Sardinia is the one place in Italy where the booking rules matter as much as the sights. The famous coves now run on quotas and apps, the best beaches sit hours apart on roads with no motorways, and plenty of schedules change as autumn arrives.
That's the catch. The reward is big: some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, Bronze Age stone towers, mountain villages with their own masks and murals, and a food scene that has nothing to do with Rome.
This list of things to do in Sardinia is built for a first trip planned from the US. We grouped the 26 picks by region, so you can see what fits one base and what doesn't, and every entry says what it costs, whether you must book and what we'd skip. Prices and rules come from official booking platforms, museum and park sites, checked in October 2026. For the bigger picture of where to stay, how many days and how to get around, start with our Sardinia travel guide.
Updated October 2026 with current ticket prices, 2026 beach rules and what's open in the off-season.
Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Short on Time? The Sardinia Bookings to Make First
If you only lock in four things before you fly, make it these. They're the ones that run out of places or punish walk-ups.
- A rental car. Almost everything in Sardinia below is out of reach without one, so compare cars on DiscoverCars as soon as your flights are fixed.
- A boat day in the north-east. The La Maddalena archipelago day tour by boat from Palau is the classic, rated 4.3 from more than 2,800 reviews when we checked.
- A boat day on the east coast. A skippered dinghy from Cala Gonone to Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritzé gets you into coves the big boats skip.
- Beach tickets. La Pelosa and Cala Goloritzé each have their own official booking site, covered in items 20 and 9.
Things to Do in Southern Sardinia: Cagliari, Nora and Barumini
The south is the easiest region to enjoy without a car, because Cagliari has its own airport, its own city beach and a train from the terminal. Start here if you're flying into Cagliari (CAG), the main airport in the south of Sardinia.
1. Walk Up to Cagliari's Castello at Sunset
Cagliari's hilltop Castello district is a tangle of stone lanes, towers and sea views. It's the best free evening in the south of Sardinia.
Head for the Bastione di Saint Remy, designed in 1896 and opened in 1902, and take the stairs up to the Terrazza Umberto I for the panorama. Then wander to the Cathedral, which is free to enter and has a crypt of 1618 holding 192 relics.
Skip the Torre di San Pancrazio for now: the Ministry of Culture lists it as not currently visitable. The Torre dell'Elefante has been open for climbs in the past, so check at the door. If you'd rather have a story with the stones, this walking tour of Cagliari's old city is rated 4.8 from over 700 reviews.
Tip: Go about an hour before sunset and walk up through Marina and Stampace, not the other way around.
2. See the Bronze Age at Cagliari's Archaeological Museum
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari is the best single stop for Sardinia's nuragic past, and a good wet-weather plan: finds from the people who built the stone towers you'll see across the island.
One ticket (€10, €5 reduced, €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25, free under 18) covers the museum and the Pinacoteca picture gallery. Opening hours are 8:30–19:30, with the ticket office closing at 18:45. Pages disagree on the weekly closing day, so confirm it for your date.
One thing has changed. The famous Mont'e Prama giants, the stone warriors found in the Sinis peninsula, are no longer in Cagliari. They are now in Cabras (see item 7).
Cost: €10.
3. Spend an Afternoon at Poetto and Molentargius
Poetto is Cagliari's city beach, and the easiest one in Sardinia to reach without a car: about 8 km of pale sand, split between Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, under the Sella del Diavolo headland. City buses run out to it, and a summer express runs from the center. Line numbers change, so ask at your hotel.
Behind it lies the Molentargius park, where flamingos feed in the saltwater ponds. Entry is free and the park is open daily.
In winter (16 October to the end of February) the gates are open 7:00–18:00.
Poetto is a good beach, not a great one. If you want the water Sardinia is famous for, spend your beach days in the places below instead.
Cost: free.
4. Wander the Ruins of Nora
Nora is a Phoenician, Punic and Roman town on a headland near Pula, south-west of Cagliari, with its ruins and mosaics right beside the sea.
