Cheap flights to Alghero from RON129*

Alghero and northern Sardinia offer beautiful beaches, rugged cliffs, charming towns, castles, coves and caves, plus saffron-scented seafood – what more could you want in a holiday? Alghero is dotted with towers and spires, where 16th-century sea walls look out over the bluest of bays. From here, head to the tip of the peninsulas offering views to Corsica, explore islands with shallow waters perfect for diving, climb to hilltop fortresses before relaxing on the beach, followed by a meal of fresh-caught seafood and a glass of local white wine.

 

A stunning seaside holiday

Founded in the 12th century, Alghero was later captured by the Catalan-Aragon, whose heritage remains in the dialect of Catalan spoken here, the architecture and the town’s nickname, Barceloneta, or little Barcelona. The cobbled Alghero old town centre, behind medieval sea walls, opens onto the blue waters of the bay, inviting you to the seaside. Once there, you’ll be enticed to discover the rest of the northern Sardinian coast, crossing to islands forested or rocky, delving into coves, relaxing on wide swathes of white sand and dining on seafood specialities in hillside and coastal villages.

 

History by the sea

The narrow streets of Alghero’s pedestrianised centro storico, or Ciutat, are decorated with lampions, birdcages, and flowerpots hanging on walls and across clotheslines, and open onto piazze where Gothic palaces reign and cafés spill out into the squares. The medieval Torre della Maddalena, the 16th-century campanile, or spire, of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria, and other towers rise above, marking the outlines of the city. Be sure to catch a glimpse of the dome of the 17th-century Chiesa di San Michele, covered in colourful maiolica tiles. Below the 16th-century sea walls, yachts and tour boats float in the harbour.

If you can’t wait to get to the beach, the closest to the historic centre is Spiaggia di San Giovanni. Beautiful beaches Bombarde and Mugoni are also close by, tucked into bays just beyond Alghero. If a dive into history is always on your travel itinerary, visit the necropolis of Anghelu Ruju, artificial caves from 4200 to 1800 BC, or the Nuraghe di Primavera, ruins of a 4000-year-old village. When you’re ready to venture out of Alghero, take the 25-kilometre drive along winding coastal roads to Capo Caccia. After you’ve soaked up the view over the Mediterranean from the clifftop, walk down to the caves of Neptune, grottoes over the water with stalactites. You can also visit them by boat from Alghero.

 

Signature saffron and seafood

Since Sardinia is a major producer of delicate saffron, called “red gold” by locals, the island’s signature dish is seafood fregola, pasta dotted with clams and prawns, and served with saffron broth and crunchy bread. Alghero’s very own signature dish is a salad of freshly caught lobster, fresh tomatoes and onion. Pair it with a white wine such as Vermentino di Sardegna. Spaghetti with ricci di mare, or sea urchin, is served only from November to April to preserve the urchins, and is best tasted in Castelsardo. Octopus salad including potatoes, garlic and parsley is also typical. Have seada, fried pastry filled with lemon-scented cheese and topped with warm honey, for dessert.

During your walk in the historic centre, eat gelato and have an espresso at the city’s grandest café – Caffè Costantino in the Gothic Palazzo d’Albis on the main square. Come evening, you could choose The Kings, for local dishes with local ingredients, served on a terrace along the ramparts overlooking the sea. La Lepanto is another old town choice for excellent lobster. For a Sardinian feast of roast suckling pig with all the trimmings, on a working farm, there’s Sa Mandra, or have homegrown and homemade foods at Agriturismo il Mirto. Sardinian wines? Tour the windswept 650-hectare seaside estate of Sella e Mosca and taste the whole range of regional varieties.

 

Sardinian crafts, foods and cocktails

Alghero is known for its other ‘red gold,’ red coral, and even has a museum dedicated to it. At Corallina artisans make jewellery from it. Visit for handwoven clothing and rugs, and for leather sandals. Pick up local cheeses, fish, cold cuts, oils, wines and liqueurs at Le Prelibatezze di Sardegna.

Alghero may be an old town but it’s also a beach town with a vibrant party scene. Maracaibo Cocktail is a buzzing bar by the sea, while Imbibe takes care to serve your perfectly mixed drink in the proper type of glass. For craft beers, head to Il Tocco del Prete, and end your night at Agua.

 

Tour the coast

To explore more beaches – and islands, and national parks, and coves, and charming coastal towns – start north to the narrow peninsula at Stintino, to Spiaggia della Pelosa, boasting spectacularly aquamarine waters and a view to a Catalan-Aragonese watchtower. From here, take a boat to Isola dell’Asinara, a national park named after its resident albino donkeys, and bike or hike around the island.

Further along the coast, stop in the hilltop medieval town of Castelsardo. See the view across to Corsica from its medieval castello. Then visit the tip of Santa Teresa di Gallura with its beautiful stretch of coastline, Spiaggia Rena Bianca. Explore the Maddalena Archipelago, a national park featuring rocky islands, glimmering shallow waters and a pink beach on the island of Budelli – look closely to find the shells of marine animals that give it its unique colour – and the charming fishing town of Maddalena. Not far from here is the Costa Smeralda, with the jet-set yacht-lounging crowd favourite Spiaggia del Principe, named for and approved by Prince Karim Aga Khan. Moving along the eastern coast, set Cala Brandinchi as your destination. This bay, often called “Little Tahiti”, is soft sand and blue-green waters lined with pine forest opposite Isola Tavolara.

 

Alghero airport

Alghero Airport is about 10 kilometres from the centre. Taxi and car rental are also available, and you can rent bikes and scooters from March to October. The airport has news stands, Italian fashion and accessories, a pharmacy, plus Sardinian food and gift shops. It has restaurants with Sardinian specialities, coffee and wine bars, burgers and snacks as well as gelato, of course.

 

Alghero weather

You’ll be glad to hear that Alghero has a subtropical, Mediterranean climate, meaning warm summers and mild winters. That’s a year-round holiday destination – beaches in summer, cosy towns and villages in winter, nature walks in autumn and spring.