The best hotels in Sardinia: eight places to stay, north to south

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.

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.

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, a pool and views 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.

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.

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.

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.

Apartments and gardens in Pula

Lantana Resort Hotel & Apartments is in Pula, south-west of Cagliari, with hotel rooms and apartments set around a large garden, a pool, mini golf and a golf course 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.

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.