Northern Sardinia Travel Guide: Best Beaches, Towns & Road Trip Tips

There’s something timeless about a Northern Sardinia road trip. Winding roads hug wild coastlines, ancient villages cling to cliffs, and hidden beaches shimmer under the sun. Sardinia’s north is where rugged nature and simple pleasures invite you to slow down and stay present.

We spent our time in Northern Sardinia exploring by car, using Santa Teresa Gallura as our base. Some days were carefully planned. Others were much more spontaneous – we’d see a beach or a little town on the map and simply decide to go.

In this guide, I’m sharing the places we visited, the beaches we loved, the towns that stood out and a few things I wish we’d known before we went. I’ll also share some practical ideas for planning your own Northern Sardinia road trip, including where to stay, how to get around and how I’d plan the route now.

If you’re coming mainly for the beaches, you won’t be disappointed. But what I enjoyed most was being able to combine beach days with road trips, little towns, boat trips and those moments when you stop somewhere simply because it looks interesting.

Updated August 2026

This guide is based on our own Northern Sardinia road trip, with practical information reviewed and updated in August 2026. Some prices, opening times, access rules and travel arrangements can change. I recommend checking the latest information before your trip.

Best Places to Visit in Northern Sardinia

Northern Sardinia has a lot more to offer than beautiful beaches. Depending on how much time you have, you can spend your days swimming in turquoise water, exploring old towns, taking a boat trip around the islands or simply driving along the coast and stopping whenever somewhere catches your eye.

These are the places we visited during our Northern Sardinia road trip and the ones I’d consider when planning a first trip to the area:

Santa Teresa Gallura

This is where we based ourselves, and I think it makes a really good starting point for exploring Northern Sardinia. It’s close to some beautiful beaches. It is also a convenient base for a day trip to the La Maddalena Archipelago.

La Maddalena Archipelago

If you have time for only one boat trip during your Northern Sardinia holiday, I’d seriously consider La Maddalena. The water, little islands and beaches were one of the highlights of our trip.

The main photo at the top of this post was actually taken during this trip. We discovered a tiny hidden beach that was just big enough for the two of us – and, for a while, it was completely ours. No crowds, no sun loungers, no noise. Just the two of us, the sea and the beautiful Sardinian coastline. If you’re looking for a little privacy and your own slice of paradise, this is exactly the kind of place you hope to find.

Costa Smeralda & Porto Cervo

This is the more glamorous side of Northern Sardinia, with beautiful coastal scenery, expensive-looking villas and the famous Porto Cervo. Even if luxury travel isn’t your thing, the coastline is worth seeing.

Costa Paradiso

We loved the more rugged feel of Costa Paradiso. It’s a good place to go when you want dramatic rocks, clear water and smaller coves rather than a traditional resort beach.

Alghero

Alghero feels quite different from the north-east of the island. Its historic centre, restaurants and Catalan influence give it a completely different atmosphere. It’s also a good base for visiting Neptune’s Grotto.

Castelsardo

Castelsardo is one of those places where I’d recommend simply wandering around rather than trying to rush through a list of attractions. The old town sits above the sea and the views are beautiful.

Bosa

Bosa is actually on Sardinia’s west coast, but we included it in our road trip because it adds something completely different to the journey. The colourful houses, river and relaxed atmosphere made it one of my favourite stops.

Where to Stay in Northern Sardinia: Our Experience in Santa Teresa Gallura

Santa Teresa Gallura

Staying in Santa Teresa Gallura turned out to be a lovely choice. This small seaside town is a calm base. Close to some of North Sardinia’s best beaches, boat trips, and secret coves. We loved being within walking distance of cafés, a sandy bay, and the boat trips to La Maddalena.

We booked an apartment at Residence I Mirti Bianchi. The space itself was clean, comfortable, and well-located, with the bonus of two bathrooms – a small luxury for a week-long stay.

However, we want to share a few details to help you plan ahead. This time, we went for the cheapest option we found through Google’s Stay search. We checked the reviews on Booking.com, which seemed fine – but looking back, it wasn’t our best decision.

Hidden fees

While the €200 deposit was clearly mentioned, there was no word about the mandatory €70 cleaning fee or the €10 charge for each towel. During our seven-night stay, there was no cleaning included at all. We were told on arrival that if we didn’t pay these extra fees, we wouldn’t receive the keys. Guests are also asked to clean the kitchen themselves before checkout – if not, they keep €50 from the deposit.

The staff explained that these extra charges were because we booked through a third-party site instead of directly with them. It’s a good reminder that what’s shown online may not always match what you’ll find when you arrive. It really helps to double-check the details or ask extra questions if anything feels unclear.

