EXPLORING SARDINIA
Sardinia, Italy’s second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is pretty wild but also more accessible for cyclists than some other Italian regions, especially in the south. The island really fascinates those who travel there; history, culture, food and marvellous, clear blue waters enchant everyone in search of a cycling trip here.
WHERE TO RIDE?
It may be obvious, but my recommendation is to ride along the coastline, no matter where you are located on the island. The sea is beautiful everywhere, but if I had to describe the different sides of the island, I’d say the north-eastern area is more “posh” and expensive and the north-western side has an old history of Spanish dominance that you can appreciate in the buildings of the fortress town of Alghero.
The western, and especially the south-western area, are wilder and I personally love them the most because you can really see how the locals live here as the region has not been exploited by tourism. In addition, the traffic is very low compared to more touristic places so you can find the ideal conditions to ride your bike safely.
The south of the island is quite industrial due to the large port in Cagliari, the largest city. The eastern side has no distinct identity, but it’s very well-known for its beautiful hiking trails. Sardinians’ are very proud of belonging to their island and are a little shy and reserved with tourists in the beginning, but when they get to know you better, they are very friendly and helpful.
The best areas to ride in Sardinia are anywhere on the west coast, in particular around Alghero, Bosa, Buggerru, Sant’Antioco Isle and Chia. Villasimius in the south east, San Teodoro and Budoni in the north east and Olbia up to Costa Smeralda in the north. Discover coastal routes and in-land loops across Sardinia in the GPX Route Library.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The road conditions here are acceptable for road cyclists, even though I would suggest you to always keep an eye out as you might spot holes in the tarmac every once in a while. Nevertheless, riding by 3500-year-old military strongholds is really an experience. These ancient buildings are called Nuraghi and are the symbol of Sardinia, you can see them quite often along the road, as they were originally built as strategic places to defend the island from pirates and invaders.
The island also has a mountainous area where it’s not hard to find snow-capped peaks even in late April as the highest peak, Mount Gennargentu, reaches 2000 metres above sea level. It is therefore also very good for riders looking for long climbs. See the complete guide book from Cagliari to Olbia for details.
WHEN TO GO?
The best period to ride your bike in Sardinia is either from March to June or from September to November, as in the summer months temperatures rise quite a bit up to between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. In spring and autumn you will be able to appreciate the beautiful colours of the Mediterranean scrub and the typically dark green myrtle bushes, from which Sardinians produce a delicious herbal liqueur called “Mirto” that is always served at the end of the dinner straight out of the freezer.
ALL SUMMED UP
You can reach Sardinia by plane or by ferry from the Italian mainland and find every kind of accommodation, from expensive hotels to very basic campsites. My girlfriend and I went there with our van and explored the island riding day by day, which is the best way to appreciate Sardinia by bike in my opinion.
To have a better idea of the landscapes and tours, check out my YouTube video below and if you have any questions just drop them in the comments box and I will be happy to answer…