Tickets are €10 for adults and €6 for ages 6–17, and the site is open daily, with shorter days from November to February (9:00–17:00). Walking on walls and mosaics isn't allowed, and neither is swimwear. A guide is booked separately, but the free Norapp audio guide covers the basics.
Tip: Go first thing, then swim at Chia afterwards.
5. Swim at Chia and Villasimius
Chia in the south-west and Villasimius in the south-east are the classic beach bases from Cagliari. Su Giudeu at Chia has free and equipped sections, three access points and a small islet you can wade to at low tide.
At Villasimius, the Capo Carbonara marine protected area bans swimming and anchoring in its core zone. Punta Molentis, a favorite beach in the Villasimius area, ran a cap of 150 bathers at a time in 2026, with online booking and an entry fee. Tuerredda has also used daily caps in recent summers, though we couldn't confirm the 2026 rules. In July and August, check the booking situation a few days before.
For a longer ranking, see our guide to the best beaches in Sardinia.
6. Step Inside Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Su Nuraxi is the best-known nuraghe in Sardinia, a basalt fortress built from the 16th century BC and lived in for more than 2,000 years. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is the only one in Sardinia.
You see it on a guided tour only. Tours leave every 30 minutes, last about an hour and cost around €15 (the Ministry of Culture's page lists €15 full price; check the current tariff before you go). The site is open every day, but may close in bad weather.
It's worth the drive. Without a car, this 4-hour tour from Cagliari combines Barumini with the Giara plateau, the only place where the Giara horses live wild. Reviews are few (29 when we checked) but strongly positive.
If you have time and a car, add Santu Antine near Torralba, a three-storey nuraghe tower about 17 m tall inside a triangular bastion.
Cost: about €15.
Things to Do in the Sinis Peninsula and the West
The Sinis peninsula, near Oristano, is where Sardinia's oldest big sculptures turn up.
7. Meet the Mont'e Prama Giants in Cabras
The giants of Mont'e Prama are stone warriors, archers and boxers from Sardinia's nuragic civilization, found at Mont'e Prama near Cabras. Since April 2026, the whole group has been shown together at the Museo Civico Giovanni Marongiu in Cabras, in a temporary hall, with a permanent Sala dei Giganti planned for later.
Tickets are €10 (€7 for university students under 26), booked online through MidaTicket. Opening hours are listed inconsistently and the museum has noted works, so check the hours for your date.
Pair it with Tharros, a Phoenician and Roman city on the headland at the tip of the Sinis. The ticket is around €11, and the site is usually open daily from 9:00. Book ahead in peak season.
Cost: €10 museum, around €11 Tharros.
8. Look (But Don't Touch) at Is Arutas
Is Arutas is one of the Sinis beaches where the sand is the attraction, and where the temptation to take some home is strongest.
Don't. Taking sand, pebbles, stones or shells from Sardinian beaches is illegal under Regional Law 16/2017, with fines of €500 to €3,000. Customs officers regularly seize sand at the airports, and Is Arutas, Mari Ermi and Maimoni are the usual sources.
Tip: Buy a postcard.
Things to Do on Sardinia's East Coast: Goloritzé, Orosei and the Supramonte
The east coast is Sardinia's wild side, with the Gulf of Orosei coves below and the Supramonte mountains behind. Base yourself in Cala Gonone or Baunei.
9. Hike Down to Cala Goloritzé
Cala Goloritzé is a small cove under a limestone spire, and one of the most famous in Sardinia. You can only arrive on foot or by swimming.
Boats can't land.
Book a slot on the Heart of Sardinia platform. The ticket is €7 (free under 5), booked up to three days ahead, non-refundable, with about 250 people allowed at once between 7:30 and 16:00. In 2026 the rules ran from 24 March to 15 November.
The trail starts at Su Porteddu on the Golgo plateau. It's about 3.6 km with roughly 500 m of descent: about 1.5 hours down and 2 hours back up. Wear proper shoes. Our Cala Goloritzé guide has the full route.