They also told us that extra charges for things like towels and final cleaning are quite common for apartments in Sardinia. We can’t say if that’s true everywhere, but it’s worth being prepared so you’re not surprised.

While the apartment itself was fine and well-located, we’ve decided not to share a direct booking link in this case. The unexpected extra fees added unnecessary stress to what should have been a relaxing trip. It also felt unfair. For this reason, we can’t fully recommend the place based on our overall experience. We hope this honest note helps you choose a stay that feels smooth and carefree from the start. In the end, the apartment did the job, and the location made it easy to explore North Sardinia. But now you know what we wish we’d known – and that’s why we put together our simple guide on choosing the perfect accommodation, so you can learn from our small mistakes and enjoy your stay feeling calm, informed, and ready to hit the beach.

Why we chose Santa Teresa Gallura as our base

Santa Teresa Gallura turned out to be a really convenient base for our Northern Sardinia road trip. From here, we could easily reach beaches, explore the coast and take a boat trip to La Maddalena. All without constantly packing up and changing accommodation.

If you’re planning a similar trip, I’d consider staying in one place for several nights rather than moving hotels every day. Northern Sardinia is beautiful, but there’s no need to turn the trip into a race.

Start Your Northern Sardinia Road Trip in Olbia

After you find your accommodation online, your Northern Sardinia road trip begins in Olbia. Olbia is a lively port city that’s more than just an arrival point. Here, we picked up our rental car right at the airport from Centauro Car Rental, which we can honestly recommend to everyone. Everything went smoothly – quick and easy at both pick-up and drop-off, allowing us to start our adventure stress-free. Having a car made a huge difference for us. It meant we didn’t have to plan every stop around public transport and could change our plans whenever something caught our eye. Some of our favourite moments on the trip came from places we hadn’t planned to visit at all.

What to See in Olbia

Olbia is a bustling port city often overlooked as just a gateway, but it’s worth a pause. Walk down Corso Umberto, where locals linger over coffee and pastries at sunrise. Stop by the simple, ancient Basilica di San Simplicio – built in the 11th century from granite stones that still hold echoes of Roman times.

Nearby, Pittulongu Beach is your first taste of Sardinia’s turquoise magic. Locals call it La Playa – a soft curve of sand where fishermen once dried their nets under the sun. Today, it’s where you might sit for an hour, toes in warm sand, watching the light dance on the water.

If you love mixing city breaks with seaside escapes, you might also enjoy our stories from Istanbul or planning a relaxing break in Antalya.

Our Northern Sardinia Road Trip Base: Santa Teresa Gallura

Next, your Northern Sardinia road trip winds up the coast to Santa Teresa Gallura – a small town where life still moves slowly, guided by sea breezes. We made this our base for good reason: Rena Bianca Beach. The sand here is almost pink in the early morning light. The clear, shallow water is perfect for long swims.

There’s more here than the beach, though. Climb the Longonsardo Tower, built by the Spanish in the 16th century to guard this corner of Sardinia from pirates. On clear days, you can see Corsica’s mountains rising beyond the water – a reminder of how close cultures intertwine across the sea.

For us, Santa Teresa Gallura was the kind of place that made it easy to slow down. We could spend the morning at the beach, wander around town later and still have time to sit down for a long dinner without feeling like we were rushing from one attraction to another.

Evenings here are simple pleasures. First, a gelato. Then, a slow stroll through the main square. You might hear the soft notes of a guitar drifting from a nearby café. When you’re ready to sit down, head to our favorite spot – Enoteca La Bottega. It’s the perfect place to taste Sardinian wine and small plates of local delicacies. It’s the kind of place where you can pause, sip slowly, and reflect on the day’s wanderings while the last light gently fades.

La Maddalena – A Peaceful Day at Sea

No Northern Sardinia road trip is truly complete without a day on the water. From Santa Teresa Gallura, we joined a full-day boat tour to the La Maddalena Archipelago – a national park of crystal lagoons, pink-sand shores, and quiet islands.

We stopped to swim at Spargi and Santa Maria, with the boat docking right at the beaches. The sea was warm and clear – perfect for a slow float under the sun. Along the way, we passed the legendary Pink Beach of Budelli, and paused in the pastel village of La Maddalena for a gentle stroll and a seaside gelato.

One of the best moments of the day was finding a tiny hidden beach just big enough for the two of us. Sheltered by smooth rocks and turquoise shallows, it felt like our own private slice of Sardinia. The main photo at the top of this post was taken here, and it really captures how special that little beach felt. If you’re looking for some privacy during your Northern Sardinia trip, keep an eye out for the smaller, less crowded beaches you can reach by boat.

