Where to Stay in Sardinia, Italy

Found in the serene landscape of the Emerald Coast, the Li Neuli Country Club is a relaxing retreat and one of the best places to stay in Sardinia. Designed with the area’s natural beauty in mind, the country club carefully blends the sustainable and chic; each luxury guest room is designed with an environmentally friendly ethos in mind. After a long day, drop by the enticing Shima Lounge, offering a unique mix of traditional Peruvian dishes, crafted cocktails and fresh sushi.

Located in Central Cagliari, Cagliari Marina is one of the best boutique guesthouses in southern Sardinia. Expect industrial steel beams alongside rustic old farmhouse tables. It is made up of two guest suites (each with a kitchenette) and a large double bedroom. Despite its small size, this attractive guesthouse more than makes up for it with its personable approach. Food isn’t served on-site, but there is an excellent bakery, Il Fornaio Della Marina, just around the corner for breakfast.

Overlooking the sparkling waters of the Aranci Gulf, the family-run Villa Margherita is a relaxing retreat allowing you to focus on some serious R&R. Each of the 24 guest rooms come with an elegant, authentic Sardinian interior, complete with bespoke furnishings. Try traditional Sardinian fare at the Grill restaurant, while the bar serves up signature cocktails at sunset. To keep busy, book one of the adventurous activities on offer, including jet skiing, kite surfing and scuba diving.

Covering an impressive 2.4ha (6 acres) of serene Sardinian countryside, the exclusive Li Finistreddi guesthouse is well suited if you’re looking for a luxurious stay, surrounded by olive groves and rolling hills. Nineteen individually styled guest suites feature hand-crafted chestnut furniture, luxe Frette sheets and picture-perfect views across the serene landscape – making it one of the best places to stay in Sardinia. Make sure to try Li Finistreddi’s in-house spa, complete with a saltwater whirlpool and a Turkish bath.

Part of the world-renowned Relais & Châteaux group, Petra Segreta is an opulent five-star resort nestled among the picturesque San Pantaleo hills. Blending naturally into the hillside, it is designed to look like a rural Sardinian cottage. Each suite was personally crafted by the resort’s owner and features a contemporary yet homely interior. A truly unique feature of Petra Segreta is Stazzo Malcusa, the resort’s working farm spread over 60ha (148 acres) of idyllic Sardinian countryside, producing many of the ingredients used at the hotel’s restaurant.

Sardinia does all-inclusive resorts very well, making the island a wonderful choice for a family holiday, but making it hard to decide where to stay. Il Borgo is one of the best and forms part of the vast Forte Village Resort, near Santa Margherita di Pula in southern Sardinia. With seven pools, 20 restaurants and 12 tennis courts, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to on-site activities. Children will have fun at the daily kids’ club while the adults relax at the spa. Everyone can then enjoy the private beach, decked out with plenty of umbrellas and sunbeds.

High up in the hills of the Supramonte mountain range, Su Gologone is a homely rural enclave appealing to those with a creative streak. Each of the guest rooms is decorated with brightly coloured textiles and local designs. In addition, the hotel offers painting, drawing and embroidery classes, with an extensive art library that you are free to browse. Learn about the region’s wine in one of two cellars, or book a couple’s massage at the spa.

Porto Cervo is a popular destination for jet-setters. In this pristine town on the Northern Coast, you can dance the night away with Russian oligarchs and famous Italian millionaires at one of the flashy nightclubs such as Billionaire or the more low-key Sottovento. Adults-only hotel Piccolo Pevero’s waterfront location puts you right in the centre of the late-night action. Simple, traditional rooms range from singles to triples – book one with a sea view right here on Culture Trip.

A hotel that’s all about bold expression, Miramare Cagliari Hotel Museo – one of Sardinia’s best places to stay – feels more like an art gallery with beds than a hotel with art. Housed in the 19th-century Palazzo Marini-Devoto, the property is a hotchpotch of artwork, vivid colours and vintage furnishings. Overlooking the waterfront, it boasts rooms with sea-view balconies, made for sipping morning coffee, while the palatial breakfast takes you back to the 1800s. If you fancy yourself an artist, you can even pay for your stay with pieces of your own work, to be exhibited or sold in the hotel store.

While not technically on an island – Sant’Antìoco is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway – the Mercury Boutique Hotel offers a space where you can enjoy a secluded holiday. Rooms are simple, pared back and modern, and a 10-minute stroll from the hotel will take you to Cala Sapone – a picturesque bay with rocky outcrops and a sandy beach. A more popular spot is the Spiaggia Grande, where you can rent chairs and umbrellas or indulge in a seafood lunch at one of the beachside restaurants.

Reacquaint yourself with nature with a stay at Villaggio Camping Calapineta in the heart of Sardinia’s woodland. This accommodation combines hotel luxuries with the immersive feel of camping. Think low-key log or brick cabins set beneath towering pine trees, just a few metres from the white sand of one of Sardinia’s best beaches. There’s also a private pool on-site, as well as a pizzeria, a bar and a kids’ club – making it the perfect getaway for the whole family.