By car
It is well worth the outlay, and it will allow you to visit some of the more remote and enchanting places and areas. You may find many companies offering car hire like, (with and without a credit card Aiguarentacar), Avis, Hertz, Only Sardinia Autonoleggio.
Also know that most petrol stations do not accept credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, only local cards or cash.
There are no toll highways in the island; the main axes are Porto Torres-Sassari-Oristano-Cagliari (Strada Statale 131, European denomination E25) and its bifurcation to Nuoro (SS131 d.c.n.), Iglesias-Cagliari (SS130), the SS125 (Cagliari-Villasimius), SS126 (Sant’Antioco-Carbonia-Iglesias-Guspini-Terralba), SS127 (Olbia-Tempio Pausania-Sassari), SS128 (East-Central Sardinia), SS129 (Orosei-Nuoro-Macomer), SS195 (Cagliari-SS126 through Pula), and the SS291 (Sassari-Alghero). Many other roads are also of great interest for the tourist, such as the SS133 (Tempio Pausania-Palau) or the Chia-Teulada ‘panoramica’.
Many roads are narrow and wind through hilly terrain; be careful and do not hesitate to use your car horn to signal your presence: because of the light traffic, oncoming drivers may not expect to encounter other vehicles. Remember that locals know their roads: they can drive faster than you because of that, do not try to race with them! Beware also of domesticated animals (sheep, goats, cows, pigs) crossing roads in large or small units, especially in rural areas.
Engine overheating may happen in summer because of the heat/topography combination; take the usual precautions.
Paving is generally good on the main axes; it may vary for secondary axes and urban areas, but is often incorrect conditions. There are local unpaved roads of touristic interest; these can be in any state, especially after heavy rains, so it is better to go there with a sturdy 4-wheel drive car.
Traffic can become heavy during summer in and around touristic areas, in particular on the SS 125, 126, 127, 195, 291.
A roadmap and a GPS tracking unit (handheld ones are also useful for trekking) or smartphones with offline maps are recommended: road signs, in particular directions, are somewhat lacking, especially on secondary roads, whereas crossroads are generally well signaled.
Beware of high winds; gusts in excess of 100 kph (60 mph) are common from September to April.
Many villages have installed speed traps and automated cameras at the entrances: these are almost always signaled and fines for speeding are generally heavy. Quite often, you will cross villages with no pavements, and find elderly people there: drive with caution.
By bus
Regular, cheap buses between the main centres: Cagliari, Sassari, Alghero, Nuoro etc. You may end up changing buses (or trains) in Macomer. Less frequent buses, but worth persevering for the smaller villages. The main bus company is the public-owned and managed ARST. The buses are not so frequent and always late, if not at the starting point. The timetables can be found on the ARST website and Google Maps public transport section has reliable times and connections, but due to the usual delay, some connections can be lost.
By sailboat
Sailing is one of the best ways to see Sardinia. Most charters offer many options from bareboat to crewed and cabin charter, with various types of boats being available.
By train
Regular trains from the edge of Alghero to Sassari and from Sassari to Cagliari, although buses are usually quicker. Change at Macomer for trains or buses to Nuoro. Less frequent trains on this and other routes. Both Trenitalia and Ferrovie della Sardegna operate trains on the Island.
Turistic train routes, called “Trenino Verde” cover some of the most stunning rural and mountainous areas: Sassari-Palau, Mandas-Arbatax, and Nuoro-Bosa. The routes are guaranteed by steam locomotives during the cooler seasons (Autumn-Winter and Spring) and by old diesel trains in the summer.
By bicycle
In many places, it is possible to rent a bike quite cheaply, for as little as 9 euros per 24 hours. Compared to the scarce local bus connections a bicycle provides great flexibility for local exploration. With high-quality roads and great scenery, the bike is very pleasant to ride.
By Yacht
Silver Star Yachting is a charter company with many kinds of Motor Yachts or Sailboats available in Sardinia to charter.
Smart Yachtoffers an extensive range of luxury yachts for shared yacht ownership in the Mediterranean, including Sardinia. Sardinia is a perfect yachting destination, with its pristine beaches and crystal blue water.
