This put up might include affilliate hyperlinks. It implies that when you purchase one thing by means of considered one of these hyperlinks, we would get a small fee at no further value to you. Affiliate fee helps us preserve this journey weblog working.
Planning a visit to Sardinia and undecided the place to remain when you aren’t planning to lease a automobile? In this put up, I’ll share my ideas on one of the best place to remain in North Sardinia and not using a automobile!
We visited Sardinia in July (learn my itinerary for 4 days in Sardinia: North Sardinian highway journey) after which labored remotely for just a few extra days. It was a beautiful expertise; actually, Sardinia turned out to be fully completely different than I had anticipated!
Do you actually need a automobile in Sardinia?
Unfortunately, public transport just isn’t working very regularly in Sardinia and a few locations on this itinerary should not accessible by public transport. However, working not fairly often is a lot better than non-operating in any respect!
On Sundays, buses go not often, and a few don’t function. On all different days, buses to the seashores and close by cities function at the least 5-6 occasions per day and a few buses go each hour.
In our case, since we wished to discover the island correctly (journey bloggers and writers don’t go on journeys to calm down, that’s the tough actuality – that’s particularly painful when you even have a full-time job), we rented a automobile for 3.5 days and spent the remainder of time-based in Olbia and dealing remotely. We truly managed to go to among the seashores close to Olbia after work utilizing public transport, though, I have to admit that it was a bit aggravating.
However, Olbia didn’t steal our hearts, and I feel there are a lot better locations to remain in Sardinia when you don’t have a automobile.
The finest locations to remain in Sardinia and not using a automobile
(We can be specializing in North Sardinia solely, as we hadn’t had an opportunity to go to Cagliari and the Southern a part of the island but)
When serious about one of the best locations to remain in North Sardinia when you don’t have a automobile, two cities instantly come to my thoughts. It’s additionally price mentioning that we’re speaking about Sardinia in summer time or early autumn when the water temperature is sizzling, and it’s doable to swim. If you’re going to Sardinia low season, then it’s in all probability price going simply to the big cities like Cagliari and Alghero as small cities can be abandoned and most companies can be closed.
So the 2 finest locations in North Sardinia for staying and not using a automobile are, for my part, Alghero and Santa Theresa Gallura. I’d additionally in all probability add Palau to this checklist – it’s not a nasty vacation spot both. We may also speak about Olbia and why it’s in all probability not one of the best metropolis to remain in Sardinia.
Alghero
Let’s begin with Alghero. Alghero is essentially the most stunning metropolis we have now seen in North Sardinia. It has a reasonably sizeable historic Old Town, a beautiful promenade, quite a lot of eating places and retailers and quite a lot of seashores positioned very near the town centre. It jogged my memory of Catania in Sicily (learn this put up about our 7-day highway journey round Sicily), though, Catania is far bigger and extra opulent. However, similar to Catania, Alghero has all of it – good seashores and good metropolis.
I used to be very unhappy that we ended up working remotely from Olbia and never Alghero. Still, for us, it was simply not possible logistically as we needed to fly from London Heathrow and there have been no flights to Alghero. Also, we didn’t anticipate Olbia to be bland in comparison with Alghero.
The solely draw back of Alghero is the truth that the water temperature is a bit colder on the West Side of Sardinia and the seashores should not as spectacular as Costa Smeralda seashores. On the opposite hand, you might have La Pelosa a lot nearer to you!
Where to remain in Alghero
In Alghero, we stayed on the Hotel Angedras, nevertheless, having visited Alghero now and explored different components of the town, I’d advocate staying someplace between the town centre and the seashores. That method, you’ll be able to have one of the best of each worlds. These properties could be a a lot better choice, for my part: Casa Giglio, MaBi or “Here” Mini Loft.
Tours to take from Alghero
There are public buses that go to Porto Torres from Alghero, for instance (bus 714) and from there, you’ll be able to hop on one other bus to Stintino for the well-known La Pelosa seashore.
