Sardinia, with an area of approximately 24,090 square kilometres, is the third-largest region in Italy and, after Sicily, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean. It lies centrally within the western Mediterranean basin, between the Italian mainland, southern France and the Balearic Islands, and is separated from Corsica by the strait of the Bocche di Bonifacio by just eleven kilometres. Since 1948, Sardinia has been one of Italy's five regions with special statute status, possessing an independent, constitutionally enshrined Autonomia. The regional capital is Cagliari in the south; in total, approximately 1.55 million people live on the island across 377 municipalities. This makes Sardinia one of the most sparsely populated regions in Italy.
Geography and Key Facts
The main island alone covers approximately 23,800 square kilometres, to which are added several larger and smaller outlying satellite islands, the most significant of which are Sant'Antioco (109 km²), San Pietro (51 km²), Asinara (51 km²), La Maddalena (20 km²) and Caprera (16 km²). Stretching a maximum of 270 kilometres in length and 145 kilometres in width, the island extends between the Mar di Sardegna to the west, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the east and the Bocche di Bonifacio to the north. The coastline measures approximately 1,850 kilometres in total, making it one of the longest in Italy.
The terrain is predominantly hilly: 68 per cent of the land area consists of hill country, 18 per cent of plains and 14 per cent of mountains. The most significant plains are the Campidano between Cagliari and Oristano, and the smaller Nurra in the north-west. The mountain massif of the Gennargentu in the central-eastern part of the island reaches its highest point at Punta La Marmora, at 1,834 metres, the highest point on the island. Administratively, Sardinia is divided into two metropolitan cities (Cagliari, Sassari) and six further provinces.
The Coastal Regions
Costa Smeralda and the Gallura
In the north-east, the Costa Smeralda, the "Emerald Coast", stretches for approximately 20 kilometres within the municipality of Arzachena, north of Olbia. It was developed from the early 1960s onwards by Aga Khan IV as a planned luxury resort area, encompassing locations such as Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo and Baia Sardinia. Today, the Costa Smeralda ranks among the most exclusive stretches of coastline in Europe and is a fixture for yacht charters, golf courses and the international jet set. To the north, the Arcipelago di La Maddalena opens up with seven principal islands (La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli), a national park since 1994.
The West and Alghero
On the north-west coast lies Alghero, a city with a Catalan heritage: under Aragonese, and later Spanish, rule from 1354 onwards, a variant of Catalan (Alguerès) has survived here to this day and holds co-official language status. The main points of interest along the western coast include the stretch between Alghero and Capo Caccia with the Neptune's Caves (Grotte di Nettuno), as well as the island of Asinara in the far north-west. Further south, the Costa Verde with its kilometres of sand dunes and the coastline around Oristano define the landscape.
The South-West and South-East
The south-west belongs to the historic mining region of Sulcis-Iglesiente, with the outlying islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro. This area is also home to the Carignano del Sulcis wine-growing district. In the south-east around Villasimius and along the Costa Rei lie numerous white sandy beaches that are characteristic of the Sardinian coastline. Among the best known is Punta Molentis near Villasimius, access to which has been regulated in recent years to protect the dunes. It should be noted that taking sand, stones and shells from Sardinian beaches is prohibited by law and is subject to fines of up to 3,000 euros.
The Main Towns and Cities
Cagliari
Cagliari , with approximately 146,000 inhabitants, is the largest city and the political, economic and academic centre of the island. The old town is divided into four historic quarters: Castello on the hill, Marina, Stampace and Villanova. Its landmarks include the Bastione di Saint Remy with its panoramic views, the Romanesque-Pisan cathedral from the 13th century, the Punic-Roman necropolis of Tuvixeddu , and the amphitheatre from the 2nd century. To the east of the city extends the Molentargius lagoon park, home to one of the few flamingo colonies in Europe situated close to an urban area. The Poetto beach, directly adjacent to the city, stretches for eight kilometres, making it one of the longest city beaches in Italy.
Alghero
Alghero , with approximately 42,000 inhabitants, remains deeply shaped by its Catalan history. The historic centre, with its massive defensive walls directly on the seafront, the Torre di Sulis and the 16th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria, is considered one of the best-preserved medieval townscapes in Sardinia. Alghero serves as a starting point for boat trips to the Grotte di Nettuno at Capo Caccia and for wine tours into the surrounding wine-growing area.
Olbia and Sassari
Olbia In the north-east, with around 62,000 inhabitants, lies the economic centre of the Gallura and the island's most important transport hub: here one finds the international Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport and one of Italy's busiest ferry ports. Sassari, with around 120,000 inhabitants, is the island's second-largest city and the second metropolitan city alongside Cagliari. The city is known for its university, founded in 1562, the Cavalcata Sarda (a folkloric procession held in May) and the candelabra festival I Candelieri in August.
