West coast Sardinia

Sardinia's wilder side

The west coast of Sardinia faces the open Mediterranean, and it feels more remote than the famous resorts of the north east. Long beaches, dunes, cliffs and lagoons stretch for miles between a handful of characterful towns, and the sun sets straight into the sea.

In the north west, Alghero has a strong Catalan heritage that still shows in its street names and dialect. Its old town sits inside honey-coloured sea walls, and boats and a cliff road lead to Capo Caccia and Neptune's Grotto, a sea cave reached by a long stairway down the cliff. Beaches such as Le Bombarde and Maria Pia are a short drive from the town.

Further south, Bosa is one of the island's most attractive small towns, with pastel houses climbing from the River Temo to the Malaspina castle. It is also known for Malvasia di Bosa, a local dessert wine.

The Sinis peninsula and the Costa Verde

West of Oristano, the Sinis peninsula is flat, quiet country of lagoons and beaches. Is Arutas is famous for its sand of tiny quartz grains, and the ruins of Tharros, a Phoenician and later Roman town, stand on a headland above the sea. The lagoon of Cabras produces bottarga, cured grey mullet roe, and the museum in Cabras displays the Giants of Mont'e Prama, ancient stone statues found nearby.

Further south still, the Costa Verde has some of the largest sand dunes in Europe at Piscinas, and the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro, with the fishing town of Carloforte, lie off the south-west tip.

Inland, the countryside is dotted with nuraghi, Bronze Age stone towers unique to Sardinia. The finest, Su Nuraxi at Barumini, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Food, seasons and getting here

Expect roast suckling pig, pecorino sardo, seafood, Vermentino whites and Cannonau reds, with Vernaccia di Oristano a local speciality. Alghero and Cagliari airports serve the coast, and a hire car is essential. The west can be windy, which keeps summer days fresh. June and September are ideal for quieter beaches.

Browse the villas listed below to find your base on the west coast, or read more about holidays in Sardinia.