In 2008, Norwegian started to fly from Copenhagen to other cities in Europe. In 2010, while looking at where to go on vacation and a list of cheap flights that Norwegian promoted, we saw a city in Sardinia, then unknown to us, called Olbia. We knew from geography that the capital of Sardinia is called Cagliari and we had heard of Alghero, perhaps the most famous city in Sardinia, but Olbia is located on the opposite side of all those cities. Olbia is a city located in the northeastern part of Sardinia, on the Mediterranean coast in the historic Gallura region. It serves as a major commercial and tourist gateway to the island, particularly for accessing the popular Costa Smeralda. It is known for its archaeological sites, harbor and nearby beaches. It is located in the province of Sassari which includes the northern part of the island.

Plane tickets were booked for the end of April and the beginning of May. All that’s left was accommodation. Since we wanted to visit the entire northern part of the island, we didn’t want to book hotels but rent a cottage. The cottage was rented from Adriana and Giuseppe through the website homelidays. Homelidays used to be the leading site for rent-by-owner vacation rentals in Europe. It doesn’t exist any more, but has been integrated into Vrbo (https://www.vrbo.com/) which belongs to the Expedia group. I can safely say that homelidays is the forerunner of Airbnb. Adriana and Giuseppe, live in Milan, but Adriana is originally from Sardinia. They rented their cottage in Isola Rossa to us.

Isola Rossa is a charming, small fishing village turned popular coastal resort in northern Sardinia, located between Castelsardo and Santa Teresa Gallura. Famous for its vibrant red granite rocks, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and stunning sunsets, it offers a relaxing atmosphere perfect for families and couples, featuring beaches like Spiaggia Longa and La Marinedda. It is about an hour and 15 minutes drive from Olbia. This means we had to rent a car and we did so, as soon as we landed in Olbia.

The cottage was small, with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, but in a good location. From Isola Rossa we were able to visit Sassari, Alghero which is about an hour and a half drive away, Santa Teresa Gallura is nearby and Porto Cervo which is the most famous resort on the Costa Smeralda. In addition to all these places, we also reached Oristano. We did not have time to visit Cagliari as it was too far away and we hoped to come to Sardinia again, to visit the southern part of the island.

Santa Teresa Gallura is a picturesque seaside town on the northernmost tip of Sardinia, directly facing Corsica across the Strait of Bonifacio. Founded in 1808 by King Vittorio Emanuele I, it is known for its stunning granite cliffs (especially at Capo Testa), white sandy beaches such as Rena Bianca, and its role as a key ferry port connecting to France.

Santa Teresa Gallura is also known for its traditional, colorful low houses near the central square and the beach. These houses represent the typical architecture of Sardinia. They are very beautiful and brightly colored. Later, the colors and architecture reminded me of Corsica, Bastia. You can also see Bonifaccio from here on a clear day.

On the way to Santa Teresa Gallura you can stop at the beach of Lu Litarroni. You can park your car in the parking lot and follow a small path that leads you to the beach. The beach is sandy and covered with vegetation, especially pink flowers. Or at least it is only like that in April.

South of Santa Terses Gallura lies Porto Cervo. Porto Cervo is a luxury resort that serves as the heart of the exclusive Costa Smeralda. It serves as a high-end, expensive destination for celebrities, the international jet set, and luxury yacht owners. Piazzetta: The main square in the heart of the city, known for its boutiques and celebrity sightings. The name Porto Cervo translates in Italian as “Deer Port”, named after the distinctive shape of its deep, natural bay on Costa Smeralda. The branching layout of the port, seen from above, is very reminiscent of deer antlers. The resort town was developed in the 1960s to reflect this “wild” nature.

The Costa Smeralda is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe. It is often called the Caribbean of Europe because of its crystal clear turquoise sea and white sand. Liscia Ruja, known as the “Long Beach”, is a 500-meter-long beach known for its fine pink-white sand, turquoise sea and sheltered luxurious surroundings. The sunset on this beach is also beautiful.

Sassari is the second largest city in Sardinia, serving as an important historical, cultural and economic center in the northwest. It is known for its elegant 19th-century architecture, dense medieval historic center and strong cultural traditions, including those recognized by UNESCO. It is also famous as a university city.

Alghero is the largest city in the northwestern part of Sardinia. Known for its strong Catalan heritage, medieval fortifications and stunning beaches. Known as Barceloneta (“Little Barcelona”), it is characterized by a well-preserved old town with cobbled streets, coastal bastions and a unique blend of Catalan and Sardinian culture.

If you continue west from Alghero on the motorway you will reach Oristano. On the way to Oristano, we stopped to see the Nuraghe Santu Antine di Torralba. The Nuraghe Santu Antine, also known as the “House of the Kings” in Sardinian, is a type of ancient stone tower unique to the Nuragic civilization. It is located near Torralba, and is part of a wider region often called the Valley of the Nuraghes, marked by a large number of similar prehistoric stone structures.

Near Oristano there are beaches where you can see flamingos. The beaches are located on the Sinis peninsula. Although often present throughout the year, pink flamingos are most active and visible during the breeding season, from April to July.

We had dinner at one of the Oristano’s many seafood restaurants. The restaurant is located at the entrance to Oristano, it is called Ittiturismo Sa Pischera ‘e Mar ‘e Pontis and has its own fish pond.

After dinner we headed back to Isola Rossa, following the highway and passing through the central part of the island which is mountainous. During the journey, we were followed by fog.

I will always remember Sardinia for a cafe on the way to Alghero in the mountainous part of the island in a small Sardinian village where we took a break from driving. We were hungry and saw pancakes on the menu. Since passers-by rarely come here, the pancakes were not pre-made, but a beautiful Italian woman made fresh pancakes for us, mixing eggs, flour and sugar in a large plastic bowl, right in front of us. I will also remember her flirting with my husband and the coffee that cost 60 cents. And of course, I will remember the pink-white beaches, all the places we visited and the Frutti di Mare pizza we bought almost every night at the nearby pizzeria in Isola Rosa. And the local celebrations on the 1st of May, where we attended the Fiat 500 motorcade.