Getting to Cagliari by sea from Civitavecchia is the most suitable way to go. Taking the ferry, however long the ride might be, is a wonderful experience that builds up the excitement one will find once on Sardinia. Fortunately, it is very easy to check the schedules and book a ferry to Cagliari using the Ferryscanner website.
The city does not require much time to visit but it is definitely worth a couple of days of sightseeing. It offers one of the most beautiful and clean city beaches in Europe – called Il Poetto – where it is easy to rent a boat, a kayak, play beach volley or do any other kind of water sports. The beach also comes to life in the evenings due to the many bars and kiosks offering that unmissable “aperitivo” by the seaside. Among all the popular bars, the one that I recommend the most is Le Palmette.
When it comes to the impressive city center, get lost within the narrow streets of Cagliari, which only get tinier and tighter the more you walk uphill until Castello. This is one of the oldest areas and it is where you can find most of the grand, historical buildings and museums. Make sure not to miss ascending the great stairways of the Bastion of Saint Remy. You can do so after having a coffee accompanied by a traditional Sardinian pastry (try pardulas or seadas) at the Antico Caffè – one of the oldest in the city, right next to the Bastion. At the top of the stairs, there is a marvelous view overlooking Cagliari, seen from a large terrace which often hosts all sorts of musical concerts and social events.
In order to really have a full experience of Sardinia, after visiting the city you must explore the more natural side.
Opposite of Cagliari, at the other end of Sardinia, is an archipelago of islands called La Maddalena. It’s a magical place where you can experience a completely different side of the island. Its uniqueness stems from the fact that here it becomes evident that us humans are a guest in nature and therefore, need to be respectful of it.. You can feel it in the gusts of wind that run across the island all year long, and while swimming in the waves, or while riding a bike along the rocky ridges surrounded by a thick pine forest. This feeling of wild nature is contagious and makes you forget the need for shoes, makeup and all sorts of habits picked up from living in the city. La Maddalena invites you to let it all go and live a life made of very little other than salt and sun.
As such, the nightlife scene at La Maddalena, especially for the younger, more hip crowds, does not offer many options. There are only a few bars and some family-friendly restaurants. One of the best places to go to hang out after dinner is Osteria Tecla. This is one of the trendiest spots, and every evening people stop on the adjacent stairs to drink a glass of local myrtle while electronic music plays in the background. After all, who needs to go out to a raging club, staying out all night long when there are exciting plans to be had in the morning? For instance, the (quite lengthy but well worth it) walk to reach Calla Coticcio, known by the tourists as “Tahiti” – which is considered to be one of the prettiest coves of all Italy!
The archipelago of La Maddalena carries in its land atolls so much pure Sardinian beauty, combining culture and nature in perfect harmony.