Introduction
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, and is a hotspot for a variety of outdoor holiday activities, from boating and windsurfing to climbing and camping. With three international airports, Sardinia is easy to reach, but you'll find leaving more difficult after you've fallen in love with it.
The Costa Smeralda, or 'emerald coast', is a 55 km stretch of untouched beaches, bays and luxury hotels on Sardinia's northern coast. A mecca for the rich and beautiful, it hosts the Sardinia Cup sailing regatta and the Italian film festival on the nearby island of Tavolara. The medieval city of Alghero offers a vibrant atmosphere of bustling piazzi and a top-rate dining scene.
Cagliari is found on Sardinia's idyllic southern coast, in the Gulf of Cagliari, with its golden beaches and clear blue waters. Cagliari is Sardinia's main port and transport hub and the main city is divided into four historic quarters - Villanova, Stampace, Marina and Castello. Poetto Beach is the main summertime hangout for locals, a generous crescent of soft sand sloping gracefully into a deep turquoise sea.
