Drea Every time I mention Sardinia, I get the same look. Sicily, people know. Amalfi, people have Pinterest boards for. But Sardinia? Half my friends thought I said the fish. So let me fix that, because 1 week in Sardinia might be the best week of Italy you haven’t thought of yet.
I flew into Alghero after two weeks in Croatia, and was so happy to be back on Italian soil. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Croatia, but I had been living in Italy for the summer, so coming back felt like coming home. And Sardinia did not disappoint, she welcomed me back to Italy with open arms. I was excited by the familiar and also the new, as I was visiting a part of the country I hadn’t been to, or heard much about, yet.
After renting a little stick-shift, I drove myself around the top of the island and down to Cala Gonone, with water the color of a swimming pool the whole way. I did it solo, and was a little nervous at the wheel at first, but warmed right up. After the trip I was in love, and wondered why more people don’t talk about Sardinia. Here’s exactly how I’d spend seven days there on your own, whether it’s safe (it is), how the driving really goes, and what it costs.
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Pack Light so it Fits In Your Little Trunk
Italian cars are not known for their girth. You’ll appreciate a smaller car on the windy roads, and a small bag will make it easy. My free custom packing checklist tells you how you can pack everything you need. Grab it below.
Why Sardinia Is the Solo Italy Trip Few Americans Think Of
When you think of Italy, you probably think cobblestone streets, homemade pasta, and gelato for days. And, you likely think of the crowds. Well what if I told you you could have all the quintessential parts of Italy, with fewer Americans, lower prices than the Amalfi/Tuscany circuit, beaches that don’t look real, and a pace made for relaxation? Kindred, let me introduce you to Sardinia.
Now, if you know anything about Italians, you know they are very proud of their regions and have a somewhat competitive spirit among them. Sardinia is no different. But with all the various influences over the years (Spanish, Moors, etc) they don’t always see themselves as Italian. They are Sardinian. Alghero even speaks a Catalan-flavored Italian.
The reason few Americans go is the exact reason you should.
What Makes Sardinia Different
Beyond that, or maybe because of that, the island’s its own world, set apart, and completely relaxed. It’s sparse enough to find quaint little restaurants with only a few tables and friendliness for days. Italians have been vacationing in Sardinia for years, but like many things, Americans are only starting to catch on. Many people head to the Costa Smeralda, known for emerald water and ultra-luxe resorts and yachts. But Sardinia is a big and spread out island, with quiet corners worth finding all over it.
Because it’s more rustic, public transportation isn’t really a thing here like on the mainland. Renting a car is your best bet, as is picking a part of the island to focus on. For me, that was the north side. I started in Alghero in the west, drove along the island north and then down the east coast, and ended in Olbia. It by no means showed me everything, but it was enough that made me want to go back. 1 week in Sardinia will do that to you.
Sardinia is perfect for the traveler who’s experienced the obvious Italy spots and wants somewhere unique, somewhere partly to herself. Landing in Alghero, watching my first sunset on the waterfront, savoring a fresh plate of mussels, I realized this wasn’t going to be my normal Italian experience.
Is Sardinia Safe for Solo Female Travelers
Short answer, yes, and it’s underrated for it. I drove Sardinia solo for a week and felt safe the whole way. The towns are walkable, the people look out for you, and a rental car opens up the beaches. Give it seven days, a little Italian, and you’ll fall hard. The towns are small, and people notice you but also look out for you and want to get to know you.
I will say I got some looks as a solo woman dining alone, but they seemed more curious than judgmental. One restaurant owner even sat down for a chat and ended up showing me around his town while I was there.
I stayed in a mix of B&Bs and hotels, and at each B&B the hosts were so kind. They gave walking instructions on how to get to the famous Stinino Beach and the best time to go. One guided me to her friend in Santa Teresa so they could show me the secret oceanfront caves. They gave restaurant recommendations, set up tours, and overall made me feel right at home.
1 week in Sardinia might be the best week of Italy you’re not planning.
Staying Connected While Solo During 1 Week in Sardinia
On the tours, most people were Italian, but that didn’t stop us. It was a good chance to practice my language skills. By the end of our boat trip in Asinara National Park, I felt like one of the family. Knowing a bit of Italian definitely made me more comfortable, so I’d recommend learning a few words to get by.
I also had phone connectivity with an Italian eSIM, which I highly recommend anywhere you go. Knowing you’re connected and able to reach people both locally and at home is a huge relief for you and for them.
