-clear waters of the Maddalena Archipelago.
Learn more about the Blue Zone Villages of Sardinia here.
These are the moments that reveal the Sardinia beyond the beaches.
Discover Sardinia with Ormina Tours
Our Sardinia Treasures journey has been designed for travellers who want to experience the island’s many different sides without the stress of planning every detail.
Travel with no more than 12 guests, stay in carefully selected four and five-star hotels, and enjoy deluxe transport, knowledgeable local guides and an experienced Tour Director throughout.
Departures are available throughout 2027. Prefer to travel on your own dates? The same itinerary is also available as a private journey, built around you. Plan a session with your Tour Advisor here.
Explore the full itinerary and upcoming departures:
Sardinia Treasures
Discover Sardinia, where ancient civilisations, rugged landscapes, and turquoise seas converge. The seclusion of the Mediterranean’s second largest island has provided it with unspoiled pristine landscapes and a unique window into the past. Its ‘Nuraghes’ or rock monolith structures date to the Bronze Age and its cultural traditions, passed through generations, are still visible in its Blue Zone villages. This tour offers a unique cultural adventure with striking beauty.
