South Sardinia
Around Chia and Pula, southern Sardinia lines up shallow turquoise bays, flamingo lagoons and dunes for leaping off — nature's own soft play.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Couples
- In March13°C · 10 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~12h 45m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time14:091h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
The island's southern shore trades the glamour of the north for something calmer: long shallow bays around Chia and Pula, dunes held together by juniper, and lagoons where flamingos stand about in pink rows. Water warms early in the season and stays clear, and the sand shelves so gently that small children can wade for a long time. Behind the beaches the land is scrubby, quiet and largely undeveloped.
Cagliari is the obvious entry point, with the best beaches an hour's drive west or south, so a hire car earns its keep quickly. A week is about right, split between a coastal base and a day or two in the city. June and September bring warm sea and thin crowds; August is busy and expensive. Spring winds suit sailors more than sunbathers.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Low-key, sandy, family-paced
From our guides
Older kids graduate to windsurfing at Porto Pollo standards of breeze, snorkelling around Nora's underwater ruins or kayaking to empty coves. Agriturismo dinners mean pasta made that afternoon. June and September are gloriously uncrowded.
Featured in Ten sunshine spots where toddlers and teenagers are equally happy
Things to do
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Su Giudeu at Chia
A wide, pale bay backed by dunes and a lagoon, with water shallow enough to walk out a long way. Arrive before ten in summer or the car park defeats you.
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Underwater ruins at Nora
A Phoenician and Roman town on a low peninsula near Pula, with mosaics, a theatre and stretches of masonry visible just under the water when you snorkel.
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Flamingos at Molentargius
A wetland park on the edge of Cagliari where flamingos breed in numbers. Flat cycling and walking paths run through it, and the birds are close and unbothered.
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Cagliari's Castello quarter
A walled hilltop of limestone bastions and lanes above the port, with terraces looking out over the salt pans and the gulf. Best explored in the early evening.
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Villasimius coves
East of Cagliari, a run of small white beaches inside a marine protected area, with clear water for snorkelling and a granite headland to walk out on.
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Culurgiones at an agriturismo
Sardinian pasta parcels of potato, mint and pecorino, usually made that morning. Farm restaurants inland serve set menus that arrive in relentless waves.
Getting there
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Fly to
Cagliari (CAG)
Nearest airport to Sardinia, about 93km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Chia
Cagliari (CAG) is the gateway for the south, about 45 minutes by car to Pula and a little over an hour to Chia. Alghero (AHO) sits on the opposite, north western coast and adds a long drive.
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On the ground
Getting around
A car is the sensible way to work the coast: the SS195 runs past Nora's ruins, Pula, Chia and the dune beaches of the Costa del Sud beyond.
Public transport: Regional buses link Cagliari with Pula and Chia, more often in summer, but they are slow and do not reach the quieter coves.
Flights
Los Angeles Sardinia, Italy
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Roughly 12h 45m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 32°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 11 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March13° · rain 10 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to September. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Beachside resorts and residences, agriturismi in the hills behind, and apartments in the towns. Sardinia's grand hotels are mostly on the other coast.
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Best base overall
Chia
Dunes, shallow turquoise bays and a lagoon with flamingos, with resorts and apartments set back from the beach. Spread out and car-dependent, with little in the way of a village centre.
Find stays in Chia -
Best value
Pula
A proper small town a few minutes inland from the coast, with apartments, a piazza and restaurants at non-resort prices. Ten minutes to the beaches at Nora and Santa Margherita.
Find stays in Pula -
Best with children
Villasimius
On the south-eastern corner, with a string of sheltered white-sand coves, a marine reserve and plenty of family hotels. Busy in August and an hour from Cagliari.
Find stays in Villasimius -
Closest to the sights
Cagliari
The island capital, with the airport, the Poetto beach and actual city life, plus the widest choice of rooms. Under an hour to Chia, longer in August traffic.
Find stays in Cagliari
Worth knowing before you book: August rates roughly double with week-long minimum stays and ferry crossings booked out, so June and September are far better value and nearly as warm.
Search everything else in Chia by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Driving
- A car is close to essential. Beach car parks fill by mid-morning in July and August, and the approach lanes are narrow with nowhere to turn.
- Beach rules
- Taking sand, pebbles or shells from Sardinian beaches is illegal and fined, including at airport security. Dune areas are often fenced for regeneration.
- With kids
- Natural shade is scarce on the big dune beaches. Bring an umbrella or a pop-up tent and plan around the middle of the day.
- Timing
- June and September give hot sea without August prices. Many coastal places close from November to Easter.
- Cash or card
- Cards are widely accepted, but small beach kiosks, farm shops and rural agriturismi often prefer cash.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Cala Mariolu
Sardinia, Italy · 55km away →
La Pelosa
Sardinia, Italy · 119km away →
Palombaggia
Corsica, France · 165km away →
Soaking the Cascate del Mulino
Saturnia, Italy · 353km away →
Porquerolles
France · 400km away →
Agriturismo country
Tuscany, Italy · 408km away →Elsewhere in Italy
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit South Sardinia?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to September. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 32°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 11 days.
How long should I spend in South Sardinia?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to South Sardinia?
Cagliari (CAG) is the gateway for the south, about 45 minutes by car to Pula and a little over an hour to Chia. Alghero (AHO) sits on the opposite, north western coast and adds a long drive.
Do I need a car in South Sardinia?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Regional buses link Cagliari with Pula and Chia, more often in summer, but they are slow and do not reach the quieter coves.
What currency and language are used in South Sardinia?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is South Sardinia best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and couples. In a phrase: low-key, sandy, family-paced.