The Best Places to Stay in Sardinia Without a Car [most convenient areas!]

Where to Stay in Sardinia for YOU

Keep scrolling to learn everything about these Sardinian cities, pros & cons included! 👇

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Sardinia – Pros & Cons

Sardinia is definitely one of the most fantastic destinations in Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, especially thanks to its incredible beaches.

If you don’t have access to a car, don’t worry! It’s pretty easy to navigate around the island, and the main areas are easily reachable with public transportation.

I do believe that 3 areas are the best you can find though, have a look at them:

THE BEST Place to Stay in Sardinia Without a Car: Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, and it is also the town you’ll most definitely reach first. Why go any further in the wilderness if you don’t have a car?

Actually, there are plenty of reasons for me to say this, and it’s not laziness: Cagliari is already a marvelous town, and you could honestly spend an entire holiday there without missing out on anything.

In the capital, you will find incredible beaches, plenty of useful facilities, interesting activities and excellent cuisine. Also, it is fairly easy to walk around it; alternatively, you could take the bus or the taxi.

Last but not least, because Cagliari is the main transportation hub of Sardinia, you have prime access to all of the rest of the island, should you want to broaden your horizons. Believe me though, there are more than enough things to try there!

Where to Stay in Cagliari

Do you want to stay in Cagliari? Then you’ll probably quickly realize that there are so many accommodations that it can be nerve-wracking to find the one you need.

To save you the trouble, I have narrowed them down to my 3 favorite picks, depending on your budget:

✅ Best Hotel: Quarzo. Modern Rooms

The Quarzo. Modern Rooms are the best compromise you can find in the capital of Sardinia, so don’t waste any more energy and book it if you can.

There, you will be warmly welcomed by a nice staff and host and will enjoy a fantastic interior with whitewash decoration, as well as comfortable amenities and an ideal location in the heart of the town.

✨ Luxury Choice: Palazzo Doglio

If you want to make 100% sure your next stay in Cagliari will be a success, look no further than the Palazzo Doglio. Not only is it the best luxury hotel in the capital, but also one of the fanciest on the entire island!

The rooms of this hotel are both fully equipped and spacious, while the staff is smiling and responsive and the on-site restaurant is of gastronomic standard.

💰 Budget Pick: Mercury Rooms

While it can be a struggle to find affordable accommodation in such a buzzing town as Cagliari, I believe the Mercury Rooms are the perfect pick.

From a clean and bright room, you will have access to a private, sunny balcony, and will enjoy relaxing times all day long. Plus, the center of the town is easily reachable, and there are also plenty of parking spots in the vicinity.

Discover more top hotels in Cagliari here.

Runner up Best Area Where to Stay in Sardinia Without a Car: Alghero

Alghero is one of the best destinations across all of Sardinia, and it also has an airport: this means that, if you land there, you won’t need to go any further on the island, and can enjoy the town and its fantastic perks.

Speaking of perks, the town is located on Costa Smeralda, one of, if not the most attractive areas of Sardinia: there, you will find tons of absolutely incredible beaches! Although they can get crowded during the summer, they are well worth the visit, as the sand is thin and warm, while the waters are crystal clear.

It’s also located about a 30-minute bus ride from the stunning Neptune’s Cave, the most spectacular sea cave in Sardinia.

As for Alghero itself, it is split between a more historic, older part, and another modern side with great amenities. All in all, everyone will find something they’ll love there!

Where to Stay in Alghero

So, you’re interested in staying in Alghero. Let me tell you that there are plenty of incredible sights for you to discover there, especially in the older part of town.

But if you want to make sure your stay is a success, pick one of these 3 accommodations:

✅ Best Hotel: Alma di Alghero Hotel

The reason why the Alma di Alghero Hotel is the best accommodation you find in the town is because it is simply otherworldly whilst remaining affordable.

Besides, the outdoor area offers a large, lit-up swimming pool with unforgettable views of the sea and the horizon, and the interior is modern, clean, and bright.

✨ Luxury Choice: Casa Villamarina

If you love the traditional view of Tuscany, in the North of Italy, with its rolling hills and seemingly infinite vineyards, you’ll love the Casa Villamarina.

