I’m Kayla. I’ve stayed all over Sardinia—north, south, and that wild east coast. And you know what? The “best area” changes with your mood. One trip I wanted quiet coves. Next time I wanted music, gelato, and an easy bus to the beach. Both were perfect, just in different ways.
Let me explain how I sorted it out, with real days, real beds, and real sand in my shoes.
Quick picks before the long story
- No car and want charm: Alghero or Cagliari
- Water so blue it looks fake: Chia, Stintino, or La Maddalena
- Quiet coves and boat days: Cala Gonone and the Gulf of Orosei
- Fancy vibe and nightlife: Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo, Baja Sardinia)
- Family-friendly and easy: Villasimius or Alghero (Maria Pia beach)
- Great value and color: Bosa or Santa Teresa Gallura
For extra on-the-ground insight, I also leaned on this Sardinian local's guide, which maps out lesser-known beaches and eateries. For an even deeper planning dive, you can read my full breakdown of Sardinia’s best areas to stay, where I compare each corner of the island in detail.
To balance that local intel with broader travel wisdom, I kept two trusty references open on my phone: the Travel + Leisure Sardinia travel guide for a polished overview and hotel ideas, and Lonely Planet’s Sardinia section for down-to-earth bus routes, budget tips, and walking notes.
Now, here’s where I actually stayed and what happened.
Alghero: Old stone walls, soft sand, grilled fish
I stayed near the old town walls, two blocks from the sea. I’d grab a cappuccino on Via Carlo Alberto, then walk the ramparts as the sun warmed the stones. It felt slow in the best way.
Maria Pia beach was my go-to. Wide. Pine trees for shade. Clear, shallow water that made kids squeal. I caught the little beach bus in town and didn’t miss a car at all. One night I booked dinner at a country farm near the airport called Sa Mandra. Big tables. Lots of local dishes. I still remember the roasted suckling pig and the myrtle liqueur. I waddled home, happy.
Who it fits: easy base without a car, families, food lovers.
What I didn’t love: weekend crowds on the ramparts. Go early or late for quiet.
Cala Gonone: Boat days that feel like a dream
When I wanted secret-feeling beaches, I stayed in Cala Gonone. My room had a small balcony over the water. The plan was simple. Walk to the harbor. Hop on a small boat. Spend the day in coves that look like a postcard.
Cala Luna gave me soft sand and shade under caves. Cala Mariolu had water so clear I watched fish nibble foam from my toes. The skipper handed out cool melon at noon, which just felt right. Back in town, I got a cone of lemon gelato and sat on the steps like a kid.
Who it fits: couples, swimmers, hikers who want cliff trails too.
What I didn’t love: once the wind picked up, boats stopped. Have a “land day” backup (I did the Bue Marino caves tour).
Villasimius: Easy town, big beaches, and a pink sunset
I booked a small B&B near the main street in Villasimius. I could walk to dinner, then sleep early. Each morning I drove a few minutes to Simius or Porto Giunco. The sand felt like warm flour. Flamingos stood in the lagoon like pale statues. Punta Molentis took my breath away, but the parking lot filled fast. I learned to arrive by 8:30 a.m. and leave after lunch.
Dinner was casual—pizza one night, a plate of fregola with clams the next. Simple and fresh. No fuss.
Who it fits: families, first-timers, folks who like easy parking and town life.
What I didn’t love: August felt packed. June and September were sweet and calm.
Costa Smeralda (Baja Sardinia): Glossy, pretty, pricey
I tried the fancy side to see the buzz. I stayed near Baja Sardinia and spent a day people-watching in Porto Cervo. Big boats, big sunglasses, tiny dogs. If you find yourself soaking up the jet-set nightlife here and would like a little adult company beyond bar banter, check out JustBang’s “Craigslist women seeking men” personals—the ads are regularly updated and filterable by location, so you can discreetly arrange a date and add an unexpected spark to your Sardinian nights. The water? Unreal. I swam off Liscia Ruja and Spiaggia del Principe and felt like a movie extra. The overall vibe echoed much of what I shared in my honest stay at a beach resort in Sardinia, where comfort and cost danced a tricky tango.
But groceries felt high, and beach parking added up. Worth it once. Not my everyday pace.
Back home, when I’m chasing that same carefree vibe on a totally different continent, I sometimes scroll through One Night Affair’s trans escort listings for Binghamton—the site’s vetted profiles, clear reviews, and upfront rates let you arrange a respectful, excitement-filled meetup without the guesswork.
Who it fits: nightlife fans, honeymoon vibes, splurge trips.
What I didn’t love: the bill. The calm water helped me forget, but only a bit.
La Maddalena (and Caprera): Island hop joy
I took the ferry from Palau and spent a night in La Maddalena town. After lunch, I rented a scooter and zipped over the bridge to Caprera. Spiaggia del Relitto looked like a painting. Late day light hit the rocks, and the water turned glassy. Next morning I booked a small boat tour. We stopped near Spargi and saw the pink shore at Budelli from the water (no walking on it—protected). Fair. It’s too pretty to wear out.
Who it fits: photographers, snorkelers, couples, anyone who says “wow” out loud.
What I didn’t love: sun is strong, shade is rare. A light shirt saved me.
Quick detours that stuck with me
- Stintino (La Pelosa): You need a ticket and a mat for the sand. It’s fussy, but that blue? Worth it. I went late afternoon and it felt calm.
- Cagliari: I stayed near Castello. Loved Poetto beach by bus, and the San Benedetto market for seafood and cheese. Day trip to Nora ruins gave me history with sea views.
- Bosa: I did one night. Rainbow houses by the river, a small taste of Malvasia wine, and a slow walk at sunset. Not a beach hub, but a mood. It felt similar to the night I spent with Salis Antonello—short, sweet, and surprisingly memorable.
So, which area is “best”?
I’ll split it by the kind of trip you want.
- No car, simple days: Alghero or Cagliari
- Peak-beach wow: Chia, Villasimius, or Stintino
- Quiet coves and boat magic: Cala Gonone / Gulf of Orosei
- Fancy nights and perfect water: Costa Smeralda
- Color and calm budget: Bosa or Santa Teresa Gallura
- With kids: Alghero (Maria Pia), Villasimius (Simius), or Costa Rei
Small twist: I tell friends to pick two bases. One “town base” (Alghero or Cagliari) and one “pure beach base” (Cala Gonone or Villasimius). That mix kept me happy and kept the drives short.
When to go and little tips I wish I knew
- Months: June and September were gold. Warm water, fewer crowds. July was fine. August was busy and hot.
- Wind: If the Mistral hits the northwest, I switch to a south beach that day. It helps a lot.
- Parking: Many beach lots take cash. I kept coins handy.
- Shade: Bring a light umbrella or a hat. Real shade is rare on some beaches.
- Boats: Small-boat tours feel nicer than huge ones. I loved leaving early, back by 3 p.m.
- Local bites: Try pane carasau, pecorino, bottarga, and a small glass of mirto after dinner.
My simple verdict
If you want one base only, pick Alghero for ease or Villasimius for beaches. If you want the trip I’ll remember forever, do Alghero for three nights and Cala Gonone for four. That gave me old stone lanes, slow dinners, and those bright, hidden coves. Honestly, that mix felt just right.
And a last note