Sardinia is an island which is located west of the Italian boot, south of Corsica, and it is after Sicily the largest island in the Mediterranean. On the island you will be flooded with spectacular nature and an extraordinary culture. It is a lovely island for beach lovers, but there are also many attractions in Sardinia for the (little) adventurers among us. Young or old, everyone feels at home here. Today we will tell you more about the most important things to do in Sardinia. The activities are suitable for the whole family!
Best things to do in Sardinia
Grotta di Nettuno
Grotta di Nettuno, this place is the number 1 of things to do in Sardinia. It is a place in northwestern Italy. The translation is “ the Caves of Neptune”. In order to reach the caves you must cross a natural park called Parco Naturale Regionale di Porto Conte. The park has a lot of things to discover but wait until you reach the caves, which are also called the paradise of the submarine caves. The caves are famous for its stalagmites and stalactites that have very special and strange shapes. It is possible to reach the caves by yourself by boat.
Are you looking for some more adventure? Then you can choose to climb a steep rock via a path. They minced 655 steps from the rock in order to form a fantastic hiking trail. TIP: with little children, it would be better to travel by boat, they will enjoy the impressive views.
Isola dell´Asinara
In the Middle Ages it was a shelter for pirates, later it was used as a penal colony and concentration camp and from 1977 it was used as a prison. So you can say that many things have happened here which makes it a historic island. But what can you see here nowadays? Today it is called Isola del Asinara, asini means donkeys, and isola means island. It is only possible to reach the island from the town of Stintino, by boat. The island has hilly landscapes, beautiful bays and beaches and many animals. And, of course, you will meet a lot of donkeys on the island. But they are not just donkeys, they are white and have blue eyes. In addition to these special donkeys, there are also sea turtles, various bird species, mouflons and wild boars on the island.
Palau: discover the Bear Rock
Northern Sardinia is known for its many impressive rock formations. The Bear Rock (roccia dell´orso in Italian) is the most special one. For thousands of years, the rock has been cultivated by the wind which resulted in the shape of a bear it is today. Due to its unique appearance, the rock was often used as a navigation point for ships on the Mediterranean. Now the bear is particularly admired by tourists and it is possible to climb the rock. In the mountain there is a 540 metre high staircase that brings you to the belly of the bear. From the belly you have breathtaking views over the Maddalena Islands and if you’re lucky you can even see the island of Corsica. And all this for only £2! Not entirely unimportant to mention, the stairs have broader steps in order to also allow children to climb upstairs. TIP: bring warm clothes because it can be cooler on top of the rock.
Arzachena: Tomba dei Giganti Coddu Vecchju
Also in the north we’ll find one of the best things to do in Sardinia: a visit to Arzachen. What makes it so touristy? Arzachena is rich in archaeological excavations and many graftombs can be found here. The Tomba dei Giganti Coddu Vecchju is one of those tombs. This is a chamber dating from the Bronze Age, approximately between 1800-1600 BC. At the Sanna Museum in Sassari you can see results of the valuable excavations in the area. Furthermore, you will find the Li Muri Necropolis here. These are some circular graves and they believe that the graves emit magical powers. Some things around this place are still a big mystery.
Cagliari
And last but not least, Cagliari. A visit to this city cannot be missing in your travel plan for Sardinia, it is the largest and also the capital of the island! The city is a real university town where you can eat some good dishes, go shopping and visit plenty of sights. The city, like Rome, is built on seven hills. The Marina quarter, the botanical garden, Castello (the oldest district of Cagliari), and the Roman amphitheatre are all examples of the sights worth visiting.
And what can you experience here? At the Marina quarter you will find the nicest restaurants; the botanical garden, Orto Botanico dell’Università di Cagliari, includes more than two thousand plant species; Castello is a castle on top of the hill and the Roman amphitheatre is the most important monument in Sardinia. The nice thing about the city is that there is a lot of diversity. So you can choose to discover more about the culture or just relax on the beach. It’s up to you!
This is just a small part of all things to do in Sardinia. Discover more and stay in one of our apartments for the best vacation feeling.