There, you will live in a vineyard and will taste exquisite, local wines every day, while your room will be particularly classy with its tones of beige, brown, and white.

💰 Budget Pick: Lo Spicchio b&b

Considering the many incredible perks the Lo Spicchio B&B has to offer, I still have a hard time believing it’s a cheap hotel.

Located merely 1 km / 0.6 mi away from the nearest beach, it features plenty of amenities, as well as spacious rooms. Awesome!

Discover more great hotels in Alghero here.

Alternative Choice: Olbia

Although quite similar to Alghero because it is also located on the Costa Smeralda, Olbia is the last place I want to recommend for a stay in Sardinia without a car. The first reason for this is that the town has the last of the 3 airports on the island, so you could just get there and stay during your entire holiday, without missing a thing.

Because yes, you won’t miss anything if you stay in Olbia. It is actually my favorite place in all of Sardinia, and I simply couldn’t ignore it.

There, you will find all you need, and won’t need to worry about missing out on anything else: from magical sunsets and breathtaking beaches to narrow streets and lovely architecture, Olbia is just fantastic. Also, you will have access to tons of restaurants and shops!

Where to Stay in Olbia

Just like the other main hubs of Sardinia, Olbia features tons of fantastic accommodations, so much in fact that it could take you hours to just scroll through them.

Let me save you some time and energy with these 3 recommendations:

✅ Best Hotel: L’Essenza Hotel

The fact that L’Essenza Hotel easily stands out in Olbia, considering the immense amount of accommodations the city has to offer, already says a lot.

You will live in a superb property located in the heart of the town, all of this for a pretty fair price.

✨ Luxury Choice: Home Avenue Luxury Townhouse

The Home Avenue Luxury Townhouse is the best luxury hotel you could wish for not only in Olbia but also on the entire Costa Smeralda.

This hotel is impeccably designed and features a magnificent rooftop with a jacuzzi tub. So, what more do you need for a comfortable and fancy stay in Olbia?

💰 Budget Pick: Antica Isola

The Antica Isola is a particularly cheap hotel but also offers fantastic value for your money.

Located in a more peaceful part of Olbia, this hotel has a fantastic main hall, as well as a flowery entrance. As for the rooms, they are comfortable and spacious.

Find more top hotels in Olbia in this post here.

How to Get Around Sardinia Without a Car?

If you’re wondering if getting around Sardinia without a car is possible, don’t worry: you can still see the most important areas of the island extremely easily with public transportation.

The bus is the best way to get around Sardinia without a car. The bus network is dense and covers almost the entire island. However, be prepared for longer trips with possible transfers, especially in the northern part where you might pass through the towns of Sassari, Nuoro, or Olbia.

And while there are services to the island’s rural and central areas, they don’t run very often, so consider using a taxi from time to time.

Besides the bus system, two train lines run between Cagliari and Sassari and from Sassari to Olbia. And there are plenty of ferries to the small islands off the coast, such as the Maddalena archipelago.

More Hotels in Sardinia

Couldn’t find the right area for you? Or you’d prefer to see other options before making up your mind? 

Check out our main Sardinia guide to find the best location for you: 👉 The Best Places to Stay in Sardinia 👈

Or, here are other guides to help find the right location in Sardinia depending on your travel purpose:

• Where to Stay in Sardinia for beaches 
• Where to Stay in Sardinia for families
• Where to Stay in Sardinia for couples
• Where to Stay in Sardinia for nightlife

Or by location: 

• Where to Stay in North Sardinia
• Where to Stay in South Sardinia
• Where to Stay in Cagliari
• Where to Stay in La Maddalena Archipelago

I have even more Sardinia guides, click here to check them out.

Final Thoughts

Well, that’s it, these were my best places to stay in Sardinia without a car. I hope you learned more about the island, and that you loved this list.

Just in case you’re still hesitating, remember that you just can’t go wrong with Cagliari and its relaxed atmosphere. There, you won’t ever miss having a car, and can easily reach all of the islands!

Hope you could’ve found your home base for your next trip to Sardinia. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback. 😁