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Sardinia is one of those places where distances on a map can be deceptive. The island is large, its fastest roads are mostly inland, and some of its most spectacular coastlines are separated by mountains, cliffs and roads that twist through the landscape.
For that reason, trying to visit Cagliari, the Gulf of Orosei, Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, Stintino, Alghero, Bosa and Costa Verde in ten days can either become an exhausting zig-zag or an extraordinary road trip.
The difference is the route.
After analysing the geography, the most efficient itinerary is a counter-clockwise circuit starting and finishing in Cagliari:
Cagliari → Villasimius → Costa Rei → Baunei → Cala Gonone → Orgosolo → San Teodoro → Costa Smeralda → Palau → La Maddalena → Santa Teresa di Gallura → Castelsardo → Stintino → Asinara → Alghero → Bosa → Costa Verde → Barumini → Cagliari.
This route manages to include virtually every destination on your list while using only four accommodation bases.
The four bases
Nights 1–2: Cagliari
Nights 3–4: Cala Gonone
Nights 5–6: Palau
Nights 7–9: Alghero
Day 10 returns to Cagliari.
Expect roughly 1,500–1,650 km of driving over the ten days, plus the ferries and boat excursions.
This is deliberately an active itinerary. Several days are long. But it avoids changing accommodation every night and, more importantly, avoids repeatedly crossing Sardinia from one coast to another.
Why This Route Makes Geographical Sense
The hardest part of planning Sardinia is the eastern coast.
Between Baunei and Cala Gonone, towering limestone mountains plunge directly into the Gulf of Orosei. There is no convenient coastal road connecting beaches such as Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu and Cala Luna. They are reached principally by hiking or from the sea.
That means the logical sequence is to travel north along eastern Sardinia, explore the Baunei coast and Gulf of Orosei, then continue into north-eastern Sardinia.
From there, the route naturally follows the island clockwise through Gallura, the north coast, Stintino and Alghero.
Finally, the spectacular Alghero–Bosa coastal road becomes the beginning of your journey south towards Costa Verde and Cagliari. Sardinia’s official tourism portal specifically identifies the SP49 between Alghero and Bosa as one of the island’s most scenic roads.
The only deliberately difficult day is Day 10, because Costa Verde is remote. Removing it would make the itinerary considerably easier, but since your priority is seeing as much Sardinia as possible, I would keep it.
DAY 1 – Cagliari: Historic Sardinia, Panoramas and the Sea
Route: Cagliari historic centre → Castello → Bastione Saint Remy → Marina → Molentargius → Poetto
Driving: approximately 30–50 km
Driving time: about 1 hour
Sleep: Cagliari
Start without attempting a major transfer immediately after arriving in Sardinia.
Spend the morning in Cagliari’s historic centre.
Begin in the elevated Castello district, wandering between medieval streets, city gates and viewpoints before reaching Cagliari Cathedral.
Continue towards Bastione di Saint Remy, one of the architectural symbols of the city. Its monumental staircase leads towards the Umberto I terrace and wide views across Cagliari.
Allow approximately 3 hours for the historic centre.
Lunch – Marina district
Walk downhill into the Marina district, where narrow streets between Via Roma and Castello are packed with places serving seafood, pasta and traditional Sardinian dishes.
A current option for seafood is Mari Mannu.
Try dishes such as:
- fregola with seafood
- malloreddus
- bottarga
- culurgiones
- grilled local fish
Afternoon – Molentargius and Poetto
Drive towards the coast.
Stop around the Molentargius lagoon, famous for its flamingos, before continuing to Poetto Beach.
If you still have energy, walk towards Sella del Diavolo for one of the best panoramas overlooking Poetto, the turquoise coastline and Cagliari.
Allow 2–3 hours for this area and stay for sunset.
This first day is intentionally more manageable because the pace increases dramatically from tomorrow.
