Best Sardinia Hotels [2024 Guide]

Sardinia, located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, attracs travellers with its stunning beaches, rocky mountains, and rich cultural legacy. This picturesque island, noted for its crystal-clear waters and historic ruins, is ideal for visitors seeking relaxation.

Sardinia is home to a number of outstanding hotels that are elegant and sophisticated with a beautiful background. The island's hotels, which range from beachside resorts with panoramic views of the coast to historic homes steeped in charm and elegance, promise a blend of comfort and coastal flair assuring that guests have an unforgettable stay.

Best Hotels in Sardinia

Hotel Cala di Volpe

Sardinia's Costa Smeralda, in the northeast of the island, is known for its blue waters and emerald vistas. Its coves are frequented by luxury yachts carrying celebrities and movie stars. James Bond's hotel is located on the Cala di Volpe, the gloriously quiet 'Bay of the Fox', approximately 10 miles from the uber-chic coastal town of Porto Cervo. The nearest international airport, Olbia Costa Smeralda, is only 22 miles (35 km) away.

This Marriott Luxury Collection hotel exudes a breezy, Boho ambiance. Jacques Couëlle's original 1963 construction was designed to resemble a traditional Sardinian fishing town, with sinuous lines and cave-like spaces mimicking the ocean.

The interior is a feast of exotic arches, cane-and-wood ceilings, and screens, with Sixties-style furnishings in powder pinks and baby blues set against chalk-white walls. Designers Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille's recent restorations honour Couëlle's essence by using scenographic lighting and modern elements.

The superb facilities include a lagoon-style saltwater pool (one of the largest in the Mediterranean), indoor and outdoor exercise centres with personal trainers, football and tennis courts, a Shiseido Spa that combines Eastern and Western philosophies, a hairdresser, and a beauty salon. There are additional meeting and event spaces, kids' groups, playgrounds, and a few bars and restaurants.

Boats will take you the short distance to the hotel's private beach, a sandy crescent-shaped enclave studded with sunbeds and parasols, with an exclusive beach club on one end. The hotel also hosts Sardinian cooking classes, frequent concerts, and fashion events. The 18-hole Pevero Golf Course is a five-minute drive away.

Service is always professional, if slightly impersonal. The concierge can organise guided tours, boat excursions to the Maddalena Islands, fishing trips, diving, snorkelling, sailing, horseback riding, and airport transportation.

The 121 rooms, arranged around warren-like passages, appear to have been moulded rather than erected. There is a sense of Bohemian opulence throughout, with Sardinian artisan work and handmade furniture in the bedrooms and sleek marble-lined, gold-tapped baths.

Vast picture windows and spacious balconies take advantage of the sea views, but a few apartments overlook the gardens or courtyard instead. All rooms have air conditioning, a television, and a minibar.

The Harrods Suite, an enormous penthouse, features three sumptuous bedrooms, a wine cellar, cocktail bar, rooftop terrace with infinity pool and butler service.
Matsuhisa, named after renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, is a must-visit restaurant. In a lovely waterside location beside the pier, fragrant and creative Japanese fusion cuisine is served with Italian flair.

The Beefbar, decorated in modern black and white, celebrates premium meats and designer street foods from around the world (think grilled Wagyu beef and Gyoza dumplings loaded with kobe and chorizo). The airy Le Grand restaurant offers a theatrical setting with jacketed servers offering tableside flambés and flame crêpes suzette.

For al fresco lunches of salads, pastas, and grills, visit the informal Barbecue restaurant beside the pool, while the exquisite Cala, located in the gardens facing the bay, is ideal for a romantic supper. Private farm-to-table dinners are available in the vegetable gardens, finally, Ai Due Mari (a short drive from the hotel) serves Sardinian and Mediterranean cuisine with views of the Pevero golf course and the sea. All restaurants charge expensive prices, starting at €200 (£168) per person, so even a small meal can significantly lighten your wallet.

A handful of sophisticated indoor and outdoor bars provide fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, aperitivi, and drinks, including Cala di Volpe's iconic Bellini, which is created with fresh white peaches and chilled Prosecco.

