5 best tips for budget travel to Sardinia
Last updated on December 28th, 2025.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Italian island of Sardinia?
For many, it’d likely be the island's sandy beaches followed by its sublime aquamarine waters.
But, for others, Sardinia is also synonymous as being an expensive vacation spot. An Italian island enjoyed by many high-profile Italian celebrities — especially in summer — its prices reflect its reputation.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t travel to Sardinia on an average budget.
We did just that on our south Sardinia road trip, had a blast and didn’t come home totally broke.
With plenty of first-hand knowledge to share with you, these are 5 tips on how to plan your budget travel to Sardinia.
Perfect material for your Italy bucket list, use this post to plan your trip to Italy.
Budget travel to Sardinia: 5 best tips
1. Choose south Sardinia over north
There’s plenty of discussion online as to whether you should visit north or south Sardinia. Both are undoubtedly beautiful and where you choose will ultimately depend on your own M.O. and budget.
For us, we chose the south of Sardinia for mainly 2 reasons, but cost wasn’t one of them.
For one, we wanted to see the remote, and wilder, part of Sardinia that our friends had told us about. As someone that much prefers visiting lesser known places in Italy, I was instantly intrigued by the south.
Secondly, northern Sardinia tends to be more heavily promoted than the southern side. While the idea of taking a boat tour of La Maddalena sounds wonderful, being surrounded by masses of tourists does not.
The cost-effective side of traveling in southern Sardinia was only something we found out during our visit.
A budget-friendly surprise
From the moment we arrived in Cagliari, we began noticing how cheap things were.
A one-way train ticket from Cagliari Elmas airport to the center cost just €1.30 ($1.33/£1.09)*. The low costs continued as we ate and drank our way around Cagliari city center.
For a sandwich and orange juice, I paid €4 ($4/£3.38)* at a café opposite Cagliari marina. Was it the best sandwich I’d ever tasted? No. But, for the portion size and location of the cafe, I’d expected to pay much more.
For reference, we visited south Sardinia in late July, so during a time considered typically high season for tourism.
Another reason why Cagliari is ideal for budget travel to Sardinia is that all the sights are free. The city’s most notable landmark is the Bastione di Sant Remy, an early 20th century building in the center. Named after the first Viceroy of Piedmont, the Baron of Saint Remy, you’re free to explore every part.
Close by are other free monuments including the Torre dell’elefante and Cagliari Cathedral.
Having spent 2 nights in Cagliari, I can say that it’s one of the cheapest places we’ve visited in Italy.
A great choice for traveling to Sardinia without a car, you can get around on foot, by bus or taxi.
2. Visit Sardinia at the right time
An obvious point, but one that makes a difference in terms of cost, is when you plan on visiting Sardinia.
As a general rule of thumb, I typically advise against visiting Italy in August. Prices tend to be higher, numbers of tourists double and extreme hot weather can make being outdoors unbearable.
Perfect timing
The season in Sardinia starts to pick up around mid-spring (end of April/May). Like Sicily, there will be visitors already arriving for their vacation but it won’t be anything like in summer.
Spring, and late autumn, are both ideal seasons to visit Sardinia if traveling on a budget. You’re more likely to get good deals on flights as well as for accommodation.
What’s more, the weather will still likely be warm, meaning you can enjoy the full extent of your Sardinia trip.
Map of Sardinia
3. Book Sardinia accommodation ahead of time
Another good tip for budget travel to Sardinia is to book your accommodation in advance. It’s possible to secure some great deals for top places that would otherwise be fully booked or too expensive.
If you’re 100% sure of your dates and there’s no risk of your plans changing, consider booking months in advance.
If there’s a possibility that plans could change, book your accommodation through sites like Booking.com.
Most hotels/properties offer a flexible cancellation policy, meaning you won’t lose anything if you change your mind.
4. Familiarize yourself with an agriturismo
During our road trip around south Sardinia, we spent 1 night at an agriturismo and ate dinner at another.
An agriturismo is categorized as a farm stay or a farm house resort. It’s a place where guests not only sleep on the premises, but where they also enjoy the resort’s homemade produce.