DAY 2 – Villasimius and Costa Rei: Southern Sardinia’s Best Beaches
Route: Cagliari → Mari Pintau → Villasimius → Porto Giunco → Capo Carbonara → Cala Sinzias → Costa Rei → Scoglio di Peppino → Cagliari
Distance: approximately 145–160 km
Driving: about 3 hours
Sleep: Cagliari
Leave around 07:30.
Take the coastal road towards Villasimius rather than simply choosing the fastest inland route.
The drive itself is part of the experience.
Stop 1 – Mari Pintau viewpoint
Allow 20–30 minutes.
The coast east of Cagliari begins revealing the colours that make southern Sardinia famous.
Continue towards Villasimius.
Stop 2 – Porto Giunco
Allow 1½–2 hours.
This is one of the essential beaches of southern Sardinia: white sand, shallow turquoise water and a lagoon directly behind the beach.
Walk towards the viewpoint near the old tower rather than remaining only at sea level.
From above, you can see the lagoon, Porto Giunco and the Mediterranean coastline simultaneously.
Stop 3 – Capo Carbonara
Allow 30–45 minutes.
The Capo Carbonara marine area protects roughly 86 square kilometres around Villasimius and includes beaches, granite formations, islands and rich underwater habitats.
This is primarily a photography and panorama stop.
Lunch – Villasimius
Allow around 1 hour.
Eat around the town centre or marina before continuing north.
Stop 4 – Cala Sinzias
Allow 45–60 minutes.
Instead of spending the entire afternoon on one beach, use this as a shorter swimming stop before Costa Rei.
Stop 5 – Costa Rei and Scoglio di Peppino
Allow 1½–2 hours.
Costa Rei provides an enormous contrast to the compact coves around Villasimius: the coastline contains roughly ten kilometres of almost continuous sandy beaches.
Finish around Scoglio di Peppino, a distinctive granite formation around 80 metres long that divides two sections of coast.
Return to Cagliari using the faster inland route.
DAY 3 – Cagliari → Baunei → Cala Goloritzé → Cala Gonone
Route: Cagliari → Baunei → Golgo Plateau → Cala Goloritzé → Baunei → Cala Gonone
Distance: approximately 240–260 km
Driving: approximately 4–4½ hours
Sleep: Cala Gonone
This is your first genuinely demanding day.
Leave around 06:00.
Drive northeast towards Baunei and the extraordinary limestone landscape of Ogliastra.
Baunei and Golgo Plateau
Aim to reach Baunei around 08:30.
Continue towards the Golgo plateau and the trailhead for Cala Goloritzé.
Nearby is Su Sterru, an extraordinary karst chasm in the Baunei mountains. The Golgo area also provides the starting point for the Cala Goloritzé trail.
You won’t have enough time for a long visit to everything here, so concentrate on the hike.
Cala Goloritzé – approximately 5–6 hours
This is one place where I would not substitute the boat view for actually visiting the beach.
For 2026, access is controlled. A maximum of 250 people can be present at one time, the ticket currently costs €7, and bookings open from the third day before your selected date. The trail is approximately 3.6 km each way with around 500 metres of elevation difference.
Most importantly:
boats cannot land at Cala Goloritzé.
That makes the hike worthwhile because tomorrow’s boat trip can show you the cove from the sea, but it cannot replicate arriving on foot.
Allow approximately:
09:00–10:30: hike down
10:30–13:00: Cala Goloritzé
13:00–15:00: hike back
Bring plenty of water and lunch.
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Photography
The classic photographs are from the higher sections of the trail where the limestone pinnacle Aguglia di Goloritzé and turquoise cove gradually appear below you.
Optional: Pedra Longa
If you’re still on schedule, make a 20–30 minute photographic detour towards the viewpoint above Pedra Longa.
Then drive north towards Cala Gonone.
Expect to arrive around 18:00–19:00.
Walk along the waterfront, eat dinner and do absolutely nothing ambitious that evening.
