Hotels
The best hotels in Sardinia: eight places to stay, north to south
In the cove of Cala Goloritzé, a sharp limestone spire rises straight out of the water, and beneath it the sea is so clear that the boats seem to float in mid-air. To get there you walk an hour down a mountain path, or come by boat. Sardinia is a big island where the best places take a little effort, which is why your hotel needs to be in the right spot.
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Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and driving from the Costa Smeralda in the north-east to Cagliari in the south takes around four hours. It has some of the clearest water in Europe, with granite coves in the north, long sandy beaches in the south and limestone cliffs on the east coast. Inland are mountains, cork oaks, sheep and villages where people still speak Sardinian, a language of its own.
Because the island is so large, it pays to choose one or two bases rather than trying to see everything. There are three main airports: Olbia in the north-east, Alghero in the north-west and Cagliari in the south, all with flights from the UK in summer. A hire car is close to essential. We have chosen eight hotels around the island, from Costa Smeralda luxury to a farmstead in the mountains and family resorts in the south. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: where to stay in Sardinia
For luxury, glamorous coves and boat trips, stay on the Costa Smeralda in the north-east, flying into Olbia. Alghero in the west offers a real town with an old quarter and beaches. Families will find the best resorts and long sandy beaches in the south, around Pula and Chia, flying into Cagliari.
Our first choice: Hotel Villa Las Tronas. Check availability and prices
Best for romance: Hotel Cala di Volpe
Best for families: Lantana Resort
Best for a first visit: Hotel Villa Las Tronas
Best for value: Palazzo Doglio
Best for design: Petra Segreta Resort & Spa
How to choose a hotel in Sardinia
Match the airport to the area: Olbia for the Costa Smeralda, Alghero for the west coast and Cagliari for the south. It saves long drives.
A hire car is close to essential: buses are infrequent, and the finest coves are far from the towns. Book early in summer.
August is expensive: the Costa Smeralda and many beaches are crowded and very pricey in August, when Italians take their holidays. June and September are better.
Beaches are protected: some limit visitor numbers and require booking in summer. Check before you go.
Spend a night or two inland: the mountain villages and food of the interior show a different Sardinia from the beaches.
The pool
The pool at Cala di Volpe.
The Costa Smeralda and the north-east: granite and clear water
The Costa Smeralda is a stretch of north-east coast with granite rocks, small coves and some of the Mediterranean's most expensive hotels. Close by is the La Maddalena archipelago, a protected area reached by boat.
Cala di Volpe: a fishing village built for luxury
Hotel Cala di Volpe stands on a bay on the Costa Smeralda, built to resemble an old fishing village, with towers, arches and facades in warm colours. Its jetty, pool and beach sit beside the calm water of the bay.
It gets our vote as the romantic pick and one of the best-known hotels in the Mediterranean. It works best for couples who want classic luxury and service at the highest level. Rates are very high, especially in August. It is a place for a special occasion more than a long family holiday, and boat trips to La Maddalena leave from the hotel jetty.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cala di Volpe
From the air
Cervo Hotel from the air.
Cervo Hotel: in the heart of Porto Cervo
Cervo Hotel stands in the middle of Porto Cervo, the village built for the Costa Smeralda in the 1960s, with the marina, the piazza and the boutiques right outside. It has a seasonal pool, a gym, a terrace and a garden, and the Pevero golf course is close by.
It suits travellers who want restaurants, life and the yachts in the marina within walking distance, rather than staying tucked away in a cove. It works well for couples, friends and golfers. The hotel is not on the beach, so you drive or take a boat to the coves. In the evening the piazza is the place to see and be seen.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cervo Hotel
The lounge
The lounge at Petra Segreta.
Petra Segreta: granite cottages in the hills
Petra Segreta Resort & Spa sits in the hills near the village of San Pantaleo, with rooms in small cottages built of granite and stone. There is a pool and a view over the maquis down to the sea.
It takes our design pick and a good alternative if you want to be near the Costa Smeralda without the glamour and traffic. It is ideal for couples who want peace, a spa and good food in a rural setting. It is not by the sea, so you drive down to the beaches. San Pantaleo has a well-known Thursday market.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Petra Segreta
The pool
The pool at Villa Las Tronas.
Alghero and the interior: town, coast and mountains
Alghero on the north-west coast is an old walled town with a Catalan heritage, where many still speak a Catalan dialect. In the middle of the island lies the Supramonte, a mountain area of villages, gorges and ancient shepherding traditions.
Villa Las Tronas: a villa on the headland
Hotel Villa Las Tronas occupies an old villa on a headland by the sea in Alghero, with gardens, a pool and bathing platforms on the rocks. The old town is a short stroll along the promenade.