The tour was smooth and easy, with everything taken care of. In our case, we were asked to bring €5 in cash for the landing fee, so it’s worth having a little cash with you just in case. If you’re booking a boat tour, check with the tour operator beforehand to see whether any additional fees apply.

→ Book your La Maddalena boat tour here

Costa Smeralda & Porto Cervo: Sardinia’s Emerald Coast

On your Northern Sardinia road trip, steer south along the winding roads of the Costa Smeralda. This “Emerald Coast” is a place of contrasts – luxury yachts float in Porto Cervo’s marina, while hidden coves and beautiful beaches lie just minutes away.

Porto Cervo itself was dreamed up by the Aga Khan in the 1960s – a tiny harbour transformed into a playground for the world’s rich and famous. But don’t worry, you don’t need to own a yacht to enjoy it. Grab an espresso in the sun, wander around the marina and watch the world go by before heading back towards the coast.

For me, this is what makes the Costa Smeralda interesting. Yes, there is plenty of luxury, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the scenery. Sometimes it’s enough to walk around, take in the views and then find a beautiful beach nearby.

Spiaggia del Principe is the real jewel – its name means Prince’s Beach, after the Aga Khan’s favourite. The walk down is lined with wild herbs that scent the air. Wade into the shallows, where the sea turns every shade of blue.

Costa Paradiso: A Hidden Wild Coast

Next, your Northern Sardinia road trip curves back into raw nature at Costa Paradiso. This stretch of rugged coastline gets its name for good reason: hidden coves, pink granite cliffs, and clear water that feels almost unreal.

There’s no big resort here – just a handful of houses tucked into the rocks. Park and hike to Li Cossi Beach, where a small river meets the sea in a protected cove. If you’re lucky, you might spot wild goats picking their way along the cliffs.

Costa Paradiso felt very different from the busier parts of Northern Sardinia we visited. It was quieter, more rugged and much less polished – the kind of place where you come for the coastline rather than a long list of things to do.

For corners like this, you might also love our stories from Dubrovnik or Tallinn – cities where hidden lanes lead to unexpected treasures.

Alghero – A Taste of Catalonia in Sardinia

Once ruled by the Spanish Crown of Aragon, this vibrant town still retains a Catalan heart – street signs are in both Italian and Catalan, and locals speak an ancient dialect called Alguerès.

Alghero felt completely different from the quieter coastal places we’d visited earlier on our Northern Sardinia road trip. Walk the old walls at sunset as the sky turns gold over the sea. Duck into cobbled lanes where lanterns flicker and small seafood trattorias spill out onto tiny squares. If you have time, you can book a boat trip to Neptune’s Grotto – a sea cave filled with stalactites and stories. We decided to visit the grotto ourselves, and getting there turned out to be an experience in itself – especially if, like me, you’re not completely comfortable with heights.

A Stop at Neptune’s Grotto

While you’re near Alghero, don’t miss a visit to Neptune’s Grotto. This famous sea cave is carved into dramatic cliffs that drop straight into the turquoise water.

To reach it, you’ll walk down (and later back up) the Escala del Cabirol. It’s a steep staircase with over 600 steps cut into the cliffside.

If you have a fear of heights, take a moment to think it through before you go. The views are stunning, but the stairs cling to the cliff. They can feel quite exposed, especially on the way down.

I have to admit, this was one of those moments when the internal journey part of travelling became very real for me. I wasn’t completely comfortable with the height, but I decided to keep going slowly and at my own pace.

Pause when you need to. Breathe in the sea air. Look at the water below. Give yourself a moment before taking the next step.

Inside, the grotto itself is worth it. You’ll find vast limestone chambers, hidden pools and ancient stalactites that sparkle when the light hits just right.

After making it down those stairs, stepping inside the cave felt even more rewarding.

For me, this became one of those small travel experiences that stays with you. You don’t necessarily come home from a trip as a completely different person. Sometimes, you simply return knowing you pushed yourself a little further than you thought you could.

And that’s one of the reasons I love travelling. The external journey sometimes gives you a chance to work through something internal, too.

Castelsardo – Where Time Slows

Driving toward Castelsardo, the scenery begins to shift. Just before reaching the town, one of Northern Sardinia’s most distinctive landmarks appears by the roadside – the Elephant Rock (Roccia dell’Elefante).

Shaped unmistakably like an elephant, this weathered volcanic rock has stood here for centuries. Inside, small prehistoric tombs called domus de janas remind us that even this natural wonder has its own story to tell.