You earned it.
DAY 4 – Cala Gonone and the Gulf of Orosei by Boat
Route: Cala Gonone → Bue Marino → Cala Luna → Cala Sisine/Biriola → Cala Mariolu → Piscine di Venere → Cala Goloritzé → Cala Gonone
Driving: almost none
Boat: approximately 7–8 hours
Sleep: Cala Gonone
Today replaces the car with a boat.
And it will probably be one of the most memorable days of the trip.
The Gulf of Orosei coastline is dominated by enormous limestone cliffs concealing caves and beaches that are difficult or impossible to reach conveniently by road.
Leave Cala Gonone around 08:30–09:00
Choose a full-day excursion rather than a short beach transfer.
A typical 2026 full Gulf excursion from Cala Gonone costs roughly €80 per adult, depending on vessel and itinerary. Routes typically include several beach stops and photographic stops around Cala Goloritzé.
Grotta del Bue Marino
If your selected excursion includes it, allow approximately 1 hour.
This cave system was historically associated with Mediterranean monk seals.
Cala Luna
Allow 1–1½ hours.
Cala Luna lies beneath huge limestone walls and is famous for the enormous natural caves immediately behind the beach. It can also be reached by difficult hiking trails, but the boat is far more efficient for this itinerary.
Cala Sisine or Cala Biriola
Tours differ depending on sea conditions and landing restrictions.
Either makes an excellent second stop.
Cala Mariolu
Allow 1½–2 hours if your itinerary permits.
Cala Mariolu is surrounded by cliffs rising to around 500 metres and is considerably easier to reach from the sea than via its demanding hiking route.
This is the beach where I would allocate the longest swimming stop.
Piscine di Venere
Stop offshore for swimming if your boat offers it.
The water here can appear almost artificially blue.
Cala Goloritzé from the sea
You visited the beach yesterday.
Today you get the opposite perspective, looking towards the limestone pinnacle from offshore.
Return to Cala Gonone around 17:00–18:00.
For dinner, one current option is Sa Cuchina piccola osteria enoteca.
DAY 5 – Cala Gonone → Orgosolo → San Teodoro → Costa Smeralda → Palau
Route: Cala Gonone → Orgosolo → Cala Brandinchi → La Cinta → La Prisgiona → Porto Cervo → Palau
Distance: approximately 250–275 km
Driving: approximately 4½–5 hours
Sleep: Palau
Another big day.
Leave by 07:00.
Stop 1 – Orgosolo
Drive into the mountainous interior of Barbagia.
Allow 1½ hours.
Orgosolo is Sardinia’s best-known mural village. Hundreds of paintings cover buildings throughout the town, discussing Sardinian identity, daily life, tradition, social issues and politics.
Park and simply walk through the centre.
You do not need a museum ticket: the town itself is the gallery.
Photography
Follow Corso Repubblica and explore the small side streets rather than photographing only the first murals beside the parking areas.
Then continue north towards San Teodoro.
Stop 2 – Cala Brandinchi
Allow 1–1½ hours.
Cala Brandinchi is often called “Little Tahiti” because of its extremely pale sand and shallow turquoise water, facing towards Tavolara.
IMPORTANT 2026 RULE
Between June 1 and September 30, 2026, Cala Brandinchi requires an online reservation.
Reservations open at 18:00 two days before the visit. The 2026 limit for Cala Brandinchi is 1,447 visitors per day and the environmental contribution for ordinary visitors is €2 per person, excluding parking.
Do not arrive assuming you can simply pay at the entrance.
Stop 3 – La Cinta
Allow 45–60 minutes.
La Cinta is San Teodoro’s huge five-kilometre arc of white sand, positioned between the sea and a lagoon inhabited by birds including flamingos.
You don’t need another two-hour beach session.
Walk part of it, take photographs and continue north.
La Prisgiona – Sardinia before the resorts
Allow 60–75 minutes.
