Things to do in Sardinia

Looking for things to do in Sardinia? Here are just a few of our recommendations.

For nature lovers, there are many different wildlife including flamingos, wild horses and seals and the island also has an abundance of history with many Roman ruins, temples and grottos to visit.

1. Walking - one of the most appealing things about hiking in Sardinia is the sheer variety of trails on offer, from picturesque walks along the coast, tackling mountain peaks or hiking through gorges. The island is dotted with some fascinating historical sites and one of the best of these you can see is by hiking up to the mountain top to see the ruins at Tiscali, a Nuragic village that dates back to the year 6BC.

2. Cruising & sailing tours - why not take a boat trip for a great day out to La Maddelena, a lively but small Island off the north coast of Sardinia. The nature reserve of Caprera is a gem with spectacular Mediterranean coastline combines with the community spirit of the Island and the traditional culture of its historical port.

3. Sights & landmarks - the island is dotted with some 7,000 megalithic monuments and the only remnants of the islands 1st inhabitants. Visit the Su Nuraxi fortress at Barumini, according to the UNESCO World Heritage centre this archaeological site is Sardinia's best-known example of the unique form of Bronze Age defensive complexes known as Nuraghe.

4. Wine tasting - it's easy to see why Sardinia earnt its name as Wine island in the 16th century, a mild climate, plenty of good limestone and fragmented granite soils paved the way for dozens of indigenous grape varieties. Some of the more popular reds, Cabinet and Grenache are its most popular, head towards Sassari and stop at the natural wine producer Tenute Dettori, where you can enjoy a leisurely dinner with wine tasting in this agritourism tucked away in the craggy hills.

5. Food & drink - typical Sardinian cuisine tradition boasts very ancient roots but expect recipes based on fish and dishes which make use of all kinds of beans. Dishes vary from area to area but there are many special varieties of pasta including fregola and lorighittas. Sardinians love their bread and panadas, which are oven baked pies filled with many different fillings. Sardinia is also a major exporter of cheese and wine and don't miss its famous Myrtle flavoured liqueur, Mirto.

6. Beaches & swimming - with over 1,800km of coastline, Sardinia has some fantastic beaches and the azure of Mediterranean Sea is one of the most photographed in all of Italy and thus features endlessly in International articles & magazines. We highly recommend the Costa Smeralda, Gonone, Stintino, Oristano and Villasimus.

7. Sports - Sardinia is one of the most popular destinations for aquatic sports and there is no shortage of options available from scuba diving to sailing and water skiing. You can go fishing by day or night and for those more adventurous the island has excellent climbing possibilities. The extremely quiet roads mean the island is popular with cyclists enjoying a safer than normal ride. In addition, it is an excellent way to discover endless deserted beaches.