r/Sardinia • u/niproblem • Oct 08 '24
Cunversatzione 9 day sardinian experience
My girlfriend and I got back from an incredible 9-day trip around Sardinia, and I wanted to share our experience — especially for those thinking about exploring the island without renting a car. We relied solely on public transport and, honestly, it worked out way better than we expected. Here’s a breakdown of our journey:
Our Route: We flew from Venice to Alghero and then back home from Cagliari. Tickets cost us just €40 each (including a bag). We traveled through Porto Torres,Alghero, Bosa, Cala Gonone, and Cagliari, all by bus/train and it was surprisingly smooth! Here’s how our trip went down:
Day 1:
We landed in Alghero and caught a bus to Porto Torres, where we spent the night. The next morning, we headed to La Pelosa Beach. It was a bit cloudy and windy, but still gorgeous. Tip: You need a ticket to access the beach (we didn’t know that), but we found a free entrance through the rocks. Not as luxurious, but still a great experience!
Day 2-4:
Next stop was Alghero, and wow, this city is something special. We stayed right in the heart of the city center, next to K2 Gelateria — hands down, the best gelato of our lives (seriously, don’t skip this place, try the melon).
Alghero has this amazing mix of Catalan and Sardinian culture, and we loved wandering through the old town. The nightlife is pretty chill but lively, and there are great restaurants. For anyone coming to Sardinia, this city is a must-visit.
Day 5: Bosa – The Colorful Hidden Gem
We took a day trip to Bosa, and this town is a total hidden gem! With its colorful houses lining the river and cozy streets, it feels like a fairy tale. We hiked up to the castle for some amazing views, and the town’s peaceful vibe was a nice contrast to Alghero’s liveliness.
Day 6-7: Cala Gonone
From Bosa, we hopped on a bus to Cala Gonone, and if you’re into stunning beaches, this place is paradise. We booked a boat tour that took us to some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen, like Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu. The weather was perfect, the water crystal-clear, and it felt like we were living in a postcard. Highly recommend the boat tours!
Day 8-9: Cagliari
Our final stop was Cagliari, where we spent three days soaking up the history and beach life. The city center, especially the Castello district, is full of history, cool shops, and amazing views. For relaxation, we spent most of our time at Poetto Beach, one of the longest beaches I’ve ever seen.
Public Transportation in Sardinia:
This was probably the most pleasant surprise of our trip: Sardinian public transport was on point. Every bus we took was right on time, and we traveled between all these towns seamlessly. So if you’re worried about getting around without a car, don’t be! Just remember to validate your bus tickets, or you’ll end up like us with a €53 fine each (learn from our mistake).
Note: I should mention that the days may be a bit mixed up because we did so much and I can’t remember everything clearly.😅
Final Thoughts:
Sardinia completely blew us away with its diversity — from the historic streets of Alghero to the colorful charm of Bosa and the jaw-dropping beaches in Cala Gonone. If you’re planning a trip, public transport is a solid option, and you can explore a lot even without a car. We’ll definitely be coming back to Sardinia; there’s just so much more to see and experience!
Have any questions about the itinerary or need tips? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help out!
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u/AZ_beauty Oct 08 '24
Where do you get the bus tickets validated?
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
On the bus, there are QR codes all over the bus to scan.
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u/AZ_beauty Oct 08 '24
Thank you! Sounded like a beautiful trip. How was the food? Did most people speak English?
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
The food was amazing especially the sea food. I honestly think you can’t get a bad meal in Alghero if so someone prove me wrong. 😅 If you want i can send you through DM where we went and pictures what we ate if interested. Regarding English it’s mostly the same elder people don’t speak it or barely while younger generations do understand/speak. Freely DM me if you have anymore questions i would be more than happy to help. 😁
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u/BravaEncore Oct 11 '24
Does all of Sardinia use the same transit app, or do you need different ones?
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u/manhattansinks Oct 08 '24
bosa is so underrated. glad you had a nice time.
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
Yess. If someone doesn’t have time to read my whole essay, just remember visit Bosa.
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u/Mikhael2409 Oct 08 '24
Just got back from an 11 day trip to alghero, such a beautiful place, both the city and beaches.
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u/Confident_Reader Oct 08 '24
I'm happy to know that you enjoyed visiting our island. Your report is nice and useful for everybody. 👏👏
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u/Erin_bambooozled Oct 31 '24
Just got fined! We didn’t validate the ticket as the bus was cramped and the one in middle is not working. No one did! The guy was a cunt. They went straight to me as an obvious foreigner. This is a tourist trap and they know we’ll most likely make this mistake. It’s day 1 of the trip and I’m very disappointed.
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u/niproblem Oct 31 '24
Sorry to hear that. Head up high don’t let this ruin your vacation no matter how infuriating it must be. Had the same situation best thing is to keep a positive outlook and continue enjoying your vacation 😁
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u/Erin_bambooozled Oct 31 '24
Thanks getting a car tomorrow and heading out of Cagliari. Sad setback on cash 100+ euro 🥲
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u/Snap-Crackle-Pot Oct 08 '24
So nice to hear you’re still super positive about the buses after getting fined. Clearly they’re not “on the fence”!