Cost: €7.
10. Explore the Gulf of Orosei by Small Boat
The Gulf of Orosei is a stretch of cliffs, caves and coves with no road access. Boats from Cala Gonone run to Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu and the Bue Marino cave.
A small skippered dinghy like this one from Cala Gonone to Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritzé, rated 4.7 from more than 2,500 reviews, gives you far more time in the water than the big boats. In Sardinia the cheapest short boat runs start at around €25, while a full day in a small boat is closer to €90 or more.
In 2026 Baunei capped sea landings at Cala Mariolu at 700 people a day and Cala Biriola at 300, with a €2 fee for one cove and €3 for several (1 May to 20 October). Operators usually include it.
Everyone sails at 10:00, so go earlier or later.
Tip: Go before 9:00, or book a late-afternoon departure in August.
11. Walk Into the Gola di Gorropu
Gorropu is a limestone canyon with walls rising more than 450 m, and the Regione Sardegna calls it one of the deepest in Europe.
The tourist route needs no guide: entry is around €6 (€4 for ages 6–17), paid in cash, with entry from about 10:00 to 16:30. From the Genna 'e Silana trailhead, the walk is about an hour down and two back up, and the best months are mid-March to mid-November. For a guide who explains the geology, there's a guided Gorropu canyon hike from Orosei or Dorgali, rated 4.9 from 69 reviews.
Cost: around €6.
12. Hike to the Nuragic Village of Tiscali
Tiscali is a nuragic village tucked inside a mountain in the Supramonte of central-east Sardinia. It's one of the most atmospheric ruins in Sardinia, and you earn it.
Allow about 1.5 hours each way from Lanaittu, plus a small entry fee (around €5). Take water and sturdy shoes. A guide isn't required, but it's smart if you're new to the Supramonte.
This is a half-day hike, not a quick stop. If time is short, do Gorropu and skip Tiscali.
13. Visit Mamoiada and Orgosolo
Mamoiada is home to the Mamuthones, men in black wooden masks and sheepskins who carry around 30 kg of bells. They first appear on 16–17 January for the Sant'Antonio bonfires, which open the Carnival season, and again on Carnival Sundays. The Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee charges €9, and the listing we found gives 10:00–18:00.
Orgosolo, a short drive away, is covered in political murals. The first was painted in 1969, and today there are around 150.
There's no ticket. You just walk the streets.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning, and treat the murals as an open-air gallery rather than a photo stop.
Things to Do in North-East Sardinia: La Maddalena, the Costa Smeralda and Tavolara
The north-east of Sardinia has the airport with the US nonstop, the yacht-and-villa coast and the clearest water. It's also the priciest corner.
14. Take a Boat Around the La Maddalena Archipelago
The La Maddalena archipelago is a national park of granite islands and turquoise water, reached by boat from Palau.
Day tours run seven to eight hours. The La Maddalena archipelago day tour by boat from Palau is the volume seller, rated 4.3 from more than 2,800 reviews. Operator listings show roughly €60–70 on a large boat in July, €80–100 on a rubber boat and €90–130 on a catamaran. Ask whether the park fee (a few euros, often paid in cash) is included.
You will see the Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli from the water only. Landing, swimming and anchoring there have been banned since the 1990s. Don't believe the boat that promises otherwise.
Cost: from about €60.
15. Visit Garibaldi's Farm on Caprera
Giuseppe Garibaldi spent his last years on Caprera, linked to La Maddalena by a causeway. His house, the Compendio Garibaldino, is a quiet detour for history fans.
Tickets are €8 (€2 for EU citizens aged 18–24, free under 18), with timed entry. The official pages disagree on the weekly closing day, so check for your date.
Skip it if you're short on time: the beaches matter more than the memorabilia.
Cost: €8.
16. Stroll Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda
The Costa Smeralda was developed from 1962 by a consortium founded by Prince Karim Aga Khan. It's glossy and expensive.
