Sardinia without crowds
Sardinia is often referred to as the European Caribbean! Visiting this large Italian Island in October is always a good idea. The northern part of the island, recommended to me by my Italian friends who go there each year themselves, was my obvious choice for the first destination 😉 Having a week at our disposal, we decided to select one large region in order to have enough time to both explore and to relax on the beach: the broadly understood area of Olbia 🧡 It is thus my pleasure to recommend the Sassari province and part of Nuoro!
Olbia – flights
Sardinia’s largest and most popular airports include those in Cagliari (the island’s biggest city) in the south, Alghero – in the northwest, and in Olbia. Olbia is a port town with a slightly bigger population than the Polish Kołobrzeg. You can get there either by sea (e.g. it is only 300 km away from Rome in a straight line). When it comes to flights from Poland, you can fly from Katowice via Milan – a bit of a nuisance, but the views will make it up to you 🧡
Rugged entrance to Spiaggia Poltu Di Li Cogghj
Nuraghes
Olbia was probably founded by the Nuragic – ruins and other archeological remnants of their civilization can be found all across the island. The Nuragic were a rather mysterious people who lived near Sardinia for 2-3 thousand years from around 2000 B.C. Their architecture – especially towers, out of which 7000 have survived in Sardinia until today – are very characteristic. It is a total must-see, especially for history freaks!
Costa Smeralda
If you want to see the spectacular Costa Smeralda, the area of Olbia is excellent for the base camp. Although October and November sea temperatures won’t keep you warm, but the clear emerald water looks like something straight from a travel agent’s folder – unfiltered 🧡 The coast near Olbia is full of beautiful bays (many of which are hard to reach), separated from one another with rocky paths, thanks to which local beaches lure tourists with their intimacy. A whole spectrum of colors – the water, local flora, and sand – looks like a paradise… Admittedly, this paradise can feel slightly lost in full season, whereas in fall it will soothe you with peace and quiet.
Beach, rocks, water, wind - almost no other tourists!
Golfo Aranci
You can easily rent a car at the Airport of Olbia Costa Smeralda, or even catch a train that will take you straight to the town of Golfo Aranci. It became our base camp slightly by chance, but it turned out to be a huge, pleasant surprise. This port town, slightly off the beaten track, is in fact the gate to Costa Smeralda. Nearby you will find popular holiday resorts, such as the elegant Porto Cervo or Porto Rotondo – but those are both far more exclusive and far less folksy than the rest of Sardinia 😉
Corsica
Another big island is visible from the north of Sardinia… Corsica! The two islands are separated by the Strait of Bonifacio, infamous for its treacherous currents. If your agenda allows it, the French Corsica is definitely worth an excursion – especially that it is so easily accessible from Sardinia 😉 You can catch a ferry from several Sardinian ports; Bonifacio is just an hour away from Santa Teresa.
Nuoro beaches
They are not that famous, but I fell in love with them at first sight! They are often long, broad, and mostly deserted at this time of the year. Vast sandy beaches and soothing waves offer a sense of genuine freedom! The surrounding flora, especially tall grass, will make you feel at one with nature. I like La Caletta for its views, and my beloved Berchida is definitely worth the backbreaking (but beautiful nonetheless!) journey.
La Maddalena archipelago
If you are in the north of Sardinia, you simply must see this breathtaking archipelago! The sea trip from Palau is already an awesome tourist attraction, and the closer you get to the destination, the more you feel the atmosphere of the local towns and the spirit of insular freedom. I highly recommend you explore this area by car, so that you can reach also the less easily accessible spots. In fact, in some places you actually need to get through some thick bushes to reach amazing beauty spots and pristine beaches. It is a wonderful place that caters for all – including crazy stag nights on cruise ships 😉
Sardinian food
The list of local specialties to try is impressive: there are maloreddu (a local variety of gnocchi), culurgiones (Sardinian ravioli), fregola (a very interesting dish based on pasta that resembles couscous, typically served with fish in the form of a soup) – just to name a few. Meat lovers won’t be disappointed either; porceddu is a local dish made of a piglet roasted with myrtle. Finally, if you have a sweet tooth, you will enjoy the delicious seadas made of only two ingredients Sardinia is famous for: cheese and honey. Exquisite! And to top off a perfect local meal, I highly recommend you try the Sardinian myrtle liqueur.
Sardinia sounds like a versatile holiday destination. It is quiet and picturesque in fall, and the whole island looks like straight from a heavily photoshopped postcard. It is definitely a perfect idea for a family holiday, with lots of fun on the beach! Although it may seem slightly boring to some, it offers exactly what a lot of us need at least once a year: peace, quiet, blissfulness… As usual, how you choose to spend your holiday will depend on your needs – and Sardinia has plenty to offer also to those who prefer more active rest 🧡