Breakfast overlooking the cove consists of fresh fruits, baskets of croissants and pastries, Sardinian cheeses and cold cuts, eggs, waffles, crêpes, various entrees prepared to order, and gluten-free options. Kellogg's muesli packets are somewhat disappointing.

Petra Segreta Resort & Spa

Petra Segreta is an excellent location for tourists looking to explore the vibrant Costa Smeralda. Tucked hidden in the hills just above the hippy community of San Pantaleo, down a dirt road, it feels like a world apart, at peace among Mediterranean plants and vegetation. The Olbia airport is a 30-minute drive from the resort.

If Italian rural charm attended feng shui finishing school, Petra Segreta would be the product. From the sun-filled clubhouse sitting room to the raised outdoor lounging area with breathtaking views, the facilities at this Relais & Chateaux property exude a feel-good, relaxing rustic attitude. Stone exteriors give way to comfortable interiors dressed in handwoven fabrics and earthy beiges and greys, adorned with souvenirs from the owners' (an architect and chef pair) travels.

Concierge and reception are always on hand with a grin, so by the end of your journey, you will be very friendly with them if you so like; they make themselves available for any and all requests.

The proprietors provide private tours of the adjacent Costa Smeralda islands in their 12m day cruiser, which includes gourmet lunch boxes, and they also give up their farm for private tours and a tasting of the charcuterie, cheeses, and conserves produced there.

The Petra Segreta resort's walkways are dotted with casually elegant facilities. To your left is a Balinese massage hut, while to your right is an outdoor exercise centre. The sauna and steam baths are free to guests at lunchtime, but can be reserved privately in the afternoon if you can find time between reclining by the pool and drinking in the library.

The 25 rooms are separated into categories based on their veranda views and pool presence. What's your takeaway? Each of them is wonderful. Even the regular doubles, which are housed in low-lying stone huts inspired by Gallura stazzi, are roomy and pleasant, with fine materials such as wood, iron, and stone.

Meanwhile, the suites are stunning; five have private, heated pools with breathtaking views. The exquisite details, from the robe and slippers to the stylish sunhats, are included.

A resort's dining options should always entice you to stay, and Petra Segreta nails the long breakfast, extended lunch, and leisurely dinners. Co-owner Luigi Bergeretto oversees the cuisine at Il Fuoco Sacro, the resort's white tablecloth restaurant, which serves an amazing pasta menu (try the goat papardelle) as well as responsibly caught fish and meat topped with bright Italian flavours like olive, basil, and tomato.

The cheerful bistro, relaxed and open to the outside, is a pleasure to eat at and serves delicious pizza with a wonderful sourdough crust. Much of the baked goods, charcuterie, cheeses, jams, and savoury items on the huge breakfast buffet are sourced from the couple's adjacent farm, as is the case with the restaurants.

Le Dune

The resort is located off the oleander-lined SS195 road in Santa Margherita di Pula, about 45 minutes from Cagliari Airport. Beyond the private entry and security, guests are directed to a sophisticated reception area where car rentals can be ordered before being led to their hotel area by buggy. The sea is right outside your door, while the town of Pula and the archaeological site of Nora are only 8 miles distant.

Despite the resort's size, exquisite low-rise accommodations are discreetly set back from manicured roads leading to local services and restaurants. Each bungalow or apartment has its own patio or balcony in a lush Mediterranean garden, providing increased privacy and solitude.

Helpful staff are available at reception to assist you with any booking needs. The Acquaforte spa has a large thalassotherapy area with seven pools, as well as a variety of treatments. There is a diving centre, tennis and paddle courts, and a fitzone, as well as an Aveda salon.

In the evening, Piazza Luisa offers nightly entertainment in addition to a variety of restaurants and bars (including karaoke). The 5000-seat Arena could host everything from Swan Lake by the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre to Sting or Tom Jones. Bike rentals are available, and buggies can be ordered as needed.

Because this is a five-star hotel, the regular rooms are actually Deluxe Bungalows, which feature large beds and a separate seating area.

The Pompeian red walls are accented with glittering mosaics, while the furnishings are in subtle creams, beige, and white. Stellar bathrooms feature plenty of travertine marble, a drench shower and bath, and plush robes and toiletries. Each room also has an outside terrace with sun loungers.