Looking is free.
Walk through the Porto Cervo piazzetta, look at the yachts and go inside the Stella Maris church, begun in 1965 and inaugurated in 1968. It is said to hold a Mater Dolorosa attributed to El Greco. The beaches here are lovely but pricey, and August is peak.
For a stay, Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel is the classic splurge. Our Costa Smeralda travel guide covers the coast in more detail.
Cost: free to wander.
17. Snorkel Around Tavolara
Tavolara is a tall limestone island off the Olbia coast, inside a marine protected area. You can only reach it by boat, which takes under 20 minutes from Porto San Paolo. There's no island ticket.
A shared small boat starts from around €60. The Tavolara boat tour with snorkeling is rated 4.9 from nearly 1,300 reviews. Anchoring on the seagrass is banned, so choose an operator who uses moorings.
18. Book Cala Brandinchi
Cala Brandinchi, nicknamed Tahiti, is a long sandy beach with shallow turquoise water near San Teodoro. It's a good family choice, and in summer it needs a booking.
In 2026, booking was mandatory from 1 June to 30 September: €2 per person (€1 reduced, free under 12), with a cap of around 1,450 people a day and up to six people per booking. Parking is paid separately. That season is over now, so check the 2027 rules in spring.
19. Climb the Rocks at Capo Testa
Capo Testa, near Santa Teresa Gallura at Sardinia's northern tip, is a headland of wind-carved granite. It's free, with parking, a marked trail, rock formations and Roman quarries you can walk through.
From Santa Teresa you can also take a ferry to Bonifacio in Corsica, about 50–60 minutes. Compare crossings on Ferryscanner if you want a day in France.
Things to Do in North-West Sardinia: La Pelosa, Alghero and Bosa
The north-west is the best region of Sardinia for a car-free base. Alghero has its own airport and walled old town, and the best sights sit within an hour.
20. Book La Pelosa Before You Go
La Pelosa, at Stintino, is the most famous beach in Sardinia: white sand, shallow water and a 16th-century watchtower on a small islet. It's about 3.5 km from Stintino.
From 15 May to 15 October, booking was mandatory: €3.50 per person per day, capped at 1,500 people. Book only on the official La Pelosa website. Of the daily places, 500 are open all season and 1,000 are released two days ahead at 9:00. One booking covers up to four people, and you need a beach mat under your towel. Under-12s don't need a booking.
Fake sites have charged around €30 for the same ticket. Don't use them.
Cost: €3.50.
21. Cross to Asinara National Park
Asinara is a former prison island, now a national park known for its white donkeys. You visit by minibus, bike, on foot or on horseback, which makes it a good counterweight to the beach resorts.
The Delcomar ferry from Porto Torres to Cala Reale takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. In low season (1 October to 30 April) it sails on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday only. Check the operator for fares; sources conflict, and we'd budget around €15–20 return, plus a small landing contribution (€2.50 from October to May, €5 in summer). Once on the island, you tour by minibus, bike, on foot or on horseback.
To skip the logistics, there's a half-day motorboat tour from Stintino to Asinara, rated 4.7 from more than 440 reviews.
22. Go Down Into Neptune's Grotto
Neptune's Grotto is a sea cave at Capo Caccia, near Alghero. You visit it on a 30-minute guided tour, on the hour.
Tickets cost €18 (€10 for ages 6–17 and students up to 26, free under 6). Book a timed slot even if you buy on the spot. You get there by the Escala del Cabirol, a staircase of 654 steps down a cliff with a 119 m drop, or by boat from Alghero port from April to November (buy the cave ticket before you board). The cave only opens when the sea is calm, and it closes on Thursdays from 12 November to 18 March.
The steps are a leg workout, and the climb back is brutal in August, so we'd take the boat. For the same coast from the water, there's an Alghero snorkeling boat tour in Porto Conte and Capo Caccia, rated 4.9 from nearly 300 reviews.