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
Nope,they mean business. First I thought the ticket is going to be 10.60€. But when i saw my bank send me minus 106€ i almost fainted. You live and you learn 😅
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u/grajnapc Oct 08 '24 edited Oct 08 '24
Is Alghero or Cagliari more beautiful or are they both worthwhile in different ways?
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
I’m assuming you mean Alghero? If soo i personally liked Alghero more. The city center streets are beautiful to explore at night, amazing restaurants and the sandy beach Maria Pia.
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u/jnz00 Alghero Oct 09 '24
As Sardinian I can say they’re both worthwhile. After all Cagliari is the capital 😉
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u/bugbiyte Oct 08 '24
Amazing! Thanks for sharing! I’ll be there in a few days. Any food recommendations?
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
In Alghero, La piadina del pozzo for a quick on the go meal. Dessert definitely try Gelateria K2 and try the melon i still can’t get over it. Regarding dinner restaurants, most are good so it will be hard to find a bad restaurant. In Bosa go to Ristorante Pizzeria Sa Pischedda they have great food/service. And finally in Cagliari go to Bombas for their burgers & chips. Hope it helps, for anymore further questions DM i can show the food we ate while on our trip. Have fun on your trip!
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u/jonesy_jay Oct 08 '24
Gorgeous. OP do you remember which beach is in photo #3? Thanks for sharing!
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
Cala Luna. Famous for her caves. Here’s a list of all of the beaches we visited: -La Pelosa -Maria pia -Bosa Marina -Cala luna -Cala Mariolu -Cala sisine -Poetto beach
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Oct 08 '24
So no storm yet 💨👀🤣
You should have been here today ⛈️💨
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u/niproblem Oct 08 '24
Oh there was a storm believe me. 😅 our trip was from the 9th to 18th September so we did experience bad weather for a few days but still had fun.
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u/chatdetrot Oct 08 '24
Did you see many cyclists on the roads? Am considering doing a little bicycle tour there.
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u/jnz00 Alghero Oct 09 '24
You’ve been in my hometown Bosa 🥹
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u/niproblem Oct 09 '24
It’s beautiful. It gave me Disney movie vibes.
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u/jnz00 Alghero Oct 09 '24
It could be even better if we had capable politicians. Sometimes I feel a deep sadness witnessing so much wasted potential 💔
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u/niproblem Oct 09 '24
Regarding what? Could you give me an example what could be better? 🙂
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u/jnz00 Alghero Oct 09 '24
We could start with the beach, which currently lacks public facilities like showers and toilets. The castle, practically abandoned, has the potential to be repurposed for events and medieval-themed dining experiences. The road between Bosa Marina and Turas Beach could be improved for safer and more enjoyable use by pedestrians and cyclists. Some of the old tanneries could be renovated and transformed into museums. Additionally, a new fish market has been built but has never been utilized. And so on… 🥲
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u/niproblem Oct 09 '24
It’s so heartbreaking to read this about a town that is so beautiful and being neglected. Is it true a lot of younger generations are leaving these towns and Sardinia as a whole?
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Oct 09 '24
[deleted]
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u/jnz00 Alghero Oct 10 '24
Yep it’a very true ☹️ in Sardinia we could thrive on tourism and farming alone, but the entire system is broken. On one hand, we receive little consideration from the central government; on the other, we tend to sabotage ourselves due to a mix of resistance to change and lack of collaboration.
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u/canox74 Oct 10 '24
Shhh, your suppose to keep this place a secret….next thing you know it will be overrun by silly influencers and dumb people!!
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u/lizzlizzylizz Oct 24 '24
Thanks for this!!! I'm currently in Alghero and have done 0% research so reading this is wonderful. I'm a solo female traveler and don't have a drivers license, so this helps a lot! But a question. I have the DropTicket app, but don't understand a lot how to use it as it's in Italian 😅 If you buy a ticket, is it activated directly or can you buy a ticket hours before the ride and activate it after some hours?
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u/niproblem Oct 24 '24
I’m happy it helped you if you have any other questions let me know 😁
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u/lizzlizzylizz Oct 26 '24 edited Oct 26 '24
Thanks!! Well, how did you get from all the places you write you went to? For example from Alghero to Bosa? And from Bosa to Cala Gonone? 😊 I have a really hard time finding how to get from places!
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u/lizzlizzylizz Oct 24 '24
And! Do you know how to buy a bus ticket to e.g. Bombarde beach? I understand it as it's not a classic 1€ ticket, instead a extraurbano ticket, but I don't succeed at buying a ticket!
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u/Fast-Feed6598 Apr 07 '25
This post is so incredibly helpful. I’ll be heading to Sardinia in July and am so excited! Would you recommended anywhere that you stayed / lodgings? Also if you have any must go to restaurants and beaches? We will be flying int Olbia, but are renting a car and planning on exploring the island throughout our stay. I’ve added Bosa to the list per you recommendation! Thank you!
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u/TravelingTu Jun 10 '25
Thank you so much for this report! Trying to plan a trip there with my daughter and didn't think it would work without a rental car. This makes me so happy!
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u/2fligh2high Oct 08 '24
Nice trip report, thanks! Makes me want to go back 😍