North East Sardinia: a 7-day itinerary

Seven days in North East Sardinia let you combine beaches, Gallura, archaeology and islands without changing accommodation every night. The itinerary starts in Olbia, spends two days around San Teodoro and Tavolara, continues north towards Arzachena and the Costa Smeralda and ends between Palau and La Maddalena. It is designed for first-time visitors who want realistic travel times.

• Day 1: Olbia and a first taste of Gallura.
• Day 2: San Teodoro, La Cinta and the town centre.
• Day 3: Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu and Capo Coda Cavallo.
• Day 4: Arzachena, La Prisgiona and the Costa Smeralda.
• Day 5: Gallura beaches and Capriccioli.
• Day 6: Palau and La Maddalena.
• Day 7: Caprera or a second day in the archipelago.

The route works well with two bases: San Teodoro or Olbia for the first three days, then Arzachena, Palau or La Maddalena for the remaining days. This reduces driving and avoids constantly retracing the same stretch of coast.

Olbia is one of the main gateways to the North East and is worth at least a few hours before heading to the beach resorts. The centre, seafront and archaeological sites make for a light first day, especially after travelling. If you arrive early, you can add a nearby beach, but it is better not to overload the first day with too many stops.

Olbia also works well as a practical base if you want to reduce accommodation changes. San Teodoro, Golfo Aranci and Arzachena can all be reached without turning every journey into a long cross-island drive.

Spend a full day in San Teodoro. La Cinta is the easiest beach to start with: long, close to town and convenient, while the centre offers services and an easy evening without another drive. The lagoon adds a natural element that sets San Teodoro apart from resorts focused only on the beach.

Do not try to squeeze Cala Brandinchi and every other local beach into the same day. The advantage of staying in this area for two days is being able to choose one area at a time and adapt to wind, crowds and access availability.

Cala Brandinchi is one of the signature beaches of the North East, known for pale sand and shallow water. Lu Impostu is nearby and can work as an alternative or a second stop if the day allows. Access and reservation rules can change seasonally, so always check official information before setting out.

In the afternoon, continue towards Capo Coda Cavallo for views of Tavolara and the landscape of the marine protected area. It is better to end the day here rather than add a long transfer further north.

Leave San Teodoro and head towards northern Gallura. Arzachena is the ideal place to understand that the North East is not only about the sea. The Nuragic complex of La Prisgiona and other sites in the area allow you to spend part of the day on archaeology before reaching the coast.

In the afternoon, enter the Costa Smeralda area without trying to cover all of it. Porto Cervo can be a short walk, while the granite landscapes and coves are the most interesting features to combine with the following days.

Cala Capriccioli is one of the area’s most recognisable beaches and can be the main stop of the day. Depending on the season, you can pair it with another nearby beach, but there is little value in turning the day into a race between stretches of sand. Distances are short, while parking and access can take time in high season.

If you do not want to spend the whole day by the sea, return towards Arzachena or spend a few hours exploring inland Gallura. This balance makes the itinerary more interesting for travellers who do not want seven consecutive beach days.

Reach Palau and take the ferry to La Maddalena. The main town develops around the harbour and Cala Gavetta and is a good introduction to the archipelago. You can drive or walk part of the panoramic road and choose one beach without trying to cover the whole island in a few hours.

If you stay overnight on La Maddalena, the evening is more relaxed and the next day can be dedicated to Caprera. Alternatively, return to Palau, but factor in ferry timetables and boarding time.

Caprera is connected to La Maddalena and lets you combine nature, history and beaches. The day can be organised overland or replaced with a boat excursion around the archipelago. In either case, it is better to choose one main experience rather than trying to do everything.

The archipelago is a protected environment and some areas have specific rules. For access, navigation and visits, always check the latest information from the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park.

San Teodoro is the best base if beaches and evening life are the priority. Olbia is more practical for arrivals, departures and travel in several directions. Arzachena makes it easy to combine archaeology and the coast, while Palau is strategic for La Maddalena. Splitting the week between two bases is the compromise we recommend.

June and September are particularly well suited to this route. July and August offer full summer atmosphere but require more planning for beaches, parking and boats. In May and October, the itinerary can still work by giving more weight to Gallura, archaeology, towns and walks, keeping beach time for days when conditions are suitable.

If you mainly love the sea, add a second day in La Maddalena or San Teodoro and reduce the archaeological visits. If you prefer culture and inland landscapes, spend more time around Arzachena and the villages of Gallura. With children, reduce the number of beaches and keep two fixed bases.

If you have more than a week, the North East can be combined with the east coast or the North West, but only by adding several days: trying to connect San Teodoro, Alghero and Stintino in a single week makes the trip much more tiring.

Are seven days enough? Yes, if you focus on the North East and use two bases. They are not enough if you also want to add the whole North West.

Do you need a car? It is strongly recommended for connecting beaches, archaeological sites and ports. On La Maddalena, however, part of the visit can be organised without long transfers.

What are the unmissable stops? San Teodoro, Cala Brandinchi, Arzachena and La Prisgiona, one Gallura beach, and at least one day between La Maddalena and Caprera.