695 Shares

Contents - Open To Read

SOLO TRAVEL IN SARDINIA IS AWESOME!

sardinia-holidays-traveling-solo-what-to-do-where-to-stay-activities-for-solo-travelers-in-sardinia-

After publishing my super popular article on the Top 10 Sardinia Beaches, some of you asked me whether traveling solo around Sardinia could be a viable and interesting option to discover my beautiful Island.

Well, in fact not only is totally doable and safe (for women as well, as we are well known for our hospitality and generosity with foreigners!) but I strongly recommend to take some time for yourself to discover some of the gems off the beaten track.

By traveling solo you will have the time and freedom to create your own itinerary, change it as you please and enjoy the peace of being by yourself immersed in nature or, why not, meet the locals and try to communicate with them.

TIP TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LOCALS: Sardinian people don’t speak English very well but we certainly try our best to understand and communicate with people, at the condition that you come to us with a big smile, as we can be pretty reserved and shy sometimes! But don’t let this scare you, approach us gently and kindly ask your questions or use a piece of paper and a pencil to draw whatever you need!

BONUS – BASIC ITALIAN TO SURVIVE AS A SOLO TRAVELER:

Click on my picture to read a funny article I wrote with some basic Italian gestures!

Knowing a few Italian words can open a lot of doors in Sardinia! It will make so much easier to break the ice, as we think that foreigners pronouncing Italian words are very cute! Below are a few “life-saving” words and sentences for you. Get ready to take notes (and don’t forget them home!).

BASIC ITALIAN SENTENCES YOU NEED TO KNOW TO SURVIVE!

Buongiorno: Meaning “Hello” or “Good Morning” (so don’t use it by night if you don’t want people laughing at you). If it’s evening, switch to “Buonasera” (Good Evening).

Mi scusi: Means “Excuse me”. Good to start a conversation or at least show you’re making an effort to! You can use the sentence if for whatever reason someone seem to be pissed off at you. Try and add the sentence below, explaining that you don’t speak Italian, don’t ever forget to smile and you should be good!

Io non parlo Italiano: “I don’t speak Italian”, so they know that is pointless for them to shout VERY LOUD. Yes, Italian people think that shouting at foreigners in Italian, adding as many hand gesture as possible, will magically turn them into Italian speaking people. I explained this to my parents when I brought some foreign friend in my house, but nope. It doesn’t work, they keep on shouting!

Mi serve / Sto Cercando: “I need” / “I’m looking for”. Try to use your mimic skills or draw whatever you might need. Usually, Sardinian people are willing to go out of their way to help you out (if they trust you enough), even escorting you to places if necessary, but don’t forget to smile and use the next sentence of this mini Italian course.

Grazie molto gentile: “Thank you, you’re very kind”. Everyone appreciates a bit of courtesy and you will win Sardinian’s people heart by using this sentence as much as you can. You might even score a free meal at their house or an invitation to the local bar for some beer or the typical Sardinian liquor “Mirto”. A word of warning: Sardinians DONT’ accept no as an answer to an invitation. It’s highly insulting for them if you say no when they offer you something for free! So smile and say YES!

So now that you know the basics of surviving by yourself in Sardinia, let’s get into the details of what you could experience in my Island! There are so many things to try and things to see in Sardinia that it would take me forever to name them all, so I’ll start with a brief intro of why it’s worth visiting and I’ll proceed by giving you a few itineraries, things to do and places to stay in different parts of Sardinia.

READY?! ENJOY THE RIDE 🙂

Sardinia is a timeless land, a place where you can find complete relaxation and where, at the same time, you can join a lot of activities such as excursions into nature, spending days at a wonderful beach provided with all the comforts (one of my favorite activities!), guided tours of the old towns and workshops dedicated to traditional crafts.

The impressive richness and diversity of this island holds a strong appeal for solo travelers: If you are traveling alone you’ll have different needs compared to a family or a couple, as already mentioned, you can plan a route with the help of expert guides and ask advice to the locals (yes, with my crash course now you can!).

So, let’s start with some suggestions for activities and places in one of my favorite part of Sardinia: The north-east part of the Island called “Gallura” (where the famous village “Santa Teresa di Gallura” is, obviously!).

WHAT TO DO IN NORTHERN SARDINIA: GALLURA

-Zoom in and click on the red dots to see the areas of interest I’ll be mentioning below!-

Activity #1 | Spend the day at the beach: Bay of the Mimose

badesi_beach_solo-traveler-sardinia-where-to stay-what-to-do

Spending your first day at the beach is a great way to start your Holiday in Sardinia! If you choose to stay in Northern Sardinia (close to Costa Smeralda, the favorite destination by VIPs), I suggest you to go to Baia delle Mimose, at Marina di Badesi, a beach that I love to call my “Private Paradise”.

