Many travelers in Sardinia like to stay in hostels and 1-star hotels. So do I. For that purpose, I've put together a list of hostels I've stayed at while traveling in Sardinia or heard of and included online reviews for your traveling pleasure. I'm not going to include an agriturismi in this post - those will come later. Most hostels in Sardinia are part of the Hostelling International community, so paying for an HI membership is well worth it – you’ll get better prices.
Since the bulk of Sardinian tourism is clustered around the coasts, most Sardinia hostels are also along the coast since the backpacking set tend to like beaches. Go figure. To kick of our list, let's start in Alghero.
Best hostel in Alghero
Ostelli di Alghero
Via Parenzo n° 79 Fertilia (Sassari), Alghero
Price: Dorm beds from €15. Private rooms from €20/person. Seasonal prices may vary.
Lively, clean, attracts world travelers
The best hostel in Alghero isn't actually in Alghero. It's in Fertilia, about five km from central Alghero. Since Sardinia's second-biggest airport is also in Fertilia, it makes sense right? I last stayed at Ostelli di Alghero in 2006 and found it clean, quiet, but lacking in a communal kitchen. If cooking your own 4-star meals is your thing, stay elsewhere, but I got along just fine on sandwiches and salads. It’s on the bus line directly from Alghero and the airport, so it’s very easy to get to. Fertilia is very much a bedroom community, so shops and bars are few, but you’ll be spending most of your time in Alghero anyway.
The best part of the hostel is its proximity to the beaches of Lazaretto, Le Bombarde, and the closest – Punta Negra. Punta negra is literally a 5 minute walk, but I’d recommend throwing on some comfortable shoes and heading straight for Le Bombarde, really one of the nicest beaches in Sardinia.
Highly recommended for those including Alghero in their Sardinia travels.
Best hostel near Castelsardo
Golfo Dell'Asinara Hostel
Via Sardegna 1
07031 Loc Lu Bagnu
Castelsardo (SS)
Tel. +39-079-474031
Fax. +39-079-474031
ostello.asinara@tiscali.it
Price: Dorm beds from €13, private rooms vary. Seasonal prices may vary.
Quiet, relaxing, attracts interesting people
Castelsardo is an old fortress town from the Genoese Doria days. It’s named after the huge castle towering over the village which actually used to be called Casteldoria – after the Doria family that built it. However, once Sardinia officially became part of Italy in the 1800s, it seemed more political to name it Castelsardo. It’s a lovely village and sits along the coastal roads between Porto Cervo and Alghero. Well worth a stop to visit some of the beaches and check out the castle.
The hostel is in Lu Bagnu, a holiday village about five km from Castelsardo. Although I havne’t stayed there personally, I have it on excellent authority that it’s quiet, and attracts interesting travelers – not the typical Grand Tour of Europe types. From the hostel, you can take a bus directly to and from Fertilia airport, Castelsardo, and Valledoria places you won’t want to miss while traveling in Sardinia. You can also rent bikes, canoes, and take guided treks along the countryside. The hostel overlooks the sea and has a nice veranda.
Recommended for those looking for a laid-back, quiet holiday in Sardinia.
Best hostel in Bosa
Hostel Malaspina
Via Sardegna 1
08013 Bosa NUORO
Tel. +39-346-2363844 / 339 7751121
Fax. +39-0785-375649
valevacanzesardegna@hotmail.it
Prices: €13 for dorm beds, private rooms vary.
Lively, attracts divers and windsurfers
Bosa is one of my favorite active vacation spots with opportunities for excursions: like guided tours to the last colony of gryphon vultures, windsurfing, and Sardinia scuba-diving outings among spectacular coral kingdoms.
The city has fascinating ruins of the Malaspina Castle, built in 1112, but the town’s existence, at the source of one of Sardinia’s few rivers, can be documented even father back by Phoenician inscriptions from the 9th century BC. There is also numerous other evidence from the prehistoric era like the Domus de Janas and the nuraghi (prehistoric stone houses).
The hostel is very close to a good windsurfing beach and offers clean rooms and free European breakfast. The city center, with shops, bars, and the castle ruins are an easy 20-30 minute walk or a 10 minute bus ride from a bus that stops a block away.
The hostel staff speaks excellent English and can help you arrange any activities, including bike or kayak rentals, as well as scuba and snorkeling excursions.
Recommended for active Sardinia travelers.
Showing posts with label bombarde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bombarde. Show all posts
Wednesday
Sardinia Travel Guide: Top 5 Things to See in Alghero
Planning to travel to Sardinia? Don’t miss one of Sardinia’s most beautiful and interesting cities. Just minutes from the Fertilia airport, Alghero has charming streets, an exciting waterfront, and a fascinating history. Here's a list of what you don't want to miss when you're visiting Alghero.
Grotta di Nettuno
On the top of our list is the Grotta di Nettuno, an ancient, half-submerged cave just a 40 minute boat ride from the Alghero waterfront. Formed from Sardinia’s primordial rock the cave is home to many spectacular and bizarre rock formations. The boat ride offers tourists a view of Capo Caccia and some of Sardinia’s pure green waters. The adventurous can opt to take bus, and hike into the park and descend a spiraling staircase to reach the cave. It currently costs €10 to visit the interior of the cave where the most spectacular formations can be seen.
Anghelu Ruju
Sardinia's ancient past
Some of the first recorded inhabitants of Sardinia were the Ozieri culture of the Late Neolithic. A village and necropolis from this era can be seen at nearby Anghelu Ruju, one of the best preserved examples of this culture. Anghelu Ruju sits about five km outside Alghero, just to the east of Fertilia airport. Last time I was there, the charge to visit was €10.
