Sardinia Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days, North or South, With Ferries and Car Tips (2026)

A good Sardinia itinerary starts with one choice: north or south. The island is large and roads are slow, while most visitors have one week. So this guide gives two 7-day routes, a 10-day route and a 14-day loop. It also covers ferries and flights in, the car question and what changes in fall.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Sardinia itinerary at a glance: which route fits you

This page is about routes and logistics. For the sights themselves, however, start with our list of things to do in Sardinia. It explains the beaches, towns and nuraghi in detail. Then come back here to put them in order. In short, that guide covers what to see, while this Sardinia itinerary covers where to sleep.

Getting to Sardinia: flights and ferries

Sardinia has three main airports: Cagliari-Elmas in the south, Olbia Costa Smeralda in the northeast and Alghero-Fertilia in the northwest. In addition, each sits about 10 minutes from its city, according to Sardegna Turismo (checked September 2026). From North America, most travelers connect via Rome, Milan or another European hub. Also, an open-jaw ticket, in one airport and out of another, saves a full day of driving.

By contrast, ferries suit travelers who bring a car or combine the island with the mainland. On the island, the main ports are Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Porto Torres, Cagliari and Arbatax. Below, then, are the routes that matter most, with times from the operators’ own sites.

Sources, all checked September 2026: Tirrenia to Olbia, Tirrenia to Porto Torres, Moby, Corsica Sardinia Ferries and Grimaldi Lines from Civitavecchia and Naples. Still, timetables change by season, so confirm your date before you plan the first day.

Make the ferry port part of the trip

A ferry often means a night on the mainland first. For example, if you sail from Genoa, spend the afternoon on a Genoa food tour before an evening departure. From Livorno, Pisa is close, and a Pisa tour with the Leaning Tower fills the morning. From Naples, a Naples street food tour fits before the evening boat to Cagliari. Civitavecchia, meanwhile, is the port for Rome, so our plan for 3 days in Rome works as a lead-in.

Do you need a car for a Sardinia itinerary?

In practice, yes. True, trains link Cagliari with a few inland towns, and buses cover the main roads. However, services between the beaches, villages and coasts are thin. For example, the Olbia airport bus page lists just one daily bus to Cagliari, leaving at 4:00 p.m. and arriving at 8:00 p.m. It also lists only a few seasonal departures to Palau and Santa Teresa Gallura. That is according to Olbia airport (checked September 2026).

Cagliari is the exception. Trains stop at Elmas airport about every 20 minutes, daily from 5:10 a.m. to 11:07 p.m., according to Trenitalia (checked September 2026). So on the south route, collect the car only when you leave the city. Before you book, read our guide to driving in Italy for limited traffic zones and parking. Then compare companies in our car rental guide. Also, check the one-way fee if you drop the car at a different airport.

7-day Sardinia itinerary in the north

This version of the Sardinia itinerary suits first-timers who want boat days and clear water. So fly into Olbia and out of Alghero. Then split the week between two bases, so you pack only once.

Days 1 to 4: Gallura, the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena

First, base yourself in Palau, San Pantaleo or a village near the Costa Smeralda. Then, on day 1, collect the car at Olbia and settle in. Next, on day 2, drive the Costa Smeralda coves and stop in Porto Cervo. Then give day 3 to the La Maddalena archipelago. Ferries leave from Palau. However, a boat trip reaches the islands the ferry does not. Our page on a La Maddalena boat tour compares options. On day 4, drive to Santa Teresa Gallura and the granite headland of Capo Testa.

Days 5 to 7: Alghero and the northwest

Next, drive west to Alghero, a walled town with Catalan roots. In fact, a Catalan dialect survives in the town. On day 6, head to Capo Caccia for the cliffs and Neptune’s Grotto. Alternatively, see the coast from the water: our page on an Alghero boat tour fits this day. Finally, on day 7, drive north to Stintino for La Pelosa beach. In recent summers, La Pelosa has used capped access with online booking. That is according to its official booking site (checked September 2026). So check it before you go, then drive back to Alghero airport.

7-day Sardinia itinerary in the south

The southern Sardinia itinerary suits history lovers and fall travelers. Also, it needs no domestic flight, because you fly in and out of Cagliari. Also, the city works without a car for the first days.

Days 1 to 3: Cagliari and Barumini

Spend days 1 and 2 in Cagliari: the Castello quarter, the archaeological museum and Poetto beach. Our guide to things to do in Cagliari covers the hours. Also, our comparison of two Cagliari tours helps if you want a guide. On day 3, collect the car and drive inland to Barumini. There, Su Nuraxi is the best-known nuraghe complex. It has been a UNESCO site since 1997, according to UNESCO (checked September 2026).

