South Sardinia: 7-Day Itinerary

One week in southern Sardinia gives you time to combine cities, beaches, archaeology and mining landscapes. The route starts in Cagliari, explores Sarrabus and Villasimius, then crosses the coast around Chia and Teulada before reaching Sulcis-Iglesiente. It is designed for travellers who want to see a lot without changing accommodation every night.

• Day 1: Cagliari.
• Day 2: Villasimius and Capo Carbonara.
• Day 3: Castiadas, Costa Rei and Muravera.
• Day 4: Pula, Nora and Chia.
• Day 5: Tuerredda and Teulada.
• Day 6: Sant'Antioco and Carloforte, or San Pietro Island.
• Day 7: Iglesias, Masua, Porto Flavia and Pan di Zucchero.

A car is the most practical option. You can use Cagliari as your base for the first three days, then move towards Pula/Teulada or Sulcis to reduce driving time.

Start in Sardinia's capital. Castello, Bastione, Marina and Stampace reveal the historic city, while Poetto and Molentargius show Cagliari's close relationship with the sea. If you have only one day, focus on the centre and choose just one nature stop. For a more detailed visit, see our 2-day Cagliari itinerary.

Follow the coast towards Villasimius. The area includes numerous beaches and the Capo Carbonara headland. Porto Giunco is one of the most iconic stops, but you can alternate it with other bays depending on the wind and crowds.

The drive from Cagliari is part of the experience: avoid planning too many stops and choose one stretch of coast to enjoy at a relaxed pace.

Spend the third day in Sarrabus. Castiadas combines beaches with the history of its former penal colony; Cala Sinzias and Cala Pira are among the best-known coastal spots. Farther north, Costa Rei leads towards Muravera, with lagoons and broader open landscapes.

This day is ideal if the sea is your priority, but outside summer it can easily become a route through coastline, countryside and the small towns of Sarrabus.

Move to the south-western side of the island and reach Pula. The archaeological site of Nora, overlooking the sea, is one of southern Sardinia's key cultural attractions. Afterwards continue towards Chia and choose one of the nearby beaches, such as Su Giudeu, Porto Campana or Cala Cipolla.

Nora and Chia work well in the same day because they combine history and sea without long transfers.

Drive the coastal road towards Tuerredda and Teulada. This is one of the most celebrated scenic stretches in southern Sardinia. In high season some beaches may have access rules or heavy pressure on parking, so always check current conditions before setting off.

There is no need to collect as many bays as possible. One well-chosen beach, a scenic stop and the town of Teulada are enough for a balanced day.

Enter Sulcis and visit Sant'Antioco, a town built over an area of major archaeological importance. For a completely different atmosphere, take the ferry to Carloforte on San Pietro Island. The town preserves its Tabarkine culture, maritime traditions and a distinctive island landscape.

If you choose Carloforte, devote most of the day to the island. Trying to explore both islands in depth on the same day makes the schedule unnecessarily rushed.

Finish in Iglesiente. After a walk through Iglesias, continue to Masua and Porto Flavia, an extraordinary mining structure built into the cliff. Offshore rises Pan di Zucchero, one of the signature sea stacks of western Sardinia.

If you still have time, add Cala Domestica, but treat the Porto Flavia visit as something to plan in advance rather than a quick photo stop.

To avoid changing accommodation every night, use three bases: Cagliari for the first three nights, the Pula/Chia or Teulada area for two nights, and Sulcis-Iglesiente for the final two. It is an effective balance between convenience and driving time.

May to June and September to October are particularly good for a mixed itinerary in southern Sardinia. In July and August, book ahead and plan visits to the most popular beaches carefully. In winter, the route still works well if you shift the focus towards cities, archaeology, mines and historic towns.

If beaches are your priority, remove one cultural stop and spend more time around Villasimius, Chia and Teulada. If you love archaeology and history, add Su Nuraxi at Barumini or the Temple of Antas. If you prefer wilder landscapes, devote more time to Sulcis-Iglesiente and the west coast.