The Most Perfect Spa Retreats in Sardinia

El Faro Hotel & Spa squats on a narrow outcrop of land in northwest Sardinia’s rugged Cape Caccia, 14km (9mi) from Neptune’s Grotto, one of the most intriguing marine caves in the Mediterranean. Its luxury spa has open-air treatment spaces overlooking the Caccia’s turquoise waters and sheer cliffs. It also includes an indoor seawater pool, Dead Sea Salt bath consisting of rehydrated salt from the Asian lake, sauna, jacuzzi and a spa bar in which to retox. Adjacent is an outdoor fitness centre surrounded by aromatic pine forest.

This intimate four-star hotel is situated on Southern Sardinia’s Santa Margherita di Pula, a 10km (6.2mi) stretch of secluded bays and beaches divided by rocky promontories. Most of its 14 rooms and suites have balconies overlooking the pool and gardens, and the on-site spa provides an extensive massage menu, colour therapy, sauna and steam bath. The popular Santa Margherita beach is 400m (1,312ft) away and the ancient ruins of Nora, a major city during the Phoenician and Roman eras, are reached with a 10-minute drive.

Escape to the Inghirios Wellness Country Resort, a 25-minute drive from Sassari, the island’s second-largest city. Its 11 rooms and suites display a modern version of traditional Sardinian decor, and are surrounded by groves of olive and carob trees. The spa has Roman-style baths at varying temperatures, as well as a Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, starlit relaxation space and a varied selection of face and body treatments. One-night pampering packages include an Italian breakfast, spa access and romantic add-ons, such as dinners for two and couples’ massages.

The Filigheddu family welcome you like old friends at Tenuta Pilastrau, a set of luxurious lodges in Northeast Sardinia’s Gallura region. Spread across gardens of centuries-old olive trees, these outdoor-orientated suites sleep up to have five and most have balconies or verandas surveying the greenery and the pool. The soothingly illuminated spa offers a decent range of beauty treatments, a relaxation room with a chaise lounge and an indoor pool and jacuzzi. Sample the estate’s own wine and meat at the on-site restaurant, which specialises in Galluran cuisine.

If you want to intersperse your spa sessions with sporty interludes, the four-star Nora Club Hotel is a great option. Located in the lively town of Pula, near southern Sardinia’s finest beaches, the hotel arranges activities such as diving, horse riding and fishing, as well as offering a fitness centre with the latest Technogym equipment and free rental bikes. When you’re done sweating, recover in the Oriental-style spa, where you can recline by the indoor pool, steam in the Turkish bath or sip herbal teas in the relaxation room.

Hotel Simius Playa is situated in the town of Villasimius, overlooking the beach of the same name. Most of its 47 rooms and suites have private balconies with uninterrupted views of the greenery or the Med. The open-air jacuzzi is free to use, whereas facial treatments, massages, manicures and pedicures are available for a surcharge. Drive 10 minutes south to dive or hike in the protected marina park of Cape Carbonara, or to meet the Notteri Pond’s resident pink flamingos. The on-site restaurant serves meat from the hotel’s farm and fish caught from its very own boat.

Families heading to southern Sardinia should check out Villasimius’s Pullman Timi Ama, a five-star resort with a huge selection of organised kids’ activities. Separate clubs cater for 4- to 11-year-olds and teenagers, offering daily art and gardening classes, archery, tennis and beach volleyball. When the little and not-so-little ones are occupied, you’re free to hit the spa, where you’ll find a heated seawater pool, jacuzzis, a salt room, an emotional lounge and an ice fountain. You’ll also find seven bars and restaurants on-site, plus a private beach.

This all-singing resort lays claim to having the best wellness centre on the Emerald Coast in the north – no mean feat, given that this is one of the island’s most glamorous regions. Looking out over Mediterranean greenery from vast windows, the spa offers everything from thalassotherapy cabins and Finnish saunas to an indoor pool with jets and a chromotherapy shower that alternates cold fog with warm citrus rains. As well as this hedonists’ playground, you’ll also have access to an outdoor pool with a waterfall, private beach and two classy restaurants.

Leave all your worries (and the kids) behind at this adults-only resort near the seaside village of Pittulongu in the northern part of Sardinia. The Pelican Beach Resort & Spa is the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday, so throw away the itinerary and book spa treatments instead. You can have a massage or an entire week of indulgence in the airy white-wood treatment rooms. Book your stay in one of the hotel’s garden fitness and spa rooms and you will have direct access to the gym with a view over Tavolara Island.

Situated on a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Arzachena, Hotel Relais Villa del Golfo offers sea views from each of its rustic rooms and suites. Start your day with a dip in the turquoise pool before nabbing a coveted sunbed on the hotel’s private waterfront deck. The Armonia spa offers no less than eight types of massage: try the hot-oil Sardinia massage that uses local myrtle and laurel for a properly local way to relax. There’s also a large gym and indoor counter-current pool for lap swimming.

The town of Porto Cervo is synonymous with luxury, and the Cala di Volpe is certainly the place to stay. The soft-curving, rustic terracotta buildings create an exclusive village feel, but inside you’ll be treated to fine Japanese cuisine at the Nobu-inspired Matsuhisa. Continuing the theme, head to the Shiseido mini-spa where you can indulge in a Spa Journey featuring Kuroho – a relaxing fragrance that was used by Japanese aristocracy in the 9th century. Alternatively, make the most of the Olympic-sized saltwater pool, three on-site tennis courts and resident gym instructors who run classes including yoga and kickboxing.

Sardara is a village in the south central part of the island within easy reach of the city of Cagliari. The area is known for its ancient thermal waters – rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. At the Sardegna Termale Hotel & SPA, you can soak in one of two thermal pools, with an average temperature of 35C (95F). Inside, the spa offers a range of massages including sports, relaxation and child-specific, designed to help them sleep. The hotel even has their own skincare brand, using local mineral salts.

This seaside hotel sits just below the castle walls in the very endearing town of Castelsardo. The diverse spa offerings include mineral-water pools, a sauna, a whirlpool and hammam baths. Walk through the Kniepp course to revive tired legs or try the docce emozionali (a series of cascading showers ranging in temperature and pressure). The unique Float Room is a magnesium-rich pool, allowing you to float with no effort. Fifty minutes of floating in the dark-blue room is said to be the equivalent of eight hours of sleep.