Sardinia had been on my travel list mainly because of its beaches. I expected clear blue water and white sand, especially around the famous Costa Smeralda. What I did not expect was how varied the rest of the island would be. During this Sardinia road trip, you pass rugged coastlines, limestone mountains, colorful towns, quiet inland roads and historic places. Some days are mainly about the beach. Other days include driving, walking, eating and stopping whenever the view becomes too good to ignore.
This route starts in Olbia in Northeast Sardinia and ends in Cagliari in the south. You can also drive it in the opposite direction. Two weeks is possible when you enjoy moving around and do not mind staying only one or two nights in most places. With three weeks, you can slow down, add longer beach stops and stay an extra night in the regions you like most.
Is Sardinia worth visiting by car?
Yes, especially when you want to see more than one part of the island. A car gives you the freedom to combine well-known places such as Costa Smeralda with the dramatic Golfo di Orosei, the historic streets of Alghero, the quieter Costa Verde and the beaches of South Sardinia. You can compare rental cars in Sardinia here before deciding whether to collect your car in Olbia and return it in Cagliari. You can also stop at viewpoints, small villages and beaches that would be difficult to include when traveling only by public transport. Sardinia surprised me in the best possible way. It is not only a beach destination. The mountains, food, historic towns and changing landscapes make the drive itself an important part of the trip.
My Sardinia road trip at a glance
1. Northeast Sardinia
2–3 days · Olbia, Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena and Arzachena
2. East Sardinia
2–3 days · Dorgali, Cala Gonone, Golfo di Orosei and Orgosolo
3. Northwest Sardinia
2–3 days · Alghero, Grotta di Nettuno and the SP105 to Bosa
4. West Sardinia
2 days · Oristano, Sinis Peninsula and Riola Sardo
5. Southwest Sardinia
2 days · Costa Verde, Porto Flavia and Iglesias
6. South Sardinia
2–3 days · Porto Pino, Costa del Sud, Chia and Pula
7. Cagliari
1–2 days · Castello, Marina and Poetto Beach
This schedule gives you a useful starting point rather than a strict day-by-day plan. Add extra nights when you want more beach time or simply a slower morning.
Sardinia by car: my route from Olbia to Cagliari
The seven sections below follow the route in the same order as the colors on the map, with a short overview and a link to the full regional guide.
1. Northeast Sardinia: Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena
Start your Sardinia road trip in Olbia. When your flight arrives late, you can stay in or near the city for the first night and collect your rental car at the airport. From Olbia, continue north along the Costa Smeralda. Take your time on this part of the route. The coastline immediately gives you a good idea of what Sardinia has to offer, with turquoise water, rocky bays, green hills and sailing boats in the distance. You can stop at places such as Golfo Aranci and Spiaggia Marinella before continuing towards Porto Cervo and the northern coast.
Allow a full day for a boat trip through the La Maddalena Archipelago. Tours leave from Palau and usually include several swimming stops around the islands. This was one of the first big highlights of my trip and an excellent introduction to the clear water Sardinia is known for. Arzachena or the surrounding countryside makes a practical base before you continue south. On the road towards East Sardinia, stop at Cala Brandinchi or Lu Impostu when time allows.
Read more: Northeast Sardinia: Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena
2. East Sardinia: Golfo di Orosei and Orgosolo
Continue south along the SS125 towards Orosei and Dorgali. The road passes small villages and mountain scenery, with several places where you can stop for lunch or coffee along the way.Stay around Dorgali or Cala Gonone for two or three nights. This gives you a full day to explore the Golfo di Orosei by boat. The limestone cliffs drop almost directly into the sea, with beaches and caves hidden between them. Many of these places are difficult to reach by road, so a boat trip is the easiest way to see more of the coast in one day.
The beaches can be busy, even outside the busiest summer months. Still, the combination of cliffs, caves and bright blue water makes this part of Sardinia worth including. It was one of those places where I genuinely wondered whether I was still in Europe.After Dorgali, drive inland towards Orgosolo. The mountain town is known for the murals painted across its buildings and makes an interesting stop before crossing the island towards Alghero.
Read more: East Sardinia: Golfo di Orosei and Orgosolo
3. Northwest Sardinia: Alghero and Grotta di Nettuno
Stay at least two nights in Alghero. The historic center is compact and easy to explore on foot. Walk along the old sea walls, wander through the narrow streets and stay for sunset before choosing a restaurant in the center. Alghero feels different from the other Sardinian towns on this route. Its Catalan history is still visible in the architecture and atmosphere. Use your second day to combine the beaches north of Alghero with a visit to Grotta di Nettuno. You can reach the cave by boat or take the stairs down from Capo Caccia. I chose the stairs. The views were worth it, although the 654 steps back up were a less romantic part of the fairy tale.