Nuraghe Palmavera
The later Nuraghic people appear in the area somewhere around 1500BC. This was a patriarchal warrior society and their circular stone towers or nuraghe are found dotting the countryside all over Sardinia. A well preserved example can be seen at Nuraghe di Palmavera located between Fertilia and Capo Caccia.
Alghero city walls
The geographical layout of Alghero means that the old town is surrounded by the Mediterranean on three sides. The old city walls, or bastioni, were constructed along this perimeter to guard against seaborne threats from pirates and invaders. Sardinia’s location in the prime ancient Mediterranean trade routes made it a prize for every seafaring group.
Alghero itself was nothing more than a small fishing port until 1102 when the Doria family of Genoa arrived and began building the “modern” fortified Alghero. Their rule lasted until 1353 when a joint force of Aragonese and Venetians captured the town after the defeat of the Genoans at Porte Conte, northwest of Alghero.
The city walls were continually updated and strengthened throughout the Aragonese, and later Catalan periods. Starting from the Lungomare Dante road to the south and finishing at the Bastione La Maddalena in the north, the ramparts are interspersed with defensive towers: Torre di San Giacomo, Torre della Polveriera and Torre di Sant'Erasmo.
A stroll along the walls, with the superb views out to Cappo Caccia, makes for a relaxing and breezy alternative to the narrow lanes encountered within the old town. The city walls are especially popular in the evenings when Alghero's westerly facing aspect means that the stunning sunsets can be enjoyed from one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants that line the route.
Best Beaches in Sardinia
Beach lovers will definitely not want to miss the beaches of Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto, just minutes outside of Alghero and easily reached by major roads. These beaches fill up on summer weekends with tourists and families so get there early to grab a prime spot.
Lazzaretto and Le Bombarde are just north and west of the city and can be reached by following the SS127bis west out of Alghero and through Fertilia. You’ll see a sign at the left turnoff for Bombarde. Try parking along the road or in one of the small lots. Worst case scenario, you’ll have to walk a bit to get there.
If you continue along the coastal road, you’ll get to Lazaretto, one of the best beaches in Sardinia. The breeze is mild and the beach is protected by a headland, so even when the powerful maestrale blows, Lazaretto is protected from the brunt. Parking is a challenge here as well, so get there early on busy summer weekends and try to park on the road. Busses from Alghero stop here as well, which is a good alternative to driving. Visit us here for more opportunities to travel for free!
Grotta di Nettuno
On the top of our list is the Grotta di Nettuno, an ancient, half-submerged cave just a 40 minute boat ride from the Alghero waterfront. Formed from Sardinia’s primordial rock the cave is home to many spectacular and bizarre rock formations. The boat ride offers tourists a view of Capo Caccia and some of Sardinia’s pure green waters. The adventurous can opt to take bus, and hike into the park and descend a spiraling staircase to reach the cave. It currently costs €10 to visit the interior of the cave where the most spectacular formations can be seen.
Anghelu Ruju
Sardinia's ancient past
Some of the first recorded inhabitants of Sardinia were the Ozieri culture of the Late Neolithic. A village and necropolis from this era can be seen at nearby Anghelu Ruju, one of the best preserved examples of this culture. Anghelu Ruju sits about five km outside Alghero, just to the east of Fertilia airport. Last time I was there, the charge to visit was €10.
Nuraghe Palmavera
The later Nuraghic people appear in the area somewhere around 1500BC. This was a patriarchal warrior society and their circular stone towers or nuraghe are found dotting the countryside all over Sardinia. A well preserved example can be seen at Nuraghe di Palmavera located between Fertilia and Capo Caccia.
Alghero city walls
The geographical layout of Alghero means that the old town is surrounded by the Mediterranean on three sides. The old city walls, or bastioni, were constructed along this perimeter to guard against seaborne threats from pirates and invaders. Sardinia’s location in the prime ancient Mediterranean trade routes made it a prize for every seafaring group.
Alghero itself was nothing more than a small fishing port until 1102 when the Doria family of Genoa arrived and began building the “modern” fortified Alghero. Their rule lasted until 1353 when a joint force of Aragonese and Venetians captured the town after the defeat of the Genoans at Porte Conte, northwest of Alghero.
The city walls were continually updated and strengthened throughout the Aragonese, and later Catalan periods. Starting from the Lungomare Dante road to the south and finishing at the Bastione La Maddalena in the north, the ramparts are interspersed with defensive towers: Torre di San Giacomo, Torre della Polveriera and Torre di Sant'Erasmo.
A stroll along the walls, with the superb views out to Cappo Caccia, makes for a relaxing and breezy alternative to the narrow lanes encountered within the old town. The city walls are especially popular in the evenings when Alghero's westerly facing aspect means that the stunning sunsets can be enjoyed from one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants that line the route.
Best Beaches in Sardinia
Beach lovers will definitely not want to miss the beaches of Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto, just minutes outside of Alghero and easily reached by major roads. These beaches fill up on summer weekends with tourists and families so get there early to grab a prime spot.
Lazzaretto and Le Bombarde are just north and west of the city and can be reached by following the SS127bis west out of Alghero and through Fertilia. You’ll see a sign at the left turnoff for Bombarde. Try parking along the road or in one of the small lots. Worst case scenario, you’ll have to walk a bit to get there.
If you continue along the coastal road, you’ll get to Lazaretto, one of the best beaches in Sardinia. The breeze is mild and the beach is protected by a headland, so even when the powerful maestrale blows, Lazaretto is protected from the brunt. Parking is a challenge here as well, so get there early on busy summer weekends and try to park on the road. Busses from Alghero stop here as well, which is a good alternative to driving. Visit us here for more opportunities to travel for free!
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