Near Arzachena, stop at Nuraghe La Prisgiona.
This gives the itinerary an important dose of Sardinian archaeology before entering Costa Smeralda.
The complex dates primarily from roughly the 14th–8th centuries BC and consists of a fortress, settlement and associated structures. It is one of the most significant Nuragic sites in north-eastern Sardinia.
Porto Cervo and Costa Smeralda
Allow 60–90 minutes.
Continue towards Porto Cervo.
You are not coming here for archaeology or untouched Sardinia.
Porto Cervo represents the opposite: yachts, boutiques, landscaped architecture and the centre of the Costa Smeralda resort area, developed beginning in the 1960s.
Walk around the marina and Piazzetta before continuing towards Palau.
Dinner in Palau
A current seafood option is Ristorante Da Robertino – Seafood Restaurant Palau.
Sleep: Palau.
DAY 6 – La Maddalena and Caprera
Route: Palau → ferry → La Maddalena → island scenic road → Caprera → La Maddalena → ferry → Palau
Driving: approximately 60–80 km on the islands
Ferry: about 15–20 minutes each way
Sleep: Palau
Take an early ferry with your car.
The official ferry schedule currently provides frequent services throughout the day between Palau and La Maddalena, with crossings of approximately 15–20 minutes.
Taking your car is important because today’s goal is not simply La Maddalena town.
You want to explore both La Maddalena and Caprera.
La Maddalena town – 60 minutes
Walk around the harbour and historic streets while they are relatively quiet.
Then start the island circuit.
La Maddalena’s perimeter road runs for roughly 45 kilometres, passing granite landscapes, secluded beaches and coastal viewpoints.
Bassa Trinità – 45 minutes
Excellent morning beach stop.
Cala Spalmatore – 45 minutes
Another short swimming and photography stop.
Cala Francese – 30 minutes
A less typical stop because the area combines a beautiful cove with remnants of historic granite quarrying.
Caprera
Cross the bridge connecting La Maddalena to Caprera.
The bridge is approximately 600 metres long, so no second ferry is necessary.
Allow around 3–4 hours.
Visit:
Compendio Garibaldino – Giuseppe Garibaldi lived on Caprera for 26 years.
Cala Garibaldi – short beach stop.
Spiaggia del Relitto – one of the most accessible scenic beaches on Caprera.
If you want even more sea rather than history, spend the extra time exploring Caprera’s coast.
Boat-tour alternative
A boat tour from Palau is excellent for seeing Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria and Razzoli. The national park contains more than 60 islands and islets.
However, because your requested itinerary specifically includes Caprera, I would choose the car ferry on this trip.
You can properly explore La Maddalena and Caprera rather than spending the entire day aboard a boat.
Return to Palau in the evening.
DAY 7 – Palau → Santa Teresa → Castelsardo → La Pelosa → Alghero
Route: Palau → Santa Teresa di Gallura → Capo Testa → Roccia dell’Elefante → Castelsardo → Stintino → La Pelosa → Alghero
Distance: approximately 220–240 km
Driving: around 4–4½ hours
Sleep: Alghero
Leave around 07:30.
Santa Teresa di Gallura and Capo Testa
Allow approximately 2 hours.
Start around Capo Testa, where enormous granite formations meet the sea.
Walk towards one of the panoramic points looking across the Strait of Bonifacio towards Corsica.
If time allows, explore part of Valle della Luna, whose sculpted granite formations create one of northern Sardinia’s strangest landscapes.
Continue briefly through Santa Teresa’s centre and harbour before heading west.
Roccia dell’Elefante
Allow 15–20 minutes.
This bizarre naturally eroded rock formation resembles an elephant and makes an easy roadside photo stop shortly before Castelsardo.
Castelsardo
Allow 1½–2 hours, including lunch.
Castelsardo is built dramatically across a promontory above the Gulf of Asinara.
Walk uphill through the medieval lanes towards the fortress.