The white beach stretches for kilometers is surrounded by junipers and the typical sea roses (considered the icon of this beach) and is crossed by the estuary of the River Coghinas.

The beach offers a wide range of facilities, ranging from sunbeds and beach umbrellas, pedal boats rental and restaurants in the surroundings, so you can stay here until sunset and then come back to your hotel.

The deep colors of this oasis are the perfect introduction to a great masterpiece known as Sardinia.

Activity #2 | Mount Limbara: The Bizarre shaped rocks and the eco-museum

Limbara copy

If you like active holidays you’ll fall in love with Gallura! You can explore this area following hiking trails.

Have you ever tried to go hiking on a mountain surrounded by bizarre shaped rocks? The first stage of this excursion is Monte Limbara, a granite mountainous range enclosed by two forests. One is located on the northern slope and features a luxuriant Mediterranean scrub; due to its rich flora the forest is included within the Sites of Community Importance.

The other forest is on the southern slope and is dominated by rocks shaped by mistral, the dry and cold wind blowing from the northwest. The excursion is a chance to visit the eco-museum at Mount Limbara called Semida, a Sardinian word stands for “trail”.

A series of works of art dot a park in the heart of the mountain: a metal door with carved the word “attraverso” by Clara Bonfiglio, a thin screen of orange Plexiglas, by Monica Solinas, the iron chain that bounds the granite boulders made by Pinuccio Sciola, a thick rope stretched across the landscape realized by Giovanni Campus and the metal cage framing a huge boulder by Bruno Petretto. A great example of how contemporary art can meet the natural landscape.

Activity #3 | Discovering Aggius, an authentic Sardinian village

aggius-sardinia-solo-travelers-holidays-in-sardinia-what-to-do-when-you-travel-solo-where-to-stay-best-hotels-for-solo-travelers-in-sardinia

There are many reasons to visit Aggius, a small village in Gallura: the first is the charm of its old houses built of granite stone, then its museums, dedicated to the local history, culture and tradition. Aggius, in fact, was awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club for its attractions and tourists services.

A solo travel is an opportunity to customize your itinerary and decide, for example, to learn a trade from a craftsman: in Aggius you can join a workshop of hand-loom carpet making and weaving, a rag doll making workshop or a cooking class devoted to the typical Sardinian bread.

The Ethnographic Museum (MEOC) is a real treasure: here are displayed the original objects and tools tracing the popular culture of Gallura from XVII century to the present day.

The Museum of Banditry, situated in the oldest part of the village, is a thrilling journey into the phenomenon of banditry; the figure of the bandit covered an important role in Sardinia from XVI century to XIX century, so this museum hosts rare material as mug-shots of the bandits, an arsenal of weaponry and the documentation about the outlaws. For more information, you can check out the website: www.museodiaggius.it

OK-museo-aggius-corso-ceramica-

Aggius allows you to understand why this island is a sought-after destination by curious travelers and tourists who prefer authenticity rather than a little souvenir.

I’ve been there many years ago and I still remember its traditional vibe and the amazing atmosphere, a great choice to dive into the real Sardinia!

Best Hotel for Solo Travelers to discover Gallura:

Le-Dune-Piscina--gallura-sardinia-hotels-best-resorts-in-sardinia-north-part

These are fun and great activities that I highly recommend if you decide to travel alone in Sardinia, but it’s also very important to stay in a well-equipped hotel, located in a strategic position to save you precious time and allow you to enjoy the marvelous Badesi beach, the excursion to Mount Limbara and the interesting Aggius guided tours.

Resort Le Dune is a great choice even for long stays, due to its wide range of amenities: a Spa, 5 tennis courts, and the overland excursions organized by the Hotel staff (very convenient!). Take advantage of the less crowded period (May-June or September-October) to savor your stay to the utmost!

Le-Dune-Camera--5

OTHER RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES FOR SOLO TRAVELERS:

Coming soon! with plenty of information on how to find places to meet other solo travelers or if you are on a budget, best places to stay and things to do in different areas for a smashing solo Holiday in Sardinia!

Thanks for your patience until I complete this article. If you have any specific topic you would like me to cover in this guide, feel free to leave a comment! Your feedback is always very appreciated 🙂

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT SARDINIA!

Share24

Pin666

Share5