Sardinia has five UNESCO treasures, and one of them, the nuragic complex of Su Nuraxi di Barumini, is the first stop for anyone interested in the island’s ancient past. Asinara National Park, on the northwestern tip, is free to enter and open to bikes, horses and a tourist train. The Phoenician city of Tharros sits between the sea and the ponds. Start with those three, then add Cagliari for the city side of the island.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Asinara National Park, Tharros
- Main access to Asinara: from Porto Nuovo at Stintino and from Porto Torres
- Barumini opening: every day of the year without interruption
- Asinara National Park admission: free
- Barumini ticket: one single ticket for Su Nuraxi, Casa Zapata and the Giovanni Lilliu Centre, guided tour included
What are the best things to do in Sardinia?
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Su Nuraxi is the most important nuragic complex in Sardinia and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. The archaeological area covers 20,000 m².
One single ticket covers Su Nuraxi, Casa Zapata and the Giovanni Lilliu Centre, and the guided tour is included. Visits run in Italian, English and French.
Asinara National Park
Asinara lies on the northwestern tip of Sardinia and has been part of the national park of the same name since 1997. The Asinara donkey is the identifying symbol of the park. The marine protected area was established in 2002.
Admission is free, and the island is reached from Porto Nuovo at Stintino or from Porto Torres. The trails stretch over five thousand hectares, so pick your way around in advance: mountain bike, horseback, off-road vehicle or tourist train.
Tharros
Tharros stands in the Sinis landscape, between the sea and the ponds. Phoenician colonists founded the city at the end of the 8th century BC, and it was abandoned in 1070.
The archaeological area offers guided tours and a bookshop.
Necropoli di Sant’Andrea Priu
This Domus de Janas, a rock-cut tomb, later became one of the first Christian churches.
Hours and tickets are not given in the official material, so confirm them locally before building a day around it.
Castello della Fava, Posada
The Castello della Fava in Posada is one of the most panoramic medieval fortresses of Sardinia. The view is the reason to go.
Skip it if you only have time for the big archaeological sites, since no opening hours or ticket details are listed. If you do go, choose a clear day for the panorama.
Cagliari
Cagliari runs its own official tourism website through the Municipality. The Tourist Office is on the ground floor of the Town Hall, via Roma n.145, which makes it an easy first stop for itineraries and events.
The Castle of San Michele is at Via Sirai, via Cinquini. The city’s botanical garden covers five hectares and was founded in 1866 by Patrizio Gennari, a calm break between sights.
When is the best time to visit Sardinia for sightseeing?
Cagliari’s climate shows how the seasons change sightseeing across the south. Winter is mild, with January highs near 59°F (15°C) and six rainy days, so indoor stops like museums and the Tourist Office are easy to slot in. Spring warms steadily: April reaches 68°F (20°C) and May 75°F (24°C) with four rainy days, which suits open-air sites like Tharros and Su Nuraxi. June climbs to 84°F (29°C), and July to 89°F (32°C) with almost no rain, so plan archaeological areas for early in the day.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Sardinia
Asinara has beaches of soft sand and clear water, including Cala dei Ponzesi, Cala Sabina and Cala Sant’Andrea. A shipwreck lies opposite the pier of Cala Reale. Li Cossi has fine golden sand among pink rocks, while Cala Drappo is a half circle of pale stones and pebbles. Is Solinas is a stretch of fine white sand scented by juniper and Aleppo pines. Cala Goloritzè was voted ‘the most beautiful beach in the world’.
On land, the island’s trails can be explored by mountain bike, on horseback, in an off-road vehicle or by tourist train. Bring water and good shoes, since the park covers over five thousand hectares.
- Li Cossi: golden sand among pink rocks · for scenery
- Cala Drappo: half circle of pale stones and pebbles · for those who prefer pebbles to sand
- Is Solinas: white sand with juniper and pine scent · for a fragrant stretch of shore
For sand and a free park entry in the same trip, Asinara fits best.
Day trips from Sardinia
The island’s official monthly itineraries point to places worth a day, from inland villages to far-north coves.
- Gavoi: Barbagia di Ollolai, central Sardinia (October)
- Sa Spendula: one of the highest waterfalls of the island, in the Medio Campidano (November)
- Fonni: the highest-located place in Sardinia, on the slopes of the Gennargentu (December)
- Cala Corsara: in the Maddalena National Park, far north-east (August)
Cea and Cala Corsara are summer coastal choices, while Gavoi, Sa Spendula and Fonni suit the cooler months inland.
Things to do in Sardinia at night
It included guided tastings by AIS sommeliers at the Museo Archeologico di Olbia on October 5 and 6 from 5:00 p.m., and a conference on Sardinian cork on October 8.
Cabras held the Festival della Bottarga from September 18 to 20, 2026, starting at 8:00 a.m. on the first day and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the last. Both are 2026 dates, so watch for next year’s edition.
Things to do in Sardinia with kids
Children get room to move on Asinara: soft-sand beaches, trails by tourist train, and the Asinara donkey, the park’s symbol. Entry is free.
At Barumini, the guided tour is included in the ticket and runs in English. Tharros also offers guided tours.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- sardegnaturismo.it (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/de?language=fr), checked 2026-10-30
- sardegnaturismo.it (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/asinara-national-park), checked 2026-10-30
- fondazionebarumini.it (https://www.fondazionebarumini.it/fr/home-2/), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/fr/sardaigne/que-faire/la-sardaigne-au-dela-des-plages-laconi–sadali-et-isili), checked 2026-10-30
- informacitta.comune.olbia.ot.it (https://informacitta.comune.olbia.ot.it/eventi/benvenuto-vermentino), checked 2026-10-30
- cultura.gov.it (https://cultura.gov.it/luogo/area-archeologica-di-tharros), checked 2026-10-30
- sardegnaturismo.it (https://sardegnaturismo.it/fr/itineraries/les-jardins-historiques-de-la-sardaigne), checked 2026-10-30