I will say this is a pretty laid back island with plenty of rural spots, so signal and late-night options are thin. I didn’t mind, as I don’t love late-night activities when traveling solo (or much at home anymore in general, if I’m honest.) The roads are narrow and windy, so driving in the daylight and planning little stops along the way helped. I stopped in spots like San Teodoro beach, with see-through water the color of sea glass and had lunch on the beach. Moments like that, that started as somewhat functional, became core memories ingrained in my brain.
1 Week in Sardinia, Solo: My Day-by-Day Route
Once you narrow in on the part of the island you want, your Sardinia itinerary can be flexible. I created a little arc of a loop, stopping in spots I had researched that either had stunning beaches, quaint towns or cool sea grottoes. I made my trip 11 days to really soak in the island, but you can do it in 1 week if you hone in on what you want to see.
To do that, it’s best to base in two or three towns, and do a couple of day-trips to the scenic spots. If you can add more time like I did, definitely do it, you won’t regret it. For this itinerary, it doesn’t count your travel days, so take that into consideration when planning your own trip.
- Days 1-2: Alghero in the west
- Days 3-4: Stintino and La Pelosa Beach
- Days 4-5: Santa Teresa Gallura and La Maddalena Archipelago
- Day 6-7: Cala Gone on the Golfo di Orosei
Days 1–2, Alghero (west)
Alghero is a lovely first stop, with its new and historic parts. Stay near the water so you can wake up and walk the beach, walk to the pink-walled old town, and enjoy sunset seafood on the waterfront. Alghero introduced me to mojito mussels and I dream of that dish to this day.
Le Bombarde beach is a hot spot, and easy to get to from town. It’s only 8km away, so I rented a bike right on the boardwalk next to my B&B, and rode out to the beach. Luckily it’s a fairly flat ride if you stick to the coast (I made the mistake of taking a scenic route on my way back and had a little mishap. Other than a cut knee and a bruised ego, I came out ok).
I picked up a rental car on my last day and stopped at Capo Caccia on my way north. There you’ll find Neptune’s Grotto (Grotta di Nettuno) in Porto Conte park. It’s very cool, with waves crashing into the caves. It did require walking 659 steps down to the grotto (and therefore 659 steps back up), but I counted that as earning an extra glass of wine for the day.
Days 3–4, the north
After the grotto continue driving north, up through Stintino for La Pelosa beach, famous for its clear waters and stretches of sand. Finding a spot on said beach is a toughie unless you’re there at 7am. If not, do what I did and grab a spot at a little beach restaurant and enjoy the view without fighting the crowds.
I stayed near Stintino so I could visit the beach and sail around Asinara National Park. We had swim stops, spotted wildlife like dolphins, visited a sea turtle hospital, and wandered through the old prison, donkey spotting included.
If you’re up for it, head towards Castelsardo and Costa Paradiso along the northern coast, and onto your next stop.
Day 4-5, Santa Teresa Gallura
Roll into Santa Teresa Gallura the evening of day 4, and you’ll have all of day 5 for the main event, a boat tour out through the La Maddalena Archipelago. I saw every shade of blue on that trip, it was brilliant. We also stopped at a few different beaches so we had built-in relaxation time on land and on sea.
Back on land, wander through town, dine with locals and do a whole lot of happy nothing. The town itself is small and easy to see in a short amount of time.
Days 6–7, the east / Cala Gonone
The next morning, drive down past Capo Testo and San Teodoro to the Golfo di Orosei. San Teodoro is a nice little lunch stop to stare at the flat, calm, see-through sea. Once you wind your way down to Cala Gonone, settle into your hotel and walk down to the beach.
Schedule another boat tour, and visit swim-up grottoes and cruise-in beaches that melt every worry away. Cala Gonone itself is small and easily walkable. This is a place to stay out past dark, as seeing the Milky Way over the water put Cala Gonone straight on my must-come-back list. It was as if the sky opened up and showed herself fully, and I was sucked right in.
When you leave, loop back up and fly out of Olbia. If you book your flight for the following day you’ll have a little time to roam around Olbia town. I even grabbed a massage there before I flew out – a nice way to round out a self-care trip.
Renting a Car and Getting Around Sardinia on Your Own
Here’s some logistical tips on getting around Sardinia. Spoiler alert – it’s easier than it sounds.
