An island in the middle of the Mediterranean
Sardinia, slowly.
Wild beaches the colour of glass, ancient stone towers older than the pyramids, a cuisine handed down village by village. This is the Sardinia we live in — and the one we'd love you to taste.
Welcome
Older than Rome. Quieter than you'd expect.
Sardinia is Italy without the rush. Two thousand kilometres of coastline, a granite spine of mountains, and a culture that has stayed proudly itself for thousands of years. People here speak Sardo as well as Italian, eat from their own gardens, and still nap when the sun is highest.
The coast
Water you have to see to believe.
Sardinia's sea is famous for a reason — clear, layered turquoise that turns almost luminous over white sand. The north coast around Valledoria mixes long open beaches (Badesi, San Pietro a Mare, La Ciaccia) with hidden rocky coves to the west, towards Castelsardo and Isola Rossa.
Most beaches here are still free, wild and easy to reach by car in fifteen to forty minutes from the apartments.
The food
Pane carasau, pecorino, Cannonau.
Sardinian cooking is shepherd food and fisherman food, side by side. Crackling pane carasau bread, aged pecorino sardo, bottarga shaved over spaghetti, fregola with clams, suckling pig slow-roasted with myrtle.
Wash it down with a glass of Cannonau — the island's deep, sun-baked red — or a cold Vermentino di Gallura if you've just come up from the sea.
The history
Seven thousand nuraghi, and counting.
Long before the Romans, Sardinia was home to the Nuragic civilization — the people who built the island's iconic stone towers. Around seven thousand nuraghi still stand, scattered across the countryside, some as old as 1800 BC.
Drive half an hour inland and you'll trip over them in olive groves. Su Nuraxi di Barumini, in the south, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and well worth the day trip.
The villages
Pastel alleys and slow afternoons.
Castelsardo, perched on a basalt outcrop with its medieval citadel; Bosa, with its row of painted houses along the river; tiny inland borghi where the bread is still wood-fired and the old men play cards in the square.
Valledoria itself is a working seaside town — no resort gloss, just bakeries, a Saturday market, a couple of family trattorias, and a five-kilometre beach at the end of the road.
Good to know
Sardinia in numbers.
1,849 km
Of coastline
≈ 7,000
Nuraghi still standing
300+
Days of sun a year
1.6 m
Sardinians, fiercely local
2 hrs
Flight from most of Europe
1
Quiet street where we live
Our own photographs
Sardinia, as we see it.
Every photo below was taken by us, within an easy drive of the apartments. Click any image to enlarge it.
From your hosts
Dario & Claudia's insider guide
This is the same list we send our guests before they arrive — our house beach, the coves worth the drive, the towns we love, and the restaurants where we can book a table for you.
Beaches we send everyone to
Drive times are from the apartments in Valledoria.
San Pietro a Mare
800 m — walkableOur house beach, about 800 metres from the apartments. Perfect when you don't feel like taking the car, and long enough for a proper walk along the shore.
La Marinedda — Isola Rossa
20 min driveOne of the finest beaches on this coast — white sand and turquoise water, easy to reach for a half day.
Li Cossi — Costa Paradiso
30 min driveA genuinely beautiful bay set between granite rocks — iconic emerald water, reached on foot from Costa Paradiso.
La Pelosa — Stintino
1 h 15 — booking requiredSuper beautiful and worth the drive — the photos speak for themselves. Access is limited in summer, so a reservation is required.
La Maddalena
1 h 15 + 15 min ferryDrive to Palau and take the ferry across — about fifteen minutes. A beautiful day trip through a national park, with some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean.
Towns worth a day
All easy half-day trips by car.
Castelsardo
15 minA beautiful little town with a castle built high above the sea — very pretty, and the view from the top is worth the climb.
Sassari
30 minThe shopping town: large shopping centres (Zara, Stradivarius, Bershka and more) plus an old town full of small independent shops. Ask us and we'll send the links.
Alghero
45 minAn old Catalan town with a lovely historic centre, good food and small shops — very Catalan, and the paella is excellent. A great little trip.
Where to eat
We're happy to reserve for you — just ask.
La Rocca Ja
Castelsardo — 20 minRun by friends of ours, with a spectacular view over the sea. The food is great and the value for money is very good — we can arrange a table with the best view. Just let us know.
Emirosa
Valledoria — a few minutesSardinian cooking done properly, close to the apartments — a good choice for a relaxed dinner. We can reserve for you.
Casteldoria
By the thermal springs — 10 minRestaurant beside the Casteldoria thermal springs on the Coghinas river — lovely for lunch after a soak or a walk up to the tower.
Cross Country
Sedini — a short driveEasy-going spot in Sedini for pizza, grilled dishes and a drink — handy on evenings when you don't want to drive far.
Worth the drive
Day trips and landmarks we recommend across the north of the island.