Alternatively, you can even guide excursions that will deliver you to different locations in Sardinia like these ones:
Snorkelling and Capo Caccia Cliffs tour
Wine and olive tasting at a neighborhood farm
Home-cooking class with a 4-course meal
Santa Teresa Gallura
Santa Teresa Gallura is a city positioned proper on the fringe of Costa Smeralda, Sardinia’s most well-known coast. It’s a really good and in addition very small city. Yet, there are just a few good eating places and a variety of completely different B&Bs and Guesthouses, however extra importantly, there’s a beautiful seashore positioned in the course of the town.
After visiting over 8 seashores in North Sardinia, this one (Spiaggia de Rena Blanca) might be my favorite one! I appreciated it much more than the well-known La Pelosa! You can lease sunbeds there as effectively, nevertheless, they promote out fairly rapidly, so ensure that to reach there early when you want one.
Overall, I once more regretted that we didn’t keep in Santa Teresa Gallura to work remotely (as an alternative of Olbia, the place we stayed for an additional 3 nights after the sightseeing a part of the journey), as a result of it was one of many nicest mixtures of a beautiful city and superb seashore.
If you want swimming loads and don’t care that a lot concerning the city, the place you might be staying, I’d in all probability advocate Santa Teresa Gallura over Alghero on this case.
Where to remain in Santa Teresa Gallura
Consider staying at these well-rated lodging:
Palau
The closing choice for mixture of town-beach in North Sardinia is Palau. Palau is one other small city positioned virtually on the fringe of Costa Smeralda. It’s not very spectacular from the architectural viewpoint (I wouldn’t name it a really fairly city), but it surely had a beautiful port, a nice promenade, an excellent seashore proper within the metropolis centre and a variety of glorious eating places!
Our resort for the evening was Hotel Piccada, however when you’re desirous about one thing barely nicer, LH Porto Rafael Altura Resort is perhaps a greater choice!
From Palau, you’ll be able to take a ship to La Maddalena archipelago or purchase a non-public tour like this one >
Why we didn’t like Olbia that a lot
Lots of people are questioning whether or not Olbia is a good place to remain and not using a automobile and actually, I wouldn’t advocate it. In complete, we spent 5 nights in Olbia and it was a mildly disappointing expertise. First of all, Olbia just isn’t a reasonably city. There is a pleasant little bit of the town centre, however total, it’s not spectacular and there are not any landmarks in any respect. Restaurants in Olbia are hit or miss as effectively and there may be virtually nothing open for lunch – the city is totally useless in the course of the day!
We stayed barely outdoors the historic centre and throughout us, there have been loads of deserted buildings and when you keep on the opposite aspect of the town, there’s a massive industrial space. There are not any seashores inside strolling distance to Olbia, so it’s essential to take a bus to go to a seashore and buses often function each hour (to Pittulongo) or just a few occasions per day (to Porto Istana).
However, there are buses that will deliver you to different locations, additional away from Olbia as effectively.
That’s a disgrace as a result of we actually hoped to love Olbia, however the metropolis simply doesn’t have a lot character, even in comparison with Palau or Santa Theresa Gallura!
Summary of one of the best place to remain in North Sardinia and not using a automobile
Alright, this was our expertise staying in North Sardinia and proposals on the place to remain in Sardinia and not using a automobile. To summarise, I’d advocate Alghero when you like the mix of pretty city-good seashore and Santha Theresa Gallura when you don’t thoughts the town a lot however wish to have a shocking seashore close by! However, all of the opinions are, as at all times, my very own – perhaps you’d love Olbia, who is aware of!
If you might have any questions, be at liberty to DM me at @lizatripsget – I’d be capable to assist!
Here are another articles you would possibly discover helpful
4 days in North Sardinia by automobile: from Olbia to Alghero
7-day highway journey round Sicily
The finest seashores close to Pisa & Cinque Terre
The finest place to calm down in Tuscany for a weekend – Renaissance Il Chiocco
From Milan to Rome – a 7-day highway journey in Italy
Romantic honeymoon in Italy – one of the best itinerary for 10 days
4 days in Ischia – the island with one of the best meals in Italy