Updated June 19, 2024
Your Guide To Renting A Car On Sardinia
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
- Why should you rent a car in Sardinia?
- When should you go to Sardinia?
- Where should you pick up a car in Sardinia?
- Can you take your rental car off of Sardinia?
- How easy is it to travel around Sardinia independently?
- How safe is Sardinia for travelers?
- What languages are spoken in Sardinia?
- Are there toll roads on Sardinia?
Why should you rent a car in Sardinia?
Famous for its stunning, scenic coastline, Sardinia attracts millions of visitors every year. While the resorts are undeniably the main draw of this Mediterranean island, getting a rental car will give you the opportunity to also discover ancient history, fascinating sites, quaint villages, unique cuisine, and proud, yet hospitable local people. Friendly, accessible, and full of hidden gems, Sardinia is just waiting to be explored.
Your Guide to Traveling Around Sardinia with a Rental Car
By Aleksandrs Buraks | Updated June 19, 2024
Why should you rent a car in Sardinia?
Famous for its stunning, scenic coastline, Sardinia attracts millions of visitors every year. While the resorts are undeniably the main draw of this Mediterranean island, getting a rental car will give you the opportunity to also discover ancient history, fascinating sites, quaint villages, unique cuisine, and proud, yet hospitable local people. Friendly, accessible, and full of hidden gems, Sardinia is just waiting to be explored.
- Why should you rent a car in Sardinia?
- When should you go to Sardinia?
- Where should you pick up a car in Sardinia?
- Can you take your rental car off of Sardinia?
- How easy is it to travel around Sardinia independently?
- How safe is Sardinia for travelers?
- What languages are spoken in Sardinia?
- Are there toll roads on Sardinia?
When should you go to Sardinia?
The tourist season in Sardinia lasts roughly from late April until the middle of October. The island gets the largest number of visitors in July and August when the temperatures are the highest and when most people from mainland Italy take their vacations. Many hotels and all-inclusive resorts tend to be sold out during this period.
Sardinia also gets many international visitors in May and June when temperatures are cooler than later in the summer but usually still good for swimming in the sea, and when the number of Italian visitors is slightly lower.
Although noticeably cooler and more humid, Sardinia can also be a lovely place to visit in the winter months. The weather is still mild and the number of tourists visiting drops drastically, but so do the prices for accommodation and rental cars. If Sardinia's fascinating history, archaeology, and nature, rather than its beaches, is your main reason for visiting, doing so in wintertime might be a good option for you. There are many fewer flights to and from the island in winter, but you still get decent connections with places like Rome, Milan, London, Barcelona, Paris, and many others.
Now that you've decided when to travel to Sardinia, check out our prices for the dates you have chosen!
Sardinia also gets many international visitors in May and June when temperatures are cooler than later in the summer but usually still good for swimming in the sea, and when the number of Italian visitors is slightly lower.
Although noticeably cooler and more humid, Sardinia can also be a lovely place to visit in the winter months. The weather is still mild and the number of tourists visiting drops drastically, but so do the prices for accommodation and rental cars. If Sardinia's fascinating history, archaeology, and nature, rather than its beaches, is your main reason for visiting, doing so in wintertime might be a good option for you. There are many fewer flights to and from the island in winter, but you still get decent connections with places like Rome, Milan, London, Barcelona, Paris, and many others.
Now that you've decided when to travel to Sardinia, check out our prices for the dates you have chosen!
Where should you pick up a car in Sardinia?
Most visitors to Sardinia prefer to pick up a rental car at one of the island's airports. There are three international airports on Sardinia — Cagliari Elmas Airport in the southern part of the island, Alghero Fertilia Airport in the northwest, and Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in the northeast. Many airlines connect Sardinia with destinations in mainland Italy as well as in the rest of Europe, including low-cost carriers like Volotea, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet.
In addition to airports, it is also possible to pick up or drop off a car at other locations like some international hotels and car rental company offices in the larger cities.
One-way rentals are also permitted by many car rental companies, usually for a small fee, and it's quite popular to pick up a rental car at Cagliari and later drop it off at Alghero (or vice versa).
In addition to airports, it is also possible to pick up or drop off a car at other locations like some international hotels and car rental company offices in the larger cities.
One-way rentals are also permitted by many car rental companies, usually for a small fee, and it's quite popular to pick up a rental car at Cagliari and later drop it off at Alghero (or vice versa).
Can you take your rental car off of Sardinia?
Some rental car providers also permit taking your rental car to Sicily, mainland Italy, Corsica, or even mainland France or Spain. Be sure to search for your desired pick-up and drop-off locations f to find out the options available to you! Remember that these types of one-way rentals are usually significantly more expensive than those within the island.