The settlement grew around the Doria castle during the Middle Ages, and its compact fortified old town remains one of the most distinctive historic centres in northern Sardinia.
Have a relatively quick lunch and continue towards Stintino.
La Pelosa
Aim for 16:00–18:00.
Its shallow water, white sand and view towards Torre della Pelosa make this one of Sardinia’s most recognizable beaches.
IMPORTANT 2026 ACCESS RULE
From May 15 through October 15, 2026, access requires a reservation and QR code.
There are 1,500 places per day. Five hundred can be reserved in advance, while another 1,000 become available two days before the visit at 09:00.
The 2026 access fee is €3.50 per person for visitors aged 12 and above.
Book this as soon as your itinerary is fixed.
After sunset, drive approximately an hour to Alghero.
DAY 8 – Asinara National Park
Route: Alghero → Stintino → Asinara → Stintino → Alghero
Mainland driving: approximately 110 km
Driving time: approximately 2 hours total
Excursion: 7–8 hours
Sleep: Alghero
Leave Alghero around 07:30 and return to Stintino.
Today is dedicated to Asinara National Park.
Rather than attempting to explore independently, choose a full-day guided 4×4 or minivan excursion.
The park’s main internal road stretches approximately 25 kilometres between Fornelli and Cala d’Oliva, while numerous side tracks and protected areas branch away from it.
Typical stops include:
Fornelli – former prison complex
Cala Reale – historic settlement and visitor facilities
Tumbarino – wildlife area
Cala d’Oliva – former prison village
Cala Sabina – swimming stop
white donkeys and mouflon habitats
For 2026, guided excursions from Stintino are typically around €75–85 per adult, depending on season and vehicle. The municipal landing tax is generally €5 from June through September.
The park itself recommends spring and autumn for hiking and cycling and warns about extreme summer sunshine, little shade and limited water.
For this itinerary, a guided vehicle excursion is therefore much more efficient.
Return to Alghero for dinner.
DAY 9 – Alghero → Capo Caccia → Neptune’s Cave → Porto Conte
Route: Alghero → Capo Caccia → Grotta di Nettuno → Porto Conte → beach stop → Alghero
Distance: approximately 60–75 km
Driving: approximately 1½ hours
Sleep: Alghero
Today has considerably less driving.
Morning – Alghero old town
Allow 2½–3 hours.
Walk the harbour, medieval bastions, towers and compact lanes of the historic centre.
Alghero’s centuries of Catalan influence are still evident in the city, including its food traditions.
For dinner, one current Sardinian option inside the old town is Trattoria Lo Romanì.
But first, head towards Capo Caccia.
Capo Caccia
Allow 30–45 minutes for viewpoints.
Stop around the viewpoints overlooking Isola Foradada before continuing towards the cliffs.
Capo Caccia forms part of the protected Capo Caccia–Isola Piana marine area, a dramatic limestone landscape containing numerous caves above and below sea level.
Grotta di Nettuno
Allow approximately 2½ hours including stairs.
Neptune’s Cave extends through spectacular limestone formations and contains an underground saltwater lake.
If entering from land, you reach it using Escala del Cabirol: 654 steps carved into the cliff.
For 2026, advance booking is mandatory for land access. The current full entrance price is €18, and summer opening is listed until 19:00. Boat access operates approximately April–November, depending on sea conditions.
Between June and October, visitors arriving by car must also follow the designated parking/shuttle arrangements rather than parking along the road.
Afternoon beach
Finish around Le Bombarde, Lazzaretto or Porto Conte.
Stay for approximately 1–1½ hours.
Then return to Alghero for sunset along the bastions.
DAY 10 – Alghero → Bosa → Costa Verde → Su Nuraxi → Cagliari
Route: Alghero → Torre Argentina → Bosa → Costa Verde/Piscinas → Ingurtosu → Barumini → Cagliari
Distance: approximately 310–340 km
Driving: approximately 5¾–6½ hours
Finish: Cagliari
This is the most demanding driving day.
