A visit to Sardinia had always been in the back of my mind and I finally got the chance to visit. Even before stepping foot on the plane though, I had to figure out the logistics of navigating the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus) on a six-day vacation timeline.
The easiest, and most efficient itinerary is to fly into one airport and out another – so @tee2pub and I decided to fly into Cagliari (CAG) in the south and fly out of Olbia (OLB) in the north.
Cagliari (Day 1-2)
Cagliari is the capital (and largest) city in Sardinia, and turned out to be the perfect introduction to this lovely island. With a population of a little over 150,000 residents, this ancient city is known for its medieval hilltop walled quarter, a beautiful Castello, lovely museums and centuries-old churches.
The Stay
If you like boutique hotels, stylish rooms and lovely gardens, Hotel Villa Fanny is the perfect hotel choice while visiting Cagliari. Even though you are a short stroll away from the old town center, it feels as if you are staying at a countryside manor.
Our luxury room was large and well appointed with all the amenities one would need. The mattress was perfectly firm. The bathroom was spacious with a large shower and rainfall shower head.
Our room came with a daily breakfast buffet, free WiFi and VAT.
The breakfast buffet was downstairs on the garden level. There were many items to choose from as well as cook to order a la carte items.
The garden was lovely with several lounge areas. There is even a jacuzzi hidden in a corner of the garden.
This hotel was a fantastic start to our Sardinian adventure.
The Eats
Ristorante da Marino al St. Remy, located in a historical building near the Teatro Civico di Castello , is a good dinner choice. Try the fish of the day and the black pasta.
Fork Easy is a casual sister restaurant to the one Michelin star restaurant Dal Corsaro. Their cuisine is modern Sardinian at its best. I highly recommend a lunch or dinner there. Make sure you finish your meal with a glass of Mirto the popular Sardinian liqueur made from the leaves and berries of the Myrtle plant.
The Shopping
If you are looking for hand crafted products from Sardinia I.S.O.L.A. Artigianato Di Sardegna should be your first stop. The store has lovely jewelry, rugs, wall hangings, pottery and woven baskets. I wanted to take everything home!
If you are looking for picnic supplies or just food for the beach stop in at Sapori di Sardegna. Located at Via Baylle, 6 you will find wonderful local products including honey, cheese, wine and charcuterie. Stock up and head to the beach.
Day 3 – 4 (Blue Zone here we come)
We got an early start on day three heading towards the Blue Zone of Sardinia, to the town of Oliena, our destination for the next two nights. Blue Zones are places in the world where people commonly live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth. Sardinia has one of these Blue Zones and it is common for people to live to 100 years old and more.
On our way though, we took two side trips:
Su Nuraxi
Any trip to Sardinia should include a tour of Su Nuraxi di Barumini – the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island. This archaeological “nuraghi” is a perfect example of a Bronze Age defensive complex. Just west of the the town of Barumini, (and about an hour north of Cagliari), Su Nuraxi looks down upon a vast plain of unspoiled land. Su Nuraxi is open 365 days of the year and tours run every 1/2 hour. Note: You are only allowed to visit Su Nuraxi by tour. Admission fees are: 7 Euros (7-12 years old), 9 Euros (13-17 years old) and 12 Euros for 18+.
Bar Centrale
A trip to Italy would not be complete without gelato. Not just any gelato though, but the very best gelato you can find. Our search lead us to Bar Centrale in Marrubiu. Fabrizio Fenu, the only Sardinian in the prestigious “Guida Gelaterie d’Italia 2017” with three cones maximun score, has won many awards and his handcrafted gelato shows it.
Su Gologone – Oliena
Su Gologone Experience Hotel – Having stayed in hotels all over the world, I must say that Su Gologone Experience Hotel is quite unlike anything I had ever experience before.
Located on the outskirts of the mountainside town of Oliena, Su Gologone is a resort, a retreat and a getaway.
Our classic room was lovely and filled with local flair and color. The bathroom was well designed with a lovely shower and rainfall shower head. You could even open the window and gaze out at the landscape while enjoying your shower. There was also a balcony overlooking the landscape.
Our room came with daily breakfast buffet and free wi-fi.
The hotel is filled with a collection of local art which helps set the tone for your stay. Walking around the property you will see arrows pointing to secret gardens, bars, the pool and other hidden spots.
Follow the painted rocks to a spectacular outdoor bar overlooking a valley and amazing mountain range. Indulge in free tapas along with your cocktails.
