Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia is one of the many magical islands Italy has to offer. I had the pleasure of visiting in Summer 2023 while hosting my very first group trip through Join My Trip. It was the experience of a life time. My group and I stayed for about 8 days total in the Southern region of the island. If you’re looking for a fun, vibrant, relaxing and mystical destination to visit, this is the place for you! Sardinia has so much to offer in terms of gorgeous vast beaches, crystal blue waters, stunning waterfalls, epic hikes and vineyards galore. I am looking forward to going back and visiting the Northern region as I’ve heard many great things.

Where to stay:

Now this totally depends on what type of vibe you want. I will start off by saying that Sardinia is a large island and you most definitely will need a car to get around everywhere. To go from city to city, it can take anywhere from 30 min- a few hours (or longer) depending where you are going. Cagliari is the capital of the Island and where all the city action is. It’s a great place to stay if you want something more walk-able and lively. You can choose airbnb or hotel. I stayed in an Airbnb in a small town named Torre Delle Stelle. It’s about 50 minutes east of Cagliari going towards the beach towns. Now when I say small town, I mean it. We had to drive to go everywhere. Luckily there was a beach and fantastic restaurant nearby we could walk to but we did spend majority of our time driving to places. I think this area is great if you want a more local feel. Another great area, although more expensive, to stay is Villasimius. It’s about 25-30 min away from where we were and has beautiful beaches, lots of nightlife and great places to dine.

Activities/Sightseeing:

  • Wine tasting via Airbnb Experience - I had the best time with Cristina and felt like I learned so much about Sardinian wine, and how to pair with the local food as well. It took place at a gorgeous Vineyard named Cantina Audarya. I highly recommend!

  • Boat tour on the Baunei Coast - This was a 10/10 experience. Truly. If you are a lover of the ocean, enjoy being on boats and want to really explore beaches that you can only get to by skipper, this is your activity! My friends and I had the absolute best time. What I really loved was that we were able to stay at each beach for 90 minutes - 2 hours.

  • Pasta making class via Airbnb Experience - This was an outstanding experience. Damiano is the chef who lead the class and taught us how to make Culurgiones, a traditional Sardinian ravioli. A hands on, immersive and thoughtful event.

  • Beaches to visit: Spiaggia di Cann’e Sisa, Tuerredda, Giudeu, Porto Giunco, Cala Brandinchi, Cala Cipolla, Cala Biriala, Cala Luna.

  • Go to Santa Maria Navarrese. A coastal town worth visiting!

  • Day trip (if you’re ambitious) to Santu Lussurgiu. It’s an hour and 45 min North/West of Cagliari. It’s a commune with medieval style buildings, an infamous black church, and is surrounded by oaks and a chestnut forrest at the edge of an extinct volcanic mountain. I personally loved this place and thought it was very unique and quaint. Not much to do around here but explore, if you’re into that sort of thing (I know I am).

  • Explore the capital, Cagliari. If you’re looking to shop, sight-see and have a plethora of eating options, you should come here. It is very lively and a great place to walk around. Be sure to check out Bastion Saint Remy.

  • Visit San Benedetto Market located in Cagliari. A traditional indoor market where the locals shop.

Food:

  • La Terrazza delle Stelle - Ristorante- Had the best seafood linguine!

  • Farra Pizzeria- Fantastic pizza!

  • Aquarium- Upscale, fine dining. Great food. The fish is wonderful and so is the pasta, which is a given.

  • Amore Mio Gelateria

  • Mastro Gelataio

  • Ristorante Pizzeria Pizza Folle

  • Luigi Pomata- Fine dining. We did the tasting menu and it did not disappoint! A very well known restaurant and was featured on Stanley Tucci’s, Searching For Italy.

  • Blanco Cafè Villasimius

  • Ricky cafè

  • Bar Caffetteria Tabacchi Sa Cantina

  • Mirage- The service was incredibly slow but the seafood was incredibly delicious!

Danielle Giordano