But it completes the island beautifully.
Leave no later than 07:00.
Alghero to Bosa – one of Sardinia’s great drives
Follow SP49 south.
Rather than choosing the fastest inland route, stay beside the coast.
Make a short 15-minute photo stop at Torre Argentina.
The road between Alghero and Bosa is recognized for its isolated coves, cliffs and panoramic coastal landscape.
Bosa
Allow 1½ hours.
Bosa is one of Sardinia’s most photogenic towns.
Colourful houses climb the hillside above the River Temo, topped by Castello di Serravalle/Malaspina.
Walk beside the river, cross the old bridge and climb partway towards the castle for the best overview.
Do not spend half a day here because Costa Verde is still far away.
Grab an early lunch or takeaway food before leaving.
Costa Verde and Piscinas
Allow 1½–2 hours.
Drive south through increasingly empty landscapes towards Piscinas.
This is a completely different Sardinia from Costa Smeralda.
Instead of yachts and manicured resorts, you find enormous dunes, mining ruins, empty beaches and very little development.
Piscinas contains wind-shaped dunes that reach approximately 60 metres high, stretching for kilometres through the wilderness before reaching the sea.
This is one of the best places in Sardinia for wide landscape photography.
Do not expect perfect swimming conditions every day. The western coast is exposed to the mistral and can have powerful waves.
Ingurtosu
Allow 20–30 minutes.
On your way back inland, pass through the abandoned mining landscapes around Ingurtosu.
Old mining buildings and industrial ruins survive throughout the valley and add something completely different to an otherwise beach-heavy itinerary.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Allow 1–1½ hours.
If daylight and opening hours allow, make the final major stop at Su Nuraxi.
This is the finest surviving example of Sardinia’s unique Nuragic defensive architecture and has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1997.
The complex developed around a massive central stone tower constructed during the Bronze Age, later surrounded by additional towers, fortifications and a village.
It is the perfect final cultural stop because by now you have seen modern Sardinia, medieval Sardinia, coastal Sardinia and wild Sardinia.
Barumini shows you a civilisation that existed here thousands of years earlier.
Drive the final hour towards Cagliari.
You have now effectively circled Sardinia.
The Complete Route Map
Full road-trip order:
Cagliari → Villasimius → Costa Rei → Baunei → Cala Goloritzé → Cala Gonone → Golfo di Orosei → Orgosolo → San Teodoro → Cala Brandinchi → Porto Cervo → Arzachena → Palau → La Maddalena → Caprera → Santa Teresa → Castelsardo → Stintino → La Pelosa → Asinara → Alghero → Capo Caccia → Bosa → Piscinas/Costa Verde → Barumini → Cagliari.
10-Day Sardinia Road Trip at a Glance
| Day | Route | Approx. km | Driving | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cagliari → Molentargius → Poetto → Cagliari | 30–50 | ~1h | Cagliari |
| 2 | Cagliari → Villasimius → Costa Rei → Cagliari | 145–160 | ~3h | Cagliari |
| 3 | Cagliari → Baunei → Cala Goloritzé → Cala Gonone | 240–260 | ~4–4½h | Cala Gonone |
| 4 | Gulf of Orosei boat day | <10 | ~20m | Cala Gonone |
| 5 | Cala Gonone → Orgosolo → San Teodoro → Arzachena → Porto Cervo → Palau | 250–275 | ~4½–5h | Palau |
| 6 | Palau → La Maddalena → Caprera → Palau | 60–80 | ~2h + ferry | Palau |
| 7 | Palau → Santa Teresa → Castelsardo → Stintino → Alghero | 220–240 | ~4–4½h | Alghero |
| 8 | Alghero → Stintino → Asinara → Alghero | ~110 | ~2h | Alghero |
| 9 | Alghero → Capo Caccia → Porto Conte → Alghero | 60–75 | ~1½h | Alghero |
| 10 | Alghero → Bosa → Costa Verde → Barumini → Cagliari | 310–340 | ~6h | Cagliari/end |
Total: approximately 1,500–1,650 km.
