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Planning a visit to Sardinia and undecided the place to remain in case you aren’t planning to lease a automobile? On this submit, I’ll share my ideas on the very best place to remain in North Sardinia with no automobile!
We visited Sardinia in July (learn my itinerary for 4 days in Sardinia: North Sardinian street journey) after which labored remotely for a number of extra days. It was a beautiful expertise; truthfully, Sardinia turned out to be fully totally different than I had anticipated!
Do you really want a automobile in Sardinia?
Sadly, public transport will not be working very steadily in Sardinia and a few locations on this itinerary aren’t accessible by public transport. Nonetheless, working not fairly often is significantly better than non-operating in any respect!
On Sundays, buses go hardly ever, and a few don’t function. On all different days, buses to the seashores and close by cities function not less than 5-6 instances per day and a few buses go each hour.
In our case, since we needed to discover the island correctly (journey bloggers and writers don’t go on journeys to loosen up, that’s the cruel actuality – that’s particularly painful in case you even have a full-time job), we rented a automobile for 3.5 days and spent the remainder of time-based in Olbia and dealing remotely. We truly managed to go to a number of the seashores close to Olbia after work utilizing public transport, though, I need to admit that it was a bit demanding.
Nonetheless, Olbia didn’t steal our hearts, and I believe there are significantly better locations to remain in Sardinia in case you don’t have a automobile.
The most effective locations to remain in Sardinia with no automobile
(We will probably be specializing in North Sardinia solely, as we hadn’t had an opportunity to go to Cagliari and the Southern a part of the island but)
When excited about the very best locations to remain in North Sardinia in case you don’t have a automobile, two cities instantly come to my thoughts. It’s additionally value mentioning that we’re speaking about Sardinia in summer season or early autumn when the water temperature is sizzling, and it’s potential to swim. When you’re going to Sardinia low season, then it’s in all probability value going simply to the big cities like Cagliari and Alghero as small cities will probably be abandoned and most companies will probably be closed.
So the 2 finest locations in North Sardinia for staying with no automobile are, for my part, Alghero and Santa Theresa Gallura. I’d additionally in all probability add Palau to this listing – it’s not a foul vacation spot both. We may even speak about Olbia and why it’s in all probability not the very best metropolis to remain in Sardinia.
Alghero
Let’s begin with Alghero. Alghero is essentially the most lovely metropolis we now have seen in North Sardinia. It has a fairly sizeable historic Previous City, a beautiful promenade, a wide range of eating places and retailers and a wide range of seashores situated very near the town centre. It jogged my memory of Catania in Sicily (learn this submit about our 7-day street journey round Sicily), though, Catania is way bigger and extra opulent. Nonetheless, similar to Catania, Alghero has all of it – good seashores and good metropolis.
I used to be very unhappy that we ended up working remotely from Olbia and never Alghero. Nonetheless, for us, it was simply inconceivable logistically as we needed to fly from London Heathrow and there have been no flights to Alghero. Additionally, we didn’t anticipate Olbia to be bland in comparison with Alghero.
The one draw back of Alghero is the truth that the water temperature is a bit colder on the West Aspect of Sardinia and the seashores aren’t as spectacular as Costa Smeralda seashores. Alternatively, you’ve gotten La Pelosa a lot nearer to you!
The place to remain in Alghero
In Alghero, we stayed on the Lodge Angedras, nonetheless, having visited Alghero now and explored different components of the town, I’d advocate staying someplace between the town centre and the seashores. That manner, you possibly can have the very best of each worlds. These properties could be a significantly better choice, for my part: Casa Giglio, MaBi or “Right here” Mini Loft.
Excursions to take from Alghero
There are public buses that go to Porto Torres from Alghero, for instance (bus 714) and from there, you possibly can hop on one other bus to Stintino for the well-known La Pelosa seashore.
Alternatively, you too can e-book excursions that may carry you to different locations in Sardinia like these ones:
Snorkelling and Capo Caccia Cliffs tour
Wine and olive tasting at an area farm
Residence-cooking class with a 4-course meal
Santa Teresa Gallura
Santa Teresa Gallura is a city situated proper on the fringe of Costa Smeralda, Sardinia’s most well-known coast. It’s a really good and likewise very small city. But, there are a number of good eating places and plenty of totally different B&Bs and Guesthouses, however extra importantly, there’s a gorgeous seashore situated in the midst of the town.
After visiting over 8 seashores in North Sardinia, this one (Spiaggia de Rena Blanca) might be my favorite one! I favored it much more than the well-known La Pelosa! You’ll be able to lease sunbeds there as nicely, nonetheless, they promote out fairly rapidly, so be sure that to reach there early in case you want one.
Total, I once more regretted that we didn’t keep in Santa Teresa Gallura to work remotely (as a substitute of Olbia, the place we stayed for one more 3 nights after the sightseeing a part of the journey), as a result of it was one of many nicest combos of a beautiful city and wonderful seashore.
When you like swimming loads and don’t care that a lot concerning the city, the place you’re staying, I’d in all probability advocate Santa Teresa Gallura over Alghero on this case.
The place to remain in Santa Teresa Gallura
Think about staying at these well-rated lodging:
Palau
The ultimate choice for a superb mixture of town-beach in North Sardinia is Palau. Palau is one other small city situated nearly on the fringe of Costa Smeralda. It’s not very spectacular from the architectural standpoint (I wouldn’t name it a really fairly city), nevertheless it had a beautiful port, a pleasing promenade, an excellent seashore proper within the metropolis centre and plenty of glorious eating places!
Our lodge for the night time was Lodge Piccada, however in case you’re concerned with one thing barely nicer, LH Porto Rafael Altura Resort is likely to be a greater choice!
From Palau, you possibly can take a ship to La Maddalena archipelago or purchase a personal tour like this one >
Why we didn’t like Olbia that a lot
Lots of people are questioning whether or not Olbia is a superb place to remain with no automobile and truthfully, I wouldn’t advocate it. In complete, we spent 5 nights in Olbia and it was a mildly disappointing expertise. To start with, Olbia will not be a fairly city. There’s a good little bit of the town centre, however total, it’s not spectacular and there are not any landmarks in any respect. Eating places in Olbia are hit or miss as nicely and there’s nearly nothing open for lunch – the city is totally useless in the midst of the day!
We stayed barely outdoors the historic centre and throughout us, there have been loads of deserted buildings and in case you keep on the opposite aspect of the town, there’s a massive industrial space. There are not any seashores inside strolling distance to Olbia, so it is advisable to take a bus to go to a seashore and buses normally function each hour (to Pittulongo) or a number of instances per day (to Porto Istana).
Nonetheless, there are buses that may carry you to different locations, additional away from Olbia as nicely.
That’s a disgrace as a result of we actually hoped to love Olbia, however the metropolis simply doesn’t have a lot persona, even in comparison with Palau or Santa Theresa Gallura!
Abstract of the very best place to remain in North Sardinia with no automobile
Alright, this was our expertise staying in North Sardinia and proposals on the place to remain in Sardinia with no automobile. To summarise, I’d advocate Alghero in case you like the mixture of beautiful city-good seashore and Santha Theresa Gallura in case you don’t thoughts the town a lot however wish to have a surprising seashore close by! Nonetheless, all of the opinions are, as at all times, my very own – possibly you’ll love Olbia, who is aware of!
You probably have any questions, be happy to DM me at @lizatripsget – I’d have the ability to assist!
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