Last updated August 7, 2026 · Editorial policy
Things to Do in Sardinia, Italy: What Is Actually Worth Your Time
Quick answer: This is an honest look at Sardinia, Italy: which popular attraction to think twice about, what to do with that time instead, and the spot most visitors never reach.
Skip the pilgrimage to Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda. The marina is real, but you pay for the postcode: restaurant bills run roughly 30-40% above the rest of the island, and a modest room in season rarely dips below around 150 euros. For the same turquoise water without the yacht-club markup, take the short ferry from Palau to the La Maddalena Archipelago and base yourself in La Maddalena town, where family-run B&Bs sit closer to 70-120 euros. The protected Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli (viewable, not walkable, to guard the pink sand) is the kind of sight Costa Smeralda only pretends to offer.
The pick most visitors miss is Bosa, the only town built along the navigable Temo river, its Sa Costa quarter climbing in painted houses to the medieval Castello Malaspina (the combined castle-and-chapel ticket runs around 5-7 euros).
- Su Nuraxi di Barumini: this UNESCO nuraghe is guided-entry only, with tours leaving about every half hour from 9:00 am; arrive at opening to skip the wait.
- Cala Goloritze: book the morning slot (around 7:30-10:00) through the Heart of Sardinia app for the roughly 7-euro entry, since the trail shuts at 2:00 pm and fills fast.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