Nuoro and the Sardinian Interior
Nuoro with around 33,000 inhabitants is regarded as the cultural capital of the Sardinian interior and is the birthplace of Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Grazia Deledda (1926). From here, the Supramonte mountain massif, with its sinkholes, grottos and plateaux, is easily accessible.
Nuraghi and the Archaeological Heritage
Defining for the island is the Nuragic culture, which flourished here between the 18th and 2nd centuries BC and left behind over 7,000 stone towers constructed from dry-stacked stone blocks. The Nuraghen are cone-shaped, multi-storey stone structures of partly military, partly ritual character. The most important example is Su Nuraxi di Barumini in the south of the island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Further significant archaeological sites include the Tombe dei Giganti (giants' tombs), the Pozzi Sacri (sacred wells) and the Phoenician-Punic cities of Tharros (near Oristano) and Nora (south of Cagliari). These sites make Sardinia one of the most archaeologically dense landscapes in the Mediterranean.
Nature and National Parks
Sardinia has three national parks: the Parco Nazionale dell'Asinara in the north-west, the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena in the north-east and the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu in the central east. Among the island's outstanding natural features are Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu on the east coast, reachable only by boat or lengthy hike, the dunes of Piscinas on the Costa Verde (counted among the highest in Europe), and the more than 300 grottos of the Supramonte, including the Grotta di Su Palu. Characteristic wildlife includes the white donkeys (asinelli bianchi) on Asinara, the Cavallini della Giara (dwarf horses on the Giara di Gesturi plateau) and the Mufflonpopulations of the Gennargentu.
Wine and Cuisine
The most important red wine produced in Sardinia is the Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, pressed from an autochthonous variant of the Garnacha grape, and regarded as one of the most mineral-rich and tannic red wines of Italy . Among white wines, the Vermentino di Gallura DOCG , the island's only DOCG classification, and the Vermentino di Sardegna DOC lead the way. These are complemented by the Carignano del Sulcis DOC from the south-west and the Vernaccia di Oristano DOC, an oxidative white wine with a sherry-like character. The traditional liqueur Mirto is produced from myrtle berries and ranks among the island's most identity-defining products.
Sardinian cuisine is strongly shaped by pastoral farming and fishing. Classic dishes include Pane carasau, a paper-thin flatbread made from durum wheat; the Porceddu, a suckling pig roasted on a spit; Culurgiones, pasta parcels from the Ogliastra filled with potato, Pecorino and mint; as well as Pecorino Sardo DOP and Fiore Sardo DOP, both found across the island. Along the coasts, tuna (particularly around Carloforte on San Pietro), lobster (aragosta alla catalana in Alghero) and Bottarga, the dried roe of the grey mullet from Cabras, take centre stage.
Best Time to Visit and Getting There
Sardinia is at its most pleasant in the late spring (May to June) and in early autumn (September to October): water and air temperatures are mild, and the coastal resorts and national parks are considerably less crowded than in the height of summer. July and August are considered peak season, particularly along the Costa Smeralda. During this period, international demand reaches record highs, with packed beaches and peak prices very much the norm.
The main airports are Cagliari-Elmas, Olbia-Costa Smeralda and Alghero-Fertilia, all offering direct connections to numerous European cities. Ferry services from the mainland operate from Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Naples to Olbia, Porto Torres, Cagliari and Arbatax, with additional seasonal sailings from Toulon and Marseille. Those bringing their own car to the island can make use of the overnight ferries operated by Grimaldi, Grandi Navi Veloci, Moby, Tirrenia and Corsica Ferries. This is an option that lends itself particularly well to independent touring by car across several coastal regions.
A destination in transition
In 2026, Sardinia recorded one of the highest tourism growth rates in Italy, with overnight stays rising by around 8 per cent. Increasingly in demand are offerings away from the classic Costa Smeralda trail, including small agriturismi inland, boutique ventures such as Casa Stones in the Gallura and the traditional coastal hinterland. At the same time, however, tensions between tourism and environmental protection are intensifying: in recent years, authorities have restricted access to certain beaches, introduced visitor limits for protected coves, and strictly enforced bans on the handling of natural materials on the beach. Added to this are the direct consequences of climate change, notably in the form of recurring wildfires, which during the summer months of 2026 once again caused significant damage to several coastal forests. Those visiting Sardinia today will find a region in the process of recalibrating itself between international luxury tourism and a growing commitment to sustainability and regional identity.