First-timers can book it with confidence, offering history, the sea and a lively town in one stay. It is right for couples and lovers of classic hotels with a calm atmosphere. There is no sandy beach right by it, but Alghero's beaches are a short drive away. In the evening, walk the town walls at sunset before dinner in the old town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Villa Las Tronas
The pool
The pool at Su Gologone.
Su Gologone: art and food in the mountains
Su Gologone sits at the foot of the mountains near Oliena, in an old farmstead full of art, crafts, gardens and a pool. Its restaurant is known for Sardinian cooking, with lamb and suckling pig roasted over an open fire.
It is a strong pick for travellers who want to experience inland Sardinia, with mountain walks and local food. It works for couples and families who want a few days away from the beach. The east coast coves are about an hour by car, and the Gorropu gorge and the mural village of Orgosolo are nearby.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Su Gologone
The view
The view from Palazzo Doglio.
Cagliari and the south: the capital and long beaches
Cagliari is the island's capital, with an old quarter on the hill, markets and a long city beach. South-west of the city lie Pula and Chia, with dunes, lagoons with flamingos and some of the finest sandy beaches on the island.
Palazzo Doglio: a palazzo in the capital
Palazzo Doglio occupies a historic palazzo in central Cagliari, with elegant rooms, a courtyard and restaurants. The Castello old quarter and the harbour are a short walk away.
It earns our value pick, offering an elegant hotel in a real Italian city for less than on the coast. It appeals to couples and anyone combining city and beach. There is no beach, but Poetto is a short drive away, and the San Benedetto market, one of Italy's great covered food markets, is worth a visit.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Palazzo Doglio
The pool
The pool at Lantana Resort.
Lantana Resort: apartments and gardens in Pula
Lantana Resort Hotel & Apartments is in Pula, south-west of Cagliari. Hotel rooms and apartments are set around a large garden with a pool and mini golf, and a golf course lies next door. The restaurant serves Mediterranean food and children's menus, and the beaches at Nora and Pula are a short ride away.
It is our family pick, because the apartments give you space and a kitchen, and the garden and pool keep children busy between beach trips. It also suits couples who want calm and cycling along the coast. It is not a big resort with a water park and kids' club, so expect a quieter mood. Spend an evening among the ruins of the ancient town of Nora by the sea.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Lantana Resort
The spa
The spa at T Hotel Cagliari.
T Hotel Cagliari: modern and close to the port
T Hotel Cagliari occupies a modern building with a glass tower, near the port and a fifteen-minute walk from the old Castello quarter. It has a spa, an art gallery, a café and a garden, and you can hire bikes at reception.
It suits travellers who want Cagliari as a base for both the city and the beaches of the south, and who like a modern hotel with a spa. It works well for couples and business travellers. It is not in the old town, so you walk or take a taxi up to Castello. Poetto, the city beach, is a few minutes away by bus.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at T Hotel Cagliari
When to book
June and September: the best months for many, with a warm sea and fewer people than in August.
July and August: high season, especially August, when Italians are on holiday. Prices and traffic peak.
Spring and autumn: May and October are lovely for walking and food inland, but many beach hotels close from November to April.
Our first choice in Sardinia
Hotel Villa Las Tronas
We recommend Hotel Villa Las Tronas because you get history, sea and a lively town in one stay. It occupies an old villa on a headland by the sea in Alghero, with a garden, a pool and bathing platforms on the rocks. The old town is a short walk along the promenade.
Hotels in Sardinia: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Sardinia?
The Costa Smeralda for luxury and coves, Alghero for town and coast, the interior for mountains and food, and Pula and Chia in the south for families and sandy beaches. The island is big, so choose an area to suit the holiday you want, and expect long drives between the coasts.
Which airport should you fly into for Sardinia?
Olbia for the north-east, Alghero for the west and Cagliari for the south. Choose the closest, as roads across the island are winding and slow. In summer there are direct flights to Olbia from many European cities, and ferries from the mainland to Olbia and Cagliari.
Do you need a car in Sardinia?
Yes, to see more than your hotel. Buses are infrequent, and the best beaches are far from the towns. Hire a car at the airport and pick a small model. The roads down to the coves are narrow, and beach car parks fill early in July and August.
When is the best time to visit Sardinia?
June and September bring warm weather and a warm sea without the biggest crowds. May and October suit walking and food inland. July and August are the hottest and most expensive months, so book hotels and car hire well ahead.
Is Sardinia good for families?
Yes, especially the south, with long, shallow sandy beaches and big resorts with kids' clubs. The north-east has calm coves too, but at higher prices. Choose a hotel on a sandy beach with shallow water, and check for a kids club and a pool. The wind can bring waves to the west coast.