Getting there:
Fly into Alghero, Olbia, or Cagliari. An open-jaw ticket works great, as lets you fly into one and out of another (exactly what I did). If you’re coming from the US, it may be easier to do a flight into and out of Rome, then take a domestic carrier over to Sardinia.
You can also take an overnight mainland ferry for the slow version, but I’d rather maximize my time on the island.
Renting a car:
A week of solo beach-hopping requires wheels. If you’re a nervous driver, not to fear. The roads are pretty sparse and there’s plenty of places to stop. Yes, the coastal roads are tight and windy, and I was glad to take occasional breaks like in Stintino, but they were definitely manageable and less stressful than driving through the streets of Rome (yes, we’ve done that too). Driving my little whip through Sardinia felt like a breeze compared to that.
Solo driving tips:
Some basic tips help give you peace of mind. Drive during daylight, have your offline maps downloaded, and top up an Italian eSIM on day one. Small town parking is tricky but watch the locals as they find creative parking spots. Lastly, don’t over-schedule the drives. Make it peaceful vs panic-inducing.
The no-car workaround:
If it’s a hard no on the car, I get it, you can base in walkable Alghero or Santa Teresa and accept a smaller trip.
What a Week in Sardinia Costs, When to Go, and What I’d Skip
Now that you’ve decided whether to drive, here’s the rest of the details you need to round out your trip.
When to go:
Shoulder season (roughly May–June, Sept–early Oct) for warm water and thin crowds; I went in July and the beaches were lovely-but-HOT.
What it costs:
Here’s the honest money talk. Sardinia isn’t dirt cheap, but for Italy it’s a deal, and it runs a good bit less than a week on the Amalfi Coast. Your biggest variable is the flight from the US. Once you’re in Europe, a hop over to Sardinia is often only €50 to €120. On the island, here’s what I’d budget for a solo week:
- Rental car: about €35 to €60 a day for a little manual, so €250 to €400 for the week, plus €60 to €100 in gas for the loop.
- Stays: mid-range B&Bs and small hotels ran me around €90 to €150 a night, call it €600 to €1,000 for seven nights.
- Food: I averaged €40 to €70 a day, and that’s with a proper seafood dinner and a glass of wine most nights (the fresh seafood was non-negotiable).
- The fun stuff: boat tours were my splurge at €40 to €90 each, Neptune’s Grotto was about €14 to walk down, and a beach bike rental was around €15.
All in, once you’re on the ground, I’d plan for roughly €1,400 to €2,300 for the week solo, depending on how much you sail and how fancy you go on hotels. Add airfare on top. Compare that to Amalfi, where a single mid-range room can eat your whole daily budget, and Sardinia starts looking very smart.
What to skip:
The see-and-be-seen Costa Smeralda scene if it’s not your vibe, so you spend your days where the island’s actually magic (the grottoes, the small towns).
Sound like too much to figure out?
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FAQs
Conclusion
Here’s the thing about Sardinia, the reason few Americans go is the exact reason you should. It’s Italy with room to breathe, and doing it solo means every beach afternoon and every long seafood dinner is yours. You don’t need to be fearless. You need a rental car, seven days, and the nerve to pick the island nobody in your group has been to yet.
Someone told me Sardinia takes a piece of your heart. Case study of one, present.
Take the northern route like I did, and let the sparkling Alghero sunset, the crystalline La Pelosa waters, and the boat rides through the parks show you a different side of Italy. Someone told me Sardinia takes a piece of your heart. Case study of one, present. Go let it take yours.
Wherever you go, however you do it, I want you to have a trip to remember.
Happy travels, kindreds!
RELATED LINKS
Ready to plan more Italy adventures?
- Solo Travel in Italy Guide – What three months traveling alone in Italy taught me
- Travel to the south – see my full 2 Weeks in Italy itinerary
- Take a look at how I spent 3 weeks in Sicily
- Explore Northern Italy – 18-day itinerary through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, hiking the Cinque Terre, and Rome
- Scared to Travel Alone? Here’s How I Overcome the Anxiety
- Check out everything you need to travel solo in my full guide
- First Group Tour Tips – If you don’t want to go solo, consider group travel
- Active Travel Packing List – Take a look at my 431 packing system that works anywhere – get your free guide here
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- Italy Tourism Board – Official Italy travel planning resources
- Sardinia Tourism Board – Official Sardinia planning resource
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