Days 4 to 7: the southwest coast and the Sinis peninsula

Then move southwest for two nights near Chia or along the Teulada coast road. In general, these are wide, dune-backed beaches, quieter than the north. After that, drive up the west coast to the Oristano area for two nights. From there, visit the ruins of Tharros and the quartz-grain beaches of the Sinis peninsula. Finally, drive back to Cagliari for your flight.

10-day Sardinia itinerary: south to north on the east coast

With 10 days, you can join both halves without backtracking. So fly into Cagliari and out of Olbia. First, spend three nights in Cagliari, including the Barumini day. Next, drive up the east coast to the Gulf of Orosei. Then base in Cala Gonone or Dorgali for three nights. There, boats run along a coast of limestone coves. Meanwhile, the Barbagia mountain villages sit inland. Then finish with four nights in Gallura, with the La Maddalena boat day from the north route. As a result, this Sardinia itinerary mixes beaches with the island’s pastoral interior.

14-day Sardinia itinerary: the full loop

By contrast, two weeks allow a slow circuit with five bases. Pack light, because you change hotels four times. Also, keep one free day for weather or a boat trip that sells out.

• Days 1 to 3, Cagliari. City, Poetto and Barumini.
• Days 4 and 5, Oristano area. Tharros and the Sinis beaches.
• Days 6 to 8, Alghero. Old town, Capo Caccia and a boat day.
• Days 9 to 11, Gallura. Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena and Capo Testa.
• Days 12 to 14, Gulf of Orosei. Boat trip, Barbagia villages, then fly out of Olbia.

Want the whole of Italy instead? Then see our Italy itineraries hub, or pair the island with our Sicily itinerary on a longer trip.

North or south: how to choose

Above all, do not try to cover both halves in one week. After all, the drive between Cagliari and Olbia eats most of a day. So a single-half Sardinia itinerary gives you more time on the beach and less time on the road.

Seasonal notes: Sardinia in fall

Fall is a strong season for this trip. Sea swimming usually lasts into October. Also, the roads empty out after the summer rush. In addition, the main ferry routes from Civitavecchia, Livorno and Genoa run all year, according to the operator pages above.

• Autunno in Barbagia. From September 5 to December 13, 2026, 31 inland towns open their courtyards for food and crafts. That is according to Sardegna Turismo (checked September 2026). As a result, it fits the Orosei days of the 10-day route.
• Seasonal buses. Some airport buses switch operator or timetable between summer and winter. So rely on the car and check any bus the week you travel.
• Boat trips and beach services. Many excursions and beach bars scale down after the summer. Therefore, book boat days early in your stay.

For the rest of the country, see our guides to Italy in fall and Italy in October. Also, many Sardinian towns charge a nightly tourist tax, explained in our Italy tourist tax guide.

Sardinia tours that fit each route

If you want a guide for part of the trip, these experience pages on our site match the days above. Each one lists prices and ratings read on Viator:

• La Maddalena boat tour: day 3 of the north route and the Gallura days.
• Alghero boat tour: day 6 of the north route, Capo Caccia from the sea.
• Cagliari tour comparison: days 1 and 2 of the south route.
• Genoa food tour: before an overnight ferry from Genoa.
• Pisa tour with the Leaning Tower: before a ferry from Livorno.
• Naples street food tour: before the boat from Naples to Cagliari.

For more coast days, see our list of the best boat tours in Italy.

To book the days on the water, compare our pages on the Gulf of Orosei boat tour, the Tavolara boat tour and the Asinara boat tour. In the south, the Barumini tour and the Cagliari beach tour cover a day inland and a day at the beach.

Sardinia itinerary: frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for a Sardinia itinerary?

Seven days covers one half of the island well. However, ten days joins the south and the north along the east coast, and 14 days allows a full loop.

Is the north or the south better for a first Sardinia itinerary?

The north suits beach and boat lovers, with La Maddalena and Alghero. By contrast, the south suits history lovers, and it works better without a car at the start.

Can you do a Sardinia itinerary without a car?

Only partly. Cagliari has a frequent airport train, but buses between the coasts and villages are sparse. So most routes need a rental car.

How do you get to Sardinia by ferry?

Tirrenia sails from Civitavecchia to Olbia and from Genoa to Porto Torres all year. Moby also sails from Livorno to Olbia all year. Meanwhile, Grimaldi Lines runs overnight boats to Cagliari from Civitavecchia and Naples.

Is fall a good time for a Sardinia itinerary?

Yes. The sea usually stays swimmable into October, crowds thin out, and Autunno in Barbagia runs from September to December.