There are a total of 21 restaurants, serving Sardinian, Peruvian, and Brazilian cuisine. Lunchtime operations include a pizzeria and a 'fish market', where you may choose your fish and have it prepared to order. There's also a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and a Cookies Cream (an extension of Berlin's Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant); both require a premium.

Cookies Cream's menu highlights include parmesan gnocchi in a Perigord truffle broth with spinach, pine nuts, and chives, as well as grilled pineapple with coconut sorbet, doughnut, and ginger for dessert. Belvedere serves fritto misto (deep-fried seafood), ricotta-filled courgette flowers, and grilled tuna. The eight pubs include a dessert shop and a tisaneria (tea room).

Le Dune restaurant, which overlooks the sea, serves a comprehensive buffet breakfast with a diverse assortment of breads, fruits, and pastries, as well as charcuterie, cured fish, and cheeses.

Hotel Il Castello

The resort is located 20 miles from Cagliari, just off the SS195 at Santa Margherita di Pula. It's in the lee of a mountain range, so it's protected from strong winds, and it has almost everything you could possibly need on-site, including a beach. The town of Pula and the Roman ruins of Nora are eight miles away.

The Castello is one of the oldest Forte Resort hotels, and one of the most Sardinian in design, with an exterior of the island's red stone and terracotta, and a range of simple but elegant rooms that combine a traditional palette of cream and white with touches of turquoise, hand-woven rugs, and locally made ceramics.

The massive complex includes a heated pool, a water park, an exceptional spa facility with thalassotherapy pools, and professional academies for fencing, football, tennis, and even magic. Cyclists will enjoy Cipollini bike tours of the surrounding area.

There is a 10-seater cinema available for special screenings, as well as an arena with a seating capacity of over 5,000, which has hosted stars such as Sting and Tom Jones. During the low season, the hotel offers a number of weight-loss-focused weeks.

Service is professional but personable, with plenty of people available to provide guidance.

Standard rooms face the garden and are modest yet charming, with hand-woven rugs and local ceramics. The bathrooms have a tub and shower, bathrobes, and Forte's own amenities.

Higher hotel classifications include terraces, and the apartment-sized Royal Suite is as regal as it sounds, with panoramic views of the sea and distant Nora, an outdoor whirlpool tub, and 24-hour butler service.

Cavalieri's breakfast is superb, featuring a variety of fruit, cheese, and charcuterie, as well as the option of a cooked breakfast. An equally spectacular Mediterranean buffet and grill meal are available here. The resort has 21 restaurants to select from, including the seafood-focused Beachcomber, which is adjacent to Boathouse water sports and overlooks the sea.

Abi d'Oru

The hotel opens onto the sugar-sand Marinella beach, which is located on the Costa Smeralda's less flashy end near Golfo Aranci. It is adjacent to marine parks, picturesque harbour towns, Sardinian villages, and the filming settings for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid. Sailing to the protruding promontory of Capo Figari and visiting surrounding white- and pink-sand bays are enjoyable activities.

This seaside hotel is low-impact and Sardinian in style, with rooms that spread out on either side like a collection of houses.

It is luxurious but in a low key way, with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and a large number of returning visitors. Sardinian textiles hang on the walls, and arty photographs of local practices provide atmosphere.

The majority of guestrooms have sea views, and everything is only a short walk away, which is especially convenient for families with young children.

The lovely outdoor pool is surrounded by gardens and features a large bar and plenty of solitude. Beyond it, the lawns lead to Marinella's pale-sand bay.

Chic loungers surround the beach in rows, reaching the blue shallows. At night, the hotel restaurants gently buzz, frogs croak in the hotel pond, and the pool is illuminated by scores of small underwater lights.

This spa hotel features treatment rooms for honey-inspired massages and a heated outdoor pool.

The sauna and steam room are available for hourly booking. If you want to go sailing and snorkelling near the craggy Capo Figari, the hotel can arrange for a private yacht to meet you at its beachside wharf.

There are three restaurants and three bars, including a poolside bar/cafe, a beach bar with tables next to the waves, and a lobby bar with spectacular views of the sea. Staff can also arrange e-bike rental. An independent windsurfing school is located close on the beach. The hotel's children's club is well-equipped and well supervised.