Grotta di Nettuno & Capo Caccia
Alghero — 1 hA spectacular sea cave beneath the cliffs of Capo Caccia, reached by boat from Alghero or down the panoramic Escala del Cabirol stairway.
Castelsardo — Castello dei Doria
15 minThe Doria castle crowns the old town, with sweeping views over the Gulf of Asinara and the Museum of Mediterranean Weaving inside. Don't miss the cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate and the Elephant Rock just outside town.
Arcipelago di La Maddalena
Ferry from PalauA national park of seven main islands and countless islets. Spargi and the Pink Beach on Budelli are the classics; boats also leave from Santa Teresa and Portopozzo. Perfect for snorkelling and coastal walks.
Parco Nazionale dell'Asinara
A former prison island turned national park, home to the famous white donkeys. Day excursions run by boat, jeep, bike or the little train.
Tempio Pausania & Foresta di Limbara
An inland granite town of stone houses and springs, with the Limbara forest above it — hiking trails, big views, and one of Sardinia's liveliest carnivals in February.
More than the beach
Valledoria and the surrounding area offer canoeing, horse riding and motocross. Tell us what you'd like to do and we'll arrange the booking or send you the details.
Activities we can arrange
- Boat trips & island excursions
- Canoeing & kayaking
- Diving & snorkelling
- Sailing, windsurf & kitesurf
- Horse riding
- Trekking & Nordic walking
- Cycling & bike rental
- Quad excursions
- Fishing
- Dolphin watching
- Motocross
- Sardinian cooking classes
Practical help
Ask us and we'll sort it before or during your stay.
- Ferry tickets & timetables
- Car rental
- Airport transfers & taxi
- Bus connections
- Restaurant reservations
- Excursion & activity booking
The most beautiful beaches and coves of northern Sardinia
A longer list, by area, for guests who like to explore.
North coast & Gallura
Spiaggia Poltu Biancu
07030 Badesi (SS)
Crystal-clear water, pale sand and granite rocks.
Spiaggia di Maragnani
Località La Ciaccia, 07039 Valledoria (SS)
A small, uncrowded beach with transparent water.
Spiaggia La Marinedda
Località Isola Rossa, 07038 Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola (SS)
One of the finest on the coast: white sand, turquoise sea.
Cala Canneddi (Cala Rossa)
Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola (SS)
A sheltered bay tucked between the rocks, water like glass.
Cala Tinnari
Costa Paradiso, Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola (SS)
A wild cove reached on foot or by boat — among the island's most spectacular.
Spiaggia di Li Cossi
Costa Paradiso, Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola (SS)
Iconic beach with emerald sea and granite outcrops.
Cala Sarraina
Vignola Mare, Aglientu (SS)
A small natural bay with turquoise water and a magnificent outlook.
Spiaggia di Rena Majore
Località Rena Majore, 07020 Aglientu (SS)
A big dune-backed beach with Caribbean colours.
Spiaggia Lu Litarroni
Località Lu Litarroni, 07020 Aglientu (SS)
Quiet and very wide, with crystalline water.
Spiaggia di Vignola Mare
Vignola Mare, Aglientu (SS)
Pale sand, clear sea and a view of the Vignola islet.
Cala Ostina
Castelsardo, 07031 (SS)
A calm bay with clear water — ideal for a lazy day.
Alghero & Capo Caccia
Spiaggia del Lazzaretto
Località Lazzaretto, 07041 Alghero (SS)
One of Alghero's loveliest, with a string of little coves.
Spiaggia Le Bombarde
Località Le Bombarde, 07041 Alghero (SS)
Fine white sand and turquoise water.
Spiaggia di Mugoni
Località Mugoni, 07041 Alghero (SS)
A large bay framed by pines, with calm water.
Spiaggia di Maria Pia
Viale Primo Maggio, 07041 Alghero (SS)
A long beach with dunes and pine woods — perfect for families.
Spiaggia di Porto Ferro
Località Porto Ferro, 07041 Sassari (SS)
Wild and dune-backed, with a big natural panorama.
Cala Dragunara
Località Capo Caccia, 07041 Alghero (SS)
A small bay with transparent water at the foot of Capo Caccia.
Cala del Bollo
Capo Caccia, Alghero (SS)
A hidden, spectacular cove — mostly reached by sea.
Spiaggia di Porticciolo
Località Porticciolo, Alghero (SS)
A small bay surrounded by nature, with clear water.
Cala Viola
Parco Naturale di Porto Conte, Alghero (SS)
A secluded cove with crystalline water — for those after quiet.
Need help planning?
Send us a message before or during your stay — we'll help with reservations, directions and the little things that make a difference.
Contact us →When you're ready
Come and live a week of it.
Our three apartments in Valledoria are the easiest way to slip into Sardinian rhythm — beach in the morning, market at noon, long dinner under the stars.
See the apartments →