There is no need to leave the hotel for dinner. A reservation is always made for your first night at the hotel restaurant. Don’t forget to try their blue zone bread.
Day four began with a walk at the park adjacent to the Sorgenti di Su Gologone. What a lovely place for a stroll. Walk through the eucalyptus forest to the church of Nostra Signora della Pietà, peak inside, and witness an example of “rural sacred architecture” Continue on along the river to the end of the path and you will be rewarded with lovely views.
Side Trip
After walking off our breakfast we jumped in the car and drove the 17.3 kilometers to see the Murals of Orgosolo. Muralism is famous in Sardinia and there are four settlements on the island that are home to this particular artistic and cultural landscape – Villamar, San Sperate, Serramanna and Orgosolo.
The excitement built as we approached Orgosolo and began seeing the murals.
The walls of the town are decorated with hundreds of mural paintings depicting the history and culture of Sardinia. I was blown away by the artistry!
Day 5 – Road to Alghero
Today our destination was Alghero, but we decided to take a side trip on the way.
I had read about the town of Bosa, and even considered spending the night there. Since our timeline was 6 days though, we had to make it a stop along the route to Alghero. Bosa is situated on the north bank of the Temo River, about two-thirds of the way up the west coast of Sardinia. We arrived in Bosa at just about espresso time. After a quick pick me up, it was time for a quick look around at the town. I was particularly interested to visit the local jewelry stores and see the jewelry made with gold and coral. I also wanted to visit the local bakeries where bread is shaped into many intricate patterns. What a lovely town!
Alghero
Since we were only staying one night in Alghero we wanted to experience as much as we possibly could. We arrived around 2:00 pm and hit the ground running. If we were staying an extra night in Sardinia this is where I would have spent it.
Alghero is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Sardinia, and its centro storico (historic centre), one of the best preserved. Yes, there is a touristy feel to Alghero, but if you look beyond the crowds and tourist traps, you will discover a town filled with Catalan influence and heritage. So much so, that even the street signs are in both Italian and Catalan. Just north of old town you will find San Giovanni beach, one of the largest beaches in the area.
There is a first time for everything and I witnessed my first Cannabis dispensary in Alghero.
The Stay
Carlos V Hotel is a 10 minute stroll to the city center so parking is not an issue. Neither is traffic – park your car and walk. There is also a shuttle service that stops right in front of the hotel.
We reserved an Executive Sea View room and it was great. We had a double balcony overlooking the pool with perfect views of the sea. The sunsets were amazing!
The room itself was large and comfortable with an elegant feeling to it. The bathroom felt a little dated with a tub/shower combo but it was fine.
Note to hotel: Please add espresso machines to your executive rooms.
Our room came with breakfast, WiFi and VAT.
The breakfast buffet was enormous with many choices.
The outdoor bar had one of the best views in town. Go there at sunset and take lots of pictures. This was the view we saw that night.
The Eats
Having only one night for dinner in Alghero we wanted to make it good – and we did. Il Corallo Restaurante at Via F.lli Kennedy 20 was the perfect choice. What an amazing dinner we had.
Day 6 – Porto Cervo and Costa Smeralda
This was our last full day in Sardinia and we were headed towards Porto Cervo, the “capital” of Costa Smeralda. The 161.7 kilometer drive was expected to take us 2 hours and 10 minutes so we started out early.
In 1962, millionaire Karim Aga Khan brought together a group of investors to purchase a strip of northeastern Sardinian coastline, which they named Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) after the blue-green waters of the area.
Today jet-setters from all over the world vacation in this area. Docking their mega-yachts at Porto Cervo, they shop near the waters edge at exclusive stores like Gucci and Chanel.
Warning: If you are on a vacation budget be careful in this area. A cocktail at the hotel bar can set you back 25 Euros or more (as we found out).
The Stay
Since we only had a half day of sightseeing in this area, we decided to stay right in the village of Port Cervo. We chose the Sheraton/Marriott property Cervo Hotel, Costa Smeralda Resort. Considering the cost of hotels in this area, and the fact we were staying only one night, this hotel turned out to be “relatively” reasonable.
The Eats
A $50 ten minute taxi ride to the famous hillside restaurant, I Frati Rossi, was not a great start to our evening, but we took it in stride. It was our last night in Sardinia and we were ending it with dinner at a top notch restaurant.
What a great restaurant this turned out to be. Everything from the ambiance, to the view, to the food was perfect. I ordered the lobster special and, according to Tee2Pub, it was almost worth the sticker shock.
TisforTravel 
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