Agriturismi typically offer rustic and homey style accommodation and are usually cheaper in price. We’ve eaten very well at an agriturismo, and for an excellent price too.
The one downside
One thing to note, however, is that many agriturismi tend to serve their own wine. While some we’ve tried have served decent biological wines, others have tasted like straight-up vinegar.
But, if you’re on a budget travel to Sardinia, it’s a small price to pay for delicious home-cooked meals.
In Cabras on the west coast of Sardinia, we had a fantastic dinner and experience at Agriturismo Su Barroccu.
Dining beneath the Sardinian stars, we enjoyed a 5-course meal including wine and a free cocktail.
As we’d chosen the set menu, our bill was €70 ($1.33/£1.09)* for 2 people. It may sound a lot, but bear in mind, the price included 5 big courses including generous amounts of wine.
Agriturismo Su Barroccu, Strada Statale 292, km 117
5. Camp it out in Sardinia
With RV travel becoming ever more popular, this budget-travel mode of transport is ideal for traveling around Sardinia.
The money you’d typically spend on hotels and eating out, would instead go towards gas and food.
Sardinia is also an island that welcomes campers of all kinds. So, it matters not if you plan on camping old school with your tent or arriving in a campervan. The island, north and south, has plenty of grounds to accommodate campers.
Some of the most popular campgrounds in the north of Sardinia include:
- Campeggio San Teodoro La Cinta — located 500m from the sea, Via del Tirreno, 89, San Teodoro SS
- Campeggio Tavolara — beach less than 500m, SS 125 Orientale Sarda, Loiri Porto San Paolo SS
- Campeggio Acapulco — site directly facing the sea, Località Punta Palau, snc, Palau SS
- Campeggio La Foce — located on Isola d’Elba, Via della Foce, 379, 57034 Marina di Campo
Down south, these camping sites are also worth considering:
- Camping Village Cigno Bianco, Loc. Orri, 08048 Tortolì
- Villaggio Camping Capo Ferato — overlooking the incredible Costa Rei, Muravera CA
- Camping Villagio L’Ultima Spiaggia, località Planargia, Bari sardo NU
- Camping Marina, Viale della Pineta, 29, Bari Sardo NU
What we spent in Sardinia
Here’s a breakdown of what we spent for a 7-day trip around southern Sardinia.
I initially thought that the car rental was our most expensive outgoing. But, on closer breakdown of the numbers, it was our accommodation that topped the list.
Flights (domestic)
Verona to Cagliari: €122 ($122/£103)
Accommodation
€861 ($858/£725)
We would’ve likely saved money had we spent 2 nights at 1 place instead of changing each night. For many hotels, it works out cheaper the longer you stay.
Our cheapest accommodation was at Su Cappeddu Agriturismo in San Giorgio. While not considered one of the best hotels in Sardinia, it's a good option for budget travelers.
Car hire
€734 ($731/£619) for 5 nights
We rented a car online and paid an online deposit of €67 ($67/£56). However, we were met with a shock additional cost at pick up.
After being given a ridiculous explanation regarding our method of payment, we’d to pay an extra €250 ($249/£226). Despite me offering my credit card and debit card to repay the remaining balance, it made no difference. It was clear that this scam company had done this plenty of times and we wouldn’t be the exception.
It was only after that we’d read the horrendous online reviews about Viaggiare Rent and the blatant scam they pulled on unsuspecting clients.
Please be weary of this car rental company and stick to reputable and globally-recognized companies.
Gas
€120 ($120/£101)
Food
€400 ($398/£337) over 7 nights for 2 people
This is a very rough estimate as I didn’t keep all of our receipts. On most days, we shared meals as the portion sizes in Sardinia are very generous.
As mentioned in the beginning, we also found food prices to be on the lower price scale. Lunch would cost an average of €8 ($8/£6.8), and that would include a soft drink.
Dinner was usually more expensive, given that we’d regularly ordered wine to accompany our meal.