Also, keep in mind that you will normally have to buy a separate ferry ticket for your rental car. Most ferry companies permit taking a vehicle with you, but you should look this up in advance. The ferry services are much more frequent during the summer months, but then they also tend to sell out more quickly, so it's wise to book tickets in advance.
Although part of France, Corsica is actually the closest territory to Sardinia. If your rental car provider permits island-jumping, the easiest way to reach Corsica is to drive to the northernmost town of Santa Teresa Gallura (about an hour's drive from Olbia). A ferry trip to Bonifacio, the southernmost settlement on Corsica, takes less than one hour.
One of the main ferry hubs in Sardinia is the town of Porto Torres. Located in the northwestern part of the island near Sassari and Alghero, it has ferries going to such varied destinations as Corsica, Genoa, Barcelona, and Marseille. On the eastern part of the island, Olbia Port has connections with Rome and Livorno.
The only connection with the island of Sicily is a ferry that goes from Cagliari Port in the southern part of the island. The trip takes about 11-12 hours. Cagliari also has ferry connections with Naples in Southern Mainland Italy.
Also, keep in mind that you will normally have to buy a separate ferry ticket for your rental car. Most ferry companies permit taking a vehicle with you, but you should look this up in advance. The ferry services are much more frequent during the summer months, but then they also tend to sell out more quickly, so it's wise to book tickets in advance.
Although part of France, Corsica is actually the closest territory to Sardinia. If your rental car provider permits island-jumping, the easiest way to reach Corsica is to drive to the northernmost town of Santa Teresa Gallura (about an hour's drive from Olbia). A ferry trip to Bonifacio, the southernmost settlement on Corsica, takes less than one hour.
One of the main ferry hubs in Sardinia is the town of Porto Torres. Located in the northwestern part of the island near Sassari and Alghero, it has ferries going to such varied destinations as Corsica, Genoa, Barcelona, and Marseille. On the eastern part of the island, Olbia Port has connections with Rome and Livorno.
The only connection with the island of Sicily is a ferry that goes from Cagliari Port in the southern part of the island. The trip takes about 11-12 hours. Cagliari also has ferry connections with Naples in Southern Mainland Italy.
How easy is it to travel around Sardinia independently?
Most visitors of Sardinia tend to stick to one of the island's developed resort areas such as Costa Smeralda; and while that's a perfectly good way to spend your vacation, many of Sardinia's most interesting places are located outside the resorts. Many of the island's most beautiful beaches are more secluded spots outside the main tourist areas.
The good news is that if you rent a car, Sardinia is a very easy place to explore on your own. The main roads of the island are in good shape and while some rural roads can be quite narrow and steep, especially those in the more mountainous areas, practically anywhere on the island is easy to access with a car.
While the largest number of hotels are located in the cities and resort areas, you can easily find accommodation practically anywhere on the island — tourism is one of Sardinia's biggest industries and there are plenty of guest houses, bed & breakfasts, Airbnbs and even mountain cabins to be found (most can be booked online). Staying outside the main tourist areas can often even be significantly cheaper, and with a rental car, you'll still have easy access to most of the main beach hubs.
Although significantly larger than islands like Malta, Mallorca, or neighboring Corsica, Sardinia is nonetheless not especially big and the driving distances are not huge. It takes slightly less than three hours to go from Cagliari in the south to Olbia in the north and about 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel between Olbia and Alghero.
The good news is that if you rent a car, Sardinia is a very easy place to explore on your own. The main roads of the island are in good shape and while some rural roads can be quite narrow and steep, especially those in the more mountainous areas, practically anywhere on the island is easy to access with a car.
While the largest number of hotels are located in the cities and resort areas, you can easily find accommodation practically anywhere on the island — tourism is one of Sardinia's biggest industries and there are plenty of guest houses, bed & breakfasts, Airbnbs and even mountain cabins to be found (most can be booked online). Staying outside the main tourist areas can often even be significantly cheaper, and with a rental car, you'll still have easy access to most of the main beach hubs.
Although significantly larger than islands like Malta, Mallorca, or neighboring Corsica, Sardinia is nonetheless not especially big and the driving distances are not huge. It takes slightly less than three hours to go from Cagliari in the south to Olbia in the north and about 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel between Olbia and Alghero.
How safe is Sardinia for travelers?
Sardinia is overall a very safe destination to visit and most tourists do so without any issues. Crime rates are low and there's something of a communal atmosphere all around the island.