Soon after, the town of Castelsardo rises before you. Its stone houses are stacked against the cliff, crowned by a 12th-century fortress. Built by the Doria family of Genoa, the Castello dei Doria now shelters a museum of Mediterranean weaving traditions.

Wander the quiet lanes, and you’ll see women still crafting baskets in doorways – a tradition that has been passed down through generations. From the castle walls, the view stretches across the Gulf of Asinara, a wide, gentle arc of sea and sky.

Castelsardo felt like the kind of place where there was no need to rush. We wandered through the old streets, took in the views and simply enjoyed being there. It’s a place that blends deep history with simple pleasures – and perhaps, a perfect spot for a slow lunch with a sea breeze.

Bosa: Sardinia’s Quiet River Town

Bosa is on Sardinia’s west coast rather than the far north, but we included it in our road trip because we wanted to see a different side of the island. It turned out to be one of our favourite stops.

Tucked along the only navigable river in Sardinia – the Temo – Bosa is a peaceful gem of the island’s west coast. Its pastel houses spill down the hillside from Castello Malaspina. The 12th-century fortress offers sweeping views over terracotta roofs and quiet waters.

Wander the narrow streets of the Sa Costa district, where every corner holds a story. Along the riverfront, Sas Conzas, the old tanneries, now house small museums and cafés – a glimpse into Bosa’s industrious past.

Don’t miss a taste of Malvasia di Bosa, the town’s famed sweet wine, often sipped slowly with local biscuits. And if you’re here in August, the Festa di Santa Maria del Mare floats down the Temo in a luminous boat procession.

Just outside town, we found another reason to slow down: the beaches. Places like Cala Cumpoltitu offer a peaceful break by the sea, especially if you’ve already spent the day wandering Bosa’s streets.

A Moment Above the Sea: Monte Altura Fortress

Just outside Palau, Fortezza di Monte Altura rises quietly from the granite hills. Built in the late 1800s to protect the coast and nearby La Maddalena, this military fortress was once called the “most beautiful in Europe.” Its thick stone walls blend into the wild Gallura landscape, almost as if they’ve always belonged there.

Today, guided tours take you through the old halls – officers’ quarters, old armories, and silent corridors once alive with military life. From the top, sweeping views open over the sea to Corsica and the Maddalena islands.

We found this to be a quieter stop than some of the better-known places along the coast. It’s a peaceful place to wander, take in the views and imagine what life must have been like here when the fortress was still in use.

Northern Sardinia Road Trip: Our Suggested 7-Day Itinerary

If I were planning this trip again, I’d keep the route fairly relaxed. We found that Northern Sardinia is much more enjoyable when you leave some room for long lunches, unexpected beaches and those little stops that aren’t on your original plan.

Day 1: Olbia → Santa Teresa Gallura

Arrive, pick up your car and make your way north. Settle into Santa Teresa and explore the town.

Day 2: Santa Teresa Gallura

Rena Bianca Beach, Longonsardo Tower and a relaxed evening in town.

Day 3: La Maddalena Archipelago

Spend the day on a boat exploring the islands and beaches.

Day 4: Costa Smeralda & Porto Cervo

Drive south, explore Porto Cervo and stop at some of the beaches along the coast.

Day 5: Costa Paradiso

Explore Li Cossi Beach and the rugged coastline.

Day 6: Castelsardo → Alghero

Visit Elephant Rock and Castelsardo before continuing towards Alghero.

Day 7: Alghero & Neptune’s Grotto

Explore Alghero and visit Neptune’s Grotto if you’re comfortable with the climb. If you’re nervous about heights, give yourself plenty of time for the stairs rather than treating this as something to rush through.

Have more time? Add Bosa rather than squeezing it into an already busy day. We think it’s worth giving yourself enough time to enjoy it properly.

Northern Sardinia Road Trip Tips

• When to go: May, June, September, or the first half of October can be great times to visit, with warm days, clear water and generally quieter beaches than in the peak summer months.
• Getting around: A rental car is almost essential if you want to explore freely. The joy of a road trip is being able to stop whenever you see somewhere that catches your eye.
• Where to stay: We loved making Santa Teresa Gallura our base, with day trips to Alghero, La Maddalena and the Costa Smeralda.
• Plan your days: Don’t try to see everything at once. Distances can take longer than they look on a map, and you’ll enjoy Northern Sardinia much more if you leave some room for spontaneous stops.
• Mindful travel: Slow down. Sardinia rewards those who don’t rush – swim a little longer, eat local, linger over dinner and stay for sunset.

Northern Sardinia: Frequently Asked Questions

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