Sardinia (Sardegna) is the Mediterranean at full volume: granite cliffs, silver-green scrub, and water so clear you’ll debate where the sky ends. The island’s story is older than Rome—Nuragic towers rise from pastures, Phoenician ports turned medieval towns, and Catalan echoes linger in Alghero’s language and cuisine.

Across seven days, you’ll split time between Cagliari, the lively capital ringed by flamingo-filled lagoons, and Alghero, a honey-stoned stronghold beside cinematic capes and caves. Expect swims in translucent coves, hikes to high bastions, seafood pulled from afternoon boats, and glasses of Vermentino and Cannonau poured with pride.

Practical notes: Summer is hot and popular—reserve cars, restaurants, and La Pelosa beach slots early. Roads are good and toll-free; public transport connects major towns but is slower. Sardinian specialties to look for include culurgiones (herb-potato ravioli), bottarga, porceddu (slow-roasted suckling pig), and seadas with honey.

Cagliari

Sun-baked limestone walls, narrow alleys perfumed with myrtle, and a citadel that has watched Carthaginians, Pisans, and Aragonese come and go—Cagliari is Sardinia’s spirited gateway. The Poetto beach runs for miles, a city “backyard” where locals cycle at sunset and flamingos graze in the adjacent Molentargius wetlands.

Highlights include the Bastione Saint Remy terraces at golden hour, the Roman Amphitheatre carved into rock, and the National Archaeological Museum’s haunting bronze warriors. Food runs from market-fresh seafood to refined tasting menus—pair it with a glass of Vermentino or the island-favorite Ichnusa beer.

• Top sights: Castello district, Bastione Saint Remy, Cattedrale di Santa Maria, Roman Amphitheatre, Molentargius-Saline Park (flamingos), Poetto beach.
• Food finds: Culurgiones, fregola with clams, bottarga, seadas, and gelato made with local citrus.
• Fun fact: The Devil’s Saddle (Sella del Diavolo) got its name from a medieval legend and frames the city’s most photogenic bay.

Getting in: Fly into Cagliari Elmas (CAG) or arrive by ferry (seasonal/limited) from mainland Italy. Compare flights and ferries on Omio (flights in Europe) and Omio (ferries in Europe). Typical Italy–Cagliari flights take 1–1.5 hours from Rome/Milan (~$40–$160), ferries from Civitavecchia (13–15 hours, from ~$45 foot passenger).

Where to stay: Base in Castello/Marina for history and dining, or near Poetto for a beachy feel. Browse stays on VRBO Cagliari and Hotels.com Cagliari.

Day 1: Arrival, Bastions, and Marina Bites

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your hotel. Shake off the journey with an easy loop: start at Bastione Saint Remy for sweeping views, then wander the Castello quarter’s pale stone lanes. Pop into the Cattedrale di Santa Maria to admire its striped Pisan-Romanesque facade and Baroque interior.

Evening: Aperitivo at Libarium Nostrum (terrace over the roofs; order a spritz and olives). Dinner at Antica Cagliari in the Marina for fregola with arselle (clams) and bottarga, or book Dal Corsaro for a contemporary tasting menu that riffs on Sardinian traditions. Nightcap gelato at Gocce di Gelato e Cioccolato—try myrtle or orange-vanilla.

Day 2: Historic Cagliari + Poetto & Sella del Diavolo

Morning: Espresso and pastries at Durke (traditional sweets: pardulas, gueffus). Explore the National Archaeological Museum’s Nuragic bronzes and the Roman Amphitheatre. Coffee stop at Caffè Tramer, a historic pasticceria known for cream-filled cannoncini.

Afternoon: Head to Poetto beach (city bus or bike path). Swim, then hike the Sella del Diavolo trail (allow 1.5–2 hours round trip) for cliff-and-cove panoramas. Lunch beachside at Emerson (seafood salads, crudo) or Frontemare (grilled catch, breezy terrace).

Evening: Back in the center, sample modern seafood at Ristorante Luigi Pomata (renowned for Carloforte tuna) or go rustic at Sa Domu Sarda (porceddu, malloreddus). Finish with a Cannonau at Crudo & Co. Wine Bar or a stroll through Via Sardegna’s lively bars.

Day 3: Day Trip—Villasimius Coves or UNESCO Su Nuraxi

Option A (Sea Day): Rent a car for the serpentine coastal drive to Villasimius (1–1.25 hours). Swim at Punta Molentis or Simius Beach; the water looks filtered by magic. Lunch at Ristorante Su Giganti (vermentino with spaghetti alle vongole) and a sunset stop at Cala Pira.

Option B (Ancient Sardinia): Drive inland to Su Nuraxi di Barumini (1 hour) for a guided tour through the island’s most famous Nuragic complex (allow ~1.5 hours; adult tickets ~€14). Nearby, visit the Giara plateau to spot wild ponies if time permits; lunch on pecorino and cured meats at a local agriturismo.

Evening: Back in Cagliari, light dinner at Trattoria Lillicu (old-school seafood; razor clams and fried calamari) or Osteria Kobuta for a Sardinian-Japanese mashup if you’re craving a curveball. Lemon sorbet nightcap along the port.

Alghero

Alghero looks west to the last light of the day—coral shops in Gothic arcades, Catalan street names, and a honey-colored bastion walking path above gentle surf. Just outside town, cliffs drop into the sea at Capo Caccia, hiding one of the Mediterranean’s great caverns: Neptune’s Grotto.

