Sardinia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Sardinia is doable on a budget if you avoid the Costa Smeralda and August. Plan on about €110 per person per day (bed €40, food €30, sights €15, transport €25).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €85 | €300 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €50 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €40 | €100 |
| Local transport | €25 | €35 | €60 |
| Per person, per day | €110 | €210 | €570 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Sardinia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Swim at free public beaches such as Poetto in Cagliari
- Walk the old town walls and bastions of Alghero at sunset
- Explore Cagliari's Castello district and the Bastione di Saint Remy
- Hike along the Capo Caccia cliffs
- See the murals of Orgosolo
- Watch flamingos in the lagoons near Cagliari
Cheap eats
- Pizza or focaccia: about €3–8
- Panino with local pecorino: about €5–8
- Culurgiones (filled pasta) at a trattoria: about €10–14
- Seadas dessert: about €4–6
- Agriturismo set dinner: about €30–40
Where to sleep for less
Agriturismi and inland B&Bs cost about €70–120 a double; campsites near the coast are cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Share a rental car. Trains and buses link Cagliari, Sassari, Olbia and Alghero but are slow; buses reach some beaches in summer.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Alghero old town walk (free)
- Lunch: focaccia and fruit (about €8)
- Afternoon: drive to Capo Caccia and Neptune's Grotto by the steps (about €14–16)
- Evening: pizza dinner (about €15)
- Total: about €40–50 plus your bed and car share, roughly €100–110
More ways to save
- Travel in June or September for lower prices and warm sea.
- Pack a picnic for beach days.
- Use free public beaches and avoid sunbed rentals.
- Book beach access fees (La Pelosa, Cala Goloritzè) in advance where required.
- Eat at agriturismi with set menus.
- Fill up fuel in towns, not at motorway stations.
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Common questions
Can I visit Sardinia on a budget?
Yes, with agriturismi, a shared car and picnics.
Do I need a car?
Yes, for most of the island.
What is free in Sardinia?
Most beaches, Alghero's walls, Cagliari's Castello and Orgosolo's murals.