Total cost of 7 nights in Sardinia for 2 people: €2,237 ($2,228/£1,887)
If you’re planning a budget travel to Sardinia for the same number of days, I’m certain you can get better prices. We didn’t follow my own advice by booking our accommodation in advance, which was clearly a mistake.
There were also some things out of our control, such as the high price of gas during the time. Lastly, we chose to travel to Sardinia during July (as it’s my birthday month), again adding additional cost.
Worth every cent
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our road trip around south Sardinia and have no regrets. When we return to the north one day, we’ll be planning our trip much further in advance.
And, knowing that it’s considerably more expensive than in the south, we’ll be budgeting sooner than later.
What do you think of these tips for a budget travel to Sardinia? Would you plan on doing a budget trip or would you go all out? Let me know in the comments below.
*prices correct at the time of visit
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Wow Sardinia looks certainly a fascinating destination. Love the beach Spiaggia-di-Li-Cossi with the pretty surroundings. Moreover being a budget destination is a big plus. Interrsting to know about Agriturismo and certainly attracted by the opportunity to stay in a farm house and enjoying the resort’s homemade produce. Awesome.
Thank you, I'm happy to read that you're considering visiting Sardinia
Yes, please! I’m ready for the gorgeous sandy beaches of Sardinia. Looks like the perfect summer getaway!!
It is, I hope you see it for yourself one day
Budgeting yourself for trips is essential. You never want to overspend when traveling just for a good time.
I completely agree
This is great! I'm saving this because we're planning on visiting Sardinia next year! 😊
Perfect Elodie! I hope you find it useful for planning 😀
I can't wait to travel again. But first I have to build up my lungs. Love how informative this article is. Thanks for posting.
Thank you LaRena, I really hope you feel better soon
Looks like a great vaca spot!
It really is
Amazing captures, I would love to visit Sardinia.
Camping would be awesome..
I hope you do one day
Wonderful post on tips to Sardinia travel. Sardinia is a beautiful coastal region in Italy with crystalline beach and turquoise water. Agriturismo looks like a great way to enjoy Sardinia and enjoy the authentic farm produce. And the food price is quite reasonable for budget stay. And nothing compares to RV camping in a beautiful island location like Sardinia for budget travelers. And thanks for warning on rental car scams.
My pleasure! It's a beautiful island to explore
Sardinia has been on my list for years, thanks for sharing how to go on a budget.
I hope you visit one day
Great article and so detailed with helpful hints here. We went somewhere in the middle but spent most of our trip trekking but at the end opted for a camp site in cala ganone (they did amazing huge pizza's for a fraction of the usual price too). Thank you for sharing about the car company, we got scammed by sicily by car recently during our italy trip. so useful to know.
I'm so sorry to hear that, Sicily by Car has a terrible reputation too! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip in the center 😀
Sardinia looks beautiful - and some aspects are surprisingly inexpensive!
Yes, it's more doable than people realise 😀
The difference between the cost of north and south is definitely something to consider. To me, the fact that it costs lesser and you have less of that crowd is a huge draw. Plus the whole bit about farm stay that allows you to experience the local culture better and on a budget. Am glad you pointed out that most of the sites here are free - which again is a substantial saving. Sounds like you just made South Sardinia climb up my list!
Happy to read that Ami, it really is a good destination for budget travelers!
Beautiful! Sardinia is really one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, and your blog post is great and makes me want to book a holiday right away! Claudia x
Grazie Claudia, I hope you visit one day!
I've heard of Sardinia a lot but I never thought it would be that gorgeous wow!!! The scenery.....I need to spend a few weeks exploring it, I can't wait.
I hope you visit one day!
This is super informative and helpful! Thanks for sharing!
Welcome
This looks amazing! I have never been but now I want to! Thanks for the great tips. I feel well prepared.
My pleasure! I'm glad you found it helpful
I have been looking at a trip to Sardinia in 2023, so was interested to read your post. I am surprised how cheap it is compared to other parts of Italy. I wonder when it was you travelled as I couldn't find a date? Sardinia is often overlooked for mainland Italy which hopefully means less tourists!
Hi Angela, I mentioned that we traveled in late July which is why we were so surprised too!
