Road trip
Northern Sardinia road trip: a ready-made 10-day itinerary for two
People go to Sardinia for the beaches, so this trip is all about them: the famous La Pelosa, the Maddalena archipelago, and finally the beaches near Olbia. If you like, spend a day in Corsica. You can book every step right here, day by day.
The trip at a glance
- Who it’s for: couples or two friends who want some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches and days on the water
- When: June or September. In July and August the beaches are packed and prices peak
- The route: three nights in Porto Torres, three in Santa Teresa Gallura and three in San Teodoro. In and out of Olbia airport
- Getting around: a rental car. The longest drive is about two hours
The trip takes place in the marked area. Each base has its own map with beaches and day trips.
Flights and the car
There are no nonstop flights from the US or Canada to Sardinia, so fly to Olbia with one connection, and back the same way. Pick up the rental car at Olbia airport and return it there on your last day. The last nights are in San Teodoro, about half an hour from the airport.
🚗 Why not Arbatax? We once drove from Olbia to Arbatax. The road drops from a high mountain to sea level, bend after bend like a slalom course, with someone glued to your rear bumper the whole way. You drive as fast as you dare, and even when you slow down and pull over, they don’t pass, they just honk. Been there, done that, but it’s not relaxing on vacation, so this trip stays on the coast.
Day 1: To Porto Torres
From Olbia airport, about 1 hour 45 minutes west to Porto Torres. It’s an industrial port town, but it works as a base because La Pelosa is close. We stayed in a wonderful loft, and the host was so kind it felt like we’d known her forever. Her homemade breakfast was generous and impressive.
Stay: Porto Torres, 3 nights.
Day 2: La Pelosa
About 30 minutes to Stintino and La Pelosa, one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches. It was worth it, despite a wasp sting. It won’t sting everyone in the head: we happened to lay down our head on a rock right on top of a wasp. Come in the morning, and check the summer access tickets ahead.
Day 3: Another beach day
The beaches next to La Pelosa, or a boat trip to the island of Asinara, whose beaches are less crowded. We haven’t been to Asinara ourselves.
Day 4: To Santa Teresa Gallura
About two hours northeast to Santa Teresa Gallura, at the island’s northern tip. Nothing else planned for the travel day.
Stay: Santa Teresa Gallura, 3 nights. We haven’t stayed here ourselves, so choose by reviews.
Day 5: The Maddalena islands by boat
A full-day boat trip to the coves of the archipelago, famous for their turquoise water. This is the trip’s day on the sea. We haven’t been to the archipelago ourselves, so this is based on other travelers’ reports.
Day 6: Beach day, or Corsica
A beach day near Santa Teresa, or the ferry, about an hour, to Bonifacio in Corsica, a town built on the edge of a limestone cliff. Corsica is France, so bring your passport. We haven’t been to Bonifacio ourselves.
Day 7: To San Teodoro
About an hour south to San Teodoro, near Olbia. On the way, you can stop near Arzachena at the Surrau winery to taste Vermentino di Gallura, the area’s own white wine.
Stay: San Teodoro, 3 nights. We haven’t stayed here ourselves, so choose by reviews.
Days 8 and 9: The beaches near Olbia
La Cinta and Cala Brandinchi, nicknamed little Tahiti: white sand and shallow turquoise water. In our experience, Sardinia has Italy’s most beautiful beaches, and the turquoise sea around Olbia is among the best of them.
Day 10: Home
From San Teodoro to Olbia airport is about half an hour. Return the car and fly home.
What it costs
A rough estimate for two in June or September, flying from the East Coast. From Toronto or Montreal, flights usually cost a little more:
- Flights: about $1,700 to $2,400 for two, round trip with one connection. More from the West Coast
- Rental car: about $385 to $600 for ten days
- Stays: about $1,200 to $1,900 for nine nights
- Boat trips and beach tickets: about $165 to $275
- Food: about $90 to $130 a day for two
All in, roughly $4,400 to $6,500 for two (about C$6,100 to C$9,000). The north coast is the most expensive part of Sardinia. Prices change a lot with the season and how early you book, so treat these as a ballpark.
Cook Sardinia at home with our Sardinian recipes.
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