Cost: €18.
23. Walk Alghero's Old Town Walls
Alghero is a walled port town with Catalan roots, and you'll still hear a local form of Catalan in the streets. The old town is compact, and a walk along the sea bastions costs nothing.
Many towns in Sardinia charge a nightly tourist tax. Alghero's, from 1 January 2026, is €2 per person for most hotels up to 3 stars and apartments, and €4 for 4 stars and above.
Alghero is also the best base for Neptune's Grotto, La Pelosa and Bosa. Alguer Relais is a good central pick, rated 8.6 on Booking.com when we checked.
24. Spend a Day in Bosa
Bosa is one of the prettiest small towns in Sardinia: pastel houses climb a hill beneath the Malaspina castle, above the Temo, the island's only navigable river.
A single ticket for the castle, Casa Deriu and the Museo delle Conce costs €12 (€9 reduced), against €17 if you buy them separately. The castle and Casa Deriu open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 from mid-July 2026, with a museum reorganization to follow, so check hours before you go.
The local wine is Malvasia di Bosa, a DOC from the Planargia hills. The drive from Alghero along the coast is half the point.
Eat and Drink: Two Sardinian Food Experiences
25. Take a Sardinian Cooking Class
Sardinian food is shepherd food first and seafood second: culurgiones (the Ogliastra version has been an EU-protected IGP since 2016), malloreddus, fregola, pane carasau and seadas, a fried pastry with cheese and honey.
If you want to learn to make them, this pasta cooking class in the Cagliari area with a three-course dinner is rated 4.98 from more than 170 reviews.
26. Taste Cannonau and Vermentino
Sardinia's red is Cannonau, and its best-known white is Vermentino di Gallura, the island's only DOCG wine (since 1996).
For a guided tasting, the cheese and wine experience around Cagliari is rated 4.9 from 78 reviews. In the east, Jerzu is the Cannonau heartland, and several cellars there take visitors. For the bigger picture, see our guide to Italian wine regions.
Free Things to Do in Sardinia
Sardinia isn't all tickets. Several of the best things to do here cost nothing at all.
| What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cagliari Cathedral and the Castello lanes | Cagliari | Free |
| Poetto beach and the Molentargius flamingo park | Cagliari | Free |
| Orgosolo murals | Nuoro area | No ticket |
| Porto Cervo piazzetta and marina | Costa Smeralda | Free |
| Capo Testa granite walk | Santa Teresa Gallura | Free |
| Alghero's sea walls and old town | Alghero | Free |
Sardinia Beach Booking Rules (2026 Season)
Three of Sardinia's best-known beaches ran on quotas in 2026. Here's what applied, and what has already ended for the year.
| Beach | 2026 rule | Cost | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Pelosa (Stintino) | 1,500 a day, 15 May–15 Oct, mat required | €3.50 | Official La Pelosa website |
| Cala Goloritzé (Baunei) | About 250 at once, on foot only, 24 Mar–15 Nov | €7 | Heart of Sardinia, up to 3 days ahead |
| Cala Brandinchi (San Teodoro) | About 1,450 a day, 1 Jun–30 Sep | €2 | Heart of Sardinia app |
| Cala Mariolu (Baunei, by sea) | 700 a day, 1 May–20 Oct | €2–€3 (often in boat price) | Through your boat operator |
How Many Days Do You Need for These Things to Do in Sardinia?
Deciding what to do in Sardinia with a week? Seven days covers one or two regions well, and that's the right goal. Ten to 14 days lets you cross the island. Three or four days, base yourself in one place only.
Distances are the reason: Cagliari to Olbia is about 260 km, roughly three hours on the SS131. Our Sardinia itinerary turns the regions above into routes.
Torn between islands? Our Sicily vs Sardinia and Sardinia vs Corsica comparisons help you choose, and our Italy trip cost guide builds a full budget.