Each of the 130 spacious, bedrooms has a patio or balcony, with the majority offering views of the boats moored in front. The hotel is named after a bee, and many of the rooms feature hexagonal shapes.

Classic family suites offer great value, with two spacious bedrooms and big balconies. Bathrooms feature local marble.

The Sardinian-style apartments have been refurbished and contain stunning rugs and fabrics that are both contemporary and retain the traditions of textile manufacturers in Samugheo, a nearby village noted for its weaving. Signature rooms are named after renowned Sardinians and include suggested themed trips.

The three eateries all have excellent standards and provide large quantities. Mediterraneo is a patio restaurant with views of the bay that serves breakfast, antipasto, and Italian-inspired dishes. Tzia Maria, downstairs, has the impression of a local trattoria and serves more traditional Sardinian cuisine like roast suckling pig and pizza.

Marinella on the beach serves fish and shellfish, including a specific caviar menu, as well as adventurous delicacies like scorpion fish in a chilli sauce and lovely, lightly-crisped turbot. In the nearby bar, you may dig your toes into the sand and sample expertly crafted cocktails.

The pool bar also serves a wide variety of dishes that may be taken across from the restaurants. Breakfast, served with views of the bay, is a lovely spread of cold meat, pastries, fruit, and yoghurt, with an egg station for hot cuisine.

Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa

The hotel is located on the outskirts of Alghero, on a rocky promontory surrounded by the Sea of Sardinia on three sides. The property is nestled in quiet, green gardens with views of the 'Coral Riviera' and the evocative limestone cliffs of Capo Caccia.

Villa Las Tronas is just a 10-minute walk from Alghero's old town and only seven miles (11 kilometres) from the airport, making it an ideal starting point for a Sardinian vacation.

A late nineteenth-century dream constructed on the ruins of a historic watchtower and fashioned like a mediaeval castle, replete with turret and crenellations. The interior is reminiscent of a royal turn-of-the-century home, with airy, marble-floored rooms adorned with crystal chandeliers, oriental rugs, and period furnishings in regal reds and gold. The atmosphere is relaxing and perfect for a calm getaway.

The service is friendly and professional, 'old-school' without airs. You can pass the time in the numerous salons or the games area, which includes billiards and backgammon tables, an upright piano, and a selection of board games.

The Spa features a heated salt-water swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and a small gym (admission costs €10/£9 per person per day). In good weather, you'll want to spend your time sea-gazing or sunbathing on the terraces, roaming through the villa's enormous grounds, or cooling off in the open-air, seawater swimming pool.

You can swim in the ocean from the rocks bordering the garden, or there is a sandy beach below the spa.

The majority of the 24 rooms are decorated in a romantic, period style: beds with antique wrought-iron frames or button-back headboards, jacquard draperies and swags, and traditional dark-wood furnishings.

The top-floor Suites have been given a more contemporary appearance, with new parquet floors and elegant white furnishings. The sea-view rooms on the upper floors, with French doors opening onto wide raised - but not private - terraces, are well worth the extra cost.

The Executive Suites also have outdoor whirlpools. En-suite bathrooms have classic-style fixtures (some are a little antiquated) and either a bathtub with shower above, a whirlpool, or a walk-in shower.

The elegant sea-view restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner, emphasises a vegetarian cuisine for ecological and health reasons. The menu varies with the seasons, but it always includes locally farmed products.

Sample meals include pumpkin mousse with plum sauce (sweet and autumnal); tagliatelle carbonara-style with fresh fava beans instead of pancetta; and a warm chili-pepper and chocolate soufflé served atop vanilla cream with fresh fruits.

Prices are quite reasonable: primi €8-€10 (£7-£9), secondi €10-€12 (£9-£11). The wine list features some good Sardinian wineries, and there's a nice bar for aperitivi and late-night drinks.

Seasonal fruits, yoghurts, a trio of cereals, Sardinian cheeses and hams, sweet and savoury tarts and pastries, and cooked eggs are all available on the Italian buffet breakfast menu. Other dishes are produced to order as a complement.

Su Gologone

It's a Shangri-La-like location in the rugged Barbagia region, inland and to the east of the island. This is a timeless, pristine area nourished by the Gologone spring and surrounded by the high peaks of Monte Corrasi. Come here to experience a blend of raw nature and polished art, as well as sociable evenings and silent nights.