Like anywhere else with a lot of tourists, petty crime does occur, usually in the form of pickpocketing and tourist scams. Keep your belongings near when visiting crowded places and tourist attractions and do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The general emergency number in Sardinia, like elsewhere in Italy and the rest of the European Union, is 112.
Some visitors to Italy worry about the presence of the mafia. While organized crime continues to exist in Italy, the mafia has usually been much more associated with the neighboring island of Sicily and parts of continental Southern Italy, and its presence in Sardinia has always been low. Furthermore, even where organized crime is present, regular travelers are never targeted and it's not a safety issue for tourists.
Wildfires are a serious safety issue in Sardinia that do real damage every summer. If you encounter a wildfire when driving in Sardinia, make sure to get in touch with the emergency service as soon as you can and require help if necessary.
Like anywhere else with a lot of tourists, petty crime does occur, usually in the form of pickpocketing and tourist scams. Keep your belongings near when visiting crowded places and tourist attractions and do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The general emergency number in Sardinia, like elsewhere in Italy and the rest of the European Union, is 112.
Some visitors to Italy worry about the presence of the mafia. While organized crime continues to exist in Italy, the mafia has usually been much more associated with the neighboring island of Sicily and parts of continental Southern Italy, and its presence in Sardinia has always been low. Furthermore, even where organized crime is present, regular travelers are never targeted and it's not a safety issue for tourists.
Wildfires are a serious safety issue in Sardinia that do real damage every summer. If you encounter a wildfire when driving in Sardinia, make sure to get in touch with the emergency service as soon as you can and require help if necessary.
What languages are spoken in Sardinia?
Like elsewhere in Italy, Italian is the most widespread language and is known by virtually all locals, including people who are not native Italian speakers.
The indigenous language of Sardinia is Sardinian (also known as Sard). While also a Romance language, it has marked differences from Italian, and the two are not considered mutually intelligible. A sizable proportion of the inhabitants of Sardinia speak Sardinian, many as a native language.
In the north of the island, Corsican is spoken. Corsican is the native language of the island of Corsica which is located just north of Sardinia. Although Corsica belongs to France, the Corsican language is not particularly similar to French and has more similarities with Italian. In and around the northwestern city of Alghero, a variety of Catalan is spoken (Catalan is more similar to, but not mutually intelligible with, Spanish). It's important to note, though, that even in the north and Alghero, Italian is the dominant language of everyday communication.
The level of knowledge of English in Sardinia varies significantly but is overall not very high. People working in the tourism and services industries and the younger generations tend to speak English better, but even among them you'll meet plenty of people who do not speak it — and in smaller inland villages you can be hard-pressed to find anyone. Learning some commonly-used phrases in Italian or Sardinian can go a long way.
Although French is not very widespread on Sardinia, some locals do speak it and the language can come in handy when visiting the island.
The indigenous language of Sardinia is Sardinian (also known as Sard). While also a Romance language, it has marked differences from Italian, and the two are not considered mutually intelligible. A sizable proportion of the inhabitants of Sardinia speak Sardinian, many as a native language.
In the north of the island, Corsican is spoken. Corsican is the native language of the island of Corsica which is located just north of Sardinia. Although Corsica belongs to France, the Corsican language is not particularly similar to French and has more similarities with Italian. In and around the northwestern city of Alghero, a variety of Catalan is spoken (Catalan is more similar to, but not mutually intelligible with, Spanish). It's important to note, though, that even in the north and Alghero, Italian is the dominant language of everyday communication.
The level of knowledge of English in Sardinia varies significantly but is overall not very high. People working in the tourism and services industries and the younger generations tend to speak English better, but even among them you'll meet plenty of people who do not speak it — and in smaller inland villages you can be hard-pressed to find anyone. Learning some commonly-used phrases in Italian or Sardinian can go a long way.
Although French is not very widespread on Sardinia, some locals do speak it and the language can come in handy when visiting the island.
Are there toll roads on Sardinia?
There are no highways on Sardinia and no toll roads either. So you won't have to worry about how to pay for them like when traveling in other countries with a rental car.
Alghero does have ZTL (limited traffic zones), though. Unauthorized vehicles are prohibited from driving there at certain times of the day. So be sure to look for signs with a red circle and avoid driving past them if it's during the times listed below it (if there are no times listed, then it applies 24 hours a day).
Alghero does have ZTL (limited traffic zones), though. Unauthorized vehicles are prohibited from driving there at certain times of the day. So be sure to look for signs with a red circle and avoid driving past them if it's during the times listed below it (if there are no times listed, then it applies 24 hours a day).
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.