Getting Around Sardinia
Yes, you need a car for almost everything in this list. Buses reach the main towns but not the trailheads and beaches. Sardinia has no motorways, so main roads are toll-free.
You can compare rental cars across companies on DiscoverCars. US drivers need an International Driving Permit alongside their US license, and most companies want a credit card in the main driver's name. Don't drive into the historic centers of Cagliari and Alghero, which are limited-traffic zones. Our guide to driving in Italy covers the rules.
Landing without a car? Pre-book a transfer with Welcome Pickups, or take the Cagliari airport train (5–7 minutes, €1.30). For how to reach the island at all, see how to get to Sardinia.
Best Time to Visit Sardinia
June and September are best for most things on this list: warm sea, open boat tours and fewer people than in high summer. July and August are the peak, with crowds and prices topping out around Ferragosto on 15 August. If you're planning Sardinia holidays from the UK, the same logic applies: shoulder season gives you the beaches without the quotas.
Spring and autumn suit hikes such as Gorropu and Goloritzé. By November the boats and beach seasons are winding down: Neptune's Grotto starts its Thursday closures and the Asinara ferry is already on its low-season timetable. Our guide to the best time to visit Sardinia goes month by month.
Where to Stay in Sardinia
Choose your region first, then book a base for four or five nights.
- Cagliari (south): Casa Clàt, a boutique hotel on Viale Regina Margherita, rated 9.7 on Booking.com when we checked.
- Villasimius (south-east): Hotel Simius Playa, on the main street, rated 9.3.
- Baunei (east): Via Roma Charming Rooms, close to the Golgo plateau trailhead, rated 9.8.
- San Pantaleo (north-east): Petra Segreta Resort & Spa, quiet and inland near the Costa Smeralda, rated 9.4.
- Alghero (north-west): Alguer Relais (item 23).
Our full guides to where to stay in Sardinia and the best hotels in Sardinia go deeper at every budget.
Plan Your Sardinia Trip: Booking Checklist
- Beach tickets: La Pelosa and Cala Goloritzé on their official sites only.
- Rental car: book as soon as flights are fixed, and bring an International Driving Permit.
- Boat trips: book the La Maddalena or Gulf of Orosei tours a few days ahead in summer.
- Hotels: choose your regions first with our where to stay in Sardinia guide.
- eSIM: we suggest Yesim for data from the moment you land; see our Italy eSIM guide.
- Travel insurance: compare plans with Visitors Coverage.
- Entry rules: US travelers should check our Italy travel requirements page for EES and ETIAS.
For the best beaches across the whole country, see the best beaches in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Sardinia?
Visit a famous cove by boat. For most first-timers that means the La Maddalena archipelago in the north-east or the Gulf of Orosei on the east coast. Book a small boat in June or September and you'll avoid the worst crowds.
How many days do you need in Sardinia?
Seven days. That's enough for one or two regions without spending the trip in the car. Ten to 14 days lets you cross the island, and anything under four is best spent in one base.
Is Sardinia expensive?
In July and August, yes. Flights, cars and beach hotels all hit peak prices, and the Costa Smeralda is the priciest corner. Many sights are cheap: most tickets here run from free to about €18. Our Italy trip cost guide builds a full budget.
Are the beaches free in Sardinia?
Most are free, but the busiest now charge. La Pelosa is €3.50, Cala Goloritzé is €7 and Cala Brandinchi was €2 in 2026, all booked online. Taking sand or shells home can cost €500 to €3,000.
What should I do in Sardinia if it rains?
Go inland or into a museum. Cagliari's Archaeological Museum, the Mont'e Prama giants in Cabras, a cooking class or a wine tasting all work in bad weather. Boat trips cancel in strong winds, so keep a spare day.
Is Sardinia worth visiting?
Yes, if you want sea, beaches and a road trip in Sardinia more than museums. Torn between islands? Our Sicily vs Sardinia and Sardinia vs Corsica comparisons help you choose.
Affiliate disclosure: some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.