From our field notes
Sardinia road trip: 7, 10 and 15-day itineraries by car
Published 9 October 2026 · updated 9 October 2026 · 4 min read
By Clément Lacaille, publisher · our method
What to see in Sardinia in one week, ten days or two weeks? The island is explored by car, with no tolls at all, but its finest roads are slow and its most famous beaches are now regulated. Here are four itineraries built on two- or three-night bases and legs of under three hours: the north, the south, the crossing via the Gulf of Orosei and the full loop, with real driving times and the access rules in force in 2026.
North or south? The options at a glance
In one week you choose one half of the island; beyond that, you combine.
| Length | Route | Distance | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days (north) | San Teodoro, La Maddalena, Alghero, La Pelosa | ≈ 500 km | Olbia (or Alghero) |
| 7 days (south) | Cagliari, Chia, Barumini, Villasimius | ≈ 450 km | Cagliari |
| 10 days | Olbia → Gulf of Orosei → Cagliari | ≈ 650 km | Olbia → Cagliari |
| 15 days | Full loop | ≈ 1,100 km | Olbia |
Real driving times
The SS131 expressway crosses the island north to south quickly and free of charge; the SS125, the “Orientale Sarda”, follows the east coast through endless bends, magnificent and slow. We keep each leg under three hours: the case-control study by Jennie Connor and colleagues (BMJ, 2002) linked driver sleepiness to a markedly higher risk of serious crashes, and Sardinian mountain roads demand constant attention.
| Route | Distance | Realistic time |
|---|---|---|
| Olbia → Palau | ≈ 40 km | 45 min |
| Olbia → Alghero | ≈ 140 km | 2 h |
| Alghero → Stintino (La Pelosa) | ≈ 55 km | 1 h |
| Oristano → Cagliari (SS131) | ≈ 95 km | 1 h 15 |
| Cagliari → Barumini | ≈ 60 km | 1 h |
| Olbia → Cala Gonone | ≈ 110 km | 1 h 30 |
| Cala Gonone → Santa Maria Navarrese (SS125) | ≈ 70 km | 1 h 30 |
7 days in the north: Gallura, La Maddalena and Alghero
The week of postcard beaches. The key point is La Pelosa: access is booked and paid from 15 May to 15 October 2026 (€3.50 per person per day, 1,500 places, free for under-12s), with bookings opening every day at 9 am for the day after next. Plan the day and book on time.
- Day 1: Olbia → San Teodoro, sunset over the lagoon.
- Day 2: Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu early in the morning.
- Day 3: Porto Cervo on the way, check in at Palau.
- Day 4: La Maddalena archipelago by boat, or with the car on the ferry.
- Day 5: Castelsardo → Alghero, ramparts at sunset.
- Day 6: La Pelosa (booked), back via Capo Caccia.
- Day 7: fly out of Alghero or drive back to Olbia (2 h).
7 days in the south: Cagliari, Chia and Villasimius
More city, more history, family beaches. Su Nuraxi in Barumini, the UNESCO-listed nuragic site, is visited on guided group tours: arrive early in summer.
- Day 1: Cagliari, the Castello quarter on foot.
- Day 2: Chia and Tuerredda.
- Day 3: Porto Pino, Sant'Antioco.
- Day 4: Barumini (Su Nuraxi), back to Cagliari.
- Day 5: Cagliari → Villasimius by the coast road.
- Day 6: Punta Molentis early, Costa Rei.
- Day 7: Poetto beach, departure.
10 days: Olbia to Cagliari via the Gulf of Orosei
The most spectacular crossing, one-way. The Gulf of Orosei is explored by boat from Cala Gonone and on foot to Cala Goloritzé, which can only be reached by a trail of about an hour and a half, with capped access in season.
- Days 1-2: San Teodoro and its beaches.
- Day 3: San Teodoro → Cala Gonone (1 h 30).
- Day 4: Gulf of Orosei by boat (Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu).
- Day 5: Gorropu gorge or the nuragic village of Tiscali.
- Day 6: Cala Gonone → Santa Maria Navarrese via the SS125.
- Day 7: Cala Goloritzé on foot, early.
- Day 8: Santa Maria Navarrese → Villasimius (≈ 2 h 45).
- Days 9-10: Cagliari, departure.
15 days: the full loop
From and back to Olbia: San Teodoro (2 nights), Palau and La Maddalena (2), Alghero and La Pelosa (2), Bosa (1), Sinis and Tharros (1), Costa Verde (1), Chia and Cagliari (2), Barumini and Villasimius (2), then the east coast via Santa Maria Navarrese and Cala Gonone. If you can, add a night in Cala Gonone for the boat trip.
Rules to know before you go
They apply everywhere on the island:
- Taking sand, pebbles or shells is forbidden by regional law and punished with heavy fines.
- La Pelosa: booking, ticket and mat compulsory in season.
- Cala Goloritzé: access on foot only, capped in season, landing forbidden.
- Historic centres in camera-controlled limited traffic zones (ZTL), notably in Cagliari and Alghero: park on the edge.
- No fires in summer: wildfire risk is high.
Sources
Travel tips
Get our independent-travel tips by email
The house methods — costed budgets, driving, itineraries — straight to your inbox. Instant bonus: our free excerpt “The 7 mistakes to avoid on a first Namibia road trip” and the current promo code.
No time to do it yourself?
A professional can take care of it: tailor-made trip, equipped 4x4 rental or a local guide. Describe your plans and, with your consent, we pass them on to partner professionals.
1. What you need
Before you go
Readers' questions
How many days do you need to visit Sardinia?
One week for the north or the south, ten days for a crossing via the Gulf of Orosei, fifteen days for the full loop without rushing.
North or south Sardinia for one week?
The north for postcard beaches (La Maddalena, San Teodoro, La Pelosa) and Alghero; the south for Cagliari, the family beaches of Chia and Villasimius and the nuragic site of Barumini.
Are Sardinian roads tolled?
No: there are no toll motorways in Sardinia. The SS131 expressway is free.
Do you need to book La Pelosa?
Yes, from 15 May to 15 October 2026: online booking (opening at 9 am for the day after next) and a €3.50 ticket per person, free for under-12s.
Plane or ferry for a Sardinia road trip?
For a couple over a week or ten days, flying and renting almost always wins; for a family over two or three weeks, the ferry with your own car can become competitive outside high summer.