For day adventures, visit the beaches of the Orosei Gulf, climb the Supramonte mountains, or investigate the archaeological remnants of Tiscali, a mystery Nuragic village. The next town, Oliena, noted for its wine, is 10 minutes away, Olbia, with its international airport, is 60 miles (97 km) north.

A wild, bohemian, unmanicured space where nature is allowed to flourish freely and the décor is influenced by the colours of the surroundings. Built in typical Sardinian style with cane ceilings and juniper beams, the lime-white walls serve as a backdrop for bright 20th-century Sardinian art and an eclectic collection of antique furniture, pottery, tapestries and textiles, copper pots and pans.

Throughout the bosky estate, there are numerous quiet terraces, decks, and secret gardens where you may bask in spectacular views from loungers and divans draped with multicoloured cushions. In the evening, the area is illuminated by candles, lanterns, fireflies, and stars.

You can express your creativity through art, craft, cooking, jewellery making, needlework, and pottery classes, as well as one-on-one sessions. The hotel's art collection, gallery, and library provide plenty of inspiration, as does the Bottega, where local craftsmen create and sell paintings and crafts.

There is a spring-fed swimming pool, a mini-golf course, tennis courts, a wellness centre, and a gym for those who prefer to be active. Biking, horseback riding, trekking, jeep excursions, kayaking and canoeing on the Cedrino River, Yoga and Reiki, stargazing with astronomers, nighttime movies, and Sardinian music concerts, including cantu a tenore, an ancient style of polyphonic folk singing, are among the activities available.

Giovanna Palimodde has added her sense of style and colour to the 73 rooms and suites. Each one is unique, but they are all casual and artsy, with old furniture, paintings, books, and the occasional designer piece. Nature abounds, and some accommodations resemble treehouses, in the Wild suites, you can even sleep outside beneath the stars.

Classic interiors are cosy, with earthy tones and traditional furnishings. The comfortable Country suites feature a living room with a fireplace and an outside lounge area. The Junior Art rooms have works by prominent 20th-century Sardinian painters, while the all-white Art Studio was Palimodde's former atelier, complete with easel, oils, brushes, and an untamed private garden with an alfresco Jacuzzi.

Bathrooms have high-pressure showers, bathrobes, and slippers. The suites have either an indoor whirlpool or a circular bath on their individual terraces.

In nice weather, breakfast (a Sardinian buffet) and dinner are served on a covered terrace with stunning mountain views. On cold evenings, a crackling fire heats the elegant dining area, where meat and game are roasted on cast-iron spits.

The restaurant (popular with locals) has a rich tradition of providing traditional mountain fare: wild-fennel ravioli, spit-roasted pork, wild pig and child, and sour Fiore Sardo (sheep's-milk cheese). Much of the produce is sourced from the family's gardens and farm; breakfast breads and pastries are homemade and served with local honeys.

The historic stone-paved courtyard hosts traditional Sardinian banquets twice a week, with sausages, veal, and porceddu (suckling pig) roasted on an open fire and flat breads (poetically known as'music paper') made in a traditional wood oven.

The rustic Gazebo Bar by the pool offers light lunches, drinks and snacks. For sundowners, Magico Tablao is a beautiful lantern-lit terrace-bar surrounded by swaying olive trees and violet-hued mountains.

Colonna Resort

The location is ideal: overlooking the sea, with its own private beach, in the centre of the Costa Smeralda. It is 20 miles from Olbia Airport, a short boat ride from the La Maddalena Islands, two miles from Porto Cervo Marina, and seven miles from the Pevero Golf Course. Given its location, a car is necessary.

The resort is typically Sardinian in style, with terracotta flooring and sand-washed stucco walls, and feels traditional rather than modern or design-led. It is set on five hectares of parkland, which includes palm trees, groomed gardens, seven pools, and a tiny private beach.

The ambiance is relaxing and tranquil, with all of the amenities of more expensive options nearby.

Professional, pleasant staff are available for poolside drinks and advice on trips. There are seven saltwater pools and a tiny private beach. Young families like Mini Club, which offers daily activities for children aged three to ten.

Tennis courts and a tiny practice golf course are available at nearby Colonna Country & Sporting, while serious golfers can take advantage of a discount at Pevero Golf Club. Car, scooter, and yacht rentals are available, as well as helicopter flights, boat trips to La Maddalena (with lunch included), dolphin watching, mountain trips, wine tasting, and sightseeing in Olbia and Alghero.

There is also a regular shuttle to the Porto Cervo Marina.

Pastel-colored rooms are big and well-designed, with tiled floors, terracotta-washed walls, enormous comfortable beds, and plain wooden furnishings. All rooms have a balcony or patio, and the majority of luxury rooms and suites provide sea views.

The hotel's large tiled bathrooms include a shower and bathtub, as well as its own fig-scented toiletries. There are 250 rooms with terraces and garden or sea views.

The enormous Colonna restaurant has a magnificent outside terrace where an army of waiters serve excellent cuisine to candlelit diners overlooking the sea. Buffet starts include hundreds of salads, cold meats, and fish, followed by a variety of pasta options.

Main meals are elegantly prepared, such as beef carpaccio with gorgonzola sauce or seared fish with a soy crust. Dinner is €55 (£46) for non-package guests, excluding wine. The Pagoda bar, which overlooks the pools, provides light Mediterranean lunches. The spacious balcony facing the blue sea is ideal for a pre-dinner Spritz.

An outstanding buffet breakfast features a variety of cheeses, meats, and pastries.

LAgnata di De André

At the foot of Mount Limbara in Gallura, a mountainous district in the north-east of the island. The former farmhouse is nestled deep in the woods, surrounded by hills; indeed, 'agnata' is a local term for a safe hollow.

Access is via a long narrow country route, seven miles (11 kilometres) from the little village of Tempio Pausania and almost an hour's drive to the shore. Come here for quiet, nature, hiking, and relaxation in the lovely gardens or lagoon pool. If you're searching for excitement or nightlife, this isn't the spot.

The nearest international airports are Olbia (34 miles/55 kilometres) and Alghero (68 miles/109 kilometres).

Officially, L'Agnata is a three-star boutique hotel, but in essence, it has the feel of a beloved family home, complete with De André's furnishings and the sound of his music playing quietly in the background.

The magnificent 19th-century farmhouse, surrounded by Virginia creeper, is the focal point of the property. Nestled behind it is the annexe, which was constructed in the 1990s to hold eight guest bedrooms.

The property's most attractive feature, however, is its Arcadian setting in dewy green gardens surrounded by hills draped in evergreen oaks. The jagged mountain ridge serves as a stunning backdrop.

The wonderful staff does an excellent job of making guests feel welcome; stay for a time, and you'll feel like part of the family. The major 'facilities' are the beautiful gardens and the lagoon-like, rock-edged swimming pool - ideal places to unwind and escape the summer heat (albeit the water temperature in the pool is bracing in the shoulder seasons).

The 150-acre estate offers nice walks, as well as hiking and mountain riding opportunities near Mount Limbara.

Aperitifs and dinner are served on the old farmhouse's grassy terraces, and there is a guest sitting room in the annexe with comfortable sofas, a large television, and a few board games. The environment is easygoing and welcoming; despite De André's celebrity, there is nothing spectacular about the establishment. There is free Wi-Fi, but no cell phone signal.

De André aficionados can sleep in Fabrizio's former hideaway in the main home, which still has an old-fashioned hip bath and hand shower. The majority of the guest rooms, however, are in the annexe: bohemian in character and pleasantly cool, if quite dark with brown-wood fittings and furnishings and the encircling trees.

Each accommodation has a covered balcony-terrace (not very private) with a nice view of the pool. En-suite bathrooms are tiny but acceptable, with the majority featuring shower cubicles. All rooms include a television, minibar, telephone, air conditioning, and a safe.

It is certainly worth reserving half-board, which includes an aperitif and a hearty four-course meal for €30 (£26) per person. The menu changes daily and combines traditional island cooking with seasonal vegetables, some of which is cultivated in Agnata's own vegetable gardens.

Expect cured hams, salami, and cheeses such as mazza frissa (a local cream cheese served with honey), homemade pasta, and the substantial Gallura zuppa (layered cheese and bread soaked in beef stock and cooked till thick).

Roast suckling pig (a Sardinian favourite) with rosemary potatoes for the main course, followed by ricotta ice cream or seadas (fried cheese-filled pastries drizzled with honey - traditional Sardinian dessert). The cuisine is heavy on meat and cheese (no fish); vegetarian options should be requested ahead of time.

Breakfast is a continental buffet of fresh fruit, flaky pastries, cakes, tarts, bread, sliced hams, and cheeses, served leisurely on a pergola-shaded terrace.

Antico Borgo di Lu Puleo

Lu Puleo has a quiet and peaceful rural location, surrounded by 1,500 acres of pasturelands and wooded hills 450 metres above sea level.

The views are breathtaking: to one side, you can see the lush Limbara valley, and to the other, the Coghinas river flows into the sea. It's a place of quiet beauty, pleasantly cool in the summer thanks to the constant mistral.

Perfugas, a 15-minute drive away, has an intriguing archaeological museum, a sacred Bronze-age well-temple, and the exquisite 16th-century altarpiece of St George in the Santa Maria degli Angeli church.

There are multiple Nuragic sites around Perfugas, as well as a 'petrified forest' of fossilised trees dating back around 30 million years. To bring you back into the twenty-first century, Alghero and Olbia airports are both just over an hour distant by vehicle.

A traditional Sardinian'stazzo', or farming village, with old stone dwellings, barns, and stables arranged around the main farmhouse. Silvia Cossu and her family, who have owned the land since the 17th century, restored the ensemble. Their loving renovation, which used traditional materials and methods as well as many of the original antique furnishings, has rekindled the place's personality.

Lu Puleo is also an example of sustainable tourism, with home-grown or locally sourced cuisine, eco-friendly products, biodegradable packaging, and no plastics or chemicals.

The owners' hands-on presence and the staff's natural friendliness ensure generous and friendly service. A rustic café serving gourmet food; a swimming pool surrounded by lawns and rattan sun loungers, and several terraces, nooks, and crannies furnished simply with cane chairs and wood pallets scattered with cushions where you can relax or drink in the views.

The large grounds guarantee that guests have plenty of space to themselves.

The seven rooms, scattered across the hamlet in many small stone buildings, relate the history of their previous inhabitants, including the owners' relatives: Mamma Minori, the village baker; Aunt Leonarda, the storyteller; and Grandma Mariedda, who resided in the ancient school hall.

The rooms retain their original feel, being cool and shady with exposed stone walls, aqua-blue woodwork, and typical Sardinian river-cane ceilings. Outside, each room has its own outdoor seating space.

Inside, rustic antiques (many from the original 'borgo'), wood fireplaces, hand-made rugs and embroideries create a comfortable atmosphere, while contemporary artworks, elegant bathroom fixtures and Wi-Fi bring things quietly into the twenty-first century (there are no TVs).

Guests are given robes and handmade natural toiletries, and the slippers are made of biodegradable palm leaves.

The terraced dining hall, with its views of the Coghinas river valley and the sea, is a visual feast. Each evening, chef Ezio Celano prepares a gourmet five-course meal using local produce, part of which is grown in the borgo's fruit and vegetable gardens. Menus are creative and traditional, changing with the seasons and the chef's whims, but each course is a work of art, painted and sculpted with Italian virtuosity.

We tasted homemade 'culurgiònes' (Sardinian wheat-shaped pasta pieces) and slow-cooked meat with veggies in an edible pastry basket. Wait staff provide the most gracious hospitality. Menus start at €40 (£34).

Breakfast is a delight: warm home-baked loaves and rolls with curled butter; jams and fresh pressées made from the farm's fruit trees; the chef's own croissants, cakes, and choux pastries; local cured meats and cheeses (such as the soft pear-shaped 'peretta' or the parmesan-like 'grananglona'); eggs cooked to order and served on dainty vintage porcelain.

Conclusion

As guests leave Sardinia's finest hotels, they take with them memories of breathtaking views and thrilling excursions. Every moment is memorable, whether it time spent lounging on gorgeous beaches or touring old ruins.

These hotels are more than just places to stay, they offered glimpses into Sardinia's vibe, beauty, and history. When you leave you will take a bit of Sardinia with you and we are sure you will want to go back.