I was catching up with a friend over tea and cake when she mentioned that she was going to Sardinia for a week. Apparently, Ryanair had opened up a new flight route between Copenhagen and Olbia in Northern Sardinia. I grabbed my phone and opened the Ryanair app. Ten minutes after my friend first mentioned HER trip, I had booked mine. And whilst this was an impromptu trip rather than one long planned, I had high expectations and excitement for it. Stoked!
Sardinia is an Italian island in the Mediterranean, immediately south of Corsica. It’s been on my bucket list to visit for so long, much like most of mainland Italy, and this trip did not disappoint. As with other recent trips, the theme of this trip was rest and relaxation, but of course it wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t some adventure mixed in!
DO| Costa Smeralda has to be on your must-see list. You can’t go to Sardinia and not go to the beach and this stretch is one of the most magnificent. Bring your wallet though, because it’s not cheap! Explore Olbia on foot, a small but gorgeous historical city in the north of Sardinia. Make sure to stop at the Archaeological Museum of Olbia to explore the maritime history of the city and the Basilica di San Simplicio, a beautiful church from the middle ages. If you’re up for a hike, then just a little further out of the city is the Su Monte’s Tomb and Pedres Castle. The climb is a bit treacherous but the reward of the panoramic views at the top is well worth it. One big highlight of my trip was exploring the La Maddalena Archipelago on this boat tour – so so sooooooo worth going. The islands are beautiful, the beaches are stunning, and the blues of the water are mind-blowing. Just wow!
EAT| The food, oh my gosh the food!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was soooooo delicious! I actually didn’t eat out a whole lot, because the food at my accommodation was soooo good (see below!) but one place I would definitely recommend is Ristorante Il Portolano. Ayyyayayyy, the food is good. The setting is second to none, and a sunset dinner there is an absolute must! It’s a seafood restaurant, and I’ll just say that I had such a good time, I went back a couple days later. An absolute treat!
SLEEP| I stayed at Villa Agostina, a gorgeous property just outside of Olbia. It’s pretty new, in the most gorgeous setting against a backdrop of vineyards which seem like they go on forever. The views are incredible, the rooms were spacious and cosy and the meals were top-notch! It’s a place that you definitely go to relax and chill because there really is nothing else around and it’s the perfect place to do that. Between Francesco, Anna and my Italian aunties, Antonieta and Tamara, I had an absolutely amazing time and already am planning when next I can go back. You do need a rental car if you stay there because of the rural location but it’s easy to find with Google Maps.
GETTING AROUND| I would definitely recommend renting a car to get around unless you are planning to stay in the urban parts of the island. I never tried out the public transport so I can’t give an opinion on it but if you want the ease of being able to move around when you want and without having to wait or pay for taxis, hire a car. I used Lurenting and I could not recommend them enough. Absolutely amazing service.
