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Table of Contents:
How to get to Alghero from Olbia
When to travel to Alghero
Alghero is a major resort and historic town in northwestern Sardinia. There is everything for a comfortable holiday, from snow-white beaches to all kinds of entertainment. In the old part of Alghero, you can find a lot of historical monuments and attractions, while in the new part there are hotels, restaurants, cafes, diving and surfing centers, an aquarium, as well as a spacious shoreline.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Alghero. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Alghero.
To my mind, the best time for visiting Alghero is the period from May to October incl., when the sea is warm enough to swim in it. The other months Alghero suits only for sightseeing holidays. Alghero is a nice choice for those who would like to enjoy both the natural and architectural attractions of Sardinia.
How to get to Alghero
Where do you fly into to get to Alghero? There is a local airport in Alghero, but there are not many direct flights here, so the closest place you can fly to is the town of Olbia, also located in the north of the island. The distance between Olbia airport and Alghero is about 125 km. There are a lot of direct flights per week to Olbia in the summer. You can also fly to Olbia with a change in some European cities. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use this online service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one.
How to get to Alghero from Olbia
By public transport: From Olbia Airport you can reach Alghero by public transport. For example, you can use a direct bus; the travel time is just over three hours. This is a convenient option, but only if your flight schedule coincides with the bus schedule, since there are only 3 bus services per day to Alghero.
By taxi: You can also get to the resort by taxi or transfer. You can find a taxi car when leaving the airport, or you can order individual transfer services in advance, then the car and driver will already be waiting for you by the time of your arrival. You can find information on transfers and book a suitable option on various international services, such as Kiwitaxi and other similar ones. Based on my research, Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: In addition, you can rent a car at Olbia airport and get to Alghero on your own. In this case, you need to have an international driver’s license, a passport and a bank card to pay for the services. Olbia Airport and Alghero are connected with motorways No. SS597/SS729 and SS729. The distance is 126 km. The approximate travel time is 1 hour 25 minutes (see on the map). You can book the desired class of car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I can recommend both online services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful filters to find out the best available car rental options.
Where to stay in Alghero
In Alghero, all hotels are located within the old town and around the beach area. In the first case, bed and breakfast hotels, intended for short-term accommodation, are more popular. In the second case, 4* and 5* hotels, as well as apartments, predominate. According to my research, the following hotels are great for a beach holiday:
Alma di Alghero Hotel 4* has a convenient location close to the beaches and the town center. The hotel has a swimming pool and a bar. Guests can stay in two, three or four-bed rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is available on site for an additional fee. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services;
Hotel Catalunya 4* is located opposite the harbor of Alghero and just a 5-minute walk from the historical center. There is a restaurant and a bar on site. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided nearby for an additional fee and upon reservation. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services;
Hotel & Residence Europa 3* is located close to the local beach and a 15-minute walk from the historical center. Guests can stay in rooms of various sizes or apartments. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Street parking can be found nearby. The front desk provides such services as luggage storage and bicycle rentals;
Hotel El Balear 3* has a picturesque location and panoramic views of the sea and is located in the historical center of the town. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of various sizes, with garden views or sea views. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that available meal types are breakfast or half board. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage.
What to see in Alghero
Alghero is not just a beach resort; there are quite a lot of preserved historical and archaeological monuments here, so the town is great for sightseeing. The historical center of Alghero consists of architectural monuments from different periods. There are medieval fortresses and gates, churches and temples in the Gothic and early Renaissance styles. On the streets of Alghero, you can also find a considerable number of elegant palazzos, sort of mini-palaces. These include, in particular, Palazzo Carcassone, Palazzo Makin, Palazzo Serra, Palazzo Lavagna, Palazzo Civico, Palazzo Balata and Palazzo Simon and others.
For archaeological sights of the town, in my opinion, it is better to go to its surroundings. Thus, in the small settlements of Palmavera and Sant’Imbenia there are ancient mysterious nuraghes. It is believed that the local nuraghes are more than a thousand years old.
Of the natural attractions in Alghero, the Cape called Capo Caccia and the Grotto of Neptune located nearby are definitely interesting to visit. You can get into the grotto only using a special staircase leading directly from the parking lot on the cape. Inside the grotto there are bizarre stalagmites and stalactites. In summer, the attraction is extremely popular among tourists. Of course, one of the main natural attractions of Alghero is its beaches.
Beaches of Alghero
The beaches of Alghero are picturesque areas of sand by the sea, partly hidden in Gulfs, partly stretching for several hundred meters. The coverage of the local beaches is white sand, as in almost all of Sardinia. The entrance to the sea is gentle, and in some places, corals can be found off the shore. Most beaches are free, apart from a few private areas owned by hotels. On the beaches of Alghero, you can find various water activities everywhere, including rental of catamarans, scooters, water skis, etc. There are also several diving, surfing and kiting schools off the shore; all three sports are very popular in Sardinia, and in Alghero in particular.
As far as I know, one of the most popular beaches of Alghero is Spiaggia delle Bombarde. It is a gulf framed with low rocks. The beach is covered with fine white sand; the entrance to the water is quite gentle. Spiaggia di Maria Pia is also beautiful. It is white sandy spacious beach. Spiaggia di S. Giovanni is located in the gulf and has a gentle entrance to the sea. There is an equipped area for sun loungers and umbrellas. Lido beach is one of the most popular town beaches, spacious, stretching for several hundred meters, covered with white sand, ideal for families with children.
Unlike other parts of Sardinia, where the beaches are hidden far from populated areas, in Alghero there are no problems in getting to the beach. Even if your hotel is located far from the shore, you can always get there by public transport, which is very convenient, in my point of view, that is why I would recommend taking Alghero into account when choosing the beach destination in Sardinia.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Alessandro Caproni
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…