Food here leans Catalan-Sardinian: lobster “alla catalana,” octopus salads, and rustic malloreddus. Wineries dot the countryside; Sella & Mosca is practically a village. Beaches stretch north to Stintino where La Pelosa dazzles like polished glass.

• Top sights: Old Town ramparts, Cathedral of Santa Maria, Capo Caccia, Neptune’s Grotto, Nuraghe Palmavera, La Pelosa (Stintino).
• Tastes: Aragosta alla catalana, Catalan-style seafood at Mabrouk, Vermentino di Gallura, and Cannonau from nearby estates.
• Fun fact: Alghero is nicknamed “Barceloneta” for its centuries of Catalan rule—listen for Algherese, a local Catalan dialect.

Getting there from Cagliari: Morning train/bus combo via Omio (trains in Europe) and Omio (buses in Europe): Cagliari–Sassari by train (~3–3.5 hours), then local train/bus to Alghero (~40–60 minutes). Total 3.5–4.5 hours, ~€22–€35. Driving is straightforward and scenic (~2.5–3 hours, toll-free).

Where to stay: The Centro Storico for rampart walks and restaurants; Lido San Giovanni/Maria Pia for beach proximity. Browse VRBO Alghero and Hotels.com Alghero.

Day 4: Transfer to Alghero, Ramparts, and Catalan Flavors

Morning: Depart Cagliari after breakfast. If using public transport, target an early train to Sassari and onward to Alghero (book on Omio; total ~4 hours). Drivers can break the journey with a coffee in Oristano’s Piazza Eleonora.

Afternoon: Check in, then stroll Alghero’s bastions (Bastioni Marco Polo, Magellano) and duck into the Cathedral of Santa Maria (noting its Catalan-Gothic bell tower). Coffee and a slice of almond cake at Caffè Costantino or gelato at Gelateria K2 (pistachio and ricotta-fig are standouts).

Evening: Dinner at Mabrouk (fixed-price seafood feast that changes daily; reserve) or Trattoria La Saletta for Sardinian home-cooking (malloreddus, roasted lamb). For a glass of Vermentino and local bottarga crostini, try La Bottega dei Sapori.

Day 5: Capo Caccia and Neptune’s Grotto

Morning: Drive or take a boat from Alghero harbor to Neptune’s Grotto (weather-dependent). If by land, descend the 654-step Escala del Cabirol carved into the cliff; guided cave visits run ~45 minutes, tickets around €14. Bring grippy shoes and water.

Afternoon: Picnic at Porto Conte or swim at Lazzaretto and Le Bombarde beaches—soft sand, clear shallows. Late lunch at Il Paguro (seafront; grilled catch, octopus salads) or Sa Mandra agriturismo (set menus with pane carasau, cheeses, and porceddu if available—reserve ahead).

Evening: Sunset on Capo Caccia’s belvedere, then dinner at Al Tuguri (historic fine dining in a town house; lobster in season) or Osteria Macchiavello (casual, excellent seafood pasta). Nightcap along the ramparts as the sea turns violet.

Day 6: Nuraghe Palmavera, Wine at Sella & Mosca, and Old-Town Meander

Morning: Explore Nuraghe Palmavera (short drive; allow 45–60 minutes). The central tower and village dwellings give a vivid snapshot of Nuragic life. Espresso and sweet cornetti at Bar Focacceria Milese (also famous for tuna-and-capers focacce—great to-go).

Afternoon: Wine tasting at Sella & Mosca, one of Italy’s largest estate wineries (bookable tours; try Torbato, Vermentino, and Cannonau). Not into wine? Swap for a cycling loop through the Porto Conte Regional Park, stopping at outlooks for cormorants and hidden coves.

Evening: Casual dinner at Trattoria Caragol (Catalan-style seafood; grilled fillets with olive oil and lemon) or Ristorante Il Pavone (pappardelle with seafood ragù). For dessert, a seada drizzled with warm honey or a lemon granita on Via Roma.

Day 7: Stintino’s La Pelosa and Departure

Morning: Early start for La Pelosa beach near Stintino (1 hour by car; seasonal bus options on Omio (buses in Europe)). In high season, book an entry slot and bring a beach mat to protect the sand. Wade into knee-deep turquoise that stretches forever; snap the Torre della Pelosa guarding the shallows.

Afternoon: Rinse off and return toward Alghero for your departure. Alghero-Fertilia Airport (AHO) has frequent flights to mainland Italy and Europe; compare options on Omio (flights in Europe). If you’re ferrying to the mainland, Porto Torres (50 minutes from Alghero) offers routes to Genoa—search on Omio (ferries in Europe).

Evening: If your flight is later, cap the trip with a final stroll on the bastions and a quick bite—Milese focaccia to go, or a plate of spaghetti alla bottarga at Movida overlooking the sea.

Logistics at a Glance

• Best months: May–June and September–October for warm water and fewer crowds; July–August for peak buzz (book early).
• Getting around: Rental car offers flexibility for beaches and nuraghi; public transport works for this itinerary with some patience. Book trains/buses/ferries via Omio (trains), Omio (buses), and Omio (ferries).
• Estimated intercity costs: Cagliari–Alghero by train+bus €22–€35, 3.5–4.5 hours; by car 2.5–3 hours plus fuel.
• Where to book stays: VRBO Cagliari, Hotels.com Cagliari, VRBO Alghero, Hotels.com Alghero.

Seven days in Sardinia gives you the island’s essence: ancient stones, neon-blue seas, and evenings that linger on ramparts and terraces. With Cagliari’s history and Alghero’s wild coast, you’ll taste and see why Sardegna is a place people promise to revisit—and actually do.