Sardinia Coast Road Trips

Start with arrival and departure

The 7, 10 and 14 day routes distinguish overnight bases from excursions. Ten days allocate nine nights to Villasimius, Cala Gonone and Palau. Alghero appears in the fourteen-day version, with Bosa available as a day outing from there.

For a week, choose north or south. A late-arrival night replaces a planned town night. Returning to a different airport also needs time and potentially the final overnight stay, rather than being appended outside the itinerary.

South: city beach or a dedicated coastal base

The south-coast comparison separates Poetto beside Cagliari from Simius/Porto Giunco near Villasimius and Su Giudeu at Chia. Choose one coastal area for several nights. Chia and Villasimius lie on different sides of the south and are not convenient daily swaps.

Cagliari is a deliberate overnight choice after a late arrival or before an early flight. With an early arrival for a beach-focused trip, the first three nights can all be in Villasimius; town time then remains an excursion.

East: Cala Luna is different from Goloritzé

The Golfo di Orosei guide starts boat visits in Cala Gonone. Cala Luna, Grotta del Bue Marino and Goloritzé need different arrangements: confirmed landing and return travel, cave admission matched to transport, or reserved trail access from the Golgo plateau.

Goloritzé’s uphill return is part of the plan. A boat can show the bay but cannot replace the land approach with an ordinary landing. Four Cala Gonone nights in the longer route provide three full days, giving more choice than a tight two-night window.

Northeast: distinguish ferries, island roads and park access

Palau and La Maddalena are alternative bases. From Palau, allocate a full island day; if staying on the island, those nights replace Palau nights. Caprera is then reached by bridge rather than another ferry.

An ordinary ferry ticket is not an individual vessel permit. For a tour, the operator clarifies included park charges and landings. Self-operated boats and guided access to Cala Coticcio and Cala Brigantina have their own arrangements. Arriving early does not replace a required booking.

Give the west and the season realistic space

Alghero and Bosa form a three-night finish in the longer itinerary. Bosa is a selected excursion rather than another base. A flight from Olbia or Cagliari requires the return journey to be changed accordingly. The driving and ferry guide helps compare ports, cars, ZTL access and check-in deadlines.

I would first compare June and September for a coastal trip. May can suit towns and land outings without promising warm swimming water. Even outside August, parking, boat conditions and open facilities depend on the actual day. The sample route transparently uses EUR 2,870 for two adults and nine nights; all inputs are assumptions to replace with real quotations.