Sardinia itineraries
Ready-made routes for every kind of Sardinia trip — from long weekends in Cagliari to two-week loops around the whole island.
By trip length
The classic routes, from short city breaks to full week-long trips. Each one balances palaces, neighbourhoods and day trips for the days available.
By theme
Curated around a specific interest — family travel, hiking in the Supramonte, or a regional loop around one coast.
Three days in Cagliari, a long weekend in the south
Three days in Olbia and the Costa Smeralda, a short northern break
7 days on Sardinia's east coast
7 days in northern Sardinia
7 days of Sardinia's archaeology
A seven-day food and wine itinerary across Sardinia
7 days hiking in Sardinia
7 days in Sardinia with kids
7 days in southern Sardinia
7 days on Sardinia's west coast
10 days of Sardinia's best beaches
A two-week Sardinia road trip
Good to know about Sardinia itineraries
Because a rental car is required almost everywhere in Sardinia, itineraries here are best planned as a loop or a base-and-extension rather than around a single fixed hotel, and the length of the trip determines how much of the island's seven regions actually fits. Three days is enough for one region done properly: the south around Cagliari, combining the city itself, Villasimius or Chia's beaches, and the archaeological site of Nora near Pula, or alternatively Gallura, based near Olbia or Porto Cervo with a boat day out to the La Maddalena archipelago.
Five days allows two neighbouring regions to be combined — the south plus Gallura along the eastern coast road, or the northwest around Alghero paired with a detour to Bosa and Capo Caccia — while still leaving enough slack for a slow day rather than constant driving. Seven days is where a genuine tour of the island becomes realistic: flying into one airport and out of another, for example Cagliari to Olbia, lets a route run south to Gallura via the Golfo di Orosei coast, adding Cala Gonone and Dorgali as a base for a boat day out to Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu partway through.
A Golfo di Orosei extension is worth building into any itinerary of five days or more, since the coves there are reached almost entirely by boat and deserve at least a full day rather than a rushed stop, and Barbagia's interior — Nuoro, Orgosolo, the Supramonte around Oliena — works well as a two- or three-day inland counterweight to a beach-heavy coastal route, showing a very different, mountainous side of the island. Whatever the length, quota-beach bookings and ferry or flight timings should be fixed first, since the rest of the itinerary tends to fall into place around them rather than the other way around.
Frequently asked questions about Sardinia itineraries
How many days do I need for a first trip to Sardinia?
Three days covers one region properly, such as the south around Cagliari or Gallura around Olbia and Porto Cervo. Five days lets you combine two neighbouring regions, and seven days makes a genuine tour of the island — south to Gallura via the Golfo di Orosei — realistic.
How should I combine regions in a 5-day Sardinia itinerary?
The south paired with Gallura along the eastern coast road is a common combination, as is the northwest around Alghero paired with a detour to Bosa and Capo Caccia. Either pairing keeps driving distances reasonable while still covering two distinct regions.
Is it worth adding a Golfo di Orosei extension to my itinerary?
Yes — the coves around Cala Gonone and Dorgali are reached almost entirely by boat and deserve a full day rather than a rushed stop, so it's worth building into any itinerary of five days or more rather than treating it as a quick add-on.
Should I fly in and out of the same Sardinian airport?
Not necessarily. For a seven-day tour of the island, flying into Cagliari-Elmas and out of Olbia Costa Smeralda (or the reverse) lets you drive a straight route across the island instead of backtracking to your arrival airport.
How does the Barbagia interior fit into a Sardinia itinerary?
It works well as a two- or three-day inland counterweight to a coastal route, centred on Nuoro, Orgosolo's political murals and the Supramonte around Oliena. It shows a mountainous, very different side of the island from the beach-focused coastal regions.