When leaving Alghero, take the coastal SP105 towards Bosa. This was one of my favorite driving sections in Sardinia. The road follows the cliffs, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Several viewpoints give you a safe place to stop. I only had coffee in Bosa Marina before continuing towards Oristano. With more time, you can stay longer and explore Bosa itself.
Read more: Northwest Sardinia: Alghero and Grotta di Nettuno
4. West Sardinia: Oristano and the Sinis Peninsula
Use Oristano or nearby Riola Sardo as your base for West Sardinia. Oristano has a relaxed historic center with shops, cafés and restaurants. It is also well placed for exploring the Sinis Peninsula. On the peninsula, you can visit the white quartz beach of Is Arutas, walk around the archaeological area of Tharros or drive north towards Putzu Idu. The wetlands around Cabras are also known for flamingos, although spotting them always involves a little luck.
You do not need to fit every sight into one day. Choose the places that suit your interests and leave enough time to enjoy them. I preferred looking for flamingos and taking in the view over Tharros rather than following a long list of archaeological details. That is the advantage of having your own car: you can adjust the day as you go.
5. Southwest Sardinia: Costa Verde to Iglesias
Continue south towards the Costa Verde. This section feels more remote than the popular northeast. The route takes you past long beaches, old mining landscapes and smaller coastal towns. Spiaggia di Piscinas is the main beach to include here. The large dunes and wide stretch of sand give this part of Sardinia a completely different character. Continue along the coast past Portixeddu, Buggerru and Cala Domestica. Porto Flavia adds another side to the route, with its mining history and dramatic position inside the cliffs. Stay in Iglesias for the night. The town has a pleasant historic center and is a good place to have dinner after a full day on the road.
Read more: Southwest Sardinia: Costa Verde to Iglesias
6. South Sardinia: Costa del Sud to Pula
From Iglesias, continue towards Porto Pino and the Costa del Sud. The landscape changes again, with sand dunes, blue bays and one of the most scenic coastal roads in the south of Sardinia. Follow the Strada Panoramica della Costa del Sud and stop at the beaches that appeal to you most. Cala Tuerredda and Chia were among my favorites, but the drive between the beaches is part of the experience too. Stay in Pula for two or three nights when you want to slow down. It is a comfortable base for the coast and has a good choice of restaurants in the evening. This is also a useful place to add a proper beach day. After moving regularly between hotels, unpacking for more than one night starts to feel surprisingly luxurious.
Read more: South Sardinia: Costa del Sud, Chia and Pula
7. End your Sardinia road trip in Cagliari
Finish the route in Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. Stay in or close to the center so you can explore the city on foot. Walk through the historic Castello district, visit the Bastione di Saint Remy and continue down towards Marina. Cagliari is a good final stop after so much driving. You can enjoy the city, have a long dinner and leave the car parked for a while. When you still want one last beach visit, go to Poetto Beach. It is easy to combine with a stay in the city and gives you a final view of the Sardinian coast before flying home.
Read more: Cagliari and Poetto Beach
Is this Sardinia route too fast?
This route will not suit everybody. I enjoy exploring and normally stayed only one or two nights in each place. That worked well for me because the goal was to see different parts of Sardinia rather than spend a full week at one beach. The route works well for active solo travelers and couples who enjoy driving and discovering new places. You need to be comfortable packing regularly and spending several hours on the road on some days.
Families with young children or travelers who prefer long beach days may enjoy Sardinia more by choosing two or three regions and staying longer in each place. For a two-week trip, follow the main route and be selective with smaller stops. With three weeks, add extra nights around Golfo di Orosei, Alghero, the Costa Verde or Pula.
Do not plan every driving day too tightly. Sardinia has a habit of placing another beach, viewpoint or coffee stop in your path.
Planning your Sardinia road trip
This blog focuses on the route itself. For information about flights, airports, hiring a car, the one-way rental fee, driving in Sardinia, accommodations and the best time to travel, read my practical Sardinia travel tips.
Read more: Practical tips before you travel to Sardinia
I booked the first part of my trip in advance. During the second part, I wanted more freedom and arranged several accommodations while traveling. That flexible approach worked well for my trip because it allowed me to change the pace and stay close to the places I wanted to visit next. You can compare rental cars in Olbia and check accommodations along the route before deciding how much of the trip you want to book in advance.
Would I recommend this Sardinia road trip?
Yes. Sardinia is much more diverse than I expected. The beaches are an important reason to go, but the island also gives you mountain roads, historic towns, local food, boat trips and coastal drives that make the journey feel varied. Starting in Olbia and ending in Cagliari also means you do not need to drive the entire route back to your starting point. It is an active trip, but it never felt like driving only to reach the next hotel. The route itself was part of the experience. Start in Northeast Sardinia and continue around the island from there. Take your time where you can, leave room for spontaneous stops and expect Sardinia to surprise you more than once.