Every Major Beach and Natural Attraction Included
South and southeast
Porto Giunco
Capo Carbonara
Cala Sinzias
Costa Rei
Scoglio di Peppino
Baunei and Gulf of Orosei
Cala Goloritzé
Cala Luna
Cala Sisine
Cala Biriola, depending on boat itinerary
Cala Mariolu
Piscine di Venere
Grotta del Bue Marino
Golgo Plateau
Su Sterru
Pedra Longa viewpoint
Northeast
Cala Brandinchi
La Cinta
Costa Smeralda
La Maddalena
Bassa Trinità
Cala Spalmatore
Cala Francese
Caprera
Cala Garibaldi
Spiaggia del Relitto
Northern Sardinia
Capo Testa
Valle della Luna
La Pelosa
Asinara National Park
Cala Sabina
Northwest and west
Capo Caccia
Grotta di Nettuno
Porto Conte
Le Bombarde/Lazzaretto
Torre Argentina
Alghero–Bosa scenic coast
Piscinas dunes
Costa Verde
Ingurtosu mining landscape
Historical, Cultural and Town Stops
Cagliari Castello district
Bastione Saint Remy
Orgosolo murals
Nuraghe La Prisgiona
Porto Cervo
La Maddalena town
Garibaldi sites on Caprera
Santa Teresa di Gallura
Castelsardo old town and castle
Alghero old town and bastions
Bosa and Castello Malaspina
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Top 10 Experiences Not to Miss
1. Cala Goloritzé on foot – reaching the cove after the hike makes it completely different from simply seeing it from a boat.
2. Gulf of Orosei by boat – Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu and the limestone cliffs are the natural highlight of eastern Sardinia.
3. La Maddalena + Caprera – the combination of granite islands and intensely turquoise water is unlike mainland Sardinia.
4. La Pelosa – despite the crowds and booking system, the scenery around Torre della Pelosa is extraordinary.
5. Neptune’s Cave and Capo Caccia – the combination of vertical cliffs, the 654-step staircase and enormous cave system makes this much more than a standard cave visit.
6. Piscinas and Costa Verde – the wildest landscape in this itinerary and a welcome contrast to Sardinia’s famous resort coasts.
7. Porto Giunco and Villasimius – probably the strongest introduction to southern Sardinia’s beaches.
8. Capo Testa – enormous granite formations and views towards Corsica.
9. Bosa via the Alghero coastal road – one of the best combinations of scenic driving and historic towns on the island.
10. Su Nuraxi di Barumini – the stop that makes it clear Sardinia is far more than a beach destination.
Important Reservations to Make in Advance for 2026
Do not leave these until arriving in Sardinia.
Cala Goloritzé: booking opens three days ahead; €7; capacity 250 at one time.
Cala Brandinchi: reservation mandatory June 1–September 30; ordinary visitor €2; reservations open at 18:00 two days ahead.
La Pelosa: reservation mandatory May 15–October 15; €3.50; 1,500 places daily.
Neptune’s Cave by land: timed reservation required; 654 stairs; currently €18 adult.
Gulf of Orosei boat excursion: book several days ahead in summer.
Asinara full-day tour: book before arrival, especially in July and August.
Budget for Two People – 10 Days
These are realistic planning figures rather than fixed quotations.
Accommodation – 9 nights
With the four-base strategy:
May/June/September: approximately €1,100–€1,650
July/August: roughly €1,700–€2,700+
Cala Gonone, Palau and Alghero are particularly sensitive to summer demand.
Rental car – 10 days
Allow approximately:
€450–€750 in shoulder season with sensible insurance coverage.
€700–€1,100+ in peak summer.
