Travel to Sardinia

Travel to Sardinia

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is surrounded by the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The picturesque idyllic landscape consists of mountains interspersed with green valleys growing myrtle, India figs and dwarf oaks. Sardinia has been ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Spanish and Savoyards resulting in a rich culture that can be felt through the city. There are many Nuraghe castles, temples and tombs scattered around the island. Today Sardinia is a vibrant island that attracts many tourists because of its climate, natural beauty, history and the myriad of activities that it offers.

Transportation to Sardinia

The three main airports at Sardinia are located in Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero. These airports handle both domestic and international flights from major European cities. Passengers travelling from Asia or North America will have to get connecting flights from Rome, Naples or Milan. Bus and taxi services serve all three airports. The cheapest and probably the most convenient way of getting to the island of Sardinia is by ferry. Sardinia has four main ports situated in Cagliari, Olbia, Porto Torres and Arbatax. Several ferry companies operate services to the island, from international and domestic ports. There are slow, fast, overnight and alsocar ferryservices travelling between Palermo, Naples and Civitavecchia to Cagliari. There are also services from Genoa to Olbia and Porto Torres. Once in Sardinia it is recommended that you hire a car or motorbike to explore the beautiful island.

What to see

Sardinia is divided into four main regions; Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro and Cagliari. The Anghelu Ruju, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, can be found at Sassari. The Anghelu Ruju is a huge area of ancient artificial caves that were used from about 3000 to 1500 BC. At nearby Alghero lies Neptunes Grotto, an area full of caves. This site can be reached via boat or by bus. There are about 650 steps leading to the caves. Another attraction that lies just outside of Alghero is the museum located in the Sella & Moscas vineyards. The museum depicts the history of the Sella & Moscas vineyards and displays ancient items that were discovered there. The remains of the Roman thermal baths can be seen at Oristana. Not far away lie other archaeological ruins, including tombs, inside the crypt of St Lussorios church. At Nuoro you can visit the Bue Marino grotto, the Grotto of Ispinigoli and take a ride on an old steam train trenino verde passing by limestone peaks and beautiful scenery. One of the more popular regions is Cagliari which has a large natural park, the Parco dei sette Fradelli, that has been protected since 1886. The ruins of the roman amphitheatre and the ruins of Nora are also located at Cagliari. Cagliari is, however, most well know for its beautiful beaches, including the Poetto Beach with its turquoise waters and the Calamosca Beach which is only a short distance away from the city.

Day trips

Costa Smeralda is in the north east of Sardinia and has some of the best beaches in the world. Here there are several shops, restaurants and cafes to while away the day. In the evening take a stroll to the yacht club and you can see some of the yachts owned by the very rich. The archipelago of Della Maddalena is a superb area for snorkelling. Nature lovers will not want to miss the dunes of Pistis at Torre die Corsari and the limestone cliffs at Iglesient.

Activities and leisure

Being an island, Sicily offers lots of different water activities including sailing, diving, fishing, windsurfing and many other water sports. There is also mountain biking through different graded trails, walking and hiking trails throughout the surrounding areas.

Safety issues

In general, Sardinia is quite a safe island to visit. However, being a tourist destination it does attract a few pickpockets and snatch thieves. Tourists are always reminded to protect their belongings and be aware of their surroundings. It is advised that travellers have a travel insurance to protect against any misadventure.