Sardinia · Italy · This or that
Sardinia: Amalfi views without the Amalfi prices
Sardinia is a strong alternative to the Amalfi Coast for families who want Italian cliffs, clear water and small harbours without the Amalfi price tag. A week there usually costs noticeably less, with the biggest gap in peak August, and the island has far more empty beach per visitor. The trade-off is that you need a car and a boat day.
How they compare
- 1
Cala Goloritze
Cala Goloritze is a pebble cove under a limestone pinnacle on the east coast, in the Baunei area of the Gulf of Orosei. There is no road to the beach, so you reach it on foot along a trail or by boat, and the walk back up is the hard part with children. Access is regulated in high season with a cap on daily visitors, so check the booking rules before you go. Bring water, shoes and snorkel gear.
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About 1,800 km of coastline
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and its coast runs to roughly 1,800 km. The result is that even in August you can find a beach with space on it. The south has long white sand, the north has the granite coves of the Gallura, and the east has the dramatic cliff beaches. Pick one coast per few days instead of crossing the island daily, since distances are longer than the map suggests.
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Alghero: Catalan-Italian old town
Alghero sits on the north-west coast. Catalans settled it in the Middle Ages, and a local form of Catalan is still spoken, with Catalan street names alongside Italian ones. The old town is a walled grid of lanes beside the sea, easy on foot with a stroller outside the cobbled core. In the evening, families walk the sea wall and eat in the old centre. Nearby Capo Caccia has cliff scenery and sea caves reached by boat or steps.
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Hidden coves everywhere
The best coves are reached by boat. Small boats can be hired by the day in most coastal towns, and low-powered ones can often be rented without a boat licence, though you should confirm the rules with the operator. Start early, take food and water, and anchor where you see the sea floor clearly. A small hired boat is an easy way to reach beaches that roads do not. Watch the afternoon wind, which can build quickly and make the return trip rough.
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A family week for a fraction of Amalfi
On the Amalfi Coast, the cost sits in accommodation, parking and restaurants in the famous towns, and peak weeks add a large premium. Sardinia is not cheap on the Costa Smeralda, which is a luxury resort area, but the rest of the island is noticeably cheaper, especially self-catering apartments and agriturismo stays. Eat in local trattorias, buy picnic food at supermarkets and markets, and avoid the Costa Smeralda for the budget week.
Plan it
- Best time
- Late May to June and September are warm, calmer and cheaper than August. July and August are the hottest and busiest, and prices peak around mid-August. The sea stays warm into October.
- How long
- A week lets you base on one coast and add a boat day. Ten days allows two bases, for example the east coast and Alghero in the north-west.
- Getting around
- Rent a car. Public transport between beaches is thin, and the best coves are far from towns. Roads are good, but distances are long and the mountain roads are slow. Flights arrive at Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero, and ferries bring cars from the mainland.
Good to know
- Book accommodation early for August. The best apartments near beaches go first, and the Ferragosto holiday around 15 August is the busiest week.
- Buy water, food and sunscreen in towns. Remote beaches often have no shop, café or shade.
- Check beach access rules in advance. A few of the most popular beaches limit visitors or require reservations in season.
Frequently asked
Is Sardinia cheaper than the Amalfi Coast? +
Yes, for most travellers. Accommodation, parking and restaurant meals are noticeably cheaper outside the Costa Smeralda, and the gap is largest in peak summer. Ferries and car rental add cost, so compare the whole trip rather than the hotel alone.
Is Sardinia good for families with young children? +
Yes. Many beaches have shallow, calm water and soft sand, and apartments with kitchens are easy to find. Hot afternoons and long drives are the challenge, so plan a beach morning and a rest in the middle of the day.
Do you need a car in Sardinia? +
Almost always. Beaches, coves and villages are spread out and buses are infrequent. You can manage in Alghero or Cagliari without a car, but to reach the best beaches a rental car or boat is needed.
When is the best time to visit Sardinia for beaches? +
June and September are the best balance of warm sea, lower prices and fewer crowds. July and August are hotter and more expensive. May is pleasant but the sea is cooler.