A small car is preferable. You do not need an SUV, and a compact vehicle is easier for narrow roads and parking.
Fuel
This itinerary should total roughly 1,550–1,650 km.
In early September 2026, the Italian government’s regional data showed Sardinia averaging around €2.07/L for self-service petrol and €2.18/L for diesel.
For a car consuming around 6.5–7 L/100 km, budget approximately:
€210–€240
Boat trips and ferries
Gulf of Orosei full-day excursion for two: €160–€220
Asinara excursion for two: €150–€190
Palau–La Maddalena return with car + two adults: approximately €50–€70, depending on vehicle, season and landing charges.
The Palau–La Maddalena route has frequent daytime sailings; published ferry fares start at only a few euros per passenger, with vehicle charges added separately.
Allow roughly €380–€480 total for the main sea excursions.
Attractions and access fees
Including Cala Goloritzé, La Pelosa, Cala Brandinchi, Neptune’s Cave, archaeological sites and museums:
approximately €100–€160 for two.
Parking
Beach parking is one of the underestimated Sardinia costs.
Budget approximately:
€100–€180
Food
For two people mixing bakery breakfasts, casual lunches and proper dinners:
€75–€110 per day
or approximately:
€750–€1,100 for the trip.
Realistic total for two people
May/June/September: approximately €3,100–€4,400
July/August: approximately €4,200–€6,000+
This excludes flights to Sardinia.
The Best Time for This Road Trip
For this particular itinerary, I would favour early to mid-June or September.
Early June
The landscape still retains more spring colour, daylight is long and temperatures are generally better for Cala Goloritzé and sightseeing.
The sea is cooler than September but usually perfectly usable.
September – arguably the sweet spot
The sea has been heating all summer, most seasonal boats are still operating and daylight remains sufficient for this itinerary.
It is also easier to tolerate the hiking and archaeological stops than during peak August heat.
The only disadvantage is that the most famous beaches remain popular.
July
Excellent sea conditions and very long days, but considerably busier.
Reservations become more important.
August
Possible, but it is the month I would least favour for an intensive road trip.
Traffic, accommodation prices, beach access, parking and crowds all increase.
Late September
Very attractive for this route. Note that Cala Brandinchi’s 2026 controlled-access period continues through September 30, while La Pelosa’s continues through October 15.
October
Excellent for Bosa, Cagliari, archaeology and road-tripping, but boat excursions become more dependent on weather and some beach infrastructure begins reducing operations.
Is Anything From Your List Missing?
Almost nothing.
The itinerary includes Cagliari, Villasimius, Costa Rei, Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu, Cala Gonone, the Gulf of Orosei, Baunei, Orgosolo, San Teodoro, Cala Brandinchi, La Cinta, Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo, Arzachena, La Maddalena, Caprera, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Castelsardo, Alghero, Stintino, La Pelosa, Asinara, Bosa and Costa Verde.
And I have added Porto Giunco, Capo Carbonara, Su Sterru, Cala Luna, Bue Marino, Cala Sisine/Biriola, Piscine di Venere, Nuraghe La Prisgiona, Capo Testa, Valle della Luna, Neptune’s Cave, Torre Argentina, Piscinas, Ingurtosu and Su Nuraxi di Barumini.
The main compromise is Day 10. Bosa + Costa Verde + Barumini + Cagliari is long, but it is geographically logical and achievable with an early start.
If you have an evening flight from Cagliari on Day 10, however, I would remove Barumini, not Costa Verde. If your flight leaves the following morning, keep the itinerary exactly as written.
For someone who wants to see as much Sardinia as realistically possible in ten days, rather than spending half the trip lying on the same beach, this route gives you a remarkably complete cross-section of the island: tropical-looking beaches, high limestone cliffs, wild dunes, caves, islands, mountain villages, medieval towns, Nuragic archaeology, harbours and some of Italy’s most extraordinary coastal roads.