I love the idea of camping in another country! Thank you for all the tips - it's good to know where there are cheap train tickets too - always useful.
You're welcome, camping in Sardinia is a fun and cheaper way to visit 🙂
These are the tips I like! South or Caglian as the preferred part of Sardinia to visit. Agriturismos or farm resorts are new to me. Plus I don't care about wines so I will be ok! RVing we also like!
Thank you so much!
Who doesn't love to save a little money while travelling, it allows you to splurge in areas that mean the most to travelers. Great tips shared, I always look at the time to go, and plan around the busiest times, not only to avoid the crowds, but everything gets a little more pricer to travel.
I totally agree. It's really more cost efficient, if possible, to travel during the low season
This place is really so beautiful and your tips are really so helpful. I will surely comeback to your post whenever I am planning a trip to Sardinia.
Thank you! I hope you do visit one day
These are fantastic tips. I would love to visit someday soon...it is just so gorgeous there. Thank you so much for sharing this!
You're welcome
The first thing that came to mind about Sardinia is whether sardines was started from here. lol. I don't care about wine, so staying at agriturismo will be perfect for us. And most importantly, it's not crowded compared to the northern part.
I can understand why, but we have no sardines here! You will really enjoy the agriturismo 🙂
I've always wanted to explore Sardinia, north or south! Once, when I was in the Campania region of Italy, I stayed a few nights in an agritourismo - and I loved it! It was a very authentic experience, with home-cooked meals and a relaxing farm setting in the hills of Ariano. Plus, it made me feel good to know my money was going directly into the hands of the local business. I would definitely go that route again when I visit Sardinia. Sounds like it was a good experience for you, too!
I'm so glad you already tried an agriturismo Jackie! They are so unique here and it really makes a difference to the owners too 🙂
Interesting that Sardinia was so Cost Effective cause I would never think such a hot tourist spot like Spiaggia-di-Li-Cossi in northern Sardinia or any of the places like Cagliari or Catania, near the coast would be "cheap". But on top of working your budget tips it sounds like overall it is pretty cost effective!
I love that idea that you also tried agritourism because we are always up for a different type of adventure that helps us connect more with locals! So this would definitely be a cool way to budget travel Sardinia too!
We really enjoy staying, and eating, at agriturismi Eric. They offer delicious homecooked food using their own produce and it's definitely a little different too
This Spiaggia-di-Li-Cossi in northern Sardinia looks like paradise on Earth. I did not know that there are such beautiful landscapes in Sardinia. Agriturismo looks like a great idea to do in Sardinia. Those food photos are so much mouth watering. A bit expensive the accommodation costs for my travel budget but I am sure there will be probably be cheaper options.
Hi Pilar, I promise you you can find cheaper accommodation. We visited in July so it's already expensive and we didn't book so early in advance
We definitely have Sardinia on our travel wish list. So great to read through these tips for making it a bit more budget friendly. We would certainly plan to travel outside of the peak times. And we love to share meals when the portions are large. Good to know that some places like Cagliari are pretty cheap.
The south really has some great places to visit and budget friendly too. I really hope you visit one day!
I try to avoid going away in July or August because of the expense, crowds and heat. Some great tips here, and the price for a train and your food is really good x
It was so cheap we really couldn't believe it!
This is fantastic, Sardinia has always been on my list and had no real idea about what to expect visiting the the difference in costs of North to South. I love traveling during the shoulder season so this would be in line with the way I like to experience a place without all the crowds during summer season.
Thank you Noel. We really enjoyed the south and I wanted to show the difference between the two
We would likely visit in June or July if we went, since we start school the first week of August here. It's good to know we can miss a lot of the tourism at that time.
June is an excellent time to visit. It's not yet busy and the weather is perfect
I prefer less crowded places too. What a bonus that the prices were affordable. The scenery looks amazing too. I will have to look into this.
The south of Sardinia was much cheaper than we realised, definitely one to consider!
Booking ahead of time is one of the best things you can do to save money. It avoids the extra fees that usually come with last-minute booking.
It's so true and it makes a big difference!