Tourism in Sardinia is one of the fastest growing sectors of the regional economy, attracting over 2.9 million tourists in 2016 from Italy, Europe, and other parts of the world. Sardinia is a large island in the Mediterranean west of Italy with a mountainous interior, renowned coastline, and three international airports and ferry connections making it very accessible. The island offers a variety of tourism experiences from lively cities like Cagliari to exclusive resort areas like Costa Smeralda to natural areas featuring wildlife, with the best times to visit being May, June, or September to avoid crowds and high prices.

1. ISTITUTO DI ISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE ”G.A. PISCHEDDA”, BOSA, ITALY
“ECONOMIA CIRCULAR Y TURISMO SOSTENIBLE”
2019-1-ES01-KA229-064220_2
GROWING SECTORS IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY:
Tourism in Sardinia
Tourism in Sardinia is one of the fastest growing sectors of the regional
economy. The island attracts more than a million tourists from both Italy and
from Europe and to a lesser degree from the rest of the World; according to
statistics in 2016 arrivals were 2.9 million.

2. About Sardinia
Sardinia - Sardegna in Italian - is a large island in the Mediterranean to the west of Italy. It has a
mountainous interior and a famed coastline with turquoise waters which attracts throngs of holiday-
makers every year. The island is a region of Italy, and its regional capital is Cagliari, on the
southern coast. With three international airports and ferries from mainland Italy, it is a very
accessible tourist destination.
The island has a long and intriguing history, and is dotted with interesting archaeological sites. In
the Bronze Age the island was populated by an enigmatic people who built nuraghi - stone towers -
across the island, along with palaces, sacred wells and other structures. Many remain, as ruins, and
the importance of these sites is recognised with a UNESCO World Heritage listing. As Sardinia is
on Mediterranean trading routes, various subsequent civilisations colonised or conquered the coastal
areas, including the Phoenicians, Romans and Byzantines. Later the island was for some time under
Spanish domination. A version of Catalan is still spoken in Alghero. The mountains inland, difficult
to conquer and offering little to invaders, have a reputation as untouched pockets of ancient culture
and tradition.
Sardinia has a dual reputation within Italy. It is one of the most popular summer holiday
destinations for beach-loving Italian families - indeed, it's said that whole districts of Romans
decamp with their neighbours to the same Sardinian beaches each August. At the same time ,
Sardinia's ancient 'otherness' casts a lingering and occasionally sinister shadow: the shepherds and
hardy inland communities, the mountains once seen as the lair of kidnappers and the enduring
individual character and dialects of Sardinia all make the place rather un-Italian. None of this,
however, affects the tourists who flock to the white beaches and blue seas.
The smartest destination in Sardinia is the Costa Smeralda, the 'emerald coast'. This beautiful
stretch of coastline at Sardinia's north-east corner was developed in the 1960s by wealthy investors
including the Aga Khan. Every summer gossip magazines are full of photos of Italian and
international 'celebrities' partying, swimming or hanging out on huge yachts in Porto Cervo and the
other exclusive resorts of the Costa Smeralda.
Sardinia isn't all glitz, though. The island has many beaches and stretches of coast which are largely
unspoiled and plenty of down-to-earth towns and resorts. Lagoon, island and mountain habitats all
feature among the region's nature reserves, where you can see a wide range of wildlife including
flamingoes, golden eagles, mountain goats and wild white donkeys.
Airports and travel
Sardinia has three international airports: Alghero, Olbia and Cagliari. All three are served by flights
from the UK, although services are reduced considerably in the winter. British Airways and Easyjet
both fly to Sardinia's capital Cagliari. Ryanair fly to Alghero and Easyjet to Olbia. These three
airports make Sardinia, in the summer months at least, very accessible. The airports are all very
close to the towns they serve, and connected by public bus services.
Ferries connect the island to mainland Italy, and if you prefer not to fly, you could travel by train
via Paris to Genoa or Livorno and then catch a ferry.

3. Sardinia is best explored by car, as the island's prehistoric archaeological sites and glorious beaches
are scattered and often remote. However, the island's towns are connected by trains and buses, and
with a bit of research it is possible to enjoy a rewarding holiday using public transport. In the
summer steam trains operate on some of Sardinia's scenic trenino verde ('little green train') routes.
Sardinia highlights
Sardinia is ideal for several different types of holiday, or, if you have time, a combination. For a
lively city break, visit Cagliari, with its museums, bars, affordable restaurants and nearby sandy
beaches. For more of a holiday resort feel, fly to Alghero to explore the historic town centre and
enjoy boat trips. North of Olbia, the exclusive - and expensive - resorts of the Costa Smeralda line
one of the island's most beautiful stretches of coastline, and beyond the glitz you'll come to the
island archipelago of La Maddalena. This cluster of islands - once home to Garibaldi and now a
marine reserve - and the island of Sant'Antioco, down in the south west, make good locations for a
tranquil island getaway.
Hotels and when to visit
Sardinia is a hugely popular summer destination for Italians, with lots of run-of-the-mill hotels
charging huge prices and still full to bursting. If possible, August is best avoided for the crowds, the
heat and the prices. Visiting in May, June or September is more affordable and more comfortable.
In the winter you're likely to find the island an atmospheric 'local' place, but many hotels and
restaurants will be closed; cities make the most practical bases at this time of year.
Although, as mentioned above, Sardinia does have lots of uninspiring seaside hotels to cater for the
full-board Italian market, you will also find luxurious places to stay, rural family-friendly resorts,
decent B&Bs and thoroughly modern urban hotels. Prices are fairly high, varying from location to
location, but outside the summer months you can find good deals. Check hotel location maps and
read other guests' reviews to work out if a hotel will suit you. Some hotels cater for touring holidays
and won't suit car-free travellers, while others, in tight-packed town centres, may not have parking
or easy access for drivers. In most towns you will be able to find one or two first-class places to stay
- but as the most charming tend to have only a few rooms, it's a good idea to book well in advance.
Disclaimer
The European Commission is not responsible for any uploaded or submitted content